After a hysterectomy, your cycle should be flat. There are mail order saliva tests. They are not as accurate but lacking ovaries should mean you don't have wild swings. If you did a few saliva tests at the various days and times of day, you may find a problem. An integrative medicine physician may be helpful. Google "saliva hormone testing for women" and you will find lots of in formation.

Adrenal fatigue, cortisol dysfunction and other hormonal issues can all contribute to your struggles.

I understand the difficulty finding the right doctor when limited to a government based/directed health plan. The US Medicare system has many of the same barriers.

My best to you.

Cycle Crash

Mark has nailed some important things to look at here. Our hormones and brain chemistry are very linked.

I learned a lot from the book Female Brain Gone Insane -- it's where I learned about the supplements I take.

Anyhow, I don't always understand the medical words here, but I get the gist and do look into your hormones.

Praying for your recovery.

Sincerely,

pm

Whenever I read of troubles suffered by persons going through the turmoil of Bipolar disorder and treatment, and the poly-pharmacy approaches practiced by varied Psychiatric groups, it always brings me back to wondering if we will ever be able to find the panacea for that care.

Anyway, this one article comes to my mind so often that I bookmarked it, and when I see folks on so many different medications I always re-read it:

The Most Important Article On Psychiatry You Will Ever Read............ its just something I have to keep reading...... because years ago, we were always told "shot gun approaches were not the way to treat people" however with some conditions a little of this and a little of that may just be the way.

Best Wishes on your recovery, CycleCrash...........

I should have specified that I still have my ovaries so I still have those hormonal issues too. Fun wow!

Concussion, that article was really something. Quite a hard read for me right now but very interesting and explains a lot of things! They are definitely trying a shotgun approach with all the different meds I am on right now for everything from sleep to depression to anxiety. I never even thought that pleasure seeking might be a "symptom" too I just thought those were good days

Too much to think about. I tried going off all meds because I wanted to know what the real me was like again and I was in bed for over 40 hours and was suicidal so that test didn't go well. It's tough when your brain does not feel like it's you anymore.

I hope everyone sleeps well tonight. Thank you for the advice and support.

CC

You can discover your cycle with an ovulation test. Women trying to get pregnant use them to find their most fertile time. They will tell you that point in your cycle.

Some women develop an allergy to the eggs that need to be absorbed rather than expelled. This can happen to women with tubal ligation. The same happens to some men who have vasectomies. Some immune system testing may be worthwhile. Inflammation from immune reactions could be an issue.

Have you found any doctors who are willing to think outside the box ? It may be the key to understanding your condition.

My best to you.

Yes CC

Mark just said it so well. See about hormone testing. It is just that important.

When my hormones took me for a wild ride back in 09, I had such anxiety -- and the book I mentioned really helped me.

I know you have a lot of medical issues on your plate.

Here's wishing you healing and better health to come.

Sincerely,

pm

Cyclecrash, your postings here have given me so much help and insight as I recover, I just wanted to give you some light and healing from sunny Berkeley.

I'm sorry you have another issue to address on top of the tangle that is pcs/mtbi, but I hope you keep advocating for yourself to find the right help - whatever the form it is.

Day by day---

I wasn't able to read the other posts, but I wanted to say that my brother has bipolar disorder, and he is living a very happy, very productive life. His worst period, he was so bad off, they thought he was schizophrenic, but it's ten years later and he hasn't had a serious problem since then (fingers crossed!) even through his personal life has had many ups and downs. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I will definitely have to check out that book and thanks again everyone for all the words of support and advice. Still plugging along upping one med and lowering another and adding another. Such a juggling game! I feel pretty good at the moment but tomorrow's increase could change it all in one moment.

The great news is that I finally have a neuro opthalmologist appointment for July 23'rd!!!! Finally going to get these eyes looked at. I had great success with an optometrist that prescribed prism glasses but I still have too much eye strain and cannot progress so I'm very hopeful the neuro opth. might have some ideas.

Take care,

CC

Sorry you are going through all that. I am 61 and just dx'd last year being bi-polar too. Evidently I had tendencies toward that all my life. I am over emotional at times. Currently I am on zoloft and serequel as well. Moods have stabalized. I have 5 auto immune conditions,and I wasn't handling them particualry good. I don't know if a concusion can cause bi-polar, the doc. said I might have been born this way. My parents complained I was antsy all my life. So.... are you feeling any better these days? I know the hospital isn't any fun. The meds you are on, should work for bi-polar to my knowledge. I am not familiar with the medication you mentioned that they wanted to switch you to.
I know all these emotions, are difficult, I do wish you all the best. There are alot of bi-polar people on this site. Check out that forum OK? I just wanted you to know, you are not alone. Life throws some real left hooks at you at times. Not all of us are equipped to handle many stresses at one time. You will find some friends here also. On the bottom of the page, there is also Neuro Talk for mental health issues. Both sites, do both medical and mental issues. Explore all you want. I am glad you found us. Hope your 4th was a good one and didn't get rained out like we did. ginnie