Roll Call 25

At least you've finished the semester and can concentrate on feeling better.

Congratulations on your A!

If you stop your meds, your T won't see you any more. That's the agreement you both made. If you miss a dose, you're deemed non-compliant. If you take less than you're prescribed, you're also deemed non-compliant. No wiggle room. If you don't want that, then you need to discharge yourself from this T and find a new one.

I don't think most pdocs think sz can be managed with herbs.

You need to find a pdoc who specialises in the perinatal period (before and during pregnancy). They will know which meds are considered safest, and will help you and your fiancé weigh up the risks and benefits of meds in pregnancy. Like Sometimes said, there is a risk to you and your unborn child if you stop meds and relapse. Regardless of what the official data is for APs, personally I am concerned about the effect an AP would have on a developing brain. They say that APs shrink adult brains, so who knows what effect they would have on a foetus! I know that when using APs in the third trimester, there is a risk of the baby being sedated and floppy after birth, which will need monitoring. But I think there is also the risk of EPS and akathisia in the baby too. Basically you need a referral to a perinatal pdoc to discuss this in detail BEFORE you get pregnant. All the best



Be careful with prozac/fluoxetine! I had awful akathisia on it that made me suicidal.

I'm so glad that they let you out. I heard you were getting a section 3 (6 months), so that's a relief. I'm impressed you got a discharge summary though, cos I never did and neither did my GP. I had to wait 5 ½ months before I got a copy of my notes to find out the horrible things they said about me.

Sorry you were restrained I don't think you can refuse meds on a CTO or they send you straight back to hospital regardless, sorry.

They consider anybody not agreeing with them or not wanting to do what they want you to do when they want you to do it as confrontational, so I wouldn't worry about it.

*Willow*

Good morning everyone!

Kureha-- glad ur out.

I'm kinda excited about tonight.

http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-L-Th.../dp/B000H7P9M0

Yes

Thank you sometimes.
I will certainly try this.

punky

idk how im gonna make through this day alone again

You made it through yesterday. I think you'll make it through.

Everyone--So I started seeing someone, how long should I wait til I tell him I'm bp. It's only been a week, but I really like him.

i think the sooner the better. we all saw what happened with black box.

I haven't watched black box.

well what happened was the couple was together for many months and she finally told him she was bipolar and he freaked

Willow - Can't believe I'm actually going to say this, but I was in a pretty good hospital, so I think that's why I got one.
Someone wanted me to stay longer, I don't know who he was, the Dr knew I was getting stressed though, so I got out because of that and the CTO.

I'm just hoping the solicitor can help me out.

(((hug))

punky

Well that's a tricky one...I don't think you can put a set time on it, but IMO it should be before things start getting serious (so he doesn't feel like you've lied to him all that time), but after he's got to know you a bit so he's less likely to freak out (i.e. he knows that you're not an axe murderer just cos you've got a MI lol) Congratulations on the new relationship though!

The way I thought I would do it, is to bring up my interest in psychology & MI early on with my career. Anybody that was still stigmatising after I'd tried to explain common misconceptions (if necessary), would not 'make it to the next round' so to speak. Maybe something similar would work for you e.g. you could mention something MI-related in the news or something?

*Willow*

Thank you Willow, I think that's good advice.

I'm gonna start cleaning, now. Hope everyone has a good day!

i kinda wanna leave my house but im scared. or paranoid i should say.

whats going on tonight?

i need your guys help:

ive been feeling depressed and suicidal for many days now. idk if its cause im home alone all the time or if its cuz of something chemically in my head you know? idk if its situational or chemical. but ive been feeling pretty down.

Taking all ur meds at the right doses and every day?
You may just need to wait until they are at therapeudic level in ur body hun. Then you will feel an improvement.

punky

yes i have been. especially the celexa. but the celexa didnt work the first two months i took it before either. im afriad its just not working.

im just saying this becuase i feel pretty suicidal and im not trusting myself a lot right now. and i dont want to tell this therapist this because she will send me to a bad hospital and i need to know if i need to goto my own hospital.

Maybe a higher mg of celexa.

punky

newtus i think u should think about doing something productive that makes you feel good like getting a volunteer position somewhere. there are ways to help yourself feel better u just have to go out and do those things. u dont have to sit at home alone every day. its hard to push urself to do things you dont wanna do but once you do them i bet ull feel better about ur self and ur situation , i know if i just sat at home all day by myself i would be suicidal too.

Sorry you're feeling depressed and suicidal Well, if it is because you've been stuck in the house lately, then the logical thing is to leave the house and interact with people. If that makes you feel better, then you've found the cause. I know that you are struggling with anxiety/paranoia, but I am terrified out of the house most of the time, and I do it anyway. And then I feel a bit better about myself because I'm being more productive, instead of hiding under my duvet all day like I'd prefer. You have a dog, so take the dog with you for a walk (I always feel safer when I'm out with Max). Or go to the coffee shop and take your sketch pad or a book? Or go to a shop you like to look around? I like going to those pretty giftshops, but I know that you don't have a lot near by. Or you could go and say hello to your neighbours? Or you could go for a little picnic cos you live in the rural? Even if it is chemical, getting out should make you feel a bit better anyway.

That's a good point Punky.

Newtus, you need 4+ weeks of a continuous therapeutic dose before an AD will start helping (if it's going to help). I don't think you've reached that yet.

*Willow*

about the meds i WAS taking it for two months once i got on it and it still didnt help

i just asked a guy out and he basically shot me down.

If you took if for 2 months without missing a dose and it didn't help, then you need to ask your pdoc to increase it. Has an AD ever helped in the past? How many have you tried?

It really varies between people. My Mum was given citalopram/Celexa years ago for depression (she has SAD). It was the first one she'd ever taken and it really helped after a few weeks. My Nan also found that drug helpful when she was depressed in later life. Me? Citalopram/Celexa was the first AD I was ever given 7 years ago and it did nothing helpful. Neither did the other 14 meds that I've taken for mood. At this point, I'm trying to find a way to live the life that I want to live DESPITE/WITH my low mood, because I know that psychiatry has no more answers for me.

Unfortunately in psychiatry, it's a case of throwing meds at you until one sticks, and it is very frustrating to go through the med-go-round. But you either keep trying, or you find another way to manage your depression and suicidal feelings, and neither of those options are easy

*Willow*