[TryingToMoveForward]

I was doing alright on Effexor, but there's a chance its causing me to have seizures so I'm going off it. And that means not being on an anti-depressant at all. This isn't going so well. And I'm still having seizure symptoms.

Between my neurological issues and my mental health issues, I just feel like I'm f***ed. Emotionally I've been unstable. And my last therapist and current therapist haven't taught me how to deal with these mood swings. I mean, I'm Borderline. And no one has taught me how to cope with this stuff. If I have to reschedule one more time, I think I might lose it on them. All I want is one session to address coping with these symptoms.

I don't know if its my neurological issues, but I've pretty much been exhausted for a while. I'm now doing 8 hour shifts. Last night I had nightmares, woke up exhausted and in tears. Went to work for 8 hours and the shift was insane. I can barely move right now I am so exhausted. My back hurts, though I'm finally in physical therapy.

My medical issues are getting to me. I'm tired of having to frequently go into the back office, close the door, have my seizures, then get up and go back out to sell shoes. It gets tiring, especially if they're really bad. Sometimes people walk in and its so embarrassing. They're like, "What are you doing?" And I can't really speak, I'm convulsing, rocking and shaking. I walk around terrified I'm going to collapse and go into a grand mal seizure. All this has put me in a bad mood. A lot. All the time. I don't know if its epilepsy or a brain tumor. I don't know. I'm scared. It stresses me out and I have to pretend that it doesn't so I can function. So I guess its not really chemical...its situational...? I don't know. Just really tired of life. I don't remember the last time I was genuinely happy. I recently spent a month in a depressive state. That was worse than this, but I could see myself going back into a deep depressive state.

I don't have the energy to do my hobbies. Lately I haven't even wanted to talk to friends...I don't have the energy for that either. And I'm sure they don't want to hear me complain everyday.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I want to eventually get off Effexor cause it's canceling my sex drive.
So I looked it up and you're supposed to wean off very slowly.
Unless your pdoc told you to do it another way I guess.

[TryingToMoveForward]

I wasn't on a very high dose. Just the next dose up from the starting dose. I don't think it was enough to cause seizures, but who knows?

I'm in better spirits today. On days I get exhausted, after 5-7 episodes and an 8 hour shift, I feel really down. I'd like to get hypomanic again because I like how it feels and how it boosts my confidence.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

I would take these seizures very seriously. You should see a neurologist asap. Hell id go to the ER if I just had a seizure. And if you're sure it's from the meds then find an alternative med! I can't stress how serious seizures are and shouldn't just be locked in a room to play out. You said you're getting little rest and working too much. Could these be caused by stress or anxiety? I would suggest a sleep study too. I can't stress how important good sleep is for BP. I woke up at 2am the other night and stayed up until I went to work at 9! I was so exhausted that I was dizzy all day and even had second thoughts if I should even be behind the wheel. Well I ended up having a panic attack at work and didn't stop crying until long after I got home. All because I was completely wiped out and exhausted. What a crappy feeling it was. Please take care of yourself and see a specialist asap!

Trileptal 600mg BID
Buspar 45mg
Seroquel 150-300mg for sleep
Ativan 1mg PRN
Vyvanse 70mg
Risperdal 4-6mg PRN

I don't get msgs unless the other person using tapatalk app!

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

I agree with RxQueen875. You need to go get a thorough Neurological exam. Don't mess around with seizures. If you get behind the wheel and have one, it could be very dangerous. My pdoc is also recommending a sleep study for me as well. I can't stress enough how important sleep is to mental health stability. I hope you get better soon!

[luvyrself]

Originally Posted by TryingToMoveForward

I was doing alright on Effexor, but there's a chance its causing me to have seizures so I'm going off it. And that means not being on an anti-depressant at all. This isn't going so well. And I'm still having seizure symptoms.

