Posted by saw on November 16, 2004, at 8:35:31
In reply to An introduction from a medicine head, posted by underthewave on November 16, 2004, at 8:17:49
Hi underthewave
