I increased my Lithium today (my psychiatrist knows I'm doing this). He had told me I should probably start tapering off Lithium after I had to go to the ER a couple of weeks ago, even though I don't think it had anything to do with Lithium. I have a heart arrhythmia called SVT, where my heart will randomly start beating incredibly fast, like, 200 beats per minute. It's very alarming when it happens and it makes you feel extremely dizzy and light-headed, and as if you are going to pass out and/or drop dead. Luckily it is usually over quickly (within minutes). It starts randomly and stops randomly. I was diagnosed with this about 5 or 6 years ago. Prior to that I was told I was having panic attacks. I do have panic attacks too, but my heart rate does not reach 200 bpm when I'm having a panic attack and my doctor finally began taking me seriously.

Anyhow, apparently this condition is not that dangerous, even though it certainly feels dangerous when it's happening. I have worked really hard not to react to the episodes of SVT, because if I start panicking on top of it, that's what tends to send me to the ER. There are certain things you can do while it's happening which can bring your heart rate down, so I try and do those things. Otherwise the options are medication (which I can't take for a different reason) or a super invasive catheter ablation procedure. I can't imagine being able to tolerate that (they need you to be awake while they are doing it). So I just try and live with it.

I'm always nervous when I start a new psychiatric medication because, obviously they can affect your heart. I checked in with my cardiologist prior to starting Lithium and he told me I should be fine to take it. But then I had a bad SVT episode about 3 weeks ago and I did end up going to the ER. They didn't need to do anything because by the time I got there my heart rate was back to normal again and my EKG was fine so they just sent me home. But for some reason now both my cardiologist and my psychiatrist said I should probably come off Lithium.

I got quite combative about this because a) they told me Lithium wouldn't cause my heart any problems and b) I genuinely don't think Lithium did cause the episode 3 weeks ago. And c) There's nothing else I'm willing to take besides Lithium at this point, and I do feel like it's helping. Just not enough.

Anyhow, after much back and forth, my psychiatrist etc is now saying I can try increasing slowly, so that's what I did today. Of course I've been checking my heart rate obsessively, which is silly because I really don't think Lithium has effected my heart at all so far. I also take an SSRI and if anything, that carries more heart risk.

My Mum arrives next week, knock on wood, and I need to be a lot more stable than I am currently for her visit, so I really hope I tolerate the Lithium increase and that it stabilizes me more.