Between my neurological issues and my mental health issues, I just feel like I'm f***ed. Emotionally I've been unstable. And my last therapist and current therapist haven't taught me how to deal with these mood swings. I mean, I'm Borderline. And no one has taught me how to cope with this stuff. If I have to reschedule one more time, I think I might lose it on them. All I want is one session to address coping with these symptoms.

I don't know if its my neurological issues, but I've pretty much been exhausted for a while. I'm now doing 8 hour shifts. Last night I had nightmares, woke up exhausted and in tears. Went to work for 8 hours and the shift was insane. I can barely move right now I am so exhausted. My back hurts, though I'm finally in physical therapy.

My medical issues are getting to me. I'm tired of having to frequently go into the back office, close the door, have my seizures, then get up and go back out to sell shoes. It gets tiring, especially if they're really bad. Sometimes people walk in and its so embarrassing. They're like, "What are you doing?" And I can't really speak, I'm convulsing, rocking and shaking. I walk around terrified I'm going to collapse and go into a grand mal seizure. All this has put me in a bad mood. A lot. All the time. I don't know if its epilepsy or a brain tumor. I don't know. I'm scared. It stresses me out and I have to pretend that it doesn't so I can function. So I guess its not really chemical...its situational...? I don't know. Just really tired of life. I don't remember the last time I was genuinely happy. I recently spent a month in a depressive state. That was worse than this, but I could see myself going back into a deep depressive state.

I don't have the energy to do my hobbies. Lately I haven't even wanted to talk to friends...I don't have the energy for that either. And I'm sure they don't want to hear me complain everyday.

Xxxxxxxxx Yes,neurological exam asap. U may be able to get disability short or long term (ssi is long term). Walk if u r starting to get low, with someone if u have seizures. Call neurologist now, today

[TryingToMoveForward]

Oh...I should have mentioned but I am already seeing a neurologist, but just started doing the exams. I ended up in the ER one day when they got worse, and a few days later I was setting up the EEG testing. The neurologist isn't entirely sure if they are seizures yet...though...um...they fit the description of one. Waiting on the results from the EEG and getting an MRI on Tuesday before work. So relax. All of you. I'm getting treatment, I promise. :] I let this go too long as it was. It started out with random dizzy spells, progressed to me stopping and staring in space unable to do anything or speak with hand movement. Now I'm shaking and rocking, sometimes both arms, sometimes one. They vary in intensity. The LamICTal I'm on helps with seizures, and the neurologist told me to take a half tablet in addition to the whole tablet I was taking. This seems to help a bit, the episodes are not as severe.

As for work...I'm not working enough to pay my bills. But getting through a day having multiple episodes during my shift is exhausting. Something about the florescent lighting seems to make them worse. I am being moved from the footwear department because I can't climb ladders. And no I'm not driving either. Sometimes when I'm working, and the episodes start to come on, I just forget what I'm doing and get very disoriented and start to wander around. Until I recall my boss telling me the designated place to sit down. It's like wired in me now to go there. Like being on autopilot.

Sometimes I wish I didn't have to go to work at all right now. Because all of this takes a lot out of me. Its humiliating when the episodes happen in front of co-workers. I get very tired after they occur, but have to put on a smile, go out and pretend everything is hunky dory when I just want to go to the camping department, climb on a mojo cot and take a nap. But I can't afford to not work, I can't pay all my bills as is. So I just suck it up and try to do my best. Hoping I won't get fired. The managers know what's going on and have been very understanding so far.

I try to get at least 8 hours of sleep. But chances are I'm having these episodes while I'm sleeping too. Most of the time I wake up tired. On days off I can barely drag myself out of bed after 8 hours, sometimes sleeping for 10 and even then I'm still tired. So yes. Probably a lot to do with stress. There are things I can't control right now, besides my body movements, and it really stresses me out because I don't know what to do to make everything better.

Besides dealing with these seizure symptoms, my fluctuating emotional state is the second major problem. I'm on an emotional roller coaster most of the time. I really need to learn how to control these emotions and mood swings. The instability is dangerous.