Bummer

[btsmith]

   Just got turned down for tx today due to my bipolar disorder and few other little things.
Bummer Dude..
   Headed for guinea pig land.

[btsmith]

   I want to wrap this up now.  No it is not hard to come off all the meds because I am an alcoholic who hasn't drank in years.  Coming off alcohol, for me, is probably the toughest thing I have ever done.  Undiagnosed Bi-polar people are usually alcoholics as they use it to regulate their highs and lows.
  An 8000 and something combination is only 6 to 8 drugs, I can't remember.  I'll tell you the formula if you want.
  I had to be very proactive with my problem the last few months as nothing was getting done.  I used faxes, e-mails, snail mail, phone calls to coax these doctors in one direction to get an answer.  It wasn't easy.
  This will be all for awhile unless I hear from you
btsmith
  

[btsmith]

   I think they call that sensory overload.

[btsmith]

   I know what you mean, it has taken years to learn them but you can be amazed what you do to stay alive.  The ones I talked about were just the bp stuff.  I am clean now and will start putting them back.  Don't worry and thanks
btsmith

[Odin999]

Phew. I don't know enough about all your meds to comment, other than to say that I am glad you are at least aware of all the issues involved. So how was it coming off all the meds? I have read that it can be difficult stabilising your body while getting off them.

I am going out for a while now. Mail me sometimes if it helps to talk.

[btsmith]

   I cut out all meds for awhile after a doctor prescribed prednisone for my joint pain.  Normally you don't give BPs steroids, as they can cause psychotic episodes in regular people, but now that I am not going to tx, I'll work them back into the fold.
   I have been going to the same clinic here in Portland for 30 years and have noticed through the years that the test, test, test is getting out of hand.  I had 16 major tests befor I got the word to day.  It seems like doctors are afraid to act because of lawsuits and such.   I thought we had TORT reform here in Oregon, in which case they have a little buffer.  
   Trileptal (BP) can cause problems, bleeding but most psychotic meds (depakote, lithium, lamictal, ) are either anti-seizure, anti-depressants or mood stabilizers.  They are the true designer drugs and are very dangerous if not used correctly.  They are usually phase in/ phase out drugs that are closely monitored.  
  I figured it out one time with my meds and there were 8 thousand and something different combinations and actually I feel pretty good without any but am getting to jacked up without the BP drugs.
thanks for the concern
btsmith

[Odin999]

I am glad that your GP(?) is trying to get you to a good hospital. That sounds like a good course of action at the moment. I really hope it goes well for you.

Are you on any meds for bipolar? Do any of them cause any of your symptoms? I don't know whether they do or not, but I suppose it is worth investigating. I do know that when things start to get complicated with multiple medications and health conditions that it can be hard to get a medical professional with a true bird's eye view of all the drug interactions.

[btsmith]

   They are going to try to get me into OHSU (Oregon Health Science University) probably the best in Oregon, as he said for maybe testing some new drug, whatever that means.  Sometimes I think doctors are too kid-gloved (if that can be a verb) with bipolar people and they seem very vague to me sometimes.  At any rate,  the way he was talking today was not very optomistic.  Too me it's how many more hoops must I jump through to maybe end up in the same place.   My savings are gone, and I have insurance.  I used up my insurance drug money in May that was suppose to last all year because of too many specialists trying different drugs.  Sometimes I feel like I'm surviving inspite of the doctors.  

[Odin999]

I second the advice of eureka.

Try to find someone who can help you get into a position where you are physically strong enough to tolerate treatment, and then someone to help you through it psychologically.

You need a multidisciplinary approach.  Are you already seeing a specialist connected with a good hospital?

[eureka254]

I can certainly understand your disappointment -- "bummer" is probably an understatement, but I think "not now" does not mean "not ever" in regards to treatment. You didn't mention your current liver condition, so I do not know if you feel an urgency to treat or not, but many people do take the "watch and wait" approach, with treatment being a rather rough road sometimes (or so I've been told & seen here on this forum).

It sounds like you have several other conditions that puts you at a higher risk for possible complications: both bi-polar and anemia can be significantly exacerbated by current SOC.  My husband, like yourself, is 58, and was warned by several doctors that treating may dangerous -- his hep doc has gone as far as to say "most doctors would not accept you as a treatment patient, you understand..." (hubby has a cardiac condition, hx of cancer, and cirrhosis) -- We'll have to sign all kinds of "release" forms before he can start treatment.  And it is not without much thought and planning and an understanding of the risks -- it IS a dangerous proposition for him, and perhaps it could be as well for yourself, with existing medical conditions.

Keep in mind that most docs "treat" patients at THEIR level of comfort -- many physicians are concerned about their patient's well-being especially if they are not experienced/knowledgeable in a particular specialty -- and a physician's call is to treat the patient, not the disease, right? :)  Bottom line:  get a second (or third) opinion is my suggestion.  You may find that other docs will reiterate your current physicians concern, but on the other hand, you might find a hepatologist willing to work with you toward being "safer" to treat.  May peace be with you.

~eureka

[btsmith]

   Something that would be very helpful right now though would be to recommed a drug or drugs that I could use to get me through the day.  This itching, joint pain, shortness of breath and fatique is driving me nuts. I have an apointment with my primary care physician on monday and he would probably give me anything, if I knew what to ask for. Maybe if someone could find DORSEY and find out what he uses or if he did tx,  I would really appreciate it.  Right now I'm not thinking to clearly.
thanks much
btsmith

[btsmith]

   I have been testing for various things for my anemia, from rheumatoid arthritis to bone marrow cancer (that's a lovely test) for over a year now just eleminating things which might be causing the anemia.  I have even swollowed a camera pill to photograph my small intestine looking for internal bleeding 55,000 pictures.  I am really tired now and have to think about things for awhile.  My AST was 70 and my ALT 62 in Feburary.  The main concern is the Bipolar,  some people will do themselves in if not watched closely, to be rather blunt.  I just want to veg for awhile.

[Odin999]

Have you tried another specialist? If you get to go ahead, I hope you get plenty of support and work closely with mental health practitioner to help you get through it. It can be rough psychologically.

What is your liver condition now? If your liver isn't too bad right now and you have good statistics it might be better to wait for a shorter duration treatment.

[btsmith]

  Well I'm 58 and got a little lung problem, nothing big.   I have had the disease for 37 yrs or before there was a hep c, I guess.  Was diagnosed 4 years ago, they said it wasn't too bad so I waited, too long?  I don't know alot about it to tell you the truth.  There was a person named DORSEY in this forum who was BP and he told me what I was up against.
not pretty.

[copyman]

sorry for the bad news. that really stinks. if you don't mind me asking what are the " few other things" that they turned you down for? hang in there it will all work out. best of luck