Pamster. Are you OK?
 

Have your headaches subsided? Do you feel better?:hug::hug::hug:

It is so wrong for the insurance companies to make people change their medicines.

Shame on you insurance companies one more time. BF

Hi Brokenfriend,

Big hugs to you :grouphug: thank you for caring about my situation, you're right it's so wrong they did this to me like this, pretty much sending a letter to tell me I'd have to jump through hops to get back on abilify, which now I am not so sure I want to do. I was getting closer to the borderline of diabetes, which runs in the family anyway, so I was wondering if I shouldn't switch to something else anyway, but I had hoped to do it the RIGHT way by weaning OFF abilify not being forced to do a cold turkey withdrawel. I am doing okay but now I have an infected tooth, the broken one I wanted to try to wait til the free dental clinic to get repaired, now its too late and I have to have it pulled. :(

The seroquel is helping, finally feeling better, day two no need for imitrex so far this morning, which is encouraging since the pharmacists I spoke with about this said it was possible the withdrawel could continue with migraines for up to two weeks, and it did last one full week, so I am really relieved it's hopefully behind me now. The slight raciness I feel is something I can live with I think, I just have to be aware of how fast I talk and try to slow it down, I had some depression last week but that's understandable after the crappy circumstances I had to endure. THat's gone now too thankfully, and I feel much better.

THank you for caring Brokenfriend, I was going to bump up my old insurance bites thread but seeing this made me feel really good to know you and the others care like you do. I count on my friends here to understand the heacy burden of being Bipolar II and that understanding in turn helps me to deal with it. Hope all is well with you, I haven't been able to keep up with all the threads here with these darn headaches kicking my butt, so maybe I will do some catching up soon. Thanks for posting to me! :D

Pam!!! Seroquel is BAD NEWS re: Diabetes ...
 

OH ShhhhTTTT!!!

i hate to be making this post. :( but i have to tell you since apparently nobody else has. and maybe even your doc doesn't know given the propaganda the drug has received. ... this suxxxxxxxx dingy soxxxxxxxxxxx :( ... insurance aside.

Pam, if you are already hyperglycemic... or at familial risk for diabetes... this is NOT a good treatment option for you! :(

Seroquel is one of those drugs which, like Zyprexa which is more "famous for it," increases the likelyhood of diabetes & metabolic syndrome. Also, like Eli Lilly, apparently AstraZeneca - makers of Seroquel - underplayed and misrepresented these risks, as well as the degree of efficacy of the drug (not as good as it's made out to be).

Documents on Seroquel show drugmaker knew of risks
2/27/2009, 3:20 p.m. PST
By LINDA A. JOHNSON
The Associated Press

here's an article on a class action suit in FL... it's about to go under appeal. hard to prove the stuff if you read the art. you will see why.
Prescription Access Lawsuits - Seroquel

general info on some AP's/stabilizers and involved risks.
About.com: Bipolar Disorder Meds Increase Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes

if anything, this might be a hoop to get you on a stabilizer that does not have this issue, or back on Abilify. for that matter i am not aware of Abilify carrying these same risks.... in fact... i just found this:

[summary] An economic evaluation of aripiprazole vs olanzapine adapted to the Italian setting using outcomes of metabolic syndrome and risk for diabetes in patients with schizophrenia

~ waves ~ burnin' down the house (fire extinguisher, anyone??) :(

Yeah, on t he autism forum on BT I posted about it and one of the members posted a link to a lawsuit for diabetes related to seroquel use. I will have to try something else, geodone maybe. I appreciate your post waves, thank you. :hug:

I don't think mood stabilizers can help with racing thoughts and rapid speech can they? Which means I have to find one atypical that will work without triggering diabetes. Thanks again waves for posting, I really appreciate it. :)

atpyical
 

Dear Pam,
Actually, it depends.
Mood stabilizers can help with racing thoughts.
It depends on so many things.
I am on Verapamil for a mood stabilizer. Nothing else worked for the racing thoughts and we tried everything available at the time.
So I don't think that a person necessarily needs an atpyical. It depends on the nature of the what is going on and so many other things.

