Conformation Please !!!

[PrairieGurl]

This is 'normal' for persons with bp, right? Please correct me if I am wrong...(it definately wouldn't be the first time )

One wakes up early in the am (maybe) and doesn't feel all that bad, has a nap during the day (at some point)... and feels worse than one did before the nap.
Forgets if meds were taken or not...unless it's written down on a post it.
Even if on meds and meds are working ... still has rapid (medium or slow) cycling.
Mind is like a 'empty black hole' (I don't think this is in my 'character'...I think at one time, I actually had a 'quick mind'...hence this is really bothering me )

Regardless of my 'state'... I am still ing for my new friends, special friends here on CF. I may forget persons names or specific prayer request...but I know my Heavenly Father know's )

With s & s,
Wendy

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear WantToBe


There is NO such thing as NORMAL in bipolar.


In order to UNDERSTAND BIPOLAR we must UNDERSTAND there is no UNDERSTANDING!!!

BUT

We are told the cause of bipolar.


All I can say is HANG on for the RIDE of your LIFE. Stay very close to your doctor and don't be afraid to bug him if the meds don't have you in control!!!



WHILE YOU REMEMBER:






X Even though you can't see him, GOD is there!!! O
( click on the x and drag to the O ) ( then see who is with you ) steven

 

[walshclan]

I've found that the empty black hole feeling came from my meds more than from the actual disorder. The years that I wasn't treated I was as sharp as a tack. Now I'm kinda dull as a pillow . But that's just me. I never rapid cycled, so it might be a rapid cycling thing. Even when I was depressed I used to be able to remember names and trivia and work stuff...no more. In my new life I don't need to be sharp I need to be understanding. I've had short term and long term memory loss and loss of cognitive skills. Pdoc says it's the Risperdal most likely.

Connie

 

[Alive again]

yep, many of the meds do that, but mine developed after my ect and it bothers me, much of what you've said wanttobe is familiar to me but it may be for different reasons. BTW naps should only be about 20 minutes long or they will cause something called sleep drunkenness and reset your daily rythm and really mess how u r feeling up.

 

[angelkiss]

Well, it all sounds like a normal state in my life. I have it all myself. I don't really know if it's normal, but I've accepted it as being normal.

Although, my doc said, that I'm still gonna get triggered, I'm still gonna have slight mood swings, I'm still gonna get a racey mind from time to time. So, I've assumed that it's normal. Hmm......got me wondering too.

 

[youthwalk]

Wendy! I'm right there with you...I get so disoriented sometimes and I even forget IF I took my meds to begin with. So I either miss a dose because I convince myself that I took it and remember quite vividly taking them the day before which of course I now believe is present time or I take too many because I "remember" not taking any... I hate those days. When even sleep can't help.


Thank you for your prayers for me even thought you are struggling.

Father be with Wendy at this time and minister peace to her. Lord, grant her restoration and renewal that she will sing of your faithfulness. Lord, be with her in her time of need. Father be a comfort to her when she is distressed and discouraged, be her ever present help in her time of need. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear Walshclan

Your doctor knows for sure!!! Risperdal is the WORST MED out there that I know of.


It is given so that you CANNOT concentrate on a subject. When I was sent home from the hospital I went to the office and tried to do something. I COULDN'T!!!


My wife was very concerned that I take ALL my meds. I invited her to the bathroom and let her watch me pour them down the toilet. I refuse to take it!!! I continued on with the rest of my meds.


What good is life if we are unable to think. Seek another doctor that will address your problem without taking the easy way out.


You can't get into trouble if you can't think!!! At least that's what this doctor thinks. The med is good if you become fixed upon a thought and can't get away from it. BUT it is not a long term med.


Here's hoping you can get back your sharp mind and have your bipolar under control.


NO MATTER WHAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER:





X Even though you can't see him, GOD is there!!! O
( click on the x and drag to the O ) ( then see who is with you ) steven

 

[PrairieGurl]

Wonderwaleye,

I think you mentioned you were on Lamotrigine...each time you increased your doseage...did you experience clumseiness, and trouble with saying words? Each time my dose was increased I did experience some side affects...the more times it was increased...the side effects lasted less time.

Wendy

 

[rushingwind62]

This is 'normal' for persons with bp, right? Please correct me if I am wrong...(it definately wouldn't be the first time )

One wakes up early in the am (maybe) and doesn't feel all that bad, has a nap during the day (at some point)... and feels worse than one did before the nap.
Forgets if meds were taken or not...unless it's written down on a post it.
Even if on meds and meds are working ... still has rapid (medium or slow) cycling.
Mind is like a 'empty black hole' (I don't think this is in my 'character'...I think at one time, I actually had a 'quick mind'...hence this is really bothering me )

Regardless of my 'state'... I am still ing for my new friends, special friends here on CF. I may forget persons names or specific prayer request...but I know my Heavenly Father know's


Wendy

I think meds do cloud our thoughts sometimes. I know I have a problem with my short term memory and retaining what I read. Never had that problem before I was on meds.

