I've been on heavy duty psych meds for bp 1 for years (Abilify, Lamictal, Trazodone, Klonopin, Provigil (stimulant), & Concerta for ADD). Recently--within the last month--I was being decreased on the Abilify due to gaining 50 lbs. on it (NO ABILIFY IS NOT WEIGHT NEUTRAL despite their reps claims--just ask everyone in my support group, NAMI Peer-to-Peer class, etc. & pdoc).

So I've been slowly adding Topamax which has the added side effects of decreased appetite & drowsiness (I have serious insomnia despite sedating meds so that is a plus). So in the first month I have lost 10 lbs.--yes!!

BUT--in this last week my husband & I were having another couple over for a glass of wine & appetizers before going out to dinner at a Thai restaurant. I have had no problem drinking 2 glasses of wine (occasionally due to trying to limit calories) in the past. Well, I had 1 glass at home & had ordered another with dinner. I was eating dinner & the LAST THING I REMEMBER is the other husband saying something about how I was looking sleepy. I totally went into a walking coma. I can't remember anything, but my husband said I walked out of the restaurant. I changed into a nightgown. I don't remember anything until the next morning. I've read about people on Ambien experiencing this kind of thing--maybe that it what I had--but scary, embarrassing...

I wasn't drunk or woozy or tired. I just almost ceased to exist yet was still functioning on some level though I don't remember what I said or did & my husband isn't giving details so I'm not sure if I totally acted like a zombie or a looney or what.

THEN 3 days later I go in for a colonoscopsy (sorry, folks, my father had colon cancer when he was in his 50's so I have to do this more frequently than most people). So I had it done a couple years ago--no problem--worst thing was drinking that yucky stuff & spending a night in the bathroom.

THIS TIME: I had sent in my forms same as always like 6 weeks in advance with my list of meds & even had a note that my meds were in the process of being adjusted (due to having a relapse) so I would let them know of any dosage changes, etc. So 4 days before the procedure I had not heard anything from them so I called--concerned--I'm taking drugs that are sedating in the evening & stimulants in the morning--these have to have an effect on the anesthetic.

So the office connects me with a nurse who says just don't take your night meds the night before or your morning meds the day of. Well, stupid me, how could I expect a run-of-the-mill nurse (no disrespect intended but psych meds are a specialty) to know how they would affect the anesthesia.

Apparently the doc had not bothered to look at my list of meds or looked at it quickly & didn't notice that I had switched one med for another. In any case, they had to remove a polyp & the anesthesia DIDN'T WORK!

I was screaming at him to stop, but what could he do--he's part way through removing this thing? I'm screaming like you wouldn't believe (& I had 2 kids with no drugs what so ever--piece of cake compared to this). So I had 3 nurses holding me down while he's telling me he's almost through. I don't think so, but what is he supposed to say? I'm going to make you suffer & scream & be in excruciating pain for another 45 minutes?

Needless to say, I had some concerns about what happened. The doc said that the meds I am on would take so long to get out of my system (1-2 weeks) that that is not feasible for someone with bipolar & that the meds I am on interfere with the anesthesia (NO KIDDING) & that he had me on the highest dose safe for me before it would cause my heart & organs to slow down & malfunction (well, if he had given me a choice at that point...).

Anyway, you young ones these tests are important to get. Don't avoid them, but do talk to your meds provider well in advance & do some preplanning. I mean, really, so someone on bipolar meds needs open heart surgery so we just say oh well, it's going to hurt so much you wished you had just died instead??

That is just horrible, Suzy. I'm so sorry you had to go through that.

[Stiv]

With all due respect (as an employee of a large teaching hospital 25+years) it was not the MD nor the nurse that came up small here,(and I'm sorry your experience was unpleasent, as hard to believe as it might be it could have been much worse, but you probably DO NOT want to hear that!) but it was your primary care (or referal MD) and to some extant yourself.

With the volume of studies and the complexity of your medical work up and case YOU cannot possibly expect everyone else to *dot the i's and cross the t's* except for your single greatest advocate "You" and whomever writes all these various meds for you.

