New here

Hi all-

I am Nemo. Just signed up today. I am BP1 with psychotic symptoms, I also have a headache disease called Hemicrania Continua (you can google that for more info). But for the past I would say 3-4 months my meds have finally started to work, I switched to Lithium and Invega, from Lamictal and some other stuff, I take like 12 different meds a day but those are the ones my doc changed and I am finally starting to Mentally feel a little better, after 7 years of trying new meds.

My 8 yr old son also has Bipolar and is taking risperdal and doing pretty good, he has his moments. Don't get me started on his doctor, I don't like her, she I don't think fully belives he is Bipolar, but I know he is, he has sooo many of the symptoms. when he was four he thought God was speaking to him, that was scary. and he has meltdowns all the time. His former doctor belived he was BP, but my hubby got us fired from her, long story...so this new doctor thinks he is ADD-but he does great in school. A mother always knows what is up with her kids, she doesn't know what she is talking about, but she kept him on the meds from the former doctor, I think just in case, I do know what I am talking about and she is wrong, wrong, wrong. o, she also thinks he has anxiety-anxiety kids don't talk about wanting to kill themselves at 8 yrs old because he is depressed, I don't think so. Sorry to go off, but I am all jazzed up about this again, it's just wrong. ok, well I hope to hear from y'all soon, I need some new online buddies.

Love-
Nemo

welcome to pc, nemo . it's a very supportive and caring group. we're glad you're here!

Oh dear, sorry to hear your son has bipolar. Bad enough having it oneself! I hope dealing with it early on helps fend off damage. Welcome to PC!

Hi and welcome Nemo. I also have bipolar type I, and my manic episodes also have psychotic features. Luckily I haven't had a manic episode in a while. I take depakote and pristiq, the pristiq to help with the depressive episodes. I'm glad to hear you've finally got a combination going for you that seems to be working. Sorry to hear about your son. Is there another doctor that you can take him to?

Welcome though.

I have never heard of Pristiq, is that a new anti-depressant? I take Cymbalta-it works ok. I did find out I had sleep apnea about 6 weeks ago, and since I got the bi-pap machine to sleep with at night my depression like almost went away. I still have major anxiety problems and I still have kleptomania too, I have just been trying to stay out of stores, I got arrested twice last year and had to go to court and pay like $1,000 in fines, for just stupid stuff. The first time my hubby threw me in the hospital. I have had this problem my whole life I just never got caught till last yr, then it was like bam! twice in a row. It's not like a normal person who learns from her mistakes either, it's so hard for me to stop this behavior, I don't know if it has anything to do with my Bipolar or if it's a separate illness altogether. So, I do most of my shopping online now just to keep me out of the stores.
Then I want to take my son to a different doctor but my hubby won't let me, he likes this doctor and is still sorta in denial about brendan having Bipolar in the first place so this doctor saying he doesn't have it is pleasing to him. He once told me I wanted bren to have it so I wouldn't be alone. Bunch of ******** if you ask me, I could have smacked him up side the face for that one. All I want is for Brendan to get better and I see all the signs for Bipolar. I don't want him to have to go through life like I did without knowing or without meds, it's just too hard on a person. I just want the best for both my kids. My daughter shows absolutly no signs of it at all, which is good, but I still have to watch cause she still could get it later in life she is only 9 right now. But even Bren's teacher this yr says she can tell that there is something different about Brendan, I gave her a bunch of literature about childhood bipolar at the biging of the school yr, she says that she can see many of the symptoms in him as well. Him and his Dad fight alot cause my Hubby doesn't know how to deal with him whatsoever, me ontheotherhand being bipolar can relate to him so much better, there are times when I too get frustrated with him as well, but we do get along much better than him and his dad.

love-
Nemo

Take care of yourself-your son needs you. He does sound bipolar to me-I was like that at 8 too. There was an excellent article in the weekly newsletter that PC puts out called "Symptoms of Childhood Bipolar Disorder" by Dr. John Grohol. I think he is indeed the DocJohn who runs this website. My print date was 12/10 of 2008 so you may be able to find it if you can figure out where to look for it. It was an eye opener because I wasn't diagnosed as bipolar until 2000&I've had it all my life&it's been a real source of pain&agony. What is good is that you can empathize with your son from 1st hand experience. Don't let this Doc treat him for ADD-the meds for ADD will only make him feel worse. Don't know what else to tell yu except to maybe PM DocJohn&ask if he knows of any resources if you can't find anything here on PC. Best wishes to you&your son

I just wish my husband wasn't so pig headed and would let me take him to a different doctor so he could be treated better. I don't think this doctor belives in childhood bipolar. His therapist belives he is has it as well.

Hi to the lonely person who posted to this thread, I will talk to you. what would you like to talk about? I lost all but one of my friends when I found out I was Bipolar. My only friend left is scitzo-affective, but everyone else went bye-bye. I think it's cause I can't relate well to most "normal" people. I just can't think "normal" or have "normal" feelings and they can't deal with it, but it's their loss, I am a awesome person and if they can't see that screw um. I would rather be alone than with people that don't like me for who I am, and unforunatly that includes my Bipolar and other illnesses .
so, email me back and we will talk about what ever you want, I will try to not be so slow in getting back to you. btw I am 36-f

love-
nemo

skymonk-
I typed a big long reply to you, I don't know if it went through or not, I know the mods have to post them, but my computer timed out when I posted it, so you may get two replys. But I would be happy to talk to you anytime, I lost all my friends except one who happens to be sctizo-affective when I found out I was Bipolar because I was cycling so bad, and I just can't think "normally" or have "normal" feelings, I just don't get along with woman and regular people that well. it's like they don't "get" me or something? or well their loss, I am a totally awesome person and if they couldn't see that, screw um. ya know what I mean? I am also on disabilty and home alot, I sleep alot though too, I am always tired it seems. But I would love to talk to ya more about anything you want.

love-
Nemo

I just realized you asked about Pristiq and I never responded. It's a new anti-depressent on the market. I used to take cymbalta before that. I don't know how well it worked for me. I felt ok, but you know, not great. Then I got off my meds and became depressed, and moved into a better environment, got back on my meds and switched from cymbalta to pristiq, and things rapidly improved. It's difficult to say it was the Pristiq that is responsible all by itself, because a few different factors are involved, but I can say I haven't felt this good in a while.

Hi there. Welcome to PC. I have bipolarII, schizoeffective and borderline personality disorder so you are in the right place to talk! I am on Lithium and was on Olanzapine(anti- psychotic) but took myself off it a few months ago.

I really hope that your son comes to a better place and you find a doctor that you like. Kudos to you for your strength. I have a 13 year old.

Good luck and keep posting.