update
 

Hey everyone,

I thought i would pop on and give you an update - since being put on 150mg of efexor 6 wks ago, things have become a lot lighter. I have been able to do 3 day wks at university for 2 wks now which i feel truly blessed to be able to do already considering how badly i felt just a few weeks ago. I even managed to get a mark of 66 in the essay i was writing at the time when i was posting alot...so i feel rather happy with this...considering.

I am unfortunately still having swings in mood, and i am very anxious at times. Plus my legs won't stop twitching and the blank head but screaming voice in my head are i guess slightly annoying but it is definately an improvement on how i was before!

After having 2 more cancellations to see the mental health team i am now going for an appt tomorrow morning. I am incrediably scared about it all and i pray he/she takes me seriously. I hope i am able to get across the severity of the situation because often i appear very practical and 'sensible' so they think everything is ok.

I'm sorry again if i caused any upset to anyone. I wish you all the best, honestly. I guess sometimes words spill out without me understanding the consequences. I wish i could blame this on my age but that would be avoiding responsibility for my actions.

For you all :grouphug:

Bamboo your update is the best Christmas present I could have. :hug:
You have been in our thoughts and in our prayers. We can truely appreciate how difficult it is to get up each new day and "try it on for size".

But do you realize how much progress you have already made? I am so thankful that you checked in here....please stay in touch! :grouphug:

Bamboo:):)
You sound great ...................Dont forget the advice given a while ago.by many friends here....print off some of your post and take them with you to the Mental health appointment..


It is important they hear what you are saying, and i do understand you ...when you say ,if you comeover all rational and polite, then they wont see the problem


Bamboo try to tell them from the off.. that this exact moment in time is a calm , and stable period... telll them how you have felt when not so calm..


Bamboo remember there is no age-in rage...............it just comes out.
Take care Helen... and

PS... YOU WILL ALWAYS MATTER:hug:


David

hi there
thank you for posting back.
I agree...print off your posts...it gives a very clear picture of how bad it was for you.
You can find them by searching thru the forums at the top of the page with your name.
I wish you much strength for tomorrows meeting....can't believe it took this long...UGH!!!!!
bizi

YAY Bamboo - thanks for letting us know!

For me, the leg twitching was a side-effect of Effexor (I was on this medication for a few years until it was discovered that it wasn't the drug for me - I also had dry mouth, headaches and nightmares - anway, worth mentioning as I definitely was one who suffered from major withdrawal when I went off of it to switch to something else).

take care! :hug:

Thank you for your replies. :hug:
I must have been in your prayers...because i did not believe a month ago that i would be writing here today.

I went to see the psychiatrist. I didn't go as well as i wanted. I did print off my posts and explained to her that i was bad at talking but i don't think she quite understood so i didn't read them exactly. Her initial question was....how are you? :rolleyes: That just made me stare at her blankly. I didn't want to point out the obvious that if anything was hunky dory i wouldn't be sitting in front of her! :p

I told her about the depression, and some of the thoughts and ideas that i have. She thinks i just have recurrent depression, i think, there was a slight mention of start of bipolar but i think she just thinks it 99% depression. I didn't exactly explain the restlessness too much unfortunately although i explained the need to talk. She did ask if i did excess shopping during these times but i hate shopping (yeh a girl that hates shopping!!) and if i had increased sexual activity - how can i answer that? I don't sleep with people full stop! During these times i am more childish, i like running around, and being silly. Didn't know if i should say that though - i mean i don't want to sound like an idiot! :)

She did put me on a low dose of anti-psychotics but she wanted to discharge me back to my GP - i wouldn't let her though because i am so scared of going back to doing it all on my own again. I think because i appear calm and intelligent (for some reason) she can just tell me to research things she says rather than talk me through it.

How did i do? I'm seeing her again in 8 weeks...how should i deal with her at the next appt?

Thank you!!!!! :grouphug:

I'm glad you didn't let her discharge you at this early date Bamboo. It sounds like you are doing much better on the efexor..guess I'm a little suprised at the new drug since she is still dxing you.

I would guess the questions regarding both shopping and sex have to do with mood swings...the highs and lows of BP...not uncommon to have wild shopping sprees and a lot of sex while manic.

I think the most important thing to do is to be honest with her...don't worry about how you think you appear...just tell her what you are feeling. And you remember that we have a bipolar forum here if you have any questions about that. They are very supportive and very informed.

I'm so glad you are checking in and doing better. :hug:

(((Bamboo))) I agree about letting your true feelings be known. It will make for a healthier exchange. And I'm so glad you are feeling better. :hug:

Hoping for an update from you Bamboo. And praying that this coming new year will be your best yet! :grouphug:

((Bamboo)) How are you dear one? Thinking of you. :hug:

Hello doody, hey everyone!
Happy New Year to you all! :grouphug:
Sorry i have not been around too much lately, i don't want to take up too much space and i am now lucky to have the support of my family. :) It has been 9 weeks on these new meds now, and about 5wks on the anti-psychotics. To be honest i am not sure how everything is going...i'm sorry that i sound so wishy washy as usual. I feel that i should be more enthusiastic because you have all offered me such an amazing support and i want to be better for you all. I am definately functional again, thoughts are there but not as gripping as they were. :) I'm up and down alot still. I'm back to wondering if that is because i am on the path to getting better or because i have mood swings - i'm back to the thoughts i had at 18yrs! :rolleyes:
Who knows...?
I've decided that my 2 parts need to talk more so that i can eventually become one, so every night i pay both of them some attention and i think that this is a good thing because i'm learning more about them, i've learnt the other ones name now! Maybe soon she will come out of her corner...
Thank you for caring. How are you all?
:hug:

Happy New Year to you too Bamboo! It's wonderful of you to keep us updated on your progress and you do sound so much better. Support from our families is most welcomed and needed...support anywhere we find it is key to "getting up and on" with our lives.

