[waves]

Originally Posted by bizi

I got myself into trouble today.
I forgot to take my noon geodon. by 6;30pm I was a mess and did not realise that I had forgotten to take it till i was shaking and asked myself"what is wrong with me" it was like having a major hypoglycemic attack.....that is when it dawned on me.
sigh
We went to the concert and I came home and ate 500 calories of fat and took a geodon. Now am just waiting to feel better.
bizi

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

[bizi]

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

[Dmom3005]

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

[bizi]

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

[waves]

Originally Posted by bizi

do you mean hyper thyroidism?

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

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?

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

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

In order to attain normal levels of thyroid hormone synthesis, an adequate supply of iodine is essential. The recommended minimum intake of iodine is 150 micrograms a day.

[waves]

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

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 do feel more stable this morning after a good nights sleep and a clear head.
thank you again for your support and guidance.
bizi

I am glad you are feeling better.
waves

[Mari]

Originally Posted by waves

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.
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

[bizi]

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

[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

[waves]

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