[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Sapien

It’s really more of a re-injury. My knees suck from running and skiing (I liked moguls, racing, and hucking cliffs without being sure of the landings). Last week I was running fast down a steep hill and one step just hurt a lot and the next even more.

I’ve never been climbed a frozen waterfall or a straight up cliff, but I’ve used crampons and ice axes while winter hiking so I have some gear and I wouldn’t be completely clueless.

Yeah, that IOP had lots of really helpful counselors but the lady that managed the emergency line was mean. It’s like “I’m in crisis.” “You need to call another crisis line.”

Wow! That's some intense stuff!

Maybe try calling at a different time and day. Hopefully you'll get someone else. Thta one sounds like a bi*ch.

[fern46]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

I’m not sure because cough syrup works really well for sleeping. But I am being told it’s super dangerous. I will have a new therapist when I move. I’m hoping to keep my Pdoc though even though he will be 3 hours away.

Yes, it is. I think maybe a good first step would be for you to have a conversation with your pharmacist before you take anything. Ask what the interactions are with your psych meds and how long it is appropriate to use the drug. You can also get the same information from various websites. Do your homework. Research what the overdose risks are and what toxicity symptoms of these meds are.

I'd say just only ever use the dosage on the bottle, but that isn't always correct and can be difficult if your tendency is to think more is more. The information you need is freely available, but I think you have some beliefs and behavior patterns that drive the behavior.

I'm glad to hear you will have a new therapist.

[fern46]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Spoke to my sister after over 24 hours of silence. She didn't even know what was going on. G's blood work showed heavy marijuana use, but otherwise clear. He's in a holding place while they look for a bed for him. He's sleeping. He's seen a doctor in the ER. No hallucinations. They've diagnosed him with BP1, MRE mixed. They asked if there is any bipolar in his family and he said he didn't remember, but my sister says his paternal grandfather had it and we all know that I have it. They gave him Zyprexa, Haldol and something else in the ER just to bring him down. Now, he's only on Risperdal. So, just waiting to get a bed. Their friend who is a psych student said to take his shoes with laces off and ditch the hoodie because they'll take the strings out of both and ruin them; so he did and wore shorts and a tshirt and flip flops to the holding place. (They are in California.) My sister got to talk with someone and find out what was going on. So now he's just waiting to get admitted and then they'll watch him and tweak his meds. I told my sister what its like inpatient- that they give you a schedule every day of what groups you're going to and that he'd see the psychiatrist every now and then. So all in all, I'd say he is getting excellent care. He was more laid back at one of his interviews but then was back to his manic self. Apparently, he'd go from elated and wanting to telling people about his greatest ideas to crying the next second, hence the mixed diagnosis. At least he's slept in the holding place. I hope they find him a bed soon.

Hugs. Let your sister know it is really too soon to diagnose at this point, especially if heavy drug use is in play. I suspected marijuana yesterday based on his symptoms. It happens a lot with kids his age. Sometimes the drugs uncover or unleash a condition that would show up anyway. Other times, the psychosis is not bipolar and it is brief reactive psychosis due to a significant neurochemical and receptor imbalance caused by the drugs.

The very best thing he can do is get off the drugs and find a pdoc who understands this. He definitely needs to be medicated at the moment, but this may not be a lifetime thing for him. I hope it isn't but he also has a very knowlegeable and loving aunt if it is. He is fortunate to have you in the family.

[*Beth*]

Completely unwound because the stupid fu**ing IT dept. at the clinic screwed up and didn't send me a teletherapy link to my therapist again. So no therapy appointment. I called IT and calmly and PERSISTENTLY demanded to know what is going on. I mean, I was ready to sit on my phone for 5 more hours. Of course, they wanted to blame me. Why do people do that? Why can't people take effing responsibility for themselves? So the chick that was talking to me was full of BS. I asked to speak to her supervisor, who is nicer. Finally the supervisor admitted that YES they screwed up, OH GEE we're so sorry.

Meanwhile, my therapist was calling me, now I called her back and was told she's gone over to IT to tell them they need to fix this issue. I appreciate that she made that effort.

