Bipolar Check-in #79

Watching My Octopus Teacher on Netflix. It’s a wonderful documentary narrated by the photographer.

Still without my Ingrezza. It’s my med to stop the tardive dyskinisia. Without it I can’t control the movements of my hands, legs and tongue. I don’t even know which med has given it to me.

So I came to the realization about half an hour ago that I'm pretty hypo right now. I mean, I published four of my novels and eight short stories on Kindle Vella in like a week. I spent all last night and all today (except for during my three hour restful sleep period) working on my projects. My husband told me I've been like this for a couple of weeks now. I need to chill out. I need to get some sleep. I mean, GOD raspberry! Calm down!

I'm paranoid as fukk right now too and don't feel right. I think I'm starting to lose it. 😕 I have to call my pdoc. He's back from vacation now. I don't know if I should be on phentermine. I think it just kicked everything into high gear. I think it's making me lose my damn mind!!!!! I need to relax. I need to get seven hours of straight sleep. Oh my god! I don't feel good anymore. I feel revved up and anxious and bad and like my world has turned into a darkened dream.

So tonight I'm SLEEPING DAMN IT!

And tomorrow I'm calling my pdoc and asking him if he thinks I should be taking phentermine or not

Do you usually react to antibiotics with fungal infections or not?

I think you should experiment with stopping phentermine to see if you calm down and sleep. This will be a test. I feel for you. You have been on it for only a little so you should not have withdrawals from stopping.

Some very interesting data (it causing DEPRESSION and not mania, but more often mania):

Phentermine, Sibutramine and Affective Disorders - PMC

"Of the four case reports, three involved manic-like episodes. One reported that combination treatment with phentermine and fenfluramine induced psychotic mania in a patient with major depressive disorder.28) Another report described a depressive patient with a sudden onset of restlessness and flight of ideas after treatment with fluoxetine and phentermine.29) The third report was a case in which phentermine induced a manic episode in a patient with no previous psychiatric history, but who had a strong family history of affective disorder.30) Finally, Zimmer and Gregory31) reported a case of bipolar depression associated with phentermine and fenfluramine treatment, in a patient with pre-existing bipolar I disorder."

You have been on so many... it is probably impossible to tell. At least ingrezza stops the TD symptoms.

What is a fungal infection? I'm on amoxcillian 2x a day for 10 days.

It has been a great many years, luckily, since I was last on amoxicillin, but long go I would get repeated respiratory infections and be treated with amoxicillin and other antibiotics often. I would always get a yeast infection, invariably. This is a very common response. And other people get diarrhea, but I did not. Antibiotics kill good bacteria, too, be they in the intestines or inside the vagina. And that allows fungus to grow.

Have you been treated with amoxicillin in the past? Did you have side effects?

I would at least eat yogurt while you are on it, as a minimal protective measure.

Idk I'm just doing what my doctor told me to do since strep can kill you if not treated properly. The antibiotics are working fine.

Kidney infection. Cool.

Gotta love walking these streets from 6am-9am after you're kicked out of the shelter/before the library opens and you feel like, quite possibly need, an IV.

Oh, meth relapse too (maybe? idk didn't affect me like it normally does. Was probably only like 1/4th or less crystal. Between infections and bumping I'm gonna die before having a roof over my head lol).

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with all this @MuddyBoots. You're in my thoughts.

Yes this is an excellent documentary! I have seen it a number of times with friends or whoever was over at the time and don't get bored with it.

So I started Vraylar this morning. First dose, and nothing happened so at least I know I'm not allergic to it.

Fingers crossed that it helps!

I’m at a coffee shop with N3 and his girlfriend. They’re both in community college but the gf is playing video games while N3 does Calculus 3 homework. He was trying to explain the current problem he’s working on- in INK!- but it really all goes above my head. I got through high school algebra but failed Algebra 2 and that’s as far as I’ve gone in math. It’s been a long time since I’ve done any math myself’. I’ve heard that bipolar disorder makes math difficult. It’s certainly the case for me.

I'm feeling better today although right now things are kinda rough. I slept fine and my throat has been decent. I'm mainly just tired. I have therapy tommorow and I don't know if she'll be a baby and switch it to remote. I also don't know how long I'm contagious for but everyone in my house and my sisters house are still fine. I'd be fine in 24 hours to do an in person session. But I'll leave it up to her.

I got a new toothbrush, like I was told to do. I think I have to wait another 24 hours before using it. But in general I'm doing much better. I could use a couple hours nap though.

Mental health wise I'm fine. All these kooky episodes I get always happen right before I'm about to get sick. Then afterwards I'm better mental health wise.

I'm tired as FUKK. Coming down from my high. This morning my husband told me I seem more back down to earth. I'm not depressed or anything. Just very tired. Got six hours of sleep last night and took another nap this morning. Would be napping right now but my daughter has an orchestra concert.

Damn though. I was high for awhile there and didn't even really realize it. Great insight, raspberry. Hopefully my sleep schedule goes back to normal now.

In my very lengthy experience (but a long time ago), American doctors are not prevention-oriented when it comes to yeast and antibiotics. They prefer to treat yeast infections after they occur.

Interesting. Do you have a source for it? @Moose72

I used to be great at math and stats pre-dix but in the past 10 or more years (after the dx), I simply cannot. I wonder if this worsening is related to my bipolar which was fairly late onset.

Feeling down still about my third denial of disability. I guess It's time for me to figure out another way.

Overall I'm OK I guess.

Have you ever been in front of an Administrative Law judge (ALJ)?

@Brentus

@Tart Cherry Jam , yes. This last denial was from a ALJ.

Plodding along since my mini stroke last week. Juts rnr at home. Can’t drive for 2 weeks so it does get a tad boring because I’m confined to the house. See my gp this weekend for results of MRI. CT scan at the hospital was clear so I’m not expecting much from the MRI to be honest.

Very, very sorry to hear that. Is there any avenue of appeal of the ALJ's decision? Who represented you in front of the ALJ?

I represented myself. I know everyone says I should get a lawyer. I guess thats my only option but I don't like the idea of it. A lawyer doesnt make me any more or less disabled, after all.

I can appeal the judge's decision. I have 65 days to decide if I want to. I'll take the letter i get in the mail to a lawyer and see what they think.

No source unfortunately. Math just goes over my head. It really is another language!