I'm glad your "parts" are talking to each other...:wink:
I'm also suprised at the lack of response around here to your post.

Please know that you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. :hug:

Hi Bamboo! :hug:
Its good to hear from you. I'm so glad things are going better for you!!!
vicky

Hi ((Bamboo))!!! I'm so happy to see you post. Meds can be such a merry-go-round for sure! Lots of us have been on that and wonder if we will ever find the right combo! My best friend, who is 59 and bipolar, only this past year finally got her med combo right and what a blessing. I hope you do soon as well.

I don't think I've even hit on the right ones yet but not sure what to do about it. I'm going to have to have a consult with my doc.

This weekend I spent with my daughter so haven't been on, but again I'm so glad to see you posting!

Love and hugs.

A belated Happy New Year Bamboo.


So glad to see you post..........and glad the family are in the picture on your health........I hope they take time to research your feelings/condition...as it can be a long process for them to truly understand how you feel.

The next time you see your pyschatrist please tell them you feel there is two parts to Helen, [if you did not before] is very important they know what you are experiencing.

Take care young lady, and yes you still MATTER:hug:

David

Aww thank you everyone for replying that is very sweet of you! :hug: Yes having the support of my family especially now that they know the truth is been a massive relief. They have been really amazing considering the circumstances! It is a pity i had to get to breaking point to trust them but i am learning. :)
Thanks for understanding the whole 'parts' bit of my post hehe - i know it is slightly strange naming them but i realise now that they both deserve the right to not be so trodden on all the time! I've not been that welcoming to them over the past few years, but hopefully this will be a new beginning. :D I may mention it the next time i see the pdoc but to be honest having them there is not a massive problem, i just feel split sometimes - if i can get over that then maybe it'll be better, just think i'll never be lonely!! :)
Oh i wanted to tell you i've made a New Years resolution...which is strange because i'm still feeling blank and apathetic most days hehe. But today i've decided that my main goal is to do a backflip! Ok slightly bizzare i know but i remember doing them age 10yrs and i don't see why i can't get it back with a little work. ;) Ha you'd think my main goal would be to graduate...i wonder why it isn't! :D But this sounds really fun!! I will let you know how i get on. :p

Thank you Alffe for your kind words and prayers, they mean a lot to me. :hug:
Thank you vicky for posting, you are very kind - i hope you have a successful 2008!
Yes Doody, meds are annoying, i'm only on my 3rd set but already i am praying these are the right ones. You are right to go back to you dr, i hope everything works out for you. Hugs to you and your daughter. :) How old is she? I love playing, i wish i was a kid again. ;)
Thank you David for everytime posting that i matter. Simple words but they mean so much to me! I will think about what you said. I hope that you are still calm and balanced. I am sending my thoughts and prayers your way too.

:grouphug:




Happy New Year to you too Bamboo! It's wonderful of you to keep us updated on your progress and you do sound so much better. Support from our families is most welcomed and needed...support anywhere we find it is key to "getting up and on" with our lives.

I'm glad your "parts" are talking to each other...
I'm also suprised at the lack of response around here to your post.

Please know that you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
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Yesterday, 02:55 PM #13
FeelinGoofy
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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Hi Bamboo!
Its good to hear from you. I'm so glad things are going better for you!!!
vicky


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Yesterday, 06:55 PM #14
Doody
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Hi ((Bamboo))!!! I'm so happy to see you post. Meds can be such a merry-go-round for sure! Lots of us have been on that and wonder if we will ever find the right combo! My best friend, who is 59 and bipolar, only this past year finally got her med combo right and what a blessing. I hope you do soon as well.

I don't think I've even hit on the right ones yet but not sure what to do about it. I'm going to have to have a consult with my doc.

This weekend I spent with my daughter so haven't been on, but again I'm so glad to see you posting!

Love and hugs.
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Yesterday, 11:52 PM #15
David McCallion
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A belated Happy New Year Bamboo.


So glad to see you post..........and glad the family are in the picture on your health........I hope they take time to research your feelings/condition...as it can be a long process for them to truly understand how you feel.

The next time you see your pyschatrist please tell them you feel there is two parts to Helen, [if you did not before] is very important they know what you are experiencing.

Take care young lady, and yes you still MATTER

Bamboo
 

Oh I love your new years resolution! I never could do a backflip and I took tumbling about a thousand years ago. :o One of my grandaughters does those and makes it look easy. Keep us posted on your progress. *grin
And I'm glad the docs are working with you to find the right combo of meds...sometimes it takes awhile. Hang in there and stay in touch! :hug: