I'm sorry you are so unwell Bizi. I hope you feel better. :(:hug:

my liver function test came back fine.

Thank you for the explanation about the thyroid.
So if the pituitary is the one to release the tsh, could there be something wrong with that?

I ate more peanut butter and almonds and sour cream this morning to take my geodon early today.
Still can't believe that she wanted to double my lamictal to ward off mania...sigh
she doesn't understand the basic concepts of lamictal, maybe it is time for a new pdoc as well?
sigh
I do feel more stable this morning after a good nights sleep and a clear head.
thank you again for your support and guidance.
bizi

Hi all,

I am so excited I have 2 weeks off starting today. And so will Derrick.

I am going to town to get him this afternoon. To tired and hubby was
already home sick yesterday. So dogs, cats, mom and dad get to
see him today.

Think his dog Wendy is going to be excited, already acts like she knows
he is late. Also my nephew that is teaching in Alaska, is coming home
today. I know all my family is excited, especially my sister Dee and my mom.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Happy for your vacation!!!!! yes!
bizi

Yes, I apologize. I edited my post to correct that part.

Yes, there are pituitary conditions that can cause it to misbehave but then the T4/TSH lab findings would be different. Also hypothalamus which controls the pituitary. Also, T3 is important (and more potent). Some problems can occur "downstream" from the glands, where the T4/T3 conversion is "broken". This is why it is useful to get a full thyroid panels if the basic tests show something consistently off. Transient high or low levels of anything are possible, and not significant if retesting does not confirm them.

I found these links interesting... I liked the explanation in the first one:

http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/student/selectives/Luzietti/Thyroid_hormones.htm

Quote:

One can imagine the thyroid gland as a furnace and the pituitary gland as the thermostat. Thyroid hormones are like heat. When the heat gets back to the thermostat, it turns the thermostat off. As the room cools (the thyroid hormone levels drop), the thermostat turns back on (TSH increases) and the furnace produces more heat (thyroid hormones). The pituitary gland itself is regulated by another gland, known as the hypothalamus (shown in our picture in light blue). The hypothalamus is part of the brain and produces TSH Releasing Hormone (TRH) which tells the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid gland (release TSH). One might imagine the hypothalamus as the person who regulates the thermostat since it tells the pituitary gland at what level the thyroid should be set.

The second is a little over my head but perhaps useful. It reminds us that we need enough iodine:
http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/student/sele...d_hormones.htm

My understanding of Lamictal, is that it mostlly helps treat depression, as an adjunctive treatment. It can be tried alone for this purpose for those who can't take an antidepressant.

It's also supposed to (per its indications) "lengthen time between cycles" overall. When I was on it (along with other drugs), my cycles which were then rapid did seem to slow, but that may simply have been a long-term result of my other meds controlling acute swings. I was taking 200 mg a day, but with Depakote which doubles Lamictal levels by competive binding, so it is like taking 400 mg a day -- what your pdoc is suggesting. When I stopped taking it, I noticed no difference in moods or mood swings. No deterioration of any kind. Nothing.

As Mari pointed out, it just seems to be a "fluffy" sort of drug which doesn't reliably do any one specific thing by itself, but might have some beneficial mood effect on some people in conjunction with other drugs.

As such, I can't rule out that for certain individuals it might possibly help with mania, but it would be near the bottom of my list of choices as an add on for someone running high. Some people even find it a bit activating. In your case I'd think of increasing or changing the geodon, or augmenting it with a small amount of another, more reliable anti-manic agent.

Exactly what you are doing, with adding more fat when you take it will somewhat increase the amount of Geodon absorbed and might do the trick for you.

I am glad you are feeling better. :hug:
waves

Waves,

Bizi has told us that she is at the max dose of Geodon.

I agree that taking it with fat could help.

M

I emailed mari's link and note about the lamictal to my psychiatrists office. wonder if I will get a reply?
thanks again all of you. I am feeling much better.
Got some errands run getting ready to see 2 more clients then done. jeff comes home from new orleans tomorrow evening, he is playing a gig for big wigs partying it up for the bowl, hubby is also going to the game tomorrow 10 am. I am working tomorrow seeing 3 clients starting at noon.
I need to go to auto zone and pick up an emergency kit for the car. I don't have jumper cables etc. just got my oil changed, transferred money, picked up meds refilled.
I need to do a load of laundry, pack etc.
bizi

The group SMART has a chat room that I like 24/7.
I think that I will be going there more often.
I got this off their website so to speak, one of the moderators posted this in a chat room.

They believe:

What Smart does is help people get back their lives without telling them exactly what to do. It is a tool driven program, using the tools will help you learn how to apply them in order to:
1. Enhance and maintain motivation
2. Cope with urges
3. Manage thoughts, feelings and behavior
4. Achieve lifestyle balance.

Smart Recovery does NOT require you to:
• Believe in a Higher Power (although it’s okay if you do).
• Commit to abstinence for life (though our abstinence based program aims to help you regardless of your plans)
• Commit to attending meetings for life (you are welcome at our meetings for as long as they are helpful to you).
• “Label” yourself an “addict” or an “alcoholic” (we discourage the use of all negative or disparaging labels).
• Proclaim yourself powerless over your addiction. (you are not powerless!)
• Accept the guidance of a Sponsor, or commit to any requirements other than the goals of recovery that you set for yourself.

http://www.smartrecovery.org/community/#.VJTqVf8Ofw

I like their principles... sound pretty SMART to me. :)

I forgot to post their web site link:
Smarts web site:

http://www.smartrecovery.org/community/#.VJTqVf8Ofw
bizi

That is great, Bizi!

