Waves, you seem to really have a good handle on what meds you need which is good. I'm on Depakote, 1,000 mg. and now I know why I act the way I do on it.

I hope you feel better soon.

Take care,
barbara

Barbara....
 

Thanks Barbara... and ROFL: I'm on Depakote, 1,000 mg. and now I know why I act the way I do on it.

i didn't notice at first. just things were sorta harder but nothing specific i could... then one day i noticed i couldn't for the life of me compute time zone differences ... with great frustration because it was not the *first* incident but had gone on for some time. And that was significant because being in a different time zone to most of the ppl i communicate with, i'm well-practiced at computing them... almost know the EST conversions like a times table! So it was ridiculous, e.g.: 8 + 6 .... whoahhh... ehhh... some two digit number or other? Like that!! Bad!

So i read up... and found that Depakote can cause cognitive dulling, and that the effect is subtle and may not notice right away :eek: despite (or perhaps because of??? LOL) signficant cognitive impairment. that's when i went down to 500. you could ask about a decrease perhaps too... but unless it's causing you significant trouble thinking, maybe now isn't such a good time... maybe wait until you're away from that neighborhood and those treacherous people.

you take care too Barbara. :hug: Thank you for your support. :)

~ waves ~

today...
 

Good morning... (?)

So.......
this evening it's off to my GP to pick up my add-on script for the 300mg pills. no other news... other than... i didn't sleep again last night.

HOWEVER, i slept right into the afternoon - solid, and had not-so-bad-dreams. i have a recurring theme that pops up often, and it popped up, but the dream was not as distressful as those i was having several weeks ago, theme or no theme. it is in "the norm" of distress for this theme... lol. i also had a lot of self-assurance within the dream, which was a very positive and unusual element.

i think therapy helped a lot yesterday, even though we only had a half hour left after we got the meds sorted. i am feeling calmer today - well, it's only "morning" so i guess we'll see. that would be my personal morning - i'm just awake and having coffee now... funny coz in most of your time zones, it actually is morning ... but in my time zone it's 3pm! :rolleyes:

i think i'm gonna take the day off today. not like i need to go looking for stressors right now. had enough of those - and pdoc agreed i had some very unusual stuff go down - with bad timing for me. so today i

HAVE PERMISSION TO BE LAZY. YES, LAZY.

I might put up the bed again though. it's good to get used to that... makes my body stretch where otherwise it wouldn't, doesn't take long... and mom will be happy. its' a step toward a daily activity and i won't be "bed-ridden" LOL. Although i'd perhaps prefer to stay propped up in bed today. That's ok. This is a PITA but it isn't feeling stressful.

And then, I'mna have me a hotdog for ... ehh... breakfast or whatever... FOOD! :p

Then i got a Monkey Tail to catch about some d'lishus d'srts left here last night... :p

Thank you all so much for being here :heartthrob: I think it has helped as much as my therapy did yesterday! :)

:grouphug:

:o ~ waves ~ :o

Oh..I guess we forgot to tell you. :o

We all set your internal clock to USA time. :D

GOOD MORNING!!

:p

ROFL!!! Ahhhhhaaa!!! That explains a LOT!!! :D:D:D

G'mornin' to you, Curious!

that was SOME "decafpuccino" you left me last night... too purty to drink... almost... hehe. and i'll take those... brownies(?) any day.

then i would need to take the scales and throw them out the window along with the few items in my wardrobe which still fit, tho... :Sigh:

Have a great day! :)

~ waves ~

I've asked my doctors about Depakote on behalf of our dau. Mrs. D is right.
Many look at it cautiously. It makes sense that you would want to ask some questions.

With this in mind, I would google for more information. I would ask your docs if this is the best medication for you. There is always a middle ground too...reducing this medication and adding on something else.

Do you take at least a multi vitamin?

Glad you are taking a blood test!

Who is doing your therapy? A psychiatrist, a psychologist or another mental health professional?

Balance is important. Nurture yourself when you are tired...but push yourself a little. Perhaps a little walk in the mornings.

Can you get to a library? Uplifting/positive books can be a nice supplement to therapy.

Oh...there are some supplements that might help with cognitive dulling. Here is one that I found for me and my family to be effective (but if it causes a reaction...obviously you wouldn't be able to take it: Jarrow Formula PS 100...you can get it at many health food stores and iherb.com).

Sounds like the folks here have given you some great advice.

Wishing you well.

Depakote also depletes carnitine. This can be a serious side effect, and has led to a few deaths.

I meant to add it before but I was thinking hormones that day!

Here is a good monograph about supplements with Depakote:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/a...ons-000189.htm

I'd consider carnitine #1 to deal with first.

i feel awful
 

had a huge fight w/ dad. i can't even talk about it. i don't feel welcome here. no, i got the sense - from something he accused me of - that he is the one. that doesn't like things ... and that he'd rather i not be here.

i have no place to go... no place better anyway.

i was furious over the whole course of the fight i can't stand it when i am told "how i feel" without a question mark at least implied in the statement. well, i needed to get out and suddenly realized need to go to GP - well it was good timing. so went. totally in tears by the time i got there. he told me how to contact social services but we both agreed this situation is probably as good/bad as any i'd find... but it doesn't hurt to ask. so i will go to social services and ask. that is if i am awake in the morning.

i ran my mouth off to my mom as she came in as i was leaving and said i didn't want dinner not tonight not tomorrow not the next etc etc. she was remarkably calm - well the wrath was not directed at her and anyway i was breaking down by then so she could tell i was about to burst out crying i think. she also knows my meds got changed.

i got my script anyway. and went to the pharmacy (also in tears) and got my meds too. at least that. the pharmacist was one who's been there a long time - we know each other by sight. very kindly woman. when i apologized for my appearance she smiled and said unhappy moments come to all of us. i said well i actually just had a huge fight with someone and after all the anger then... and she nodded like she knew what i meant. i mean i don't think this is a bipolar thing... i think many women especially, when get angry, then convert to tears. or the reverse can happen. well anyway, she said, hey, maybe take a short walk. well, i did. but i cried harder and couldn't keep going. but by the time got home had subsided. it is going in ... wouldncha know ~ waves ~ i start to break down again every few minutes.

thanks for listening. end of kook report.

:crazy::(:mad::Bawling: ~ waves ~ :Bawling::mad::(:crazy:

Dear Waves,
I'm sorry this happened. :hug: :hug: :hug:

Thank goodness for kindly people like the GP and the pharmacist. :Heart:


M.

Waves,