M.

THat's good to know Mari, I had good results with each atypical I've used, but I've taken Neurontin/gabapenten and it did nothing for me, I know that there are better mood stablizers out there, but I am worried about laictal rash if I started on lamictal or going off it and developing seizures. Lots of things to worry about with that kind of therapy. Thanks for posting about your experience Mari, I really appreciate it. :D

neurontin is useless for bipolar
 

Sure mood stabilizers can help with racing throughts/rapid speech - those are are manic sx and ANY anti-manic could work, depending on the individual. most mood-stabilizers are primarily antimanic. Depakote is first line attack for mixed states usually. but also agents (stabilizers) that can work for those sx are Tegretol & Trileptal, and the old classic lithium.

Neurontin/gabapentin was used off label for bipolar but was never approved, and finally shown to be completely useless as a mood stabilizer for bipolar.

now, if you take it for pain, or when you first start taking it... it sure grogs you out... so that sapping of energy can make it seem like it works as an antimanic but you get used to that side effect pretty quick and then it's useless.

i take Depakote - an AED - and do well on it as a stabilizer and it is not an atypical. it does carry risk of weight gain, and supplements are recommended to avoid alopecia. there is controversy about it causing PCOS... but, if one excludes genetic predisposition which may be triggered, many suspected precursor changes are related to nutritional deficiencies which can be corrected with appropriate supplements. anyway nothing has been proven there yet.

Depakote helps me BIG TIME with racing thoughts.

Interesting thought on verapamil. I take it for both high blood pressure
and for migraines.

Donna

Pam,
I've been following your story about the med switch because I hope it has a happy conclusion.
Keep us updated if you can.

M.

Here is a pic of blue skies coming your way.
http://bestsmileys.com/backgrounds/4.gif

Sinatra's "Blue Skies":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6cZKcRhQes

Willie Nelson doing Blue Skies":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSCplj40uuY&NR=1

Pamster
 

I'm so sorry about your tooth also. I have a tooth where part of the filling has fallen out. It's been like that for just over five months. I'm hoping to get on this waiting list to have it filled. So I can relate to that. I'm sorry that your tooth is getting sore.

Can't you go to a local hospital,and explain? Maybe they can work something out with you. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Thanks everyone, I am pretty tired today, like I could have slept all day. I don't know if it's the seroquel or just fatigue catching up with me. I wish I could post more, but there's nothing to say really. I called my dr about the infected tooth and they called in an antibiotic for me and I've have four pills in me so far and the swelling has gone down a little bit. *yawn* I am gonna go to bed early...

Hi Pamster. It's probably the seroquel that makes you tired. It makes me tired,and causes me to get plenty of sleep. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Pam

Also with the swelling going down, you are probably starting to
feel a little better. So if you were having trouble getting good sleep
its now starting to be good sound sleep. So I would just do the
best sleeping as much as you can.

Sending some hugs.

Donna

I don't feel right in the head, tired and sleepy during the day and been kinda weepy. I miss abilify. *Sigh* I wasn't having trouble sleeping because I take trazadone, but I find that within half an hour of taking my bedtime meds I am falling over with sleep. Moreso then I was before. I wish I felt better in the head, no migraines, but I just feel 'off' somehow. Been kinda crying about this upcoming tooth extraction, and the stupid bills. I hate being so broke I can't afford a decent haircut. It looks awful and I just hate having to wear it in a pony tail all the time. Oh well, nothing to do but keep on keeping on. :rolleyes:

Hi Pam
 

I think you should go back to taking abilify. There are companies that will ship it out to your doctor,or social worker NPs,and Doctors.

I don't have any income,and they are shipping me the seroquel free,and I think that they should do that with abilify also.

Could people give the names of some of these companies. I forgot the name of the company that ships out my medicine to my clinic.

