advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
The Black Dog
Member
 
The Black Dog's Avatar
The Black Dog Is Always Running
 
Member Since: Jun 2020
Location: Long Island
Posts: 85
3 yr Member
8 hugs
given
Default Dec 21, 2020 at 06:27 PM
  #1
I just started a Lithium regiment and i have to tell you - IT IS AWESOME. i really wish I tried this years ago. Was only suggested it now because it helps with suicidal thinking. Wow.

__________________
Bipolar 1
-Keep Calm And Carry On-
The Black Dog is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
*Beth*, Werewoman, wolftrap
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, Soupe du jour, Werewoman, wolftrap

advertisement
Soupe du jour
Elder
Soupe du jour has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jun 2015
Location: Czechia
Posts: 5,149
8 yr Member
13.4k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Dec 21, 2020 at 07:09 PM
  #2
What great news! I hope it serves you well long-term!
Soupe du jour is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
*Beth*
catches the flowers
*Beth* is practicing healthy breathing for brain, mind, body, spirit.
 
Member Since: Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
23.7k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Dec 22, 2020 at 06:21 PM
  #3
Excellent! So it's helping with SI? What about depression?

__________________




*Beth* is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
The Black Dog
Member
 
The Black Dog's Avatar
The Black Dog Is Always Running
 
Member Since: Jun 2020
Location: Long Island
Posts: 85
3 yr Member
8 hugs
given
Default Dec 22, 2020 at 06:54 PM
  #4
I was experiencing a constant slight low mood and it took care of that too! I feel normal - the first time since forever.

__________________
Bipolar 1
-Keep Calm And Carry On-
The Black Dog is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
*Beth*, wolftrap
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*, wolftrap
wolftrap
Member
 
wolftrap's Avatar
wolftrap has no updates.
 
Member Since: Oct 2020
Location: VA
Posts: 309
3 yr Member
140 hugs
given
Default Dec 27, 2020 at 05:44 PM
  #5
So glad to hear Lithium is working for you! I too have bipolar I and have had the same experience.
wolftrap is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous45322
Guest
Anonymous45322 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dec 30, 2020 at 10:55 AM
  #6
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Dog View Post
I just started a Lithium regiment and i have to tell you - IT IS AWESOME. i really wish I tried this years ago. Was only suggested it now because it helps with suicidal thinking. Wow.

Glad to hear you are reacting to the lithium, only about 33% of people do (there is a great study happening that shows there is a difference between both groups of people and they are using said difference to try and find an analogue that would work for everyone).

From my experience on lithium, stay hydrated. I can't stress this enough. Make sure you get your 2l of water or more a day. Also make sure you are not limiting your sodium intake. Low sodium diets are not recommended if you are on lithium. I also find that my tremors get much worst if I'm low on sodium.

Do your best to take your lithium at the EXACT same time everyday (it's not the end of the world if you are late but it will help you greatly to have a schedule and to try to maintain it). This has to do with trying to keep a steady serum level. Related to keeping a steady serum level is making sure you eat, especially when you are feeling under the weather and don't have much of an appetite. I track my calorie intake using an app and it has helped me greatly by allowing me to see when I'm not eating and putting myself at risk of worsening my side effects.

Also stick to your bloodwork appointments, it's important that your serum levels be monitored. Lithium is a narrow index drug and the gap between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is very narrow. Can't stress this enough, stick to your bloodwork appointments. For me (and I believe it's common practice) they require that I have my blood drawn 12 hours after I dose (give or take 30-45 minutes), it ensures that they record serum levels at the same time for every test in terms of the lithium's half life in your body.

It's still all so fresh to me, I feel as if I could write a book about the experience. I hope you keep seeing results from your lithium. If you have any questions I'm positive the community will be more then happy to answer them to the best of our knowledge.

One finale small piece of advice, if you consume caffeine in your day to day life DO NOT make major changes to how much you consume. Caffeine intake lowers your serum levels and caffeine withdrawal will cause them to spike. So if you plan on making huge changes like quitting coffee, you should do so gradually and only after having discussed it with your doctor, they may want to keep a closer eye on your serum levels (it would be their call to make).
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
MickeyCheeky
Legendary
 
MickeyCheeky's Avatar
MickeyCheeky My echo is the only voice coming back
 
Member Since: Jun 2016
Location: Italy
Posts: 11,817 (SuperPoster!)
5 yr Member
38.4k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Dec 30, 2020 at 11:59 AM
  #7
Truly Happy to hear that!
MickeyCheeky is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
The Black Dog
Member
 
The Black Dog's Avatar
The Black Dog Is Always Running
 
Member Since: Jun 2020
Location: Long Island
Posts: 85
3 yr Member
8 hugs
given
Default Dec 30, 2020 at 05:24 PM
  #8
Thanks for the tips! Especially about the caffeine. I do change how many cups of coffee i drink from day to day. I have noticed very infrequently a dip in my mood from time to time.

