Experience with Bipolar disorder anyone? I need your help if so.

[BeHereNow]

Sorry to jump in GD with this, but I figured I would
since the traffic is higher.
If you have dealt with it personally or have a loved one
who has, please DU check in on my thread in the
mental health forum.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=276&topic_id=7801&mesg_id=7801
Many thanks if you can advise me in helping my daughter.
She will be getting a prescription tomorrow and I
am seeking as much information on the various
medications before we go to the doctor tomorrow
as possible, in particular personal experiences with
success and otherwise.

BHN

[sandnsea]

1. bless your heart

I know there are a few DUers with personal experience so I will leave them to answer you. Mental illness is so emotionally painful for everyone. My sil's brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia this month, he's convinced he's a CIA agent. It's such a hard thing. Hopefully your daughter will get a good medication and it will work well for her. :hug:

[BeHereNow]

4. Thanks for the hug- I need it.

It's been terrifying to watch her disappear, if you know what I mean.
Exhausting too, the constant worry.
But for the first time in nearly a year, I feel some hope.
Finally someone was able to tell me what was wrong
and that there was a solution.
I think I may actually sleep tonight.
BHN

[Horse with no Name]

2. I have heard they are having good results with Abilify

Good luck to you.
Can I ask was she diagnosed with ADHD/ADD as a child or was she on Ritalin?
If this is too personal, I understand.
Good luck!
:hug:
http://bipolar.about.com/od/abilify/Abilify_Aripiprazole.htm

[BeHereNow]

5. No ADHD or medication ever.

I'm rather scared of medications and therefore
want to find out as much as possible because I have
to do something- we are out of options.

BHN

[Eurobabe]

3. check your inbox.

:hi:

[gateley]

6. Regardless of what approach the physician takes,

I'd strongly recommend looking into how/if diet can help. Just trying to get all organic foods into her, and to stop adding the chemicals that are in the fertilizers, the hormones that are in the animals, the pesticides that are in our fruits and veggies couldn't hurt, and it's my belief it could help somewhat.

I'll keep you both in my heart. :hug:

EDIT:

http://www.nutritionj.com/content/7/1/2 (I didn't read what was at this link but it focuses on nutrition and mental disorders)

Here's a little snip from an article in Psychology Today:

Other news on the treatment front is the emergence of nutritional approaches. "The public is ready for nutrients to be on the scene," observes Stoll. "Most medical symposia on bipolar disorder now include a section on natural treatments."

His studies, and others', have demonstrated therapeutic value in omega-3 fatty acids, notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), folic acid and other B vitamins, and the mineral magnesium. Other nutrients are under study. "These are not going to work by themselves in most people," Stoll reports, "but they are adjuncts to medicines. You can get away with fewer medicines and maybe lower doses."

Stoll has explored supplements of the amino acid taurine. The results of the study have not yet been published, but Stoll did say that "it works really well for bipolar disorder."

http://psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-3122.html&fromMod=popular_depression

Here's another link: http://www.pendulum.org/bpnews/archive/001649.html

There seem to be several and they all look interesting. I can't help but think that the high incidence of mental (not to mention physical) disorders these days is due in part to environmental and nutritional factors.

I went on a diet for Hepatitis C which essentially was eating like our grandparents did -- no processed food, predominantly organic food, I became vegan, and I have never felt better in my life - physically AND emotionally. I'm a big believer (obviously) that food is the most potent medicine we can take.

Good luck - and please let us know how she's doing. :pals:

[BeHereNow]

13. That is my plan- AFTER we get her stabilized. I know alternatives work.

My life changed when I began using SAMe, natural hormones, and amino acid
therapy.

Right now, she is so manic I am agreeing with the doctor
that we need to try medication to keep her safe and
return her to a state where she can function normally
and discuss a long term plan.

I am looking at the use of medication as a
bridge to alternative treatment.

Apparently, certain supplements are effective
and I don't want to see her jumping on the
pharma merry-go-round for life.

