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hormone versus bipolar
my question is very complex. I have been trying for years to get my mood swings under control. i get very upset and and crying constantly. my poor husband is trying to understand why i cant control it better. i try but i just get overwhelmed with these intense feelings. they have tried me on many different medications and nothing has worked. i think lamictal would have worked better given a higher dosage. right now i am trying a natural approach with herbal remedies because the natural healer i am seeing says its hormones. but the herbs i have been taking the last two weeks i think are making me worse. the worst ive been in a long time. how close are the two situations and is there a way to fix hormones? i am 30 years old and have my tubes tied. I don't know what else to do. i am tired of trying all these different things and nothing is correct. i am going to see a hormone (actual doctor) next week but i don't want to have to take hrt. Breast cancer runs in my family and have heard that can be linked to it. any advice would be of great value. i feel so alone. i am tired of my moods and emotions running my life
Yes actually.
Its finding what works. for some people it might be breathing exercises, massage, yoga, taking a walk. My psychologist reccomends all of these and also unusual things such as masturbation to her clients - they work very well for managing stress.
The key is pulling it up before it gets to pills so you put first line things in place such as changing behaviour or doing something different before it builds up.
I tried laughin yoga and its a hoot, its what works for you. Managing stress and pressure before it gets to pills means 1 less pill and most of us need that.
Its not perfect, it can still blindside you - has happened to me a lot lately due to factors in my life but I work and function normally 90% of the time - I could do better, we all could really.
Its finding what works. for some people it might be breathing exercises, massage, yoga, taking a walk. My psychologist reccomends all of these and also unusual things such as masturbation to her clients - they work very well for managing stress.
The key is pulling it up before it gets to pills so you put first line things in place such as changing behaviour or doing something different before it builds up.
I tried laughin yoga and its a hoot, its what works for you. Managing stress and pressure before it gets to pills means 1 less pill and most of us need that.
Its not perfect, it can still blindside you - has happened to me a lot lately due to factors in my life but I work and function normally 90% of the time - I could do better, we all could really.
What kind of things can you do when you are feeling off? Any kind of relaxing things that work without pills?
I also stay away from scripts. Tooo powerful. Still BP.
hormones affect me though in my 50s now.
I applaud you for staying this healthy, and also seek a way to get rid of debilitating lows...
Ann
hormones affect me though in my 50s now.
I applaud you for staying this healthy, and also seek a way to get rid of debilitating lows...
Ann
I dont start a script from a GP until ive read the drug databases and understand the drug - ive been prescribed some doozies from a GP who did not read the prescribing guidelines for my drugs.
I agree with all of the above - ESPECIALLY - about seeing a psychiatrist. Mood disorders are very complex and a GP will be of little help. I wouldn't even start a script from a GP if you are going to be able to see psychiatrist soon.
Meds work differently for all of us and I bet most of us have done well on different "cocktails" at different times in our lives. And as new meds have come to the market.
I've had BPl for 25 years and had success and mix-ups with meds. Can't reccommend anything for you, though.
Meds work differently for all of us and I bet most of us have done well on different "cocktails" at different times in our lives. And as new meds have come to the market.
I've had BPl for 25 years and had success and mix-ups with meds. Can't reccommend anything for you, though.
Monkey has good advice. You sure get it straight up with Monkey. I wanted to add that I have BPD. for years no combination of antidepressants and BPD meds helped.in what I would call a complete way..until one doctor decided to try an anti anxiety. I was dumb founded, I have felt stable since she added Busbar. The right medications at the right dosage takes some time to find.
I was diagnosed with BPD 3 1/2 years ago and found the right "combo" this past August.
Natural methods such as herbs should not be concidered an aid for someone with Bi Polar. If natural healing is what your interested in add in sunshine, exercise, and journaling. These provide help without interfering with your treatment.
Take Care
I was diagnosed with BPD 3 1/2 years ago and found the right "combo" this past August.
Natural methods such as herbs should not be concidered an aid for someone with Bi Polar. If natural healing is what your interested in add in sunshine, exercise, and journaling. These provide help without interfering with your treatment.
Take Care
Hi
Remember it can work the other way round, your mental health can have an effect on you physicaly.
Like depression increases your chance of a heart attack. Your mental health can also affect your hormones.
