[wildflowerchild25]

Hello everyone. I am waiting for my computer to complete its update so I figured I could make a quick post while I wait.

About two weeks ago I realized my depression was getting out of hand. I decided to start my trileptal again, slowly. I made it up to 900mg. I feel much better. This past week I have noticed that I wake up completely jazzed; ready to go, confident, motivated, happy to be alive. I'm excited and fun to be around, I'm loud, I talk a lot. All signs of hypo for me. But the difference is that by mid afternoon (around the end of the school day), my energy is GONE. I mean like so much that I'm afraid I'm going to fall asleep in my commute home. And when I get home, I just lay on the couch and doze while my son plays.

I don't get it! My mood doesn't change so it's not like I'm gettin depressed, I'm just exhausted! This happens to me a few times a year - I realize that I am completely beat Even though I've gotten eight to ten hours of sleep. I mean, my job is mentally draining - I work with really tough students. But I'm so much more tired than usual, especially since I'm not in a depression.

I hate being so tired. That was ALWAYS my mom's excuse for not paying any attention to us and I don't want to do that to my son! I've been pushing through and playing with him on the floor anyway but it's hard.

On Monday (not today, Super Bowl and all) I'm starting to eat healthier - I definitely got more into carbs and sugar in January because it's been so dreary and cold. Eating more protein and less heavy foods might help me. I am also going to start my iron supplement again. I do tend to get anemic sometimes. So that migh help too.

But the good news is that I am doing very well mood-wise - I can tell from the energy in the morning that I would be hypo but the trileptal is capping it, so I can just stay baseline. Thankfully I recently reread a post I made in august detailing the absolute insanity that is me without medication in a manic state sooooo while I am tempted to access the full power of hypo without meds I know it will turn ugly on me so I will stay obedient on trileptal for now.

If anyone has experienced exhaustion not connected to moods, tell me if any lifestyle changes helped please!

Thanks for posting this wildflowerchild25. I to crash in the afternoon. I am a morning person, but by 1 pm, I'm through. My brain has turned into mush and I can't get motivated to do anything but sleep.

So, I'll be keeping an eye out for any replies that you get.

Thanks again.

[nbritton]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I'm excited and fun to be around, I'm loud, I talk a lot. All signs of hypo for me. But the difference is that by mid afternoon (around the end of the school day), my energy is GONE. I mean like so much that I'm afraid I'm going to fall asleep in my commute home. And when I get home, I just lay on the couch and doze while my son plays.

It sounds like your running out of something. Women of child bearing age are at increased risk of anemia due to menstruation, so I'm thinking maybe iron deficiency. Ferrous sulfate (iron) tablets are available at the grocery store for less than $5, take one 50 ~ 65 mg iron tablet with a snack at bed. If you're iron deficient you should notice some immediate improvements the next afternoon. If you find it helpful I would consult a doctor.

Another possibility is magnesium. You can find magnesium glycinate (Doctor's Best Chelated Magnesium, sourced by Albion Minerals) at Walgreens.

Yet another possibility is iodine deficiency. Kelp supplements contain a substantial amount of iodine, you can find it at GNC. Bedtime is the best time to take iodine.

Furthermore, you know that Seroquel can be highly sedating? It's best to take it at night.

[wildflowerchild25]

I haven't taken Seroquel in two months precisely for that reason. I only take it when an episode gets out of hand.

I'm definitely going to take iron. I'll look into magnesium too. Thanks for the suggestions!

[wildflowerchild25]

See, today I got up at 7:15, finished my lesson plans, played with my son, took a shower, washed clothes, cleaned up the living room...and then totally crashed at 2pm. But since I took a short nap (maybe 20 mins) I'm back to feeling super motivated. Ugh! Wish I could nap in my social worker's office at work lol.

[hamster-bamster]

Since you are working, treat yourself to bio available iron. Floradix iron - you can get it online. Store in the fridge and take twice a day, 30 mins before meals. It is a pleasant tadting liquid with a full B vit complex to boot. They also sell calcium magnesium liquid, but don't mix them as the presence of calcium inhibits the absorption of iron.

As a temporary dietary measure, start combining iron rich foods with vit C and stop eating iron rich foods and dairy products in one meal. Cast iron skillets do release iron into the meal as well, so use them if you have them. Finally, iron rich foods have a synergistic effect. Say, cooking chile con carne with tomatoes in a cast iron skillet and having an orange with that meal would be a perfect choice.

If you don't drink coffee, Nuvagil tablets can work to carry you through the low energy part of afternoon.

[wildflowerchild25]

Thank you hamster. I will look into those as well.

I can't tolerate caffeine in high doses - a soda is about as much as I can handle. So I don't do coffee.

[hamster-bamster]

Nuvagil and provigil are both by prescription. Somebody on this board, two years ago, said that Nuvagil costs much less than buying coffee. You cannot do coffee anyway, but just saying - it's inexpensive. Also, do you take melatonin and do you get morning sunlight at all?

Have you considered possibly changing the time you take your meds?