This does not sound like it is helping you much. You are on a low dose mg wise but levels don't correspond to any particular mgs.

I think you need to be ready to really advocate for yourself. Write everything down so that you don't forget to tell him anything in the course of can be a rushed appointment. Plus all the symptoms you are having are important. If he leaves you on lithium insist on having a level done. Like I said before that should never be a big deal and if it is that's a huge warning light about this dr. If you feel like you can't tolerate the lithium anymore go in prepared to tell him that and that you want to try something else because this is intolerable to you.

Unless you get a dr who is really great advocating for yourself is a huge part of dealing with this illness. It can be really hard sometimes. The first time I was in the hospital the dr there really kind of wanted me to try lamictal one more time. Both my family dr and psychiatrist have recommended against that because I had bad reactions to it twice and the 2nd was the bad rash and the pattern of the rash was a sign that it could be a bigger problem. In fact I was taking the only cold med that I am allowed to take then and they won't let me have that either because I could be severely allergic to it now after having been exposed to such a reaction with lamictal.

Lithium is a good starting point and it can be a really good med. I seriously cried when we decided I had to stop taking it. But it is far from the only med and meds shouldn't make you miserable. There will always be side effects and some may be unpleasant but what you are describing is beyond what you should have to tolerate and it also sounds like it isn't necessarily working very well anyway.

Hopefully your dr will listen and come up with a plan to make your life less miserable. If he doesn't push him to do so. It doesn't have to be like that. You said you'd had some trouble with some papers; you may also be able to get a note that says you were having issues with a medication and that affected your performance and maybe that would get a 2nd chance for you. My mom is a professor and I know she would give a 2nd chance for less reason than that. They don't have to be specific. But you really have been through so much.

I hope you make it through tomorrow and that all goes well Monday. Please let me know how you are doing.