[earthangel1]

I had a mixed episode a little over a week ago and slit my wrists open. They wouldn't stop bleeding so I went to the er and was committed. The doctor took me off most of my medications except rexulti and lithium and klonipin which he lowered. My mixed mania turned into full blown mania and I brought in a baby bunny and a bunch of toads I snuck in under my shirt and in my pockets and I released them on the unit. But I was psychotic for a few days. Now I'm having bipolar depression. I am being put on Lamictal for a Lamictal lithium combo which should help but it takes forever to dose up on lamictal. The funny thing is I can still laugh easier off the geodon and remeron. I no longer feel like a zombie and my parents feel like they have their old son back. I just worry about my depression. I've been over sleeping and not eating. I've wanted to die constantly. I am going back there for something called the focus program. It's for bipolar. But neither the doctors at the psych hospital or my pdoc will give me another antidepressant because of what it does. I think I should wait this out and let the lithium stable out my mood. Any thoughts?

[hopeless2015]

Give yourself time to adjust to the new meds and recoup from inpatient....stay in touch with your pdoc! Hugs to you!!

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[Unrigged64072835]

Definitely give a chance for the meds to work. Hope you can still hang in there until they do.

Hi, hang in there I hope you are ok! I have not cut before but I've been IP for long stretches due to psychosis and suicidal from mixed episodes. Your follow up program sound like a good idea.

Lamictal does take awhile to titrate up but it's a great mood stabilizer for the depressive side. It's the only med I've been on the entire time since I was originally diagnosed.

Geodon is weight neutral and so is Lamictal. Some people have even lost weight on them I do have to eat 500 cals when I take Geodon. It won't work otherwise. I eat it with ice cream and then go to bed. Wake up happy. =]

Take it easy on yourself. You've been through tons.

I'm kind of surprised they reduced your Klonopin but I'm not a doctor, of course.

When I've been inpatient in the past, they always changed my meds at least a bit. When I'd resume seeing my pdoc on the outside, he would gradually change my meds as needed. For example, some meds they would give me an AP at the hospital that gave me bad side effects like I'd be overly sedated all day - so we'd tweak the dosage or switch to my back to my old AP with a slight dosage increase.

I'd tell your pdoc if the Klonopin reduction is not good for you. Seems odd to reduce it during your recovery but check with your pdoc.

If you aren't in therapy, get some referrals from your pdoc to go see a therapist after your outpatient FOCUS program ends. Or you might be able to see one of their therapists in their own office after the program ends. Some do their own office hours for regular patients.

Ugh, can you tell I have done this before lol. You'll be ok. You sound good. Just make your health top priority and if you DO feel bad, tell someone! It happens.

Overall, take care and keep your stress LOW as possible. This isn't the time to take on new responsibilities. You'll likely need time off from school or work. Is that possible? Keeping your responsibilities to a bare minimum are important right now. Your number one job is your recovery. Stay away from self-medicating, of course.

I liked the stuffed animals tale lol nice

xo

[earthangel1]

They were actually real animals I cought in the courtyard lol. The nurses were not very happy. But Ive been stable for a whole year in the past on lamictal. Maybe I just need to give it time. I told the ip psychiatrist I don't respond to lithium and he kept saying it's the gold standard. Oh well. I'll wait a few months.

[Victoria'smom]

When do you see a diffrent pdoc? Tell them lithum doesn't work for you. Hopefully the pdoc can figure somthing out.

[jules77]

totally get your situation - lamictal can take forever to get to the right dose, and lithium also can take some time to take effect. leaving IP is like entering a new world, except not really, you know? i've done that kind of partial program before - when i went it was really just to keep us busy and do group therapy, art therapy etc. easier said than done, i know, but give your body time to adjust. be open with yourself and doctors. take it easy - going IP is traumatic in itself. I've had a lot of really unpleasant mixed episodes and those as well are so upsetting. sending hugs

[Yoda]

When do you start the focus program?

[earthangel1]

Originally Posted by Yoda

When do you start the focus program?

On Monday. It's a 45 day residential.