I feel like throwing something through the window.

And all my pdoc and I could come up with is raising my Pristiq dose. And she's insistent about that damned light box. I understand being kind-of stuck as far as meds, but the light box is BS.

God, I'm so angry right now.

[fern46]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Thanks for this! He's had no hallucinations, just delusions ("sun is god"). I would think that this episode was helped along by the drug, but that he does still have bipolar 1. He's talking a mile a minute about the projects he's invented and then crying a few minutes later. They know he had marijuana in his system. You'd think the medical professionals would take all these factors in before giving a serious diagnosis like bp1. I agree that he needs to ditch the marijuana. Definitely. I know it affects me oddly, like blacking out over and over just from eating a little "pot fudge".

He very well may... But I had symptoms similar to his and my diagnosis is still up in the air two years later. Reactive psychosis does not require hallucinations to be present.

I was diagnosed very quickly in IP and then two separate pdocs said that was inappropriate afterward. They basically said it just takes time and there should be evidence of cycling to make a BP1 diagnosis official. They suspect it may still be the case with me, but we still do not have enough information to know and I actually do well unmedicated for long periods of time.

I just think it sucks how they spend 20 minutes with you and slap a lifelong diagnosis on your chart. I wish someone had told me that these sorts of issues are complex and can be caused by a number of factors. Lots of practitioners witness mania symptoms and jump straight to BP. That is correct a lot of the time, but those who do not have it often fall through the cracks and take a lot of unnecessary and harmful meds. It really just vaires by patient. I hope he finds his way to a great doctor that knows how to tell the difference.

[*Beth*]

There's a very common belief that no one can overdose on pot or hash. That's absolutely not true. I once took a capsule with hash oil in it (used to make brownies)...I got so sick, I thought I would die from throwing up. I was having all sorts of head trip stuff and retching uncontrollably. I was basically poisoned.

Your nephew, Moose, could have od'ed. Hopefully that's what happened, and he'll get help IP.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I've not been posting much lately because I've been fairly overwhelmed by my dying family member. But now I have a new problem and I need some support.

Last week I went for my routine mammogram. It showed something abnormal so Tuesday I had a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. This still seemed like no big deal as it seemed like every woman I know has been there. The women in my family have lumpy breats.

Today I got an email from my family doctor that the 2nd mammogram was abnormal and he wants me to go to a breast specialist. At that time it was for evaluation and possibly a biopsy. I told him that if a biopsy were needed I probably should go to my usual hospital but otherwise was happy to go to the hospital he's affiliated with. I also asked if I should be scared.

I heard back this evening that he talked to the breast dr and she talked to anesthesia and they are comfortable with the MAOI. He said he would be as honest as possible but the radiologist report isn't super clear. After talking to the breast dr though he did say he think it needs biopsied and removed. So I'm waiting for the breast dr's office to call to schedule.

I'm now scared. I don't want to be hanging around hospitals as my state crosses 10,000 daily cases, many of them in the cities either hospital is in. It's scary to know they have to remove something that might be cancer.

I've worn myself out worrying but that's not helping. I was doing great staying calm and thinking it was nothing until the 2nd mammogram came back with issues. Now I'm hoping it's nothing but knowing it's not necessarily nothing.

I hope they get me in next week.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I've not been posting much lately because I've been fairly overwhelmed by my dying family member. But now I have a new problem and I need some support.

Last week I went for my routine mammogram. It showed something abnormal so Tuesday I had a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. This still seemed like no big deal as it seemed like every woman I know has been there. The women in my family have lumpy breats.

Today I got an email from my family doctor that the 2nd mammogram was abnormal and he wants me to go to a breast specialist. At that time it was for evaluation and possibly a biopsy. I told him that if a biopsy were needed I probably should go to my usual hospital but otherwise was happy to go to the hospital he's affiliated with. I also asked if I should be scared.

I heard back this evening that he talked to the breast dr and she talked to anesthesia and they are comfortable with the MAOI. He said he would be as honest as possible but the radiologist report isn't super clear. After talking to the breast dr though he did say he think it needs biopsied and removed. So I'm waiting for the breast dr's office to call to schedule.