I'm hoping that we can find an effective way
to mange the BPD without pharma drugs eventually.

BHN

[gateley]

19. Not in lieu of a pharmaceutical treatment,

but in complement to it. Not suggesting it as a cure, but just that it might help her feel better and not add the crap into her system that we all get when we eat many of the foods today. I think it would be a good support for her. We'd ALL do better if we could eat that way.

I agree it would be wonderful to be able to manage this without pharma drugs, but it's too debilitating a condition to not take advantage of the help they can offer. If it were me going through this, I'd be hollering GIVE ME THE DRUGS! :7

Again -- good luck!

[MADem]

7. Good luck.

You have to be a donor to post in the groups section, but all I can tell you is we have a family friend with the condition, and it is well controlled with medication for the most part.

It took awhile to get the med mix right, and the only challenge with our friend is that she is sometimes, er, "non compliant." Her husband and family and us friends can usually (after a few times where we didn't "get the drift") tell when she is skipping the meds (they apparently make her gain weight and she is vain, so she goes off them to "diet" and it always leads to trouble) because she starts acting a little wound up, wacko and gets irritable and frankly, flaky...and we bug her, scold her, and she gets back on the old bus. We did have a few rather dramatic "adventures" with her before we figured out the pattern, though.

When she's on her meds, she's great. When she goes off, she's a fucking pain in the ass. It takes every ounce of empathy to realize she's unwell when you just want to smack the crap out of her when she's being a total freak.

I think that people with the condition also, in addition to the weight gain that some don't want or need, don't like the "feeling" the meds give them--they feel weighed down or not as peppy, which can also lead to noncompliance. Pity they couldn't come up with a once a month or once every three months injection. Unfortunately, the drugs have to stay bioavailable in the system.

Be vigilant about medication compliance, make it a hard and fast requirement if she's living with you. Encourage her to have regular visits with a mental health professional for a little "talk therapy" too if her insurance covers it.

It's not the end of the world. Not a picnic, especially, but if you can keep her ON the meds she'll be OK. And so will you.

[GetTheRightVote]

8. I have a daughter who has the disorder as well and I too have dealt with it

for many years. I have read up on it and ask around about it as well. There is not a lot of help for it yet. It only get s worst as they get older it seems as well. Also, it does not help that the father does not wish to accept it either yet I have for some time now. The up and downs are extremely hard to take.

My daughter has done a great deal of damage to all her relationships due to her moods ( that is what I call them now ). She has done the drinking and drugs as well. She is older now and out on her own and I worry about her all the time. The drugs they prescribe for the disorder basically dummy them down which is why they become more manageable but be careful we live in a drug/pill pushing culture. Right now I am doing the tough love routine and it appears to be having some influence on my child but only the future will tell how much it means to her. Also, with a degree in psychology, I believe behavior can be controlled by training over drugs.

I wish you the best of luck with your child, I do certainly know where you are coming from and I am truly sorry for anyone who has a family member with this condition.

[gateley]

9. And a hug for you and your daughter, too --

:hug:

[BeHereNow]

12. The worry is what kills you eh? I haven't slept a full night for MONTHS.

When she was a teen, I think we may have staved off
the BPD with supplements. SAMe, omega 3&6, and others.
But when she went to college she went nuts with the
drugs. From what I have researched so far,
the drugs can really set the BPD in motion.

I think that is has happened to my daughter.
Now I am just praying to get her stable enough
to keep her safe.

I know you know.

:cry: :hug:

BHN

[SoCalDemGrrl]

10. We had a terrible experience with Paxil. Our loved one was on it for only a

few days for BPD when he freaked out and drove to a freeway overpass to attempt
suicide. Thankfully we were able to talk via cellphone and convince him to
come home.

Paxil is a very dangerous drug. Also tried Risperdol (sp) which seemed to work for about
a week or so, but it caused terrible mouth ulcers which turned out to be a sign
of a bad reaction, so that had to be discontinued.

