Bipolar check-in #68

Yup! Say whatever. Welcome.

Beth, how did it go with med dude? I'm a little worried about you; you haven't posted at your usual time. Hoping you are just busy.

Finally finished onboarding for my new job save for the drug test which will be completed tomorrow, so I'm excited for that! An even more interesting interview came in. It's for a local dollar store, but it sounds like she has an immediate need for people, will be able to grant more hours (possibly) and it's within walking distance to my house. I really like the first job, but if worst comes to worst, this one doesn't seem like a bad Plan B. Also, Plan C has me sitting for a phone call with a national cell phone carrier. A bit of distance, but if they offer me the gig, it will easily be the most lucrative job of the three! We'll see which one pans out!

@pirilin, welcome back! I think I remember you from a while back.

Ohhh 😯 I’m up. Went to bed at my usual time, but ugh can’t sleep and the bed was getting too hot, too cold, too soft, too hard,…too everything so I got up. When I get good and tired I’ll try again. For now I have my book and house hunters

I just woke up standing in my bathroom with my arms out trying to get a rough estimate of it's size. I then thought that didn't make sense because the toilet eat doesn't come off so I should look at the couch. I decided that was too big after estimating measurements on it too before I actually woke up standing my then couch.

Dreams and sleepwalking are so weird. What exactly was I planning to do with the toilet seat after the competition?/? And how would a couch fit in the kitchen trash can (another part just before I woke up)? It was very strange.

Hubby and I are meeting his American friend for lunch today. It'll possibly be the last time I see him before he moves on to his next destination of Tallinn, Estonia. I hope he likes it better there. I think he's really struggled as a vegetarian in Czech Republic, and trying to speak any of the language, but it may be even tougher in Estonia. Or maybe not. Poor dude has even been scolded here for being a vegetarian. In one place (small town), the owner was lecturing him on "How dare he not enjoy the homemade soup just because there's meat in it". He could see the man lecturing him, but didn't understand. Hubby later translated.

Hubby and I feel overwhelmed by everything, but are doing our best. I look forward to a couple days without any people to visit, or otherwise come for any reason. We plan to sell some of our big things to the upcoming new owners of the house we rent (fridge, old living room furniture, newish gas grill, and more). It feels uncomfortable, probably how our old parrots felt when they saw us packing for a trip.

I'm sure some here are sick of what I've been writing, and the length, but I need some release. I can't just scream.

I'm thinking of getting an overnight job at the grocery store. Like a 10PM-6AM job. I used to work 6AM-1PM but now my sleep schedule is so unpredictable I'm often up half the night anyways and exhausted during the day.

I went out yesterday to get bottled water and protein shakes and bars and I think yesterday was the most comfortable and least paranoid I've felt since starting the Prestiq. It feels good to be taken seriously at the health and vitamin store.

My moods kinda dipped though later in the day but just like Tuesday once I ate I felt a ton better.

For once I don't have any doctors appointments this month. Only lab work on the 20th. And I only have 2 therapy appointments. My vacation is in a couple weeks and then my court date to change my name is at the end of the mont.

So things are going pretty good

pirilin - Good to see you here. Ho have you been?

Hi pirilin, good to see you here. Also wondering how you've been?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soupe du jour Hubby and I are meeting his American friend for lunch today. It'll possibly be the last time I see him before he moves on to his next destination of Tallinn, Estonia. I hope he likes it better there. I think he's really struggled as a vegetarian in Czech Republic, and trying to speak any of the language, but it may be even tougher in Estonia. Or maybe not. Poor dude has even been scolded here for being a vegetarian. In one place (small town), the owner was lecturing him on "How dare he not enjoy the homemade soup just because there's meat in it". He could see the man lecturing him, but didn't understand. Hubby later translated. Hubby and I feel overwhelmed by everything, but are doing our best. I look forward to a couple days without any people to visit, or otherwise come for any reason. We plan to sell some of our big things to the upcoming new owners of the house we rent (fridge, old living room furniture, newish gas grill, and more). It feels uncomfortable, probably how our old parrots felt when they saw us packing for a trip. I'm sure some here are sick of what I've been writing, and the length, but I need some release. I can't just scream.

I'm not sick of you writing and I very much doubt anyone else here is.

I understand how you would feel like a parrot...overwhelmed with it all. Not having to socialize for a few days will be, I think, a rejuvenating break.