I'm now scared. I don't want to be hanging around hospitals as my state crosses 10,000 daily cases, many of them in the cities either hospital is in. It's scary to know they have to remove something that might be cancer.

I've worn myself out worrying but that's not helping. I was doing great staying calm and thinking it was nothing until the 2nd mammogram came back with issues. Now I'm hoping it's nothing but knowing it's not necessarily nothing.

I hope they get me in next week.

So you want to go but you don't want to go- because you are scared of the answers and of getting covid. That's completely understandable! I have my yearly mammogram in January, but every time I have one, they see scar tissue from my breast reduction and I have to have an ultrasound. I hope your appointment goes well. They give me a piece of paper with the findings before I leave the appointment so hopefully they do that for you too!

[Sunflower123]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I've not been posting much lately because I've been fairly overwhelmed by my dying family member. But now I have a new problem and I need some support.

Last week I went for my routine mammogram. It showed something abnormal so Tuesday I had a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. This still seemed like no big deal as it seemed like every woman I know has been there. The women in my family have lumpy breats.

Today I got an email from my family doctor that the 2nd mammogram was abnormal and he wants me to go to a breast specialist. At that time it was for evaluation and possibly a biopsy. I told him that if a biopsy were needed I probably should go to my usual hospital but otherwise was happy to go to the hospital he's affiliated with. I also asked if I should be scared.

I heard back this evening that he talked to the breast dr and she talked to anesthesia and they are comfortable with the MAOI. He said he would be as honest as possible but the radiologist report isn't super clear. After talking to the breast dr though he did say he think it needs biopsied and removed. So I'm waiting for the breast dr's office to call to schedule.

I'm now scared. I don't want to be hanging around hospitals as my state crosses 10,000 daily cases, many of them in the cities either hospital is in. It's scary to know they have to remove something that might be cancer.

I've worn myself out worrying but that's not helping. I was doing great staying calm and thinking it was nothing until the 2nd mammogram came back with issues. Now I'm hoping it's nothing but knowing it's not necessarily nothing.

I hope they get me in next week.

Thinking of you with thoughts and prayers. I hope everything goes okay.

[Nammu]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I've not been posting much lately because I've been fairly overwhelmed by my dying family member. But now I have a new problem and I need some support.

Last week I went for my routine mammogram. It showed something abnormal so Tuesday I had a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. This still seemed like no big deal as it seemed like every woman I know has been there. The women in my family have lumpy breats.

Today I got an email from my family doctor that the 2nd mammogram was abnormal and he wants me to go to a breast specialist. At that time it was for evaluation and possibly a biopsy. I told him that if a biopsy were needed I probably should go to my usual hospital but otherwise was happy to go to the hospital he's affiliated with. I also asked if I should be scared.

I heard back this evening that he talked to the breast dr and she talked to anesthesia and they are comfortable with the MAOI. He said he would be as honest as possible but the radiologist report isn't super clear. After talking to the breast dr though he did say he think it needs biopsied and removed. So I'm waiting for the breast dr's office to call to schedule.

I'm now scared. I don't want to be hanging around hospitals as my state crosses 10,000 daily cases, many of them in the cities either hospital is in. It's scary to know they have to remove something that might be cancer.

I've worn myself out worrying but that's not helping. I was doing great staying calm and thinking it was nothing until the 2nd mammogram came back with issues. Now I'm hoping it's nothing but knowing it's not necessarily nothing.

I hope they get me in next week.

Sending calming soothing vibes.

[Soupe du jour]

Originally Posted by fern46

I suspected marijuana yesterday based on his symptoms. It happens a lot with kids his age. Sometimes the drugs uncover or unleash a condition that would show up anyway. Other times, the psychosis is not bipolar and it is brief reactive psychosis due to a significant neurochemical and receptor imbalance caused by the drugs.

The very best thing he can do is get off the drugs and find a pdoc who understands this. He definitely needs to be medicated at the moment, but this may not be a lifetime thing for him. I hope it isn't but he also has a very knowlegeable and loving aunt if it is. He is fortunate to have you in the family.