Many of these medications have terrible side effects, so we are now using talk therapy,
supplements including omega 3 fish oil & SAME E and we had him tested for food allergies and found that he's
allergic to wheat, yeast and eggs. He now tries to avoid these foods, But when he consumes pasta or bread
he tends to be depressed.
Also, and most importantly, he does not consume ANY alcohol. On the rare occasion when he has had a beer
he deals with depression the next day. So when he goes out with friends he has tonic water with a lime
which looks just like a cocktail.

Hope things work out, just be careful with the prescription drugs.

[BeHereNow]

11. Paxil can be lethal. Several of my friends have freaked out on it.

I saw mood disorder, depression etc in my daughter when she
was a teen- I put her on SAMe, the omega 3&6, and NAC.
It REALLY made a huge difference.
Trouble is, she left home, went 2000 miles away to college,
did ALL the drugs known to trigger BPD and now I'm
trying to pick up the pieces.

I do not trust the pharma kkkartel for one minute.
I do like the fact that the doc is saying we are
looking at using them to stablize, and trust me, that has
to happen PRONTO as she is completely out of control.

I am looking into the more holistic regimes for later-
right now though, I need something to just bring her back
to earth.

BHN

[old mark]

14. I worked in a mental hospital for several years

I know that treatment with medication is usually very effective, but I would not make any recommendation about what meds are appropriate.
L:ike with anything else, people are different-response to medications veries from person to person and sometimes it takes several changes of meds to get it right.
All I can say is to see a doctor who is experienced in psychiatric medication, and let that doctor do what is necessary.
Be patient-there is great success with bi-polar disorder for the last years, but let the Doctor work with your daughter.

All the best to all of your family.

mark

[REP]

15. Behavior Modification Therapy (or other talk therapy) + psych drugs

Drugs alone aren't enough. She's taught herself ways to deal with her condition, only some those aren't effective. She needs talk therapy as well as drug therapy. Both in combination - and what drugs and what kid of therapist isn't something that can by rx'd be internet - are the best way to help her stabilize. Good luck.

[dddem]

16. My mother has suffered with bi-polar disorder since she was 14

She's 76 now and in a nursing home. She takes over 20 meds a day (some for physyical ailments, most for the BPD. She has undergone shcok therapy (when she was young), she has suffered severe postpartume depression (she has 5 children), and she's a frequent flyer at the emergency room. Despite that, she was married to my father for 26 years, until he died, she still has a relationship with all of her children, and her siblings, and she has the same friends she met in 1st grade. She has been through hell, and at the same time, she has had a pretty good life. Luckily, she has good insurance, so she gets good care. This is key. Therapy and medication combined, and there is no magic bullet. her meds are being adjusted constantly. As her body ages, her medication needs change. She can't have alcohol, ever.
Growing up with my mother was quite the adventure, but that's another story for another time. My mother has done as well as she has over the years because of 1 important factor - people fought for her when she couldn't fight for herself. Granted, sometimes you had to fight with her to get help for her, but she had people in her corner - even when things were very bad. Unfortunately, unlike when she was young, you can't count on the medical community to step in and do whats right - mental health care in this country is shameful - you have to be her advocate, and it can get exhausting. But when I think about how hard it can be at times to be loving and supportive to my mom, I stop and think about how much harder it must be to live in the hell she finds herself in at times. I don't mean to paint such a bleak picture - it isn't all bad all the time, it's just scary and exhausting sometimes, as I'm sure you know, and as much as you want to, you can't fix what's wrong, you can only hang on for the ride. Best to you and your daughter. I wish you both peace.

[KitSileya]

17. There's a two-part documentary

about bipolar disorder hosted by Stephen Fry, the famous British actor, who has BPD himself. It's a great docu, where he talks to a lot of BPD sufferers, both in the UK and the US, and how it is to live with this condition. Maybe something to watch when you have the time and energy to do some thinking about the whole thing. It's called "Stephen Fry: Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive".

[mdmc]

18. feel free to pm me my friend

I know this shit too well.