I think you should still get the hormones sorted, but really you shouldnt be going around with untreated bipolar disorder, look after yourself, get yourself to the best psychiatrist you can get your hands on and they will start treatment.
You do not have to suffer like this, you really do not.
Remember it can work the other way round, your mental health can have an effect on you physicaly.
Like depression increases your chance of a heart attack. Your mental health can also affect your hormones.
I think you should still get the hormones sorted, but really you shouldnt be going around with untreated bipolar disorder, look after yourself, get yourself to the best psychiatrist you can get your hands on and they will start treatment.
You do not have to suffer like this, you really do not.
I'm even hesitant to use a lot of different tea's. You just never know. What if it's stimulating? Will my meds counterbalance it? I'm not willing to take the chance.
If you are talking about hormones, I would speak with a psychiatrist and see if Soy Millk is o.k. to take with your medication. Soy milk is harmless and causes estrogen to increase. But again, like I said, DO NOT take anything without consulting your pdoc. They know a lot more than I will ever know.
If you are talking about hormones, I would speak with a psychiatrist and see if Soy Millk is o.k. to take with your medication. Soy milk is harmless and causes estrogen to increase. But again, like I said, DO NOT take anything without consulting your pdoc. They know a lot more than I will ever know.
This is up to your doctors.
Seriously you need to get a psychiatrist - not everyone responds to meds the same way and at the same dosage and its not an exact science.
Seroquel is an atypical Anti Psychotic for example, Prozac is an SSRI and they make a not insignficant proportion of BPs manic as does Trazodone which an anti Depressant and Wellbutrin can as well.
These are GP's playing games with your health. Thats it. They know NOTHING about BP they do a search in their prescriber database and pull a drug out.
Look im going to be blunt - none of us wants to be drugged up but we are on drugs - its a matter of working with your doctors to find the RIGHT drug - so far you have taken 1 and 1 only Mood Stabiliser in the Seroquel and thats not even a first line MS drug for BP treatment in most countries (they would be Lithium and Lamacitl in AU, not sure about the US) because is can have nasty side effects.
Im not sure what you want really? I mean this honestly - are you looking for any excuse to avoid the diagnosis? Are you willing to just keep living the way you are? PMS, Hormones etc etc - hell one of my friends recently told me I just needed to divorce my wife and I would be cured of all my problems - did that mean Im not bipolar?
It took most of us some time to get stable and its an ongoing battle for some of us even with the meds - our care is an ongoing effort in education, hard work and finding a good doctor and for bipolar that means a psychiatrist.
I honestly am worried about you right now because I see someone desperately trying to avoid facing the reality of the situation they find themselves in and using any excuse to avoid having to deal with it all - I spent 15 years like you are, I hope it takes less time for you.
Seriously you need to get a psychiatrist - not everyone responds to meds the same way and at the same dosage and its not an exact science.
Seroquel is an atypical Anti Psychotic for example, Prozac is an SSRI and they make a not insignficant proportion of BPs manic as does Trazodone which an anti Depressant and Wellbutrin can as well.
These are GP's playing games with your health. Thats it. They know NOTHING about BP they do a search in their prescriber database and pull a drug out.
Look im going to be blunt - none of us wants to be drugged up but we are on drugs - its a matter of working with your doctors to find the RIGHT drug - so far you have taken 1 and 1 only Mood Stabiliser in the Seroquel and thats not even a first line MS drug for BP treatment in most countries (they would be Lithium and Lamacitl in AU, not sure about the US) because is can have nasty side effects.
Im not sure what you want really? I mean this honestly - are you looking for any excuse to avoid the diagnosis? Are you willing to just keep living the way you are? PMS, Hormones etc etc - hell one of my friends recently told me I just needed to divorce my wife and I would be cured of all my problems - did that mean Im not bipolar?
It took most of us some time to get stable and its an ongoing battle for some of us even with the meds - our care is an ongoing effort in education, hard work and finding a good doctor and for bipolar that means a psychiatrist.