I agree with what Fern wrote above. I know from my husband's nephew's experience that marijuana can be majorly bad news. That nephew became so unwell, mentally, that he was in a psych hospital for weeks. They diagnosed him with schizophrenia and put him on major antipsychotics. Later down the line, after he was off the pot for a while, they decided he didn't have schizophrenia, but maybe this, that, or some other thing, including bipolar disorder for a brief time. Now, years after stopping pot, he has none of these. He does seem to be on the low end of a personality disorder spectrum, but it's nothing that requires he take psych medications.

Of course it's possible a young person has a bipolar dx, but I agree that stopping illegal drugs is crucial, to be sure.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I've not been posting much lately because I've been fairly overwhelmed by my dying family member. But now I have a new problem and I need some support.

Last week I went for my routine mammogram. It showed something abnormal so Tuesday I had a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. This still seemed like no big deal as it seemed like every woman I know has been there. The women in my family have lumpy breats.

Today I got an email from my family doctor that the 2nd mammogram was abnormal and he wants me to go to a breast specialist. At that time it was for evaluation and possibly a biopsy. I told him that if a biopsy were needed I probably should go to my usual hospital but otherwise was happy to go to the hospital he's affiliated with. I also asked if I should be scared.

I heard back this evening that he talked to the breast dr and she talked to anesthesia and they are comfortable with the MAOI. He said he would be as honest as possible but the radiologist report isn't super clear. After talking to the breast dr though he did say he think it needs biopsied and removed. So I'm waiting for the breast dr's office to call to schedule.

I'm now scared. I don't want to be hanging around hospitals as my state crosses 10,000 daily cases, many of them in the cities either hospital is in. It's scary to know they have to remove something that might be cancer.

I've worn myself out worrying but that's not helping. I was doing great staying calm and thinking it was nothing until the 2nd mammogram came back with issues. Now I'm hoping it's nothing but knowing it's not necessarily nothing.

I hope they get me in next week.

It's so good to see you, Rainbow. I sure wish it was for a better reason.

Of course you're scared. The best advice I can give you, having way too much experience with medical stuff with family members (and myself), is to be your own best advocate. The hardest thing to do when you're worrying and feeling drained. But it's essential.

For example, call and do everything you can to be sure they do get you in next week. The squeaky (and persistent) wheel really does get the grease.

Good luck and love to you. Please keep us posted...you know we're here for you.

[MuddyBoots]

Moose
Other drugs clear the system much quicker than marijuana/THC, but their effects can still linger. My first manic episode was triggered by cocaine use, but I had passed the piss test when I was hospitalized. Shrooms for example cant be detected after about a day but if you’re prone to psychosis the effects can last longer.
And if he was using marijuana heavily it would takeweeks maybe even months for all of it to fully leave his system since THC is stored in fat cells. I haven’t smoked weed in 17 days but I still feel a very mild high when I go a while without eating or after exercise because the thc is being released into my blood as my body burns the fat cells even after 2.5 weeks.

@BeyondtheRainbow: It's understandable that you're scared. I was too when i had to have a needle biopsy. But mine turned out fine and hopefully yours will too. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[fern46]

Originally Posted by Sapien

Moose
Other drugs clear the system much quicker than marijuana/THC, but their effects can still linger. My first manic episode was triggered by cocaine use, but I had passed the piss test when I was hospitalized. Shrooms for example cant be detected after about a day but if you’re prone to psychosis the effects can last longer.
And if he was using marijuana heavily it would takeweeks maybe even months for all of it to fully leave his system since THC is stored in fat cells. I haven’t smoked weed in 17 days but I still feel a very mild high when I go a while without eating or after exercise because the thc is being released into my blood as my body burns the fat cells even after 2.5 weeks.

This ^^^ Additionally, various neuroreceptors become overactive and when you exercise or listen to activating music and dopamine is released, the body is more sensitive to it than it would otherwise be.

You can also get mania like or psychotic symptoms when long time heavy users stop all of a sudden. Dopamine is a powerful chemical. Same for serotonin and Gaba. Marijuana affects all of those chemicals and their receptors. These chemicals affect your sleep, euphoric responses, spiritual experiences, anxiety responses, eating, etc.

