A
female
age
26-29,
*TheAlmightyDuckx
writes:I really need some help. For those of you who do not know last year in the summer I was diagnosed with Bipolar. Its a really difficult illness to live with and I can't say a day hasn't gone by where I haven't wished I didn't have it. Since being diagnosed with bipolar I have been put on medication. At first I was put on Prozac for the lows, and a mood stabilizer to balance out both the highs and the lows of my emotions. I have to say when I first started taking it, it made a huge improvement on my life, it made me happy and made my behaviour less erratic and brought me back to me. However that was just 3 months in, its almost been 9 months now and things have just gotten worse and worse and worse. I started getting really tired, and for some reason I found myself constantly ill in some form or another, I expeirenced really bad lethargy, and before long the symptoms went on to full on vomitting, migranes and even spontanous mouth bleeding. It turned out I was allergic to the prozac so I had to stop taking it, it had also made my symptoms of depression worse. The illness went and symptoms went, but the tiredness and lethargy didn't, after looking at countless options, we figured out that it was the mood stablizer which was causing the extreme tiredness. It has gotten so bad that I would spend every free moment in bed, and it has interfered with college to the point where my attendance is shocking. It has also gotten to the point where this medication is no longer making me happy, infact I feel like a zombie everyday. Its taking away my energy, my joy, sense of humour, my personality and I can't deal with it anymore. To add to all of that its made me put on 2 and a half stone which is adding to one of the reason why I feel low at the moment and I can't bear it. So I have made a descion with my parents to come off this medication for good and deal with my bipolar as it comes, as since then I have learnt methods on how to deal with situations as they arise. Btw I have also looked into other medicine but as i'm allergic to prozac and i'm on the smallest possible dosage and type of mood stablizer everything else is ten times stronger which will just make my problems worse. One problem though, when I don't take it, I can't sleep, I can't sleep at all. This is the first day i've stopped taking it and its 4 in the morning, I have college at 9 and I just can't sleep at all. I seriously need help or any methods of sleeping, as I am finding it hard to cope with having to choose between being a crazy insomniac or over-weight emotionless zombie for the rest of my life. Reply to this Question
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female
reader, Abella  +, writes (25 January 2014):
 Hi Almighty Duck, as I surmised you continue to impress me with your great courage and bravery as you face these hurdles with great inner strength.
I am very glad that you have already accessed many options and it sounds like you also have some good family support.
One day I do hope that they discover more about this very debilitating illness which is contracted by so many through no fault of their own. Who gets this illness seems to be so random.
My best wishes for you in the future.
I am very glad that CBT made a positive difference.
A
female
reader, xTheAlmightyDuckx +, writes (24 January 2014):
xTheAlmightyDuckx is verified as being by the original poster of the question Thank you IAmHereToHelpYou, you are right its a difficult situation and some people just don't get it.
And thats exactly what it feels like, my life is moving slower than everyone elses. Thanks for the insight and I hope you are doing good x
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female
reader, xTheAlmightyDuckx +, writes (24 January 2014):
xTheAlmightyDuckx is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks for the wise words Cindy Care but I know this might be super surprising but the reason why we have taken to my local GP is because the Psychiatric doctor who I have at a mental health adolescent centre is like what you described the GP being like. The Pyschiatric doctor was the one who put me on all this, I had three appointments with her the first she diagnosed me with Bipolar and put me on the Mood Stabiliser. And the second she put me on the prozac. The thrid she asked me how I was, and I was fine back then and weighed me and this was before I had started to put on weight. I had another appointment with her but had to cancel because I was really unwell. She said she would send another appointment through but hasn't, and our last appointment was in (the one I missed) November. So thats why we decided to go to my GP and he gave me a blood test and recommended I stay off the prozac. My psychiatric doctor was told by another member i'd been working with that I had stopped taking the prozac and just told her to pass it on to me that I am not to take it anymore due to side effects. She is very professional and not very realistic, and she never has left a number of contact and hasn't even arranged another appointment. Pyschiatric Doctors in my part of the reason, along with a wide majority of the mental health service in my part of the regeion, are all based around money and the sooner you are off there books the better. If I wanted to make an appointment with her to discuss this, which needs to be done ASAP it would not be able to happen for a few months. My GP is my main port of call, and he has been good so far, he hasn't perscribed me any medication everything I am on or was on was given to me and recommended to me by the Psychiatric Doctor. When I desperately need to speak to someone and was told when there was an emergency to ring the mental health center to speak to my support worker, I was told she wasn't there and a day later when my mum rang she promised to ring back at 3 and it got to five and there was still nothing. My mum rang my GP who was the only person decent enough to give advice and rang up the mental health place himself and demanded someone get back to us. And just to give you an idea of how bad the mental health service is in the place I live, I had a friend, who was told she must be coping because she was alive, which was a distasteful thing to say. They are also under loads of investigation after a women took her own life and her childrens after being refused help and a mental assessment. So the GP is my only choice and has been more reliable than any other mental health professionals. If I wanted a new one, then it would take months once again, and all doctors I have been assigned to there were awful and refused to give me a diagnoses as they didn't want to have to fork out more money for me because I needed medication, apart from the one who I have now. So thats why we stick to the GP.
