[ariatboot]

I am so tired of taking meds!! I wish I could be a normal person who can live without having to take stupid pills every stinkin day...I'm so ready to just stop swallowing those pills. Every time I go into the pdoc, there is a change in my meds. Usually its take more seroquel, try a different antidepressant and come back in 4-6 weeks and we will see if its worked. 4-6 weeks go by and it hasn't worked so then its time to switch the meds up again. Will this rollercoaster of meds ever end? Why can't there be some way to deal with being bipolar and not have to take meds? Why can't I be normal like all the other people out there? I am feeling very frustrated with life right now...and of course I never know how I am going to deal with it from one day to the next. All I want to do is scream....

Sorry to ramble...I know I have overstayed my welcome on this board and that all the other posts are more important than this one. Don't know why I am even posting it. Sorry again!

[venusss]

are you in therapy too?

[billieJ]

ariatboot ~ you haven't overstayed your welcome! I understand what it is to be on a lot of expensive meds with conflicted side effect. Makes one feel that one must be "fixed" to be "normal". In truth, there is no "normal". Instead, in my view, everyone's psych is in a certain places, which probably changes constantly, on something like a continuum or bell-shaped curve. Your doc must be trying very hard to find a med mix which addresses your particular reports of undesirable feelings. Such frequent med changes may not allow time to respond to any particular set of meds, tho. Don't worry, you are not alone. It is a medicated world at present. Otherwise, we wouldn't have to wait so long in the pharmacy lines! billieJ

[BNLsMOM]

I see you are pretty new to the board. Feel free to post all you want. As you can see I have posted quite a bit...

I am right there with you on the meds thing. I am trying to hang in there, but I have vented a lot about it on this board. I have also received a lot of support.

Welcome

[kitty004567]

1) You have not overstayed your welcome.
2) Yes, we've all been through/are going through that same finding the right medication process. It takes time...and is absolutely frustrating. It took me more than 6 months to find the right med combination. It seemed like it would never end but it did. And I'm so glad I dealt with the not fun part because now I'm stable...and functional.

[PT52]

Why can't I be normal like all the other people out there?

Since the issue of meds has been addressed quite nicely, I'd like to comment on the question of being normal. I believe it is important to find a way to delete this question from your thoughts (not easy, I know). In the process of finding the right combination of meds, the right therapy, the right support system, this is a question that will just make you more frustrated and can interfere in your treatment. It's just one of those things that is. Like freckles or blue eyes. Like asthma or arthritis. Everyone has things about themselves that they don't like, some that can be changed, some that can't. When we learn to accept what we can't change, we are able to move forward in doing whatever we can do to make it better.

[blueoctober]

Hi ariatboot; your post is just as important as everyone's else. It is frustrating waiting to find the right med combo, but it's well worth the effort. I was diagnosed in 2007 and it wasn't until this year that I found a combo that worked for me. Part of the reason it took so long to find the right med combo is I was in crisis with my mental health/inpatient when I was first diagnosed. I just assumed I would always need to be on each med that had been prescribed during that time. About 2 years after my diagnosis I starting to question it and my Pdoc was willing to try new meds. The med combo I'm on now I have been on it since the end of May and I'm very happy with it.

For me managing the bipolar is 60% meds. The other 40% comes form the following:

1. Exercising regularly (I go to the gym at least 4x a week)
2. Eating healthy
3. Taking supplements (Omega 3, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Multi Vitamin)
4. Using a SAD lamp everyday
5. Seeing a therapist
6. Being open and honest with my Psychiatrist
7. Tracking my mood I use this site: http://www.medhelp.org/land/mood-tracker
8. Journal
9. Educating myself on bipolar
10. Taking my meds as prescribed
11. I work shift work, so unfortunately my sleep/wake cycles can't be stable, but I do ensure I get at least 8 hours and if I'm having troubles sleeping I take a sleeping pill

[sugahorse1]

It is a long process to find the meds that work for you. Hang in there and be patient with your pdoc. Every person needs to be treated differently, so there is no one generic solution to helping a BP patient.
We are here to support you every step of the way. You have definitely not overstayed your welcome; please continue to post and add your thoughts. There's a lot of value to be gained by learning from each other

[Skully]

I know how you feel. I am 34 and I have to use one of those med boxes the elderly have to use to remember to take their pills. I have so many pills to take they barely fit in the med box lol. But, they are much needed and I have fought with it for the past 5 years and learned the hard way that I can't just stop taking them.

[ariatboot]

Thank you everyone. I just get so frustrated with everything sometimes all I want to do is quit and pretend I don't have any problems. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who has troubles with meds...it helps me a lot to know I'm not alone in this. Thank you again!