Bipolar support thread

Ralphy101

Hi Guys

Havent posted for a while so i thought'd i drop in and say hi.

Where do i start?

Okay after being passed from pillar to post ( 3 different P docs in as many visits) I eventaully have been seen by a new P Doc. An eastern European lady with a no bull S*it attitude.... very stern and serious.

She has now suggested that i do not have bi polar ( after the other 2 suggested i do have).

She then went on to ask about my medication - i felt it isnt working - and she proposed 2 options 1) go for an anti pyschotic drug or 2) up the level of depakote i am currently on.

I opted for the latter... as i thought changing drugs now could send me sky high...
.
What i dont understand is .... Depakote is a mood stabilizer... so why is she saying that she doesnt think I have Bi polar and yet ups my medication level?

I know this site isnt a medical one, and i am not asking for a diagnosis from anyone ... but has any one else experienced this?

She said wait for a copy of her letter to my GP - as she would be able to put her thoughts down better on paper.

ITs just left me very confused!

Ralphy101

Hi Skipmum...

got the copy of the letter to my gp...

get ready!....

HE doesnt fit into one single classification... hes showing signs and symptons of Cyclothmya... with mixed schziod personaly, and Emotional unstable ( or borderline personality) disorder... couples with severe anxiety!

Get your head around that! .... depakote increasing to 1000mg a day to try and curb the hypomania... and anxiety tablets for the panic attacks.... as and when needed... also possible future anti pyschotic drugs... depending on how i react to the higher dose of depakote... got to go back in 3 months for a follow up...


Had a look into all of the disorders mentioned.... they all mention flucuation in mood.. Schzoid and bordlerline disorders are beleived to be "cousins" of schziophrenia... Its left me a bit dumb founded!

Being referred to psychotherepy also.

snookey

Im going to the psych next month for a reveiw . The psych wanted me to be reffered onto my gp at my last appointment. Makes me so mad that each time a new psych comes onto the scene they make different judgements on my meds and care.
I cant understand why they think the gp should monitor someone with mental illness . Im on antipsychotics and other psych meds which only a psych can prescribe so if things go wrong Id have to wait weeks or months to be seen by the chmt.
Anyone else having this problem.

sarah*a

snookey wrote: »

I cant understand why they think the gp should monitor someone with mental illness . Im on antipsychotics and other psych meds which only a psych can prescribe so if things go wrong Id have to wait weeks or months to be seen by the chmt.
Anyone else having this problem.

skipsmum wrote: »

My GP is fab and has known me a long time so I much prefer to be under her than under the constantly changing psychs at the hospital. She will also send me straight up to the acute unit if she thinks I need to be seen. My Gp knows my situation re family, mental health, what I am like when high/low etc, so this works for me. I think it depends on your gp tho. Have you got a CPN?

I'm currently only under GP care - but I have it in writing that should I request it I can get a (more or less) immediate appointment with my Pdoc - maybe something like would be helpful for you? I had massive panick attacks when they told me they were 'discharging' me from pdoc care but having this in place means I worry less

System

I wish i could find a decent gp, all the ones in my surgery are a bit crap comp[are to my old one had before i moved. I've avoided seeing them as they just seem to wnat to give me my meds and get me out the door as quickly as possible and there's no consistancy (which unerves me)you have to wait weeks to see the same GP :mad:

My old GP was brilliant and supportive.

I'm annoyed that i couldn't see my cpn/gp/psych before monday as i have my medical for ESA and am in a real state worrying about it. i need them to be supportive but by the time i see them it could be too late. if i fail i will be in crisis and i'm scared of just how far off the deep end it will push me (i've already made plans in case that happens )

I feel like its all too much and i don't have enough support right now. i could go to a+e but at this exact moment in time i'm not suicidal so i think they'#d just send me home and think i was timewasting and i'd hate to be taking time away from someone who is genuinely in crisis and needs the help more than i do.

pixieland

does any one have flupentixol injections? Hubby has just started these,he was hearing voices but a least now he doesnt talk to people that arent there,wont even say what other meds he is on we would be here all day.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Just wondering if anyone else with Bipolar suffers with very dry & sore skin on hands and body?

I have problems with my skin especially when I'm unwell (generally depressive stage). My skin starts to feel really irritated and sore, even starts breaking down to reveal red raw skin. This happens particulalry on my legs & my hands get affected. No cream helps.

Sueinbirmingham

I get very dry skin when I'm getting unwell. I don't know why. It's particularly noticeable on my face.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I don't know why it happens either Sue, it's quite bizarre. I know it's a sign that things ain't good with me.

dark_angel_2002

I finally sought help I phoned to crisis team and have to say it was rubbish, they let me down again so sick of them, I was supposed to see the psych on thursday and they didnt tell me they had, had to cancel my appointment until I got there, now seeing them the 1st june which feels ages away, they just don't seem to care, the fluoxetine I am on is sending me as high as a kite and I don't think it's right for me I nearly smashed up my car not for the first time as i seem to be high all the time until I finally crash and sleep and can't get out of bed, I sit like an idiot crying all the time and cant function i can't eat it drives me mad, I have lost 2 stone in weight in the last month as I hardly eat why the hell dont they listen to me, on the bright side I have a lady seeing me from a charity who is now being my crutch and helping me function with life i just want normal just one day of normal why dont i get it !!!!!! just once. I want to get up and have a day of happy not high but real happy hate feeling like this sorry to winge on just needed to get it off my chest