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female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (24 January 2014):
 OP, you mention a GP, and then a generic " the doctors ", and now, don't get me wrong, it's not that I distrust GPs or that I have decided that your doctor is an ass- but, don't tell me that you are getting Bipolar Disorder cured by a GP ?! Didn't he give you a referral ? Bipolar is a specific and serious psychiatric condition, you need a specialist ! One who's experienced in THAT specific condition and is up to date with the latest research , and management of side effects, and all the new meds that are coming out faster than new TV reality shows.
Actually, you mentioned Prozac, that's a first generation antidepressant, not that it's not good for many people, but , they've come up with other stuff which is equally or more effective with less side effects. Only, a GP would not KNOW because he is not even supposed to know, he'll go with the first generation, " umbrella ", one -size-fits-all one.
Again , not to badmouth GPs, they are PRECIOUS in an emergency , or for usual run-of- the mill ailments, but for you, you DO need a referral to a neuro- psychiatrist. One worth his salt too, one who would not let you feel awful and bleed from your mouth for 9 months before saying " Uh-oh, fluoxetine does not really suit her,let's try something else ".
One who knows by heart the protocol for subministration of psychiatric drugs ,AND anticonvulsants ( which basically all mood stabilizers but Lithium are ) and can DECIDE for you what is more "unhealthy " for your brain, if making you quit gradually ( first alternate days, then every 3 days etc. ) with all the bad symptoms it may entail. Or , letting you risk a full blown seizures episode.
One who can study for you the right cocktails of meds and choose for you, for instance, an ansiolitic ( antianxiety ) who would not interfere with the specific antidepressant you'd be prescribed.
It's not a mix-and-match that you can do by yourself, or even of your GP. You need a good specialist.
If I am mistaken and your meds have not been prescribed by your GP,- well, you still need a specialist. Another one; apparently the one you are seeing is not that good, or at least not that good for you and your case. Otherwise he would not have let you 9 months on a drug or drugs which in practice made way more harm than good !
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female
reader, xTheAlmightyDuckx +, writes (24 January 2014):
xTheAlmightyDuckx is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThankyou all for your wise and helpful information. I eventually gave up last night and took my pill because I just couldn't handle it. First of all there are just one or two things I need to clarify... For almost a year now I have been having CBT therapy and also started CAT therapy some months ago. The CBT has helped so much that I don't have to have it anymore because i've learnt how to deal with situations and there hasn't been a problem I haven't been able to deal with in the last 4-5 months. This is why I wanted to try and stop taking my mediaction because I know I can deal with things differently as supposed to back then, also because of all the weight gaining and zombie effects. I was also having CAT therapy, but I cancelled that because it was bringing things up from the past that I didn't want to remember and causing new problems for me. So on the therapy front, I am good. As with the Fluxeatine to be more precise, I am NEVER taking that again, and I was advised by my GP to come completely off it, it was soo awful, and because of that I am really hesitant and not too willing to try any more anti-depressants, but after what some of you have commented i'm actually starting to change my mind. You see I can deal with the highs of bipolar, and I miss being able to have energy and get excited, I miss being able to go to college everyday and have a social life, that has all gone now because I just can't keep it up, I get too tired or I get lethargic. The things which I stuggle with is the lows and the big big part is the anxiety. The anxiety is what keeps me awake, its just there and makes my heart race and it keeps my brain and body so active that I just cannot sleep, that is the main problem, and I think what would be best for me is if I could come off the mood stablizer and try out an anxiety drug or even an anti-depressant. I have tried herbal remedies, and they only supply me with a quick fix which lasts about 20-minutes. I have tried sleeping methods, routines, set times, lavender, reading and they are all great, but they just keep my brain awake. (Thanks anyway Abella muchly appreciated). I can't gradually stop taking this kind of medicine because its the smallest dosage they do and for example taking it every other day is worse than taking it all the time, as it slows my brain down and then on the next day its aloud to stay active which is really un-healthy. I'm on a diet, and my food intake has always been on the more healthy side, i'm really interested in going jogging