Don't understand

Hey I am new and I just went to a new psych yestrday and he told me I was bopolar I have heard it before frome therapist and my primary but because I was drinking and I refused to see a psych they could not diagnose I din't understand in one hour a psych can diagnose me with this I stopped drinking in january after a lung collapsed I have a history of eating disorders and yes my mood swings are very severe I never tried to hurt myself or anyone else however some decsions I have made in the past couple of months have not been like me I am scared In the past 7 years I have lost a brother and a sister I do not think I have ever delt with that (due to the drinking) They keep switching my meds and normally a hperactive compulsive person I find myself lazy and tired. yesrday they yook me off prozac depokote and klonopin and put me on lithium and some other drug for anxiety ser somthing can anyone help me with the side affects I am scared to death of gainig weight and I do not want to be a couch potatoe I am unable to work now is tis normal has anyone been throgh this

Hay, wow, I sow your post, and I sensed your pain, I have been suffering with what my Doctor described as a depuration, but I really think I am Bipolar, because of all the different symptoms I am experiencing. I have been taking the quiz on this site every other day for few months, I am hopping to have the strength to go see some one to help me, I am so scared that I may end up with a Dr. that only care about $$$ and not me and/or some one that have no idea what he/she is doing and end up playing with my life and my body.
You have taken a giant step forward, you stopped drinking, and then you went and inquire assistance, I have not had the courage to do that.
On thing I know and I was told by my Dr. that I should not stop taking any of my medications cold turkey, I was told that I will have severe withdrew and other side effect. I my have miss understand you when you said that your Dr. had “Yook” you off Prozac and other med, when they should gradually do so, I would check on that. I am sorry I can't be any moor help. Hang on, one therapy I found that it dose work on me is weighting, I found weighting when I am emotional or when something is distressing me is the best therapy I can ever have. <font color="blue"> </font> <font color="blue"> </font>

Wow! Sounds like you're really scared, Missy...first, welcome to PC. There are so many people here who will help you figure things out. You're definitely NOT alone. It is pretty common to feel like you do during a manic episode...don't feel like you're the only one; many of here have felt this way.

I think the first thing you should realize is that bipolar is a very serious condition, and you have to treat it as such. It sounds like your pdoc is taking good care of you. Lithium is a great drug...take it exactly as your doctor has prescribed and be sure and drink plently of water. You should begin to level out pretty soon. You should not have too much trouble with weight gain.

Please, please follow your doctor's instructions to the letter; this is very important. You sound like you have really been through it lately. If you can, get into therapy ASAP...a good T can really help you put your issues into perspective.

I hope you start feeling better soon...I think that you will. If you need anything, we're here to help!

DJ

hey thanx for the advice. I am scared I guesss in the past I always had an excuse eithier finding my little brother dead or my sister dying in a car reck I always was able to hide it with my drinking ot people just plain feeling sorry for me so as much of a shock when the new pdoc told me I was manic deppressed I was releived that i was still not withdrawing from alchol. I do see a therepist twice a weeek and i am going into an outpatient program I am very close with my primary doc she is awesome and I have a great mom and dad My husband on the other hand well I guess we will see. I have to get myself together b4 worrying about anything else but again thank you for your support.

Missy,

You've really been through the wringer...how horrible to see your brother and sister in that way...I can't even imagine. You must be incredibly strong. I don't think that I could do what you have had to.

Don't beat yourself up over your past behavior...for many of us, that is our way of medicating ourselves before we are diagnosed. I wasted close to 20 years drunk, stoned or both. Sometimes I'm mad that I wasted all that time, but I'm trying to get to the place where the fear and anger don't hold me back anymore.

It sounds like you have a lot of support available to you, which is great. I'll bet your husband will come around, too. I wish you the best!

See you around!
DJ

Thanx DJ yea its been a hell of a ride let me ask you somthing the new psychtrist I saw yestrday stated me on lithium and this drug called lyrica when I looked it up it sounds like its for pain which I donot have he said it was for my insomnia and anxiety however again when I looked it up it sounds like a muscle relaxer do you yhink he made a mistake?

Missy,

According to what I read, Lyrica is an anticonvulsant which is used to control seizures, like in epilepsy. It apparently also has an anti-anxiety effect in some folks.

Treating bipolar with anti-convulsants is not new. Aside from lithium, the other most effective drugs for bipolar are all anticonvulsants (Depakote, Lamictal and Tegretol, though Tegretol is not used much any more). Since Lyrica is a new drug, I have not seen any info on it yet, but I suspect that your pdoc has, and is using it in place of the older anconvulsant-class drugs.

So, I doubt he is making a mistake. I take lithium and Lamictal, again one of the AC's, so I think you have a great chance of feeling good pretty quick!