As for getting up early and then taking a nap and feeling worse. Happens to me all the time. My psychatrist said that could be because sleep affects the seratonin levels in the brain and seratonin is one of the chemical imbalances in bp's. Just one of the things we have to live with....God Bless You....Rush

 

[rushingwind62]

Dear Walshclan

Your doctor knows for sure!!! Risperdal is the WORST MED out there that I know of.


It is given so that you CANNOT concentrate on a subject. When I was sent home from the hospital I went to the office and tried to do something. I COULDN'T!!!


My wife was very concerned that I take ALL my meds. I invited her to the bathroom and let her watch me pour them down the toilet. I refuse to take it!!! I continued on with the rest of my meds.


What good is life if we are unable to think. Seek another doctor that will address your problem without taking the easy way out.


You can't get into trouble if you can't think!!! At least that's what this doctor thinks. The med is good if you become fixed upon a thought and can't get away from it. BUT it is not a long term med.


Here's hoping you can get back your sharp mind and have your bipolar under control.


NO MATTER WHAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER:





X Even though you can't see him, GOD is there!!! O
( click on the x and drag to the O ) ( then see who is with you ) steven

I agree!!! I was on risperdal too and had really bad memory problems and concentrating. I discussed with my pyschatrist and he put me on abilify. That helped a lot to clear my mind up.

 

[walshclan]

Well people. I guess I'm a pretty easy going person because I accept the lot that is given me and don't complain much. But with my current problems with my meds not doing their jobs correcting the moods I am going to ask my doctor for a med overhaul. It might be painful in the short-term but it might get rid of some of the side effects I've been having. Memory loss, fuzzy brain, low cognitive skills, sleeping too much, mood all over the place, It's real scary because I haven't had a real bad depressive (not like I used to) episode in a long time and I don't want to have one.

Connie

 

[rushingwind62]

Well people. I guess I'm a pretty easy going person because I accept the lot that is given me and don't complain much. But with my current problems with my meds not doing their jobs correcting the moods I am going to ask my doctor for a med overhaul. It might be painful in the short-term but it might get rid of some of the side effects I've been having. Memory loss, fuzzy brain, low cognitive skills, sleeping too much, mood all over the place, It's real scary because I haven't had a real bad depressive (not like I used to) episode in a long time and I don't want to have one.

Connie

What they will probably do is taper you off the meds you are on while introducing the others. At least that is what they did for me when they changed my meds. You may want to ask your dr about that. It sounds like your meds aren't working so I think talking to your dr woud be wise....God Bless You....Rush

 

[walshclan]

What they will probably do is taper you off the meds you are on while introducing the others. At least that is what they did for me when they changed my meds. You may want to ask your dr about that. It sounds like your meds aren't working so I think talking to your dr woud be wise....God Bless You....Rush

That's interesting. The only time two times I've radically changed my meds I've been in the hospital and they took me off the old meds one day and put me on the new meds the next day. (Maybe they took two days) but it was quick. I kinda prefer that, I hate gradual change, I'm kinda impatient. Oh well, this time I'll have to live with gradual change.

Connie

 

[wonderwaleye]

Wonderwaleye,

I think you mentioned you were on Lamotrigine...each time you increased your doseage...did you experience clumseiness, and trouble with saying words? Each time my dose was increased I did experience some side affects...the more times it was increased...the side effects lasted less time.

Wendy

Dear WantToBe


I never experienced any side effects that I know of and the reason I say that is, there is a side effect of itching and I had some itches but were never sure they came from the med. Very mild.



REMEMBER:





X Even though you can't see him, GOD is there!!! O
( click on the x and drag to the O ) ( then see who is with you ) steven

 

[spdnet75]

Wendy, as for taking a nap, in the middle of the day, as so many of our friends choose to do, I am disoriented, irritable and just never right, when I do that.

The unfortunate part, is that If I've got a day, where i have little to do, I often turn to that nap. I think it to be pretty regular behavior for us.

I can't speak to some of the other things, but like I've said, what makes us unique individuals, in God's mind, also makes us a mystery to the doctors.

We're all still here with you, though.

Stephen

 

[Darrell2006]

Hi Wendy, I just saw your post, as for memory-well I tried responding directly to your post so I could reread it as I post, but I read it 5x so here it goes- frist of all I pray that you and I find the the right balance of medicine and in life. As for taking meds, I have a notebook that I carry to write down what time I took my meds, and the next scheduled dose, this helps me since I don't always wake up at the same time everyday. As for naps, I'm not sure why you would feel worse after a nap, How long do you take naps for ? I'm no sleepologist but maybe your waking up out of the wrong stage of sleep. Ok I can't remember what else you posted, hope I didn't rant to much, just trying to help. Talk to you later!your cf friendDaryl (smile)

 

[PrairieGurl]

Thank you all for your replies! More appreciated than you may know

'Leveled' out today, which I am grateful for! Just feeling EXTEMELY tired . (to the point of my eyes hurting if they're open) My Mom, who has never suffered with mental illness except thru my Dad & myself, thought maybe all the emotional stress with Dad awaiting major surgery, might attribute to this tiredness

It has been so long since I've dealt with anything in life without being under the influence of one thing or another ... so this dealing with real life is quite the learning experience!

Thank you my Friends!
s & s,
Wendy

 

[Alive again]

Blessings and prayers as always, Alive