and the gym, but I get too tired, and normally afterwards when I wake up in the morning i'm ten times more tired than usual and obviously I have college not to mention despite the exercise and diet, I am still putting on weight, i've almost put on another half a stone in a week. I can't take any other mood stabilizer due to this one being the lightest and the only one which has said not to have any long term damaging effects on teenage brains. So after going through all the solutions I guess the only one left is to go to the doctors and ask about a different route instead of mood stabilizers. So that is what I will do, I am also extremely worried about college because the tiredness makes it so hard to attend, but my mum talked to them today and they were very understanding, and despite me not always being there I am still a hard-working student who gets all the work done. I am just worried they won't take me on next year and I don't know what i'd do if they said no. But anyway, thank you all soo much, I was going mad last night and now i'm slightly releived, I will carry on taking this medication untill monday, and then I will go to the doctors and see what can be done. Thankyou :)
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (24 January 2014): Many patients find that sometimes it isn't just the medication that they have to change; but they have to change their doctor as well. I'm sure your doctor is a qualified professional. However; like any professional, everyone reaches their level of effectiveness. Then they can't get any better.
You need to find a new professional who is familiar with difficult bipolar cases; and specializing with patients who have allergies. It might be more that you can deal with alone; so you may want to seek the assistance of your parents or a friend.
Go online; or contact a Psychiatric referral hotline to find yourself another Psychiatrist specializing in bipolar disorders. Sometimes people are not being treated by the right kind of psychiatrist; and they may have limited knowledge and experience with your particular problems.
They don't like losing patients; but if you're getting no better, it's time for a complete change of doctor and therapy. You can also follow-up on your present doctor's rating among other doctors, and if his/her practice in high standing among other doctor's in his or her field.
People forget that doctors often get over-whelmed with patients; and don't have as much time and attention to dedicate as some patients with untypical problems like yours may require. They just do what they can to keep you functioning. That's not enough.
Some doctors treat patients like cattle. In and out.
Some have extensive knowledge and experience pertaining to specific therapies and medicines that are new and showing promise. Older doctors tend not to be proficient when it comes to keeping up with the latest breakthroughs in research. They're usually well-established, and just handle their practice.
You need to seek a complete change.
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female
reader, person12345 +, writes (24 January 2014):
 You need to talk to your doctor about medication, we can't possibly even guess what the right combination of medications are for you. You will find it, but you need to talk to your shrink more and try the meds for at least 6 weeks.
Secondly, coming off an SSRI causes insomnia in almost everyone. You need to wean off it slowly to try to reduce the effect, but in the end SSRI withdrawal is just unpleasant and you kind of need to ride it out.
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female
reader, Honeypie +, writes (24 January 2014):
 I agree with Caring Guy, You Wish and Cindy.
GO talk to your doctor. There are MANY other meds that can help you, if you rather not go with meds then you need to find a good therapist who can help give you tools.
Another thing you might want to consider is exercise. Not anything crazy but endorphines can help too.
Your first step should be talking to your doctor.
Stopping meds can be as bad as self medicating with the wrong drugs.
Sometimes you actually have to try a few meds before you find the right combination for you. Then add that you are so young (drugs can affect young and old very differently). Don't give up on finding the right combination.
Good luck and chin up.
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A
female
reader, CindyCares +, writes (24 January 2014):
Dear OP, ... what the Duck are you doing ?)
Did you quit your med cold turkey, just like that ? No wonder then, if you can't sleep.
It's never safe to stop taking bipolar drugs ( particularly mood stabilizer like Lithium,Depakote, Tegretol, etc., but also antidepressants and / or benzodiazepines ) all of a sudden. It may have bad side effects, it's very risky. You CAN come off medications, because after all it's your choice how to manage your illness, if chemically or otherwise and you have all the right to choose, but this NEEDS to be done gradually, tapering it off under medical supervision.
Do -it-yourself is very dangerous in psychatry.
