[Stitchwitch1224]

I live in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. I moved here a year ago with my husband and 3 sons ages 2-13. I work full time and always have. I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 exactly 1 month ago. In the emergency room. I had struggled for years with post partum depression, switching ssri and snris frequently. Prozac was described by a gen. Doc 5 days before I was hearing things, hadn't slept for days and was crying uncontrollably. I thought I was having a heart attack.

My husband tries to be supportive but is frustrated and overwhelmed. I am barely managing to work and the side effects of Geodon 2x per day, 20 mgs. Are difficult. Is it normal to not have stabilized? The biggest problem is there is 1 pdoc on this island, at the hospital. She is very hard to get hold of, no voice mail etc...
I am trying really hard to keep it together but am fluctuating between crying and zooming. Plus it is so hot here with no air conditioning. I am not being fair to my boys to put them through this.
Well that's me.

I am not a dr but most folks are on a mood stabilizer as well, that may be part of the problem. I guess the one dr has a heavy caseload. You might need to take some time off work if you can, stress exacerbates the bipolar episodes and you haven't stabilized yet. but I would try REALLY hard to get back with that dr because you should be seeing some effect in a month of the geodon.

[BipolaRNurse]

Agreed. And you may not be getting enough Geodon; tolerance develops and sometimes the dose has to be increased. (I've been on it for 8 months and have already had to titrate the dose twice.) You probably should also be on a mood stabilizer, although that's not for a nurse to decide (there's a reason doctors make the big bucks).

What are your side effects? Geodon seems to be one of those drugs people either love or hate; there isn't a lot of middle ground. (I love it because it's the only thing that's stabilized me---I struggled really badly before I was put on this drug and titrated up to 80 mg.) If you can tolerate it, it might be best to stay on it and talk to the pdoc about adding a mood stabilizer or bumping up your dose.

Frankly, you sound like you're in the middle of a mixed bipolar episode. That deserves more attention than you're getting right now. I know the doctor is busy but you need more support.

[Victoria'smom]

How possible is it to look for a pdoc that allows both skype appointments and calls in prescriptions?

[Stitchwitch1224]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

How possible is it to look for a pdoc that allows both skype appointments and calls in prescriptions?

I am not sure, wouldn't know where to even start. Any ideas?

I'm sorry you're going through this. It does sound like a mixed episode, and if you're really bipolar 2, a mood stabilizer (not just antipsychotic) is called for. Being on SSRIs without a mood stabilizer rocketed me into mania once.

Originally Posted by newgal2

I'm sorry you're going through this. It does sound like a mixed episode, and if you're really bipolar 2, a mood stabilizer (not just antipsychotic) is called for. Being on SSRIs without a mood stabilizer rocketed me into mania once.

Geodon works as a mood stabliser too, Im on it an AD and stimulants without a specific MS and have been stable for nearly 3 years.

It took a few weeks for me to get the full effect of the medication but I am also on a higher dose (80mg). I was in the middle of an awful mixed episode when started on it and I am so very glad I found this medication. I hope that it works the same for you.

What kind of coping stratagies are you using to help at the moment?