It seems like an innocuous drug and it can be for some people. It can be medicinally helpful in many ways. But... In some cases it can create the perfect storm and it is hard to know exactly what all is in play until the drugs pass out of the system completely. It is hard to know what makes for a balanced experience for an individual and it is hard to know how much THC you're getting.

[Polibeth]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I've not been posting much lately because I've been fairly overwhelmed by my dying family member. But now I have a new problem and I need some support.

Last week I went for my routine mammogram. It showed something abnormal so Tuesday I had a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. This still seemed like no big deal as it seemed like every woman I know has been there. The women in my family have lumpy breats.

Today I got an email from my family doctor that the 2nd mammogram was abnormal and he wants me to go to a breast specialist. At that time it was for evaluation and possibly a biopsy. I told him that if a biopsy were needed I probably should go to my usual hospital but otherwise was happy to go to the hospital he's affiliated with. I also asked if I should be scared.

I heard back this evening that he talked to the breast dr and she talked to anesthesia and they are comfortable with the MAOI. He said he would be as honest as possible but the radiologist report isn't super clear. After talking to the breast dr though he did say he think it needs biopsied and removed. So I'm waiting for the breast dr's office to call to schedule.

I'm now scared. I don't want to be hanging around hospitals as my state crosses 10,000 daily cases, many of them in the cities either hospital is in. It's scary to know they have to remove something that might be cancer.

I've worn myself out worrying but that's not helping. I was doing great staying calm and thinking it was nothing until the 2nd mammogram came back with issues. Now I'm hoping it's nothing but knowing it's not necessarily nothing.

I hope they get me in next week.

I'm sorry that you have so much going on. Sending best wishes that everything turns out fine. You are right that worrying doesn't help - but I find it near impossible not to worry.

I hope they get you in next week too.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Soupe du jour

...stopping illegal drugs is crucial, to be sure.

The problem is, he's in California, so mj isn't illegal.

[Soupe du jour]

Originally Posted by BethRags

The problem is, he's in California, so mj isn't illegal.

I guess a better word would have been "nonprescription". Or "non-pharmacy". I am assuming he does not get them from a doctor. Actually, I don't think prescribed marijuana is usually the problem. Usually recreational. Do you agree?

[Soupe du jour]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I've not been posting much lately because I've been fairly overwhelmed by my dying family member. But now I have a new problem and I need some support.

Last week I went for my routine mammogram. It showed something abnormal so Tuesday I had a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. This still seemed like no big deal as it seemed like every woman I know has been there. The women in my family have lumpy breats.

Today I got an email from my family doctor that the 2nd mammogram was abnormal and he wants me to go to a breast specialist. At that time it was for evaluation and possibly a biopsy. I told him that if a biopsy were needed I probably should go to my usual hospital but otherwise was happy to go to the hospital he's affiliated with. I also asked if I should be scared.

I heard back this evening that he talked to the breast dr and she talked to anesthesia and they are comfortable with the MAOI. He said he would be as honest as possible but the radiologist report isn't super clear. After talking to the breast dr though he did say he think it needs biopsied and removed. So I'm waiting for the breast dr's office to call to schedule.

I'm now scared. I don't want to be hanging around hospitals as my state crosses 10,000 daily cases, many of them in the cities either hospital is in. It's scary to know they have to remove something that might be cancer.

I've worn myself out worrying but that's not helping. I was doing great staying calm and thinking it was nothing until the 2nd mammogram came back with issues. Now I'm hoping it's nothing but knowing it's not necessarily nothing.

I hope they get me in next week.

I'm so sorry you have to deal with two highly anxiety provoking stressor at the same time, BeyondtheRainbow. I suppose it would be odd if you weren't anxious.

I know several women who have had to get biopsies because of abnormalities found in their breast. It was frightening for them, but in the end many did not have breast cancer, but it was crucial for them to know. I also know more than a few women who had breast cancer, including recently my husband's best friend's wife. Of those I knew/know, they all survived it, though I know it isn't 100% across the board. It does certainly seem like breast cancer survival is greatly improved over the decades. I think it's far more treatable than many other types of cancer. So much research and money has gone into breast cancer treatment. I wish as much went into bipolar disorder treatment.

