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Originally Posted by BcotOTG
Hello, I just joined this forum and found this daily check in feed. I’m grateful to have this new to me platform to try. It is 3:42am where I live. I woke up at 2am and since I couldn’t sleep, I fixed a Chamomile tea and then checked messages on my phone.
I was diagnosed as Bipolar 1 in October 2010. This summer, our family relocated overseas. We will be expatriates for two years. The international move in the middle of a pandemic and on the heels of two and a half years of acute stress has been challenging. I met today with my new psychiatrist for the second visit. He has recommended an electronic encéphalogramme. I have taken Lamital for 10 years, and he wants to see how my brain waves are connecting to determine if there may be dysfunction secondary to Lamictal (antieleptic drug originally developed and marketed to treat seizures). I also have atypical migraines regularly and extreme sensitivity to unnatural light sources, especially overhead lights and light from screens
Each month, I have periods of a depressed state with brain fog and the desire to withdrawal from life because it all feels overwhelming when my brain isn’t functioning optimally. I also have periods of insomnia and sub mania each month, directly following several weeks in the depressive/frozen state.
I realize this post is a bit choppy—that’s my brain flitting from thought to though without finishing my original train of thought or purpose for initiating communication. I struggle to keep my communications relevant to a specific audience and succinct.
Can anyone relate? Has anyone had an electric encéphalogramme?
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Welcome to Psych Central, @
BcotOTG! I relate to a lot of what you wrote.
I have had five EEGs in the past. Two regular ones, two "video" EEGs, and one they call a "sleep deprived EEG". The doctor wanted to know if I had seizures in addition to my bipolar disorder. I take two anticonvulsant mood stabilizers (carbamazepine ER and lamotrigine) and an antipsychotic (quetiapine ER), plus a little benzo. EEGs are not, in themselves, uncomfortable tests. If you are getting a regular one, it's not a big deal at all.
I can imagine being an expat at this time has its stressors. I will soon move overseas, as well. I have lived with my Czech husband in the US for over 20 years, but in less than maybe a month we will move to his native country of Czech Republic. I could really benefit from your suggestions about adjusting to life in a new country. We could support each other. I am looking for doctors and a therapist there and hope the transition goes smoothly.
I see that you are now living in France? I love France and may possibly move there someday. Je parle mieux le français que le tchèque.
My husband and I were in France and Czech Republic just this past September. We were scoping out possible places to move to in France, but decided we'd first move to Czech Republic. We'll travel to France many times again, and decide on our final home destination later down the road.
Good luck with the EEG and I hope your migraines are quickly relieved. I have had migraines in the past, too, but they seemed to stop a while back. I had light sensitivity with them, as well.