[43camt]

Hello all.

Just posting this is a big step. 2014 has been a year from hell.

In june i had a pilonidal cyst removed. Located on the bottom of your spine, i havent sat totally comfortably in months the wound care sucks so bad. They didnt close the wound so twice a day my parents have to pack the wound with saline soaked gauze......still do i fOUR dang months later.

Back to BP. I was diagnosed around september 10th-ish

All summer long one week i woud be manic, arguing with friends and family, playin golf and going to the gym right after and then asking my sister if she wanted to see a movie, etc. I would try and do everything all in one day, every day. Then for two weeks i would be in a bad depression, so on and so forth.

The past three days i have been taking the correct lithium dosage (im 6'3" 220, 600mg), i was previously taking half that, and i have been a LOT better.

Except for one thing: I also have insomnia. I just cannot fall asleep . Since sunday the 19th, two entire nights i havent slept a minute.

Unfortunately, i do have a LOT going on.

I am moving to start a new job (22 years young), work starts in two weeks.

ANY advice/stories you have for me on ANYTHING, please do share.

Thank you.

[Crazy Hitch]

Welcome.

Lithium will take a while to kick in.

From personal experience and not medical advice I've always needed an anti psychotic - AP - to make me sleep. Not because I'd necessarily had a psychotic episode but I did need an AP in conjunction with my mood stabilizers.

Can you speak to your pdoc about this? I've found saphris somewhat effective and seroquel even more effective.

Keep well.

[43camt]

Do u have bp? I have taken trazodone for falling asleep since late 2012 but my doc said not to take it while on lithium unfortunately....the traz is a miracle drug just makes you sleepy nothing more nothing less

Hi 43, I take lithium and lexapro. My lithium is 900mg and my levels are still at the low end of therapeutic, so we are watching that, but it wasn't until I'd increased to 900 that I started to notice a difference. I'm not sure if weight/height makes a difference (I am a lot shorter and lighter than you listed). How often do you have your lithium levels checked?

[43camt]

Ive only had them checked once as ive only been on lithium three weeks. And we stopped the zyprexa a week or two ago because my manic episode went away. What does lexapro do for you?

The lexapro is supposed to help with depression. I can't tell right now what is working, but something is. I feel almost close to normal, though I do have side effects from either the lithium or lexapro that I can't identify the cause of (muscle twitching mostly).

I was on lithium many years ago and was only tested once, after they put me on too high a dose and I was so drugged that my boss took me in to the clinic thinking I needed to be hospitalized.

This pdoc is very careful with the lithium. She tested my kidney function before starting, then tested lithium levels a week later, increased to 900 because the lithium was too low, then tested a week after that. I will hold at 900, even tho I'm at the low end of therapeutic levels of lithium because the lexapro can cause those levels to increase. I see the pdoc today and will find out next steps.

I drink a LOT of water, which is the only downside to the lithium right now. My plan is not to be on it long term, but because lithium works faster than other mood stabilizers, that's what I went with.

As a side note: my pdoc had ordered blood tests that showed an underlying physical issue known to contribute to (and cause, in some cases) my symptoms of depression, confusion and memory loss. I've started to treat that issue and hopefully it will lessen my need for these other meds, though who knows. It's a long road.

[newtothis31]

Hi- Welcome to these forums! One other resource that helped me- Pilonidal Support Alliance: Information & Support for Pilonidal Cyst Suffers and their Families

I was able to find a really great surgeon from the website. It's a frustrating medical condition to have to deal with, and there is a lot of great support on that website.

Sorry to hear about the insomnia. I imagine that you're not too comfortable right now. Make sure you keep your p-doc posted on your sleep habits- there should be some options that will help you get some rest.

In the early phases of BP treatment- I'd recommend trying to eliminate as many decisions as possible from your life. Try to keep yourself on a regimented schedule- adjusting to medicine is hard- and the more predictable you can keep things- the better it will be while you bridge the gap between your medicine becoming truly effective.

Keep posting if you need anything. There's a lot of great people on these boards.

[~Christina]

Going a day or 2 with no sleep can often fling you into a manic episode, Sleep is a huge factor in finding stability for BP patients. There are numerous Sleep medication to try Ambien, Lunesta, to name a few, also otc melatonin. Best to ask your Pdoc about your options.

As Newtothis said schedule is very important.

Sleep Hygiene is a must for most everyone. Getting up and going to bed at the same time 7 days a week, dark cool room, no computer or phone and hour or so before bed, ect.. Sounds like alot but it really does help you overall when dealing with BP.

BP needs to be attacked from all sides, Meditation, Mindfulness, Coping skills, Exercise, healthy diet, sleep hygiene as mentioned above, Getting enough sunlight daily, Theres a big long list, some may work for you some may not . Its a trial and error kinda deal..

I think your main issue right now should be addressing the sleep problem, It's hard enough to start a new job in general but if your not rested , Ack !

Welcome to PC you will find loads of advice and support here.

[43camt]

You would think that not sleeping for one entire night would maybe cause mania the next day, but I surprisingly perfectly fine after not sleeping. I am getting better but sometimes can be very impatient still, with my family and even my girlfriend. I am going to ask my doc about lexapro, although the lithium itself does seem to be doing wonders for me. I have been taking a Zyprexa here and there once in a while as well, if my dad thinks I'm being hard to handle he'll sometimes recommend I take one