I know I don't post much, mainly b/c I'm newly dx & am still sorting this out.

I value your experience & expertise in these things.
I first tried Lamictal but got a rash, had to stop.
I have been on LIthium for about 4 months or so?

It wasn't working so I had to keep going up. Got to 1200mg. I've had a whole lot of side effects but was somewhat stable. I wasn't pleased with my behavior, it's made me a bit arrogant & loud. I'm usually meek & mild. But I was finally....Not suicidally depressed.
I was still having mixed episodes, anxiety, agitation.
So I guess I was better than I was to begin with but nowhere near great.

After going up to 1200mg, 3 weeks ago I had my bloodwork checked.
My doc wants me to take a thryoid pill bc mine is too high, my calcium is high, which means the Lithium is messing with my parathyroid, too.
I researched the thyroid pill & it seems like once you start on thyroid meds, your thyroid will shut down all together.
Lithium can permanently damage your thyroid (which I knew) I wanted to give it a chance.
My doc called in the meds but I don't want to continue on Li. I think I want to wean myself off & pray that the couple of months I've been on it haven't damaged my thyroid permanently. I hope it will fix itself once I stop the Li.

Has anyone had a similar experience w Li? Withdrawal?

I know my doc is fine with my decision, he had already suggested other meds if this didn't work like Saphris & Latuda. We have a very open trusting relationship.

I guess part of me wanted this to work so bad that I don't want to give up too soon but I don't want to damage my health permanently & have to take another med the rest of my life.

What do you think?