There's nothing on the books that says he can't call and talk with whomever needs to know the pertinent, nee critical information so as to help minimize any persuant complication that may present itself.

There is ALWAYS a chance a complication may occur during any interventional study.

Hard way to learn a lesson but hopefully you did. I'd be all mover my GP's *** about it.

I agree. I definitely am going to have my psych meds provider (different from my internal medicine doc who ordered the colonoscopy) talk to the doc/anesthesiologist before I get any procedure done again

I realize it could have been much worse. I have heard about people who were in pain, but couldn't talk during surgery. At least the doc knew the anesthesia wasn't working & I'm sure, if I got in too much distress & pain he would have stopped (though I was yelling "Stop! Stop!). I guess he had to make that determination.--Suzy

[Stiv]

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Suzy5654 said:
I agree. I definitely am going to have my psych meds provider (different from my internal medicine doc who ordered the colonoscopy) talk to the doc/anesthesiologist before I get any procedure done again

I realize it could have been much worse. I have heard about people who were in pain, but couldn't talk during surgery. At least the doc knew the anesthesia wasn't working & I'm sure, if I got in too much distress & pain he would have stopped (though I was yelling "Stop! Stop!). I guess he had to make that determination.--Suzy

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Suzy I'm really glad that you're looking at my response rationally instead of emotinally

When I wrote about how it could have been much wore I was actually thinking of fatal complications as there are people that have far less medication issues that you do that have the very same type of procedure and if fact would have preferred a painfull study to the outcome they ended up with.

On another note there are some procedures that simply cannot be terminated in full and immediately if something (like your situation for instance) occurs, and you are infact correct that it was the the physicians call as to whether or not your life was in immediate danger, whether to terminate, or to continue and finish the procedure and what would provide the best outcome for you at the time.

Obviously he made the right call because you are here writing about you experience.

Best of luck in the future

Hey, Stiv, I'm not called "rational" very often (especially by my husband) so I'm going to print up your response & frame it! And maybe include you in my will!

Get the biopsy results on Mon. I did write a ranting/venting/"irrational" letter when the doc's office sent me a form letter for comments & how pleasant was your experience, etc., like how clean was the room , how nice was the staff.

My husband (research scientist & TOTALLY rational--drives me crazy) said to sit on it & rewrite it without all the emotion. The doc is a good doc, good guy, we just didn't take into consideration my change in meds as we should have & addressed it well before the procedure.

So, of course, I'm happy I'm "still here" at least today. Unfortunately, I have this disorder that despite meds allows me to go into very deep depressions (last OD was 1 1/2 years ago--but had been stable 5 years before that--hence the change in meds).

So all in all, a learning experience, for sure.--Suzy

[Stiv]

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Suzy5654 said:

Get the biopsy results on Mon. I did write a ranting/venting/"irrational" letter when the doc's office sent me a form letter for comments & how pleasant was your experience, etc., like how clean was the room , how nice was the staff.

My husband (research scientist & TOTALLY rational--drives me crazy) said to sit on it & rewrite it without all the emotion. The doc is a good doc, good guy, we just didn't take into consideration my change in meds as we should have & addressed it well before the procedure.

So all in all, a learning experience, for sure.--Suzy

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Suzy, Good luck with your results, I really hope it will all be ok and it was all worth it in the long run

Don't worry too much about how you filled out the satisfaction forms because institutions have that mechanisim for a reason and it's to better improve whatever facet is relavent to the circumstance, your husband was somewhat correct but anyone whom has ever had to deal with these types of survey realize that you tend to get responses on opposite ends of the spectrum, when folks are thrilled or when they are outraged, very rarely in between.

As to the learning from experience, think about how cool it is at this point in life that we're still able to learn something valuable whether from a negative (applied to a positive) experience or visa versa

Best,
Stiv

I realized I have forgotten to use the trigger icon on my posts. I have not been posting here for maybe a year so I apologize for that & hope I have not disturbed anyone. I will try to be more careful in the future.--Suzy