Same as for your " looking into " stuff. Your doctor needs to do it for you. Why ? well, for instance, you say you are allergic to Prozac , but "Prozac" is just the brand name of the product, what you are allergic to must be the active component, fluoxetine. Try something without fluoxetine - not all antidepressants are fluozetine based - and you should be fine.
You know, with antidepressants, mood stabilizers etc. it's a matter of trial and error. Medication IS effective for Bipolar, but, nothing is perfect, so very often there are side effects. It's a matter of trading off, basically you are trading off side effects for mental health.
Of course you need to find a med or a combo of meds which has minimal, tolerable side effects, the trade off must be reasonable. Unluckily it may take time, often a long time, before you find the right med or combo for you . But most people eventually find something that does the trick AND that they can tolerate.
I think you need to see your mental health doctor NOW, this insomnia is probably a withdrawal symptom coming from having discontinued the medication all at once, and I suppose that he can do something to alleviate it, and / or tell you how long you can expect it to last, and warn you about any other possible side effects. And by now I mean NOW, it is probably nothing and you'll feel better soon, but always better better be safe than sorry,
When it's mental health, we can't improvise.
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A
female
reader, Abella +, writes (24 January 2014):
Hi To the lovely Almighty Duck,
I am sorry that you are suffering some unwanted side affects from the medication.
Do you have access to a skilled and properly trained person who specialises in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? Because I believe that can make a difference.
When too many thoughts are rushing through your mind and you feel overwhelmed it is time to also introduce some calming strategies.
And important one is to have a routine.
1. Such as have a warm drink before you go to bed. It does not have to be a hot chocolate it can just as easily be a hot consome type soup. (see end of message) It is the warmth that helps relax you.
2. such as have a regular bedtime each night
3. If you cannot sleep then allow yourself to day dream while in bed - that can still be relaxing for you. You can day dream about how you would decorate a home in the future or places you may like to visit one day)
4. No Tv and no computer in the hour before you go to bed.
5. Instead do have a shower or a long bath before bed time as that too will relax you.
6. Practise relaxing your body progressively by the following method once you are in bed.
(a) tense the muscles in your foot by tensing your instep and take in a big deep breath at the same time. Hold the breath for 10 seconds then exhale the breath and relax those muscles in your foot at the same time. Then do the other foot.
(b)Now tense your calf muscles in the same way - take in a deep breath, hold for ten seconds, then exhale the breath and relax those calf muscles at the same time. Then do the other calf.
(c) continue to do another part one by one including your thighs, your tummy, your shoulders etc Right up to your neck, your face and your forehead
Do this routine for 6 weeks until it becomes part of your routine to relax you.
7. Make lunch your main meal and ensure that your evening meal is light and completed by 7pm. After 7pm you can sip water or have the chicken consome just before bedtime.
8. Change your pillow case daily. A fresh lovely pillowcase feels nice to put your head on.
9. Investigate if a few drops of lavender oil on your light fitting does help to relax you. Put the lavender oil on the light fitting and then turn on the light for 30 minutes before your bedtime.. The heat will warm the oil and allow the smell to waft gently around you.
10 Make a "sleep pillow" (recipe below) to put inside the underside of your pillow.
11. a new pillow. Most people don't change their pillow often enough. A new pillow, especially one with Memory foam can help you sleep.
12. Ask that others do not speak loudly nor come in to check on you after you go to bed.
I hope something above resonates with you.
Keep your distance from negative people or at least ask them to be more positive in your presence as lots of negative talk will be upsetting and you don't need that.
If there is any activity that you can think of that calms you then do consider it. I know that you are very caring and very talented in that direction. But there are times when you must come first. Your health is very important.
If you have suddenly put on this weight then also ask the doctor for a sleep test (overnight) to allow them to monitor how much sleep you are actually getting (or not getting) each night. Sometimes it is not drugs that you need to sleep but it is instead a sleep problem because (unbeknownst to you) that you are waking up momentarily many times a night. This could leave you feeling exhausted and unable to sleep properly. Or lead you to think that you are getting no sleep at night (because in truth that is exactly what is happening - that you are not getting enough sleep.) The solution is not cheap - but could change your life for the better.
http://1800cpap.com/auto-cpap-machines.aspx and involves no medication.
Though losing weight (hard as that is) could also fix the problem.
My thoughts are with you. And I hope that things start to look up.
Do ensure that any change to your medicine regime is supervised by a Doctor. Some medications should not be stopped suddenly.