:heartthrob::catalan2::heartthrob:


Feel your power and your ability to make choices that are good for yourself. :)

M

thank you mari.:)

Bizi

I really like the sounds of this groups thoughts. And I think its a lot
of the same things you have said. That you would like to get
out of a group.

Good for you, and more power to you for doing any part of it.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

I thought I'd do a little update here. Don't exactly have a running active thread
right now.

So here goes: My Husband Dale is finally feeling better yesterday. And today at some point we are going to try and finish our Christmas Shopping at
least put a dent in it. I know what we are looking for With Derrick, so we
can get that. Then all 3 of my son's will be pretty much finished.

We can then finish my granddaughters. Mainly one of them left. Maybe one
small little thing for another. Then my Grandson Will, has just one thing
left that I want for him. And maybe a few clothes. My other Grandson Ethan,
is the hard one. I don't ever find anything he wants. Or know which games he
has. So I was thinking a gift card from Walmart. But then Derrick told me
they have a specific gift card for Skylanders, and I know he is or was at least
into that. So either one will probably be it. I then would like some clothes for him but that is hard.

My mom is left, but I still have no real clue what to get her. So that will
take some time. Of course I still have to buy for Dale, but he did suggest
that he would just like a weekend away later. So I'm thinking maybe we
will do that.

Its what I like the idea of. He bought a 2 computers, one already had to go
back it broke. And two new tablets for himself, and a very expensive phone.

So nothing left to buy.

He got the new phone he got me activated the other day. I'm really enjoying not having to charge it every few hours.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Sorry was getting to long.

Devin went to doctor yesterday and is on meds. He asked that we give him
money for this for his birthday and christmas. I just gave him some money.
As it was he returned 30 of the money. And Dale who was home sick had
given me 100 of the money. Will felt well enough to go back to school
yesterday. And Devin called me last night. And asked if I knew if he had
missed a gift exchange. And if there was no school on Monday and Tuesday.
I answered about school. And then I said, I hadn't seen anything. He says
well Will brought home toys from school. He asked were he got them, and
was told Santa. He was worried he missed something. I told him which
is true, maybe the teacher had money for the gifts because of the way some
of the kids need specific kinds of things to really enjoy. And I'm meaning it
different than just not liking say a coloring book. He got a buzzlight year
and a bat. I didn't say anything to Devin, but I thought they sure have
been listening to him talk. He has been wanting a buss lightyear.
I just haven't found one.

So My like daughter-in-law Jessica has been having mainly daily headaches.
And is miserable. My husband tells me yesterday afternoon, after he thinks
of it. That he is going to give her some money to go to doctor. I did explain
to him, she really needed a regular doctor, not just urgent care for that.

So I think when he can he is going to do that.

Danny my oldest is very happy anymore. And his girlfriend Kortni is a lot
like me. With asthma, bronchitis or pnemonia it seems. He called me the
other day to see if I had an extra inhaler. Hers ran out. And its not
time to refill it yet. She is on Medicaid. I can't find my extra's. So I
have to keep looking.

But I do have an extra nebulizer if I can finid its tubing, or go get it
some new ones.

And I have plenty of that meds. And its what she uses.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

thanks for the update donna, you have a lot on your plate.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

[QUOTE=Dmom3005;1113913]Sorry was getting to long.

Donna,

That is a busy shopping day today!

I hope that Devin gets better.
Also I send get weill wishes to Kortni.
I hope Courtney gets better.
I hope that Dale feels stronger each day.


Have a good day!!! :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

Mari

Attachment 8649

Attachment 8650

These are pictures of Will at his christmas party on Friday at School.

His class was picked up by a local business for Secret Santa. Each
child got a gift from there letter to Santa and a new sweatshirt to
grow into.

He wanted this buzz lightyear and I couldn't find.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

he is so adorable
bobby

re: Will
 

What a cutie!!! :):):)

Thanks ladies.

I was just so happy the teacher sent me the pictures.

He really loves is class and teachers.

Tomorrow for first time ever he is going to a nutritionist.

We will see if they can help us.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Well just checking in here briefly, getting ready to see a client then lunch with jeff then hair appointment then some more clients. busy day today. it is cold for here, need to turn the heat up. IT ended up being very cold in Indiana toward the end of our visit. burr.

nice to be home was gone almost 3 weeks! It was a good trip. jeff had the trip of a life time going to china for 11 days. 7 concerts with a concert band, jeff had a solo piece which he said " I nailed it!" So proud of him!

bizi

Welcome back!

Donna has been reporting ridiculously low temps. I can't imagine surviving in that. Your poor parents, I bet they wish they could have come back with you!

Glad Jeff's trip and performances went well, especially congratulations to him on the solo piece!

You sound busy (bizi) already. ;):D Have a good day.

waves

Thank you waves.
tomorrow is "prep" day for my colonoscopy on monday so will need to stick close to the bathroom, I need to do laundry and finish unpacking and putting away stuff.
I really wish my sister would not buy me stuff. it is really sweet of her, she loves to shop....
oh well
bizi

Yuck about the procedure. I hope everything goes well for you.

Lol about the stuff. I know what you mean.

Hi, Bizi,

It is good to see you again.
I am glad that you had a safe trip home.

Mari