__________________
Bipolar 1
-Keep Calm And Carry On-
The Black Dog is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous45322
Guest
Anonymous45322 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dec 30, 2020 at 11:21 PM
  #9
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Dog View Post
Thanks for the tips! Especially about the caffeine. I do change how many cups of coffee i drink from day to day. I have noticed very infrequently a dip in my mood from time to time.
You can still have your coffee, just try to have it consistently. Say you have one at breakfast and one at lunch. As long as you keep normally having those same two cups at about the same time everyday all is well.

Keep us posted, we all want to read about your success story as it progresses.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
The Black Dog
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*
*Beth*
catches the flowers
*Beth* is practicing healthy breathing for brain, mind, body, spirit.
 
Member Since: Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
23.7k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Dec 31, 2020 at 06:03 PM
  #10
How's it going with the lithium, Dog?

__________________




*Beth* is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
The Black Dog
Member
 
The Black Dog's Avatar
The Black Dog Is Always Running
 
Member Since: Jun 2020
Location: Long Island
Posts: 85
3 yr Member
8 hugs
given
Default Dec 31, 2020 at 08:09 PM
  #11
Thanks for asking! Lithium has been great. Suicidal thinking drastically reduced pretty much immediately. Mood has been very good with the occasional dip during the day. And i would like to know if lithium helps with anxiety because it seems to help with that too. I am reducing my Gabapentin to give my kidneys longevity and my anxiety is still super low.

__________________
Bipolar 1
-Keep Calm And Carry On-
The Black Dog is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
*Beth*
catches the flowers
*Beth* is practicing healthy breathing for brain, mind, body, spirit.
 
Member Since: Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
23.7k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Jan 02, 2021 at 07:54 PM
  #12
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Dog View Post
Thanks for asking! Lithium has been great. Suicidal thinking drastically reduced pretty much immediately. Mood has been very good with the occasional dip during the day. And i would like to know if lithium helps with anxiety because it seems to help with that too. I am reducing my Gabapentin to give my kidneys longevity and my anxiety is still super low.

That sounds outstanding! If it helps with anxiety, what a huge bonus. I was checking around online a bit and found this video. Probably nothing new to you, but some good info.
Does lithium help anxiety? - Blog

__________________




*Beth* is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
The Black Dog
Member
 
The Black Dog's Avatar
The Black Dog Is Always Running
 
Member Since: Jun 2020
Location: Long Island
Posts: 85
3 yr Member
8 hugs
given
Default Jan 03, 2021 at 11:11 AM
  #13
Good Video - Thanks. I haven’t really found anything about anxiety and lithium. I just hope it keeps doing what its doing.

__________________
Bipolar 1
-Keep Calm And Carry On-
The Black Dog is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*
*Beth*
catches the flowers
*Beth* is practicing healthy breathing for brain, mind, body, spirit.
 
Member Since: Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
23.7k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Jan 03, 2021 at 04:52 PM
  #14
I hope so, too! Most people seem to be helped a lot by lithium. I wish my pdoc would prescribe it for me. She's a champion of Lamictal. Lamictal is good for stabilizing mania, but does very little for depression and doesn't seem to do anything for anxiety.

__________________




*Beth* is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Werewoman
Poohbah
 
Werewoman's Avatar
Werewoman Is a bit, well...wered.
 
Member Since: May 2014
Location: Betelgeuse
Posts: 1,472
8 yr Member
1,217 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Jan 23, 2021 at 05:26 PM
  #15
I am taking 450 mg a day of lithium. It was prescribed after I began having mixed episodes. It's my understanding that lithium is to control mania. I do a ketamine infusion once a month and that keeps my suicidal ideation and depression under control.

I totally agree. Lithium has literally saved my life.

__________________



You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. ~ Robin Williams

Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? ~ Pink Floyd
Werewoman is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
*Beth*
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:41 PM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.