Also some exercise every day like a brisk walk around your area, or some exercises done using a DVD at home, or some inside exercises like lifting small drink bottles filled with wet sand (as weights) can also help tone you up and make it easier to sleep.
All the best
Abella
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Sleep pillow:
For Peaceful Sleep
- 1 part lavender flowers and some French lavender leaves (no stems)
- 1 part dried red rose petals
- 1 part chamomile
- 1 part mugwort
- 1 part hop flowers
- 1 part cedar tops
- a small amount of rosemary
- small amount of crushed pine needles (crush in a mortar and pestle)
Directions: Combine all herbs in wooden or glass bowl and mix with a wooden spoon. Fill small, 6 inch by 6 inch hand-sewn sachet pillows with enough of this herbal mixture. Note: Be sure not to overfill. The sachet should go unnoticed slipped inside the pillow case on the underside of your pillow.
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Chicken consommé (definitely healthy and tasty and low calorie)
A deep, sparkling gold, chicken consommé is delightful to not only look at, the flavours are divine. This easy chicken consommé recipe uses the left-over chicken and carcass from Sunday lunch. If you don't have a carcass then use a couple of chicken legs and wings.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Time to Strain: 20 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients:
•1 cooked chicken carcass, skin and fat removed
•1 onion, skin on, halved (skin helps add colour to consommé )
•1 carrot, washed and roughly chopped
•1 celery stalk, washed and roughly chopped
•1 whole garlic clove, skin on
•Small handful fresh tarragon
•Large handful flat leaf parsley, leaves and stalks
•1 bay leaf
•3 egg whites
•Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
•In a large stock or saucepan large enough to hold the carcass and all the vegetables, place the carcass, all the other ingredients except the egg white, browning and salt and pepper. Cover with cold water and bring to a gentle rolling boil
•Cook on a gentle boil for 1 ½ - 2 hours. If the water starts to boil away top up, the ingredients should always be just covered in water. Taste the stock after the cooking time, it should have a good flavour of chicken and a background hint of the vegetables and herbs. If not, cook a while longer.
•Strain the stock through a large colander, return the liquid to the pan, bring back to the boil and reduce by approx ¼.
•Allow the liquid to cool down, then place in the refrigerator for an hour. Skim any fat from the surface then add the egg whites and whisk thoroughly.
•Bring the liquid to the boil whisking all the time. Simmer gently for 15 minutes until the egg whites form a crust on the surface.
•Line a sieve with a piece of clean, unused muslin or a tea towel that has been washed in plain water, (see note below). Gently ladle the crust into the sieve and then slowly ladle the liquid over the crust, allow time for the liquid to pass through the crust and sieve before adding any more. DO NOT PUSH THE STOCK THROUGH.
•Return the clear liquid to the pan and reheat to hot not boiling. This soup is best served warm to hot (not boiling) as it intensifies the flavour.
•If not serving immediately, cool the soup and refrigerate until required.
•Reheat the soup to hot but not boiling and divide between six hot soup plates, garnish as desired and serve immediately.
Notes: Because of the delicate flavour of this soup, muslin or a tea towel that has been washed in detergent will pass the flavour of the detergent to the consommé. That is why you must only use a cloth that's only been washed in water only.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (24 January 2014): Your doctor needs to prescribe you a different med. Unfortunatelly bipolar disorder doesn't go away. It's stays with you, and if you get a proper medication you can keep it under control. Stoping taking medication is not a solution. The fact that you can't sleep is actually one of the symptoms of bipolar.
It does makes you gain weight, as it makes you want to eat more, but I heard its temporarily then it goes back to normal. You are making a big mistake by controlling your dosage yourself.
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female
reader, YouWish +, writes (24 January 2014):
 I agree with CaringGuy - you know that with medication therapy for issues like bipolar disorder, establishing something that works is still a matter of trial and error. Finding the right stuff, then finding the right doses at the right times takes patience.
Talk on the phone to your doctor and tell him/her of your inability to sleep and the allergy to prozac. I could recommend over the counter remedies, but the danger here is interaction to prescription medicine, which I have seen firsthand in people I know with the same diagnosis you have.
Call your doctor in the morning, as you shouldn't have to go right in and they know who you are.
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male
reader, CaringGuy +, writes (24 January 2014):
As difficult as it may be for you, after reading this, my advice us to go straight back to the doctor and tell them. I think you need to just be checked over again, and they're the only ones who are going to be able to suggest anything to help.
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