Drug reps give samples to these clinics also. I'm sorry that I'm not much help,but I think you can get it free if you don't have income. I think somebody named a few companies that would do that at the beginning of the thread. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Brokenfriend

It is on the beginning of either this thread or another.

But if she can work through this and get to were its better.
It would be best to try first. She has just given it about
2 weeks off the abilify and needs to give it plenty of time
to see if its going to work.

Pam,

I think I'd take the meds at night, at bedtime right now.
And see if that helps.

Donna

Thank you Dmom3005
 

Your right. I take my seroquel before bed only. After an hour I become groggy,and sleepy. Then I go to bed.

If I took it in the morning,I couldn't function. I wouldn't drive. When I wake up,I am not groggy,and I'm not as jumpy. That's when it really benefit's me,the next day. BF:hug::hug:

Pretty down this morning....
 

Well I got word this morning, my novel wasn't selected in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. I am pretty disappointed and depressed now, I won't be entering this thing next year, and wish I hadn't this year. I really needed good news this morning. My dear friend Pam's Mother died Sunday and I got a call from her daughter, the granddaughter yesterday around 2:30 and she told me about it. I feel so awful for her, she's lost her mother back in 2005 and now her grandmother, she's only got her children and her husband now, and ME of course. :( So I sit here with tears down my face because I was really hoping for good news today with this contest. I think I will be away for awhile, I don't have anything positive and upbeat to say right now and I need to grieve the loss of Pam's mother, my friend. :(

Thank you all for your continuing support, I can't tell you how much it means to me to be able to call you all friends. :hug:

Pam

Sending you thoughts for your friend.

And sorry about the book.

Donna

Pamster
 

I'm so sorry to hear about the book,and your friends mothers death. I'm sending Hugs:hug:your way.

Sometimes these things happen all at once. I'm so sorry. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Oh, Pam,
Two losses. :( And one right after the other. :heartthrob:

I'm sorry that you did not get good news about your book. You worked hard on that and had hopes.

It's ok to mourn for a while. We'll be here with you.

Mari

"Pamela,

We mistakenly sent you a message on Monday stating "Your Excerpt was reviewed by two Amazon Vine Reviewers, however, and their feedback will be made available to you via your CreateSpace ABNA Dashboard in the coming weeks."

We regret to inform you that based on reviews of your Pitch, you were not selected to move forward to the Second Round (Excerpt Review) of the contest. You will therefore not have reviews of your Excerpt posted in your CreateSpace ABNA Dashboard. We sincerely apologize for this notification error and regret any confusion it may have caused.

We hope you will accept a $5 electronic gift card which you can use for any Amazon purchase along with our apology. To use this gift card, place items you wish to purchase in your Amazon cart and begin checkout. Before you click "Place your order", enter your gift code (listed below) in the space provided and $5 will be credited towards your purchase."

*Sigh* I wish it would stop raining on me....oh wait that's my tears....Sheesh, this is a real slap in the face and made me feel like dirt....All that work for nothing, to get kicked away from even the tiniest victory of making the FIRST cut and having two reviews to look forward to, nope, I get a five dollar gift card I will NEVER use....THanks for the emotional trauma Amazon...

Pamster
 

I understand some of what you feel. I've gotten so close to a goal,and at the last minute it's gone. I've compared this time with me being a book,and my future,the last chapters of the book,are ripped out of the book. This left me in despair. I couldn't see my future,because it was gone. This,on top of everything else,at that time caused me to become disillusioned. I didn't take this well,and I went adrift for several years. This was years ago,and I haven't forgotten the feeling.

You tried. I'm sure it was hard work. Be good to yourself. You did something that most people cannot do. Maybe you can send the book somewhere else to have it published. If not,we appreciate your attempt. Don't give up. You are a success for the attempt. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Dear Pam,

That stinks in so many ways.
I'm sorry about the tears.
Mari

Pam

You know it is just that you are a great writer and they can't stand
to have someone that isn't up to reviewing your work do it.

