[mamafor3]

Hey, I m a women at almost 42. I live in the North, so my English language is not correct! I came inside here for a couple of month ago and I love this forum. It s interesting to see how others with same diagnose are manage the life!
Okey I got my diagnose Bipolar in 2008, but have always felt that something was different, I had long times depressing and manic! Mostly I got down. I was in two traumas in my live before 2008, and I got inside some hospital for couple of weeks! There they found out that I had an Bipolar disorder nr. 2! They put me in Lithium 83 mg x 2, that was very good after some hours. It was the first time in my life I could hear the birds, and I even saw the colors at the threes outside, it was in September!Found out that my brain was like an spaghetti sieve for many years, that I could not concentrate, funny??
I started my new life again, newer then ever!
Then I meet somebody and I started to get down again so easily, I was struggling with my self daily, and tried everything to be good.
I started to get sick, It felt like my through t had some tight scarf and I start to loose kilos.They went down very fast, loosing 16 kilo in some month, not well! The doctors found out that I had Struma, they said that the Lithium had take over my Thyroid. I needed to operate away my Thyroid, and start eating Lewaxin 125 mcq every day. It s that hormone the Thyroid produce. Now almost a year later I don t feel well, am so skinny and start to feel that my Lithium don t work anymore. Of course am sad of my private situation in now time, but I am down all the time! I have some ugly thoughts about myself and life! Am so scared to loose it again!! What can I do, is it some other medicine I can get instead of Lithium?Please if somebody can help me, my doctors just say that I need to continue

[redbandit]

I'm sorry you aren't feeling well! Lithium is one med I haven't been on, but I know your body can build up a resistance to a med so it stops working. With me its my sleep meds that I get used to, and have to try something new every so often. If your Dr isn't helping maybe you could see someone else?

[Trippin2.0]

Do not stay on the lithium if it causes medical problems. There are lots of other medications you can try. If your doctor isn't helpful with choosing a different mood stabilizer, find a different doctor as soon as possible.

You deserve good quality of life

Oh and a warm to you, I hope you like it here and decide to hang out with us for a while

[mamafor3]

Originally Posted by redbandit

I'm sorry you aren't feeling well! Lithium is one med I haven't been on, but I know your body can build up a resistance to a med so it stops working. With me its my sleep meds that I get used to, and have to try something new every so often. If your Dr isn't helping maybe you could see someone else?

Hey and thanks for answering me! Yes I think some way to change a doctor, is not so easy her in Norway. We can t choose by yourself. The doctor I got is more specialist in the somatic health. I have take my blood levels every second month and they show well, so he don t do! I see what I can do this week!
That s sad to hear about the resistance about your sleeping pills, hope you can find some you can use over a longer time! I take then and now, specially when I work late evenings and go up again early! I can t calm down after work so fast!

[Victoria'smom]

There are so many options if lithium is not working.

[mamafor3]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Do not stay on the lithium if it causes medical problems. There are lots of other medications you can try. If your doctor isn't helpful with choosing a different mood stabilizer, find a different doctor as soon as possible.

You deserve good quality of life

Oh and a warm to you, I hope you like it here and decide to hang out with us for a while

Thanks for welcome me inside, I like this Forum a lot. Every day am inside looking!
Yes I try this week to change doctor, hope I can find some other way than the system her in Norway! Like I write before my levels has been fine. But my body and feelings is not. When I told him about the problem he just write some Sobril!!! It should not be like that.....I have read about Lamictal but am afraid to get tired! Am a little confused, you know what they call the Lithium RAT POISONBut if I stop by myself, then I just fall down again
Hug s for answering me

[Trippin2.0]

I had a doctor like that too. Just because the lithium levels were fine, he wouldn't switch my meds. I think its very unprofessional for a doctor to not listen!

Just because levels are fine doesn't mean our kidneys can't get damaged or our thyroid won't suffer. You don't have to be sick and stable. Healthy and stable is an option, and you deserve that option.

I've heard very good things about Lamictal. Don't worry about sleepiness, you can take it at night, and if not, then remember that the sleepiness isn't permanent. It will go away once your body gets used to it.

s

Lamictal was excellent for me; there are other relatively new medications that are helpful for many.

Ask your doctor about a food med called Deplin. It's very inexpensive and helpful, especially for people who cannot manufacture the stomach enzymes that make folic acid (vitamin B9) available to the brain. 20 mg. per day helps me remain calm and have a
good feeling tone. It's inexpensive in terms of medication costs. I wouldn't be without it.

Take care of yourself and ask for better care for you. Let your doctor know that you
know that lithium is one of the most toxic medications out there and that you don't
want to risk damage to your kidneys by continuing to take it.

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Do not stay on the lithium if it causes medical problems. There are lots of other medications you can try. If your doctor isn't helpful with choosing a different mood stabilizer, find a different doctor as soon as possible.

You deserve good quality of life

Oh and a warm to you, I hope you like it here and decide to hang out with us for a while

I do know lithium will introduce or aggravate hypothyroidism.

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

I had a doctor like that too. Just because the lithium levels were fine, he wouldn't switch my meds. I think its very unprofessional for a doctor to not listen!

Just because levels are fine doesn't mean our kidneys can't get damaged or our thyroid won't suffer. You don't have to be sick and stable. Healthy and stable is an option, and you deserve that option.

I've heard very good things about Lamictal. Don't worry about sleepiness, you can take it at night, and if not, then remember that the sleepiness isn't permanent. It will go away once your body gets used to it.

s

I swear by lamictal now after having tried lots of others. I do know it's not for everyone, but many like it. And there is a generic form. Good luck!

[mamafor3]

Thank you everybody! Then we see what happening today, am going to a new doctor in a couple of hours! It s like I have said, the Lithium has now more side effects than helping! I feel more and more empty for every day, that medicine was good when my life was stable at home...maybe I got resistant? I cross my fingers for this doctor and day Hug s to everybody

[mamafor3]

Nothing has happen jet, I go every day talking to the talking doctors like my beautiful daughter call them. I go inside to some private clinic for some days or longer. I go at Thursday and they will follow me when I changing Lithium to Lamictal. They say it s really important that I do it the correct way, that I have people around me to I get a NEW start and a stable dose! Am happy now, and I want to start from scratch !!! Get healthy and strong again You are Good friends to support me Hugs to everybody

I tell you guys later how I feel

[Trippin2.0]

Thanks for keeping us updated as to how you are doing.

I'm happy to hear that you are receiving the help you need

[mamafor3]

Hey my sweet friends! Toke a long time to answer, but I have one thing to say : Lamictal is MAGIC !!! Still going down on the Lithium, but are finish complete in one week!!! I feel better then EVER <3 <3 <3 Thank you guys to support me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kisses

[Trippin2.0]

Very glad to hear its going better for you! Thanks for keeping us updated

[Victoria'smom]

I'm so glad lamictal helped