Hello everyone,

I know I haven't been on here in a while but that's because I've been hospitalized since May 14'th in the psychiatric ward of my hospital. They are trying to find meds that can help me. It appears I am suffering bipolar episodes and it is unknown if the concussion caused it, triggered it or if it was always there just not bad enough to need help.

We have tried Effexor(became manic), Cymbalta (depressed,suicidal), Cypralex (extremely aggressive) and I am now on Zoloft with Seraquel to help as a mood stabilizer. I also take elavil 10mg for headaches which has always helped. They are lowering my dosage of Seraquel and are going to put me on Lamotrodine with the zoloft.

Is anyone familiar with this occurrence or had any luck with medications or resolving the bipolar symptoms without drugs? I know I've probably spelled all of the drug names wrong but I'm tired.

I hope everyone is doing well. It's good to see some of the old names not on here as much. Maybe it means they have gotten back on with their lives.

Take care,
CC

Dear cyclecrash,

I have no advice at all and wish I did.

What a turmoil you have been through. How scary for you too.

I hope others weigh in soon with any advice for you.

Is lithium a possibility for you or not?

Anyhow, take care,

poetrymom

Hi CC,

I don't have any particular suggestions - just wanted to send you positive thoughts as you deal with the rollercoaster of PCS. I can say that I know at least one person with bipolar disorder whose life turned around dramatically with the help of meds and a good psychiatrist. It took her a while to find the right combination of meds, therapy, lifestyle choices/routines, etc. so hang in there.

I can't speak to the bipolar issue but my recovery has taken 2+ years. I have made enormous gains and am regaining my former life but it has been a slow process requiring much patience.

My best to you.

I have two brothers who have struggled with bi-polar. It is not a life sentence. Getting stabilized can help you develop life skills to reduce the highs and lows. One brother had to change careers to avoid the cyclical stress levels of intense projects with intense let downs when the projects get finished.

I hope there are support groups where you can share your struggles and victories. I know there is a group called Emotions Anonymous.

My best to you.

Cyclecrash - Sorry to hear what happened to you. I wish I could advise but I am not in a position to, take care of yourself.

Cyclecrash,

Bipolar Disorder, with the help of meds and therapy can be taken care of. Mood stabilzers (Anti-seizure meds, antipsychotics such as Zyprexa and Seroquel), antidepressants are used for depressive cycles. Manic cycles are managed by mood stablizers and antipsychotics.

Therapy may also benefit you at this time, if you haven't already done it.

Get well soon,

Consider

Hi cyclecrash,

Years ago I hit my forehead on a steel dock plate (used for unloading trucks) and now looking back a lot of my mental health issues began shortly there after. I have been diagnosed with bipolar /depression. And I have been on most of the meds you listed. All with the same nasty side effects.including smoking in bed & not remembering it & I never smoke in the bedroom. Very scary!

Until this latest concussion I have chosen to live med free. I am currently weaning myself off Lexapro. I plan on using the L-Tryptophan since Mark from Idaho has been having good success with it.

Like with my PCS I have to learn my triggers so I can avoid them and/or develop work arounds.

It hasn't been an easy road not taking the psych meds but I have had to maintain a strong support network of family & a couple of really close trusted friends and learn to pay really close attention to how I feel and my behaviors, like is this shampoo any better than the other 4 bottles I have, or do I really need 3 bags of chocolate candy, can I afford to go to the casinos, things like that.

I still have depressed days but I allow myself to be human and know that not everyday is going to be an up day and every one has a "blue" day and I give myself permission to be blue. It's what I do the next day that counts.

I attend 12 step meetings and use the "take the body and the mind will follow" approach to feeling better. Going for walks, doing something I enjoy doing even if I don't feel like it. I have to do something to keep the depression from swallowing me up.

My thoughts are with you on this journey.

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

I'm now an infrequent lurker but am glad to hear of your update. Even though it is a tough diagnosis it is also empowering to know what you're dealing with... remember how frustrating the big unknown can be? I'm sorry you're going through tough times though!

I am just an uneducated opinion but frankly even the so-called educated doctors don't seem to know that much about the chicken/egg conundrum of mental health versus physical injury. For what it's worth... whether you had the tendencies or not before injury, if it's indeed clear that you have bipolar disorder now, then that is what you must deal with and treat, alongside whatever else helps you cope with PCS. So whether its caused by injury or not, it shouldn't change how doctors deal with it, right? I'm hoping! I don't understand why they are trying to even figure out the cause, maybe I'm missing something.

As you can see I'm not up to snuff these days, I'm giving all my good marbles to my workplace and there's not much left upstairs for anything else. Lol

I hope you find healing, and peace. Good to hear from you.