So they wont let anyone look at it.

Donna

Hi, Pam,
I'm thinking about you and sending hugs. :hug: :hug: :hug:
Mari

I'm sorry for not posting...
 

But I just don't feel like I am up to it. I am so tired and in a rut, it's like I just can't be bothered to care about anything right now. I'm sorry I don't feel like posting right now. I just feel like sleeping. I think a lot of this is due to my body trying to get used to the new medication, but it just feels like it's not getting what I need to feel 'right'. :(

I go to see the new psychiatrist which has me worried because the mental health clicnic I go to doesn't really RX benzos, and I am worried about if they will rx my other head meds, and help me try to get back on abilify. I somehow doubt it. Which has me depressed too. *sigh* I just feel awful. :( Got to get a tooth yanked weds. and that has me down too, I just hate my life right now. :(

Pamster
 

I'm so sorry. ((((((((Hugs)))))))) to you. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Thanks for the understanding and the hugs Brokenfriend, it really helps to be understood and supported. Thank you. :)

Pam

Your feeling are very natural right now.

Donna:grouphug:

Your very welcome Pamster. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Hi Pam
 

sorry the pitch didn't make it :(

i am sad with you and feel partly responsible... i keep wondering if i something bad to it. but as has been said, doing the best we can is all we can do. you did the best you could, as did i to try to help. we could not do more than that.

every year they are going to have different judges. also, perhaps the entries this year were particularly competitive.

it is normal to be sad about it. but don't let it keep you sad too long.
this doesn't have to make you or break you.
you can keep trying.


((( co-sad hugs )))

:( ~ waves ~ :(

Aw thanks waves, I don't think we could have done anything differently to have changed the outcome of this contest for me. Your help really made a difference for me and I am just disappointed in the fact that they retracted the first email saying that my pitch didn't even get through the first cut and opps, here's five bucks and BTW we were wrong, we're not giving you tow reviews on your excerpt-no one read it so none exist. That was just a crappy feeling I had after reading it.

I had a tooth pulled yesterday and it exposed another one that's broken but not hurting YET, so I am anxious about that, but otherwise things are going well. I agree with you, this shouldn't keep me down for long because it doesn't and will not break me. :) Thanks for being my friend waves. :hug:

And thank you too for caring Brokenfriend. :) It makes me feel good to know I have friends who care about me. :hug:

Hi Pam.

Glad you got the tooth out... Sorry to hear about the other broken tooth. I hope you can have it fixed up before it starts hurting... it is usually simpler work (and cheaper) besides less invasive overall. Good luck. I know it is a PITA to keep up with this stuff... i need to go in myself... :Sigh:

~ waves ~

Me too. I've had a broken filling for 6 months,and am trying to obtain help from the free clinic. If I cannot get their help,I will have to come up with a plan B. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Pam

I love the way you bounced back after the pulled tooth.

Way to go. You are a inspiration.

Donna

Thanks everyone!
 

I am so happy to report that my new psychiatrist did the paperwork needed reporting how both risperdal and seroquel did not work as well for me and had undesirable side effects as opposed to Abilify and I called them yesterday and was delighted to find that they had approved my prior authorization for the medication I prefer! Thank you all for being here for me and I have a feeling the withdrawel off seroquel is not going to be any more fun or easy then the withdrawel off abilify was....

I'll try to keep you all posted, if I can. Hey Brokenfriend? Maybe you can call your local health department and ask if the "Free Mobile Dental Clinic" comes to your communmity. They have helped me with broken fillings before and are wonderful people. I sure hope it comes to your area. Check into it. :)

Great News
 

Dear Pam,
Way to go!

http://bestsmileys.com/cheering/5.gif

I'm glad that you get your Abilify back.
It's a good day when you find a med that works and that you can keep taking despite the bureaucrats.

M.

THanks Mari! I feel much more hopeful for regaining my stability then I did last week, things look much brighter today then they did last weekend. ;) :D