Bipolar check-in #68

Beth, did you call med dude? That sounds like you may have had a high lithium level or lithium toxicity. You probably should have a level drawn just to be sure.


Toxicity is about the sickest I have ever felt in my life.

Hope you are feeling better.

I’ve increased my hours at work to 20. This should help me get paid time
Off and holiday pay. I didn’t have any of that at 16
Hrs. It should help me be more apt to get tuition reimbursement for my grad school classes too hopefully

Hope you get some benefits.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow Beth, did you call med dude? That sounds like you may have had a high lithium level or lithium toxicity. You probably should have a level drawn just to be sure. Toxicity is about the sickest I have ever felt in my life. Hope you are feeling better.

Thank you, Rainbow. No I haven't called med dude because I'm afraid they'll put me in the (physical) hospital and I have to take care of my diabetic cat. To be honest, I do think I have lithium toxicity. I'm really sacred. I did eat a bunch of popsicles and held those down. If it's a mild toxicity will it go away on its own? When you had it how did they treat it?

Supposedly I've taken like 9 extra valiums. Um, no. I haven't. I remember taking excatly 4 extra since getting it refilled. My pharamacy screwed me over. So now I have to go to 2 a day and then call my pdoc on the 28th because I see him on the 1st but I'm seeing him in person and they will only fill the valium at my own pharamacy because its a controlled substance. So I have to count them now every time I get it filled although for some reason I thought I heard even if they don't give you the right amount theres still nothing you can do about it because you have to prove to them they are the ones at fault and thats hard to do. But yeah, no way have I ever taken 9 extras on purpose. So I've been cutting them into quarters and today it wasn't that bad although I'm a bit anxious right now. Theres really nothing I can do though until the 28th.

Thanks! I’m working hard to figure this stuff out

Finally back in from seeing the neurologist. He was able to provide clarity, context and next steps going forward. It's still beyond me why I had to have a near seven month slog to get to this point, but what's done is done.

So, what I've learned is that I've got blood clots in the brain. Tiny things scattered about, but causing no real ruckus. The issue: they're normal for individuals in their 60s, 70s and 80s. The problem: I'm not in my 60s.

An added problem: They're not causing issues now, but they can get worse. So... I get to watch my blood pressure, watch my cholesterol, watch my migraines (I get 3-4 year) and probably something else.

Clarity can be a beautiful thing. Or at least useful. This might be the latter.

Beth- try to eat something and drink a crap ton of water. When I had Li toxicity they had me chug 6 bottles of water and eat a chicken salad to lower my levels (along with stopping it obviously)

What is done depends on the person and doctor so don't think anything because of what I experienced. Gatorade is a pretty safe bet regardless of lithium being the cause or not. I do think you should call med dude for a level. By now your level may be low enough to be fine even if it was high earlier but you need to know that for sure. If you've been that sick for hours your body has probably flushed things out, whether it was lithium or food poisoning but you need to be sure.


I had 3 toxicities because it helped me so much that going off it was hard. The first time we skipped a few days doses, put me on a fluid diet for 24 hours (pedialyte) and restarted gradually with more frequent monitoring for a while. The 2nd time I had atypical symptoms (hallucinations were what I noticed; the hospital pointed out I was way off balance and having other symptoms I was ignoring because they weren't like the first toxicity) and was hospitalized on fluids for a few days until I wasn't seeing birds flying into my face and could walk without support. We tried taking me off the lithium in there (I think more than once) but I benefited from it so I was on a really low dose. That time when I got toxic I was really, really sick and should have gone to the hospital but was too sick to get there without an ambulance, which my mother almost called. That time we stopped it completely and did labs a few times until it was out of my system. I did try it once more time out of desperation before going on clozapine and tolerated it fine but it didn't do any good then so I was only on it a few weeks but without toxicity.


Please let med dude know. Like I said your level is probably lower now because you've gotten it out of your system. It is unlikely you'd be hospitalized if med dude is anything like my pdoc but you need to be sure it's down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurelius710 Finally back in from seeing the neurologist. He was able to provide clarity, context and next steps going forward. It's still beyond me why I had to have a near seven month slog to get to this point, but what's done is done. So, what I've learned is that I've got blood clots in the brain. Tiny things scattered about, but causing no real ruckus. The issue: they're normal for individuals in their 60s, 70s and 80s. The problem: I'm not in my 60s. An added problem: They're not causing issues now, but they can get worse. So... I get to watch my blood pressure, watch my cholesterol, watch my migraines (I get 3-4 year) and probably something else. Clarity can be a beautiful thing. Or at least useful. This might be the latter.

How strange. Does your neuro know why you have the clots?

I’m so sorry you are sick. I hope you feel better soon. Sending hugs, prayers and healing vibes

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots Beth- try to eat something and drink a crap ton of water. When I had Li toxicity they had me chug 6 bottles of water and eat a chicken salad to lower my levels (along with stopping it obviously)

Thank you, Boots. I always drink a ton of water, but I'll drink and drink today. It's weird, I'm drinking and drinking, but hardly pee. I don't think I can hold down solid food yet, but I've eaten a whole bunch of popsicles and held them down. David is bringing soda crackers a a couple of hours, so I'll try those in some beef broth.

Unknown. His theory is high blood pressure and migraines started the merry-go-round, but I've been taking blood pressure meds for two years and while I get migraines, I get four a year at most.

High cholesterol was also brought up, but the bile acid sequestarant I take is a cholesterol med as well.

So, a lot of theories, but no definite cause.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow .....

Ohh, Gatorade is an excellent idea.

My feeling about lithium this week has been that it wasn't any more effective than a 300mg dose of Lamictal. And Lamictal has no side effects that I've noticed.

Rainbow, thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds horrible. The things that those of us with MI have to go through...cruel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurelius710 Unknown. His theory is high blood pressure and migraines started the merry-go-round, but I've been taking blood pressure meds for two years and while I get migraines, I get four a year at most. High cholesterol was also brought up, but the bile acid sequestarant I take is a cholesterol med as well. So, a lot of theories, but no definite cause.

I've had severe migraines since I was a child and for decades the medical advice was that migraines, while sometimes disabling, were harmless. It seems to me that that thought has been changing...that it is being recognized that migraines can cause serious neurological problems, even strokes.

Anyway, hopefully the blood clots will just sit there and not cause any problems for you.

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Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967 I’m so sorry you are sick. I hope you feel better soon. Sending hugs, prayers and healing vibes

Thank you, Jennifer. Your support means so much to me. The popsicles helped with the nausea. But I feel so weird, I hope I don't die.

Great job! How about maybe focusing on how you DIDN’T have a panic attack because you were able to use skills? Like put a positive spin on it, instead of thinking about how you could have had the panic attack?

@*Beth*
I agree with beyondtherainbow. I'd get your lithium levels checked as soon as possible.

Guys I’m really losing my shyt.

Yesterday my car broke down and now we have NO Vehicle ! Steve’s truck has been down since March and now my car. Steve said it’s definitely the transmission. Likely no way to save it.

I have no idea what we will do !!!!l .FML

When I had it they stopped the lithium cold turkey. I was in the physical ER shaking uncontrolably with very high blood pressure and heart rate. You really should be checked out. At the very least you should stop the lithium as soon as possible.