Sending supportive hugs your way and best wishes that your biopsy shows something innocent.

[MuddyBoots]

Back hurts like hell. It’s one spot right on the spine in the middle of my back and I first noticed it when I was laying down last night. I was up until 1AM. And my knee still hurts too of course. I’m so very tempted to take a rx painkiller, but I will stick with Tylenol.
I gotta find stuff to do today. I’ve been majorly struggling with boredom lately.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Soupe du jour

I guess a better word would have been "nonprescription". Or "non-pharmacy". I am assuming he does not get them from a doctor. Actually, I don't think prescribed marijuana is usually the problem. Usually recreational. Do you agree?

I don't live terribly far from the green triangle, so mj is something I've been around all of my life.

Based upon what I've witnessed between the '70's and now, my opinion of mj is rather conservative. I've seen sooo many intelligent people, especially men, become dolts from frequent use. Known a number of people who were junkies get off heroin then stayed stoned all the time, fooling themselves into believing they're 100% clean. I've know growers who lived their lives justifiably paranoid and even more paranoid, mean, and nasty-tempered from using mj constantly. I've lived with people who were stoned literally all of the time. They were so dependent they'd get up during the night just to smoke/do edibles. They claim "recreational" use. Seriously? They were nothing less than addicts.

I also believe that thc has some benefits. For people who are undergoing chemo, are HIV+, or have other conditions that cause inappetence thc is a God-send. For people who have glaucoma or certain types of seizure disorders thc is a blessing.

But what I see way too much of, and it angers me, is "doctors" who essentially fabricate reasons for a patient to buy a card for no other purpose than that the patient can stay loaded all the time, or use mj when they run out of another substance. Every one of those people that I've known (far more than I can count) need mental healthcare. And every one of them eschew "big pharma" in favor of staying loaded all the time. It's truly sad. And stupid.

I've known 2 people who were heavy users and ended up cracking up, either causing or exposing a serious mental illness.

Here's what I hope for. I hope that researchers find out more about thc and use it for patients who truly benefit from it, not just abuse it.

A related subject is hemp. I own a lot of hemp clothes, find hemp oil wonderful for body care, and have done craft work with hemp twine/hemp fabric, which takes dye beautifully and is a strong fiber. There's a whole political thing about why the US stopped allowing hemp growing to be legal, it's BS, and I want to see hemp being legally grown and harvested again in this country.

In the past I have used weed for nausea and, after a miscarriage, for acute insomnia. I used very little. It did help the nausea; it was no better for insomnia that diphenhydramine is.

About 15 years ago I was at a party, smoked some, and had a dangerous experience. Got paranoid and left the party. Ended up in the middle of a city, high as a kite and completely disoriented and lost. It was a terrifying situation. I seriously doubt I'll ever use mj again.

btw, the mj of the '70's was weak and pleasant when compared with the incredibly potent stuff today. The high back then was gentle and lasted for maybe 20 minutes.

But my last issue - edibles are one thing. Smoking mj is more toxic to the lungs than cigarettes are, mostly because when people smoke they hold the smoke in their lungs. And then they resist big pharma? Give me a break.

[Daonnachd]

Good morning. I know I'm interrupting a conversation, but I know nothing about mj. I never used it and didn't spend time with anyone who did as far as I know.


So, to just check in: I got up this morning, made our coffee and sat down to edit my wife's monthly newsletter. Both she and I have today off work but it's the monthly newsletter that needs to be done before the month gets truncated by the holiday. Besides, I'm a wordy; I enjoy this.

[Moose72]

It's 67 degrees here! I have shorts on. Woohoo!

[Daonnachd]

@Moose72, at 67• I'm bundled up in a wool jumper and a knit hat. You're a beast!

[Soupe du jour]

Originally Posted by Moose72

It's 67 degrees here! I have shorts on. Woohoo!

65 F where I am and I also have shorts on. Enjoy! It feels good.