I’m feeling off my game today. I worked on a house project early this morning that took a lot out of me physically and mentally. As a result, I was too worn out to go float early for my usual peace and quiet. I’m just kind of weary of everything right now. Mom wants to go to the pool later and I always go with her to help her so that will have to be good enough for today.

I think my daughter and I will be talking on the phone today rather than meeting halfway this weekend. She’s not feeling up to par and is working long hours right now. I don’t know when she’ll get the heart monitor results. Bless her heart.

I’d like to get in better shape so things like this morning don’t wipe me out. I think I’ll make a plan and see how far six months gets me.

I hope everyone has a peaceful day.

Thank you, Rainbow . Yes, I was concerned about not checking in last night. I was so exhausted that I went to bed early...and didn't fall asleep for nearly 2 hours. *sigh*

Sleepwalking is a very strange experience, for sure. It's a rather unnerving type of dissociation. I've sleepwalked and rearranged things in my home. Weird feeling.

The temperature will be 105 degrees today. God help me, I'm so worn down from this heat. All night was stuffy and at 7:20 a.m. the air already feels like yuck. I have a therapy appointment this afternoon. Of course, I will use the car a/c. but it will be so stifling in there that the a/c won't do much.

So I saw med dude yesterday. He's such a kind, empathetic person. What a joy it is to finally have a prescriber who isn't a whack-job. He has prescribed lithium. He said that while Lamictal is helpful the gold standard for bipolar disorder is lithium, as Lamictal is not quite the mood stabilizer that lithium is. I'll start taking it tonight.

If anyone has any lithium experiences to share I'd sure appreciate hearing them.

@Beth. My lithium days were so long ago and I was on so much other medicine at the same time that it wouldn’t be to helpful. I do remember that it made me very thirsty. I didn’t gain weight on it.

I hardly got out of bed yesterday. Been staying in bed so far today except to put some music on and type this then it's back to laying down because it hurts less.

Thanks for the good news re there being a med dude who isn't a whack-job. I needed to hear this.

Someone did suggest Lamictal and also Lithium to me. (that person wasn't a whack job) I hope you get some answers.

I'm sorry about the heat. Wishing for cooler days and soon!

BeyondtheRainbow, after what you, and then Beth, wrote, I wonder how common things like sleepwalking and talking in one's sleep are? I have had my episodes, as well, into my adult years. My husband occasionally tells the stories of what I did and/or said.

I've had plenty of fragmentary and en block blackouts in my life, too. Not exactly sleepwalking, but the same kind of feeling thing. Yea, a few alcohol-induced, but many more bipolar mania-induced. I can't help but wonder if there is a predisposition to having them that's related across the board.

@*Beth*, I hope the Lithium works out well for you. Pretty much every psychiatrist I've ever been to sang its praises, including my present one. I've encountered many that really found it the wonder drug (or almost). I took it twice in the past. The first time for about nine months and the second for around six years. I wouldn't say that it was ever my wonder drug, but my moods were at least somewhat improved on it, though I always took it with an antipsychotic. I've heard of many who had few (if any) side effects, though I wasn't one of those people. In fact, one time I listed 10 side effects that I attributed to it, though I didn't suffer from all simultaneously and some were lesser annoyances than others. Like Nammu, I didn't have weight gain. In fact, I lost quite a chunk of weight on Lithium, the second time on it. I also retained most of that weight loss for a good five years, until a less weight friendly antipsychotic was added again.

You will hopefully be in the crowd that has few, if any, Lithium side effects. I do recommend the following:

1. Asking your pdoc to take the lowest possible efficacious dose. Kay Redfield Jamison wrote this, too, in her memoir "An Unquiet Mind". And I had a friend who swore her low"ish" dose served her well. This cuts down on side effects and helps eliminate dangers, like toxicity.

2. Be sure your doc orders frequent Lithium level blood tests, especially in early months. Also, thyroid functioning tests and creatinine levels (relating to kidney functioning).

3. Drink A LOT of water, even if it makes you pee a lot. Also, if you need an OTC pain reliever, I'd stick with acetaminophen over NSAIDS. Try to be consistent with salt consumption (I didn't say reduce or increase).

4. As people first get used to Lithium, they may experience upset stomach. This usually disappears after a short time. Ditto for dizziness/balance issues.

5. Some Lithium side effects can be eased/eliminated by either drinking more water, or a dose adjustment. Or at worst, a side effect med. That is if you have any. Others may come and go.

Mine were all medication induced. There were years where I was so over medicated that I had regular black outs and would get picked up regularly by the police and taken to a hospital for walking around in my night clothes San shoes with no Id. Why it took so long for me to catch on to that fact I don’t know but during those years I was also diagnosed with dissociation and DID. Never had it, was over medicated and I took my meds as ordered without question. I don’t believe it’s a bipolar thing, it’s a psychological result of western medicine.

Sounds like the depression is kicking in @MuddyBoots. At least I assume you're talking about emotional pain...which is often the worst kind. I hope you're not resorting to opioids to deaden the pain. Feel better...

I went out again this morning. No paranoia or anxiety. My doctor said it takes a couple weeks for the prestiq to take its full effect so it seems to be working pretty well. My moods have been fine today. I did go back to the full dose of my stomach med which has been helping a lot as well. My sister got her c section date scheduled for the middle of October. So my nephews will be staying with us for about 5 days. I am excited. October has always been my favorite month since I was a kid but its been a pretty significant month recently since I had my top surgery in October 2020 and my hystrectomy last October and my first nephew was born in October and now my 3rd niece or nephew will be born in October too.

That's a good point about the meds. I think some of my sleep talking and walking might have been from that.

I will say that some of my manic blackouts were mania-induced. Some were from before I was formally diagnosed and medicated.

I know that mixing alcohol and bipolar meds made me far more prone to alcohol blackouts. Bad bad combo!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soupe du jour @*Beth*, I hope the Lithium works out well for you. Pretty much every psychiatrist I've ever been to sang its praises, including my present one. I've encountered many that really found it the wonder drug (or almost). I took it twice in the past. The first time for about nine months and the second for around six years. I wouldn't say that it was ever my wonder drug, but my moods were at least somewhat improved on it, though I always took it with an antipsychotic. I've heard of many who had few (if any) side effects, though I wasn't one of those people. In fact, one time I listed 10 side effects that I attributed to it, though I didn't suffer from all simultaneously and some were lesser annoyances than others. Like Nammu, I didn't have weight gain. In fact, I lost quite a chunk of weight on Lithium, the second time on it. I also retained most of that weight loss for a good five years, until a less weight friendly antipsychotic was added again. You will hopefully be in the crowd that has few, if any, Lithium side effects. I do recommend the following: 1. Asking your pdoc to take the lowest possible efficacious dose. Kay Redfield Jamison wrote this, too, in her memoir "An Unquiet Mind". And I had a friend who swore her low"ish" dose served her well. This cuts down on side effects and helps eliminate dangers, like toxicity. Okay, got it. My PA has prescribed 330 a.m./300 p.m. So, the lowest starting dose. 2. Be sure your doc orders frequent Lithium level blood tests, especially in early months. Also, thyroid functioning tests and creatinine levels (relating to kidney functioning). Thankfully, he seems well-informed on this. I have my first blood lab on Tuesday. 3. Drink A LOT of water, even if it makes you pee a lot. Also, if you need an OTC pain reliever, I'd stick with acetaminophen over NSAIDS. Try to be consistent with salt consumption (I didn't say reduce or increase). Fortunately, I love water and do drink a lot - and yes, I do pee a lot, too. But the taste of the water & the hydration is worth it to me. I'm not big on salt, so that's good. I'm curious - why are NSAIDS not preferred? 4. As people first get used to Lithium, they may experience upset stomach. This usually disappears after a short time. Ditto for dizziness/balance issues. Okay, that's good to know. I am concerned about those 3 possible side effects. 5. Some Lithium side effects can be eased/eliminated by either drinking more water, or a dose adjustment. Or at worst, a side effect med. That is if you have any. Others may come and go. Thank you, Soupe, for all the valuable info. I very much appreciate it.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed I'm thinking of getting an overnight job at the grocery store. Like a 10PM-6AM job. I used to work 6AM-1PM but now my sleep schedule is so unpredictable I'm often up half the night anyways and exhausted during the day. I went out yesterday to get bottled water and protein shakes and bars and I think yesterday was the most comfortable and least paranoid I've felt since starting the Prestiq. It feels good to be taken seriously at the health and vitamin store. My moods kinda dipped though later in the day but just like Tuesday once I ate I felt a ton better. For once I don't have any doctors appointments this month. Only lab work on the 20th. And I only have 2 therapy appointments. My vacation is in a couple weeks and then my court date to change my name is at the end of the mont. So things are going pretty good

I always love working night shifts. I am so happy for you about the Pristiq! It will be so exciting to have your name legally changed!