Depressed
 

I am so sad. Can't shake it. My family does not get it. I cannot just positive think my way out of this. I do not "need" to be sick.
Cried all day yesterday. I have been away from this site for awhile. I realize this is where I can have understanding. My P-doc is 60 miles away and we are haveing a big snow today so I can't go there. Have not seen him in 3 months, he is out of network on my ins and I couldn't afford to when my spending acct ran out last year. Family doc put me on Lexipro yesterday. Have to pick it up today... anyone have good results with it? I thought we could not take antidepressants.
I have not cried in years.. I started Nov 7th and have not stopped it seems. Work has changed my hours. I use to work 2 12 hr days have 2 days off and work a 10... now I have to do 5 8s. I am not sure I can handle it, emotionally, doctor appt wise, and I loose time with my grandkids whitch I cherished.

HI,

Are you taking anything else? A mood stabilizer?
Some people do ok with certain antidepressants as long as they also have a mood stabilizer or two.
Are there any pdocs on your plan and nearby? Sometimes any pdoc is better than a family doc for working with our meds.

M.

Hi sweetie
 

I'm sorry the depression beast is around again. It is hard for family to get it, i know.

I'm glad you have your family doctor to work with. I have not taken Lexapro, but i took its predecessor - Celexa, which worked well for me. Lexapro is like a more refined version of Celexa with fewer of the side effects.

some bipolars can tolerate antidepressants alone. however, if this approach is taken, the antidepressant needs to be suspended as soon as the depression remits. (with non-bipolars, it is recommended the treatment continue for some weeks after.)

I have a friend who is bipolar 1 and she has on several occasions taken antidepressants without mood stabilizers but she does need monitoring... after a while she tends to go hypomanic if they are not withdrawn.

however not all bipolars can do this safely.

there is the risk of inducing a net manic switch and possibly rapid-cycling. can you reach your pdoc by phone to get some quick feedback on the Celexa? is your family doc aware of the bipolar dx - might need to be reminded if you only mentioned the depression this time.

i would put the calls in and still pick up the med. maybe you can wait to take it until you get an ok from your pdoc or he might suggest a mood stabilizer, to prevent a manic switch.

hopefully the chips will fall into place. hang in there and keep us posted ok?

and check in with us as often as you can/want. remember you can talk about your feelings, vent about your day, or whatever you feel like...

just don't be alone with this.

:hug::hug::hug:

~ waves ~

I am taking lamectal too..just increased from 150 mg to 175...also lithium at the max there...and clonidine for mania.. I do rapid cycle and often have mixed states.My P-doc diagnosed me. I did mention the bi-polar ness when he said he was giving me the new med. He wants me to try it and come back in 2 weeks... we will see...thanks so much for caring. it is wonderful to be understood. I am also afraid I will need to leave my job, I don't know if I can do it, but we can't aford for me to quit....in a pinch there..Confused and frustrated and so sad.. hope this med works.

Hi there...
 

Dear Pam

you are on a decent set of meds - you have antimanics on board. And i like the fact your GP wants to check your progress after 2 weeks it sounds like you are in good hands. Also, not sure if you know but lamictal should help with 2 things:
1. augment antidepressant effectiveness without increasing chance of mania
2. increase time between episodes - i.e. it could, hopefully, dilute that rapid cycling over time.

thank you for posting back about your meds. hopefully the Celexa will be just fine with the other meds on board already. I wish you well with it. :)

keep checking in with us! :hug::hug::hug:

~ waves ~

Hi I'm donna and I've seen you post before.

Not sure you'll remember. But I sure can send some hugs, and good thoughts.

Keep us posted as to how it goes.

Donna

The lexapro should help along with the increase of lamictal....which your doctor can increase up to 400mg safely so you have room with it yet to go up. sorry hope that made sense....
welcome back you are always welcome here.
((((HUGS)))))
bizi

Hi
 

I am so sorry for how you feel.

I have been on Lexapro for more than two years now. It was started at 10mg. It is higher now.
How much have you been asked to take?
It has been good for me without any side-effects as far as I can tell.
Lamictal is also a part of my prescription - 200mg A.M. and 250mg P.M..
It took us a while to work out the optimal dose.

I seem to be OK on this combination and dosage. My pdoc has tried several times to reduce both unsuccessfully, so I continue.

I hope it works out soon for you. Once to settles you shouldn't have any problem continuing with your work.

Do keep in touch. :hug:

knock knock?
 

Pam?

you out there?

how are you holding up?

give us a shout, willya... ;)

:grouphug:

~ waves ~ sending you warm wishes :hug:

Dear Dogodlvr,

How are you?
M.

Dogovir, where are you?

I'm Back
 

Thanks for keeping up. I see my Pdoc Tues. He put me on effexor. I stopped taking it last Thurs. The depression was gone but my mind has been racing, teeth clenching...forgetting to breath....( my mania) So I guess it's ok to get me through a crisis.. but I can't do it long... I have even tried Sam-E in the past.. it manics me too. Still waiting to calm down...but better.:)

Tonight I increase my Lamictal to 200 (100 in the am, 100 in the pm so I don't wake up sooo "empty".. lately I have had to increas the clonidine from .1 to .2 or .3.... wired and not at all dull at those doses sooo manic I am. Lithium orotate I take 480 mg in the am and the same at night.
Right now I am having issues with my spouse. I cannot deal with his midlife issues AND keep myself together... ever feel like just running away for a spell?
:cool: Thanks all.. I will not be away so long now... you all are great. It was a rough few weeks and hard to explain to people who don't deal with it.
Peace~ Pam

thank you for checking in Pam.
your life sounds a bit much and overwhelming is there anyway to take a mental holiday....could you go stay with a family member? or friend?
bizi

Dear Pam,

'Sorry that you are going through this now.

I hope the increased Lamictal will help you.

As for your spouse, take a break. Tell them to give you lots of space right now while the med change is happening. Does that work? To agree to ignore each other?

M.

I am working on the leave me alone and go watch your tv thing. we will see. My grandkids were my lifeline, but he threw such a fit over the weekend about them being here so much I had to tell my daughter we had to cut back on the visits. They are usually here after school when I get home from work. Tonight they had already been picked up, the house was empty except for my dogs, I just cried. Life with just "him" is a depressing thought and then I feel bad for feeling that way.
Would love to get a cabin in Gattlinberg TN for a week alone....no work,no one to answer to, and just time to regroup....that would be heaven. Or a weekend in New orleans over MadiGras to just have fun....would love to have fun.. I don't get happy party mania, I get irritable stressed clench my teeth times...it stinks.
Ok enough of me complaining. thanks for the sugestions. I work an hour away from my home. My parents are closer, so on Tues nights I stay and visit with them. But a longer visit would not be restfull.. my mother thinks she still has to entertain or constantly engage in conversation....(cabin is sounding better and better)
Thanks again... Pam:o

uckies I hate effexor. Glad to hear the depression is gone.