What do you think?

I feel bad even complaining considering how bad some have it here. Anyway I am doing OK, I am stable. The only thing is I think my baseline is mild depression. Not bad depression, just bad enough to take away any gusto for life, or energy, or the want to do things.

Like people have hobbies, well it just sounds too exhausting to me. I can barely accomplish the things I have to do and have no energy to do anything else. Plus I have no desire to do anything either. If I had to sum my whole life up in a word it would be.... meh....

In the beginning (before mania) I was diagnosed with Major Depression. Tried several AD nothing really worked. Then mania happened and bad bad mania it is. I actually think my pdoc is mostly treating me for the mania because it is so bad. Not so much for depression. I did try wellbutrin a couple years back and it sent me so high that I had to stop taking it or risk a manic episode.

I guess what I am asking is it worth asking my pdoc to try AD? Is there any AD that can be used for bipolar 1 that don't cause mania or weight gain because my health is bad enough I cant do more weight gain.

I am not even sure if my pdoc would prescribe me AD and I will probably ponder asking him about this for months before I really get around to asking him. Its just the risk of a manic episode scares me so I am kind of nervous about even bringing it up.

Maybe I am just getting old and AD wont help this? Anyway I will stop complaining now. Thanks in advance.

well I think I'm in the same boat as you. I've been stable for a while now myself but I too think that my stable is a chronic low grade depression (dysthymia). and I'd say my life could be summed up as "meh" as yours or less. and they have trouble treating the depression with ADs because some of them can send you skyrocketing, which is no good either.

I'm feeling really bad and not able to respond as in depth as I would like. I just want you to know I understand. I think my baseline is mildly depressed also. If you take a mood stabilizer or AP, they probably will be willing to add an AD to the mix. You will just need to be careful and extra watchful. Sending you hugs! I hope you get out of the funk soon. I hope we both do. (((Hugs)))

st0psign,

I didn't know there was a word for this, dysthymia. It sounds like this is common for bipolar 1? I mean I can, and do, function but I feel like I am just so slow and tired. It would really be nice to enjoy life instead of being like this all the time.

ElsaMars,
Sorry your feeling so bad. I hope you feel better soon. I am on Geodon and tegretol also and occasional Xanax and one more to take in case of mania (olanzapine).

Maybe my pdoc might be willing to try AD? I don't know I just got to get up the nerve to ask him. Its such a big risk. When I go manic, it gets bad and I don't come down for a month or more. I have to go IP. Sometimes multiple times for the same manic episode. I guess I better think about this for a while. I don't want to risk stability but I don't want to stay like this either ya know?

Yes, unfortunately, I really do know. (((Hugs)))