I honestly am worried about you right now because I see someone desperately trying to avoid facing the reality of the situation they find themselves in and using any excuse to avoid having to deal with it all - I spent 15 years like you are, I hope it takes less time for you.
what are the best medications out there for bipolar people then? I don't want to be all drugged up and i don't like the antidepressants. They make me feel manic. I have had no such luck with lots of the medications... I can't even name all the ones they have put me on. seroquil, trazadone, prozac , wellbutrin are just a few of the ones that they have put me on. lol. someone told me recently that i just have serious pms. i just want the right diagnosis and treatment. I know you guys are one hundred percent right on seeing someone in the mental health institute. I just am tired of the same ol runaround. How long did it take you guys to figure out what it was for you and to get on the right meds? thanks and have a happy new year
I definitely go with what monkeyc has said.
A psychiatrist is the only person who can safely sort out medication for your BP as they specialise in mental health. Your regular Dr does not specialise.
A psychiatrist is the only person who can safely sort out medication for your BP as they specialise in mental health. Your regular Dr does not specialise.
You need a psychiatrist.
Normal doctors, be they family docs or GP's have no clue about mental illness and how to treat it beyond what most of them read in journals, online and in the latest drug blurb they get from the pharma companies.
ADD is a common misdiagnosis for BP, hell its a common misdiagnosis for everything really with the over prescribing of the big R and related drugs - and yep ADD drugs WILL send you manic, known side effect of them which is why that misdiagnosis is particularly bad form.
The best and only person to sort out a drug regime is a psychiatrist - they know the meds, they know the side effects and they can treat the illness - there are very very effective mood stabilisers out there - you do not mention which ones you have used aside from Lamactil which may have worked at a higher dose, any of the mood stabilisers need to be phased in and take time to work and dosage needs to be tailored.
Getting the hormones checked is a good idea for safety sake considering the tubal ligation but a GP cannot treat your bipolar, they can only prescribe you drugs they do not understand in most cases or do the same old same old and push prozac, zoloft, adderall or ritalin with some xanax thrown in for the anxiety... None of these is safe for all Bipolars but that does not stop them prescribing.
Normal doctors, be they family docs or GP's have no clue about mental illness and how to treat it beyond what most of them read in journals, online and in the latest drug blurb they get from the pharma companies.
ADD is a common misdiagnosis for BP, hell its a common misdiagnosis for everything really with the over prescribing of the big R and related drugs - and yep ADD drugs WILL send you manic, known side effect of them which is why that misdiagnosis is particularly bad form.
The best and only person to sort out a drug regime is a psychiatrist - they know the meds, they know the side effects and they can treat the illness - there are very very effective mood stabilisers out there - you do not mention which ones you have used aside from Lamactil which may have worked at a higher dose, any of the mood stabilisers need to be phased in and take time to work and dosage needs to be tailored.
Getting the hormones checked is a good idea for safety sake considering the tubal ligation but a GP cannot treat your bipolar, they can only prescribe you drugs they do not understand in most cases or do the same old same old and push prozac, zoloft, adderall or ritalin with some xanax thrown in for the anxiety... None of these is safe for all Bipolars but that does not stop them prescribing.
thank you all for your feedback. I appreciate everyone that had a comment for me. I am going to go ahead with the hormone doctor but i am also going to try and make an appointment for a regular doc too. I have been diagnosed as bipolar but the problem is all the medications i have tried seem to make the symptoms that im trying to get rid of worse and thats why i decided to try and find a different route to finding out the problem is. They tried to give me add medication and i ended up in the hospital. Here i didn't have add and they basically gave me a bunch of uppers as the doctor put it. I just want to feel like a normal person. Half the time i feel great but the other half it's like hell. But, again thank you for help.
Hi, I don't blame you for getting your hormones checked out. Have you been given any kind of diagnosis by a proper Dr? I only ask because i know that I tried to blame my mood swings on everything and anything before i finally accepted that it was bipolar. I suppose because I thought a hormone imbalance was more socially acceptable than a mental illness label - shame on me!
Yes your hormones will play a part, its part and parcel of being a woman. My Dr told me that if it was down to hormones then prozac would be the thing that would be prescribed. However, I can't take prozac because of being bipolar they send me completely wacko!
I have nothing against natural remedies if they are used sensibly and NOT instead of properly researched, approved medications. I completely understand your fear of HRT, especially at such a young age and a possible 30 years of being on it.
So, definitely for your own peace of mind then go ahead and get your hormone levels checked out, but definitely also seek the help of a proper Dr with regard to your moods regardless of the outcome of your tests.
Best of luck to you.
Yes your hormones will play a part, its part and parcel of being a woman. My Dr told me that if it was down to hormones then prozac would be the thing that would be prescribed. However, I can't take prozac because of being bipolar they send me completely wacko!
I have nothing against natural remedies if they are used sensibly and NOT instead of properly researched, approved medications. I completely understand your fear of HRT, especially at such a young age and a possible 30 years of being on it.
So, definitely for your own peace of mind then go ahead and get your hormone levels checked out, but definitely also seek the help of a proper Dr with regard to your moods regardless of the outcome of your tests.
Best of luck to you.
Why does this keep coming up? What is it lately about people and their health that makes them "go natural". There seems to be some myth that a doctor with 5-8 years training and a pile of experience somehow knows less than Meg the Herbal Healer with the correspondance course from the college of natural medicines (thats if shes a real herbalist and not someone who did a course out of a book or just printed a certificate out..)
And the myth that medicines are all poisons? Likely more than Half the active incredients in meds come from nature and all the more virulent and dangerous substances are natural thing - hell Uranium is natural.
No I do not mean to be rude or insensitive I really do not get it at all, I fail to see why natural is best and herbs are fixes. Having just had a relative die from cancer and having seen all the quacks, healers and those who prey on the sick I may be a little touchy but forgive me if I do not buy the nostalgia for the ways of the ancients and the natural drugs of the past. The past sucked for the sick and the mentally ill in particular - if you were lucky they killed you before burning as a witch or just left you to starve.
Next thing people will be all nostalgic for the good old days of the 30's and 40's and start getting Labotomies...
The majority of these herbal potions do not work - they rely on positive though to work and sorry but when depressed you do not have that.
My advice and only advice is see a doctor, a real one and for gods sake STOP taking the herbs - some herbs can be deadly for Bipolar's (St John's Wort is not particularly good for a lot of peopl) and can cause mania or worse - you need real medicatin.
While I hear you on the HRT it's say this - I do not want to take Lithium but I do. This is the time in your life where you will have to face some decisions which go beyond do not want and have to pretend im not sick.
This is fixable.
And the myth that medicines are all poisons? Likely more than Half the active incredients in meds come from nature and all the more virulent and dangerous substances are natural thing - hell Uranium is natural.
No I do not mean to be rude or insensitive I really do not get it at all, I fail to see why natural is best and herbs are fixes. Having just had a relative die from cancer and having seen all the quacks, healers and those who prey on the sick I may be a little touchy but forgive me if I do not buy the nostalgia for the ways of the ancients and the natural drugs of the past. The past sucked for the sick and the mentally ill in particular - if you were lucky they killed you before burning as a witch or just left you to starve.
Next thing people will be all nostalgic for the good old days of the 30's and 40's and start getting Labotomies...
The majority of these herbal potions do not work - they rely on positive though to work and sorry but when depressed you do not have that.
My advice and only advice is see a doctor, a real one and for gods sake STOP taking the herbs - some herbs can be deadly for Bipolar's (St John's Wort is not particularly good for a lot of peopl) and can cause mania or worse - you need real medicatin.
While I hear you on the HRT it's say this - I do not want to take Lithium but I do. This is the time in your life where you will have to face some decisions which go beyond do not want and have to pretend im not sick.
This is fixable.
I hope you do not think I am being blunt.
Ok, get your hormones checked. But really anti depressants could sort all this out and you could lead a very balanced life. If you find the right psychiatrist who knows what they are doing.
I was like this, all over the place age 40, low progestrone, post natal depression, blah blah blah.........PMT.....Loads of explanations, I tried everything natural, hundreds of Euros to the homeopath.
Anti depressants, fixed, end of story. What a life my whole family were living. Now we are totally settled. Mom with no mood swings.
Ok, get your hormones checked. But really anti depressants could sort all this out and you could lead a very balanced life. If you find the right psychiatrist who knows what they are doing.
I was like this, all over the place age 40, low progestrone, post natal depression, blah blah blah.........PMT.....Loads of explanations, I tried everything natural, hundreds of Euros to the homeopath.
Anti depressants, fixed, end of story. What a life my whole family were living. Now we are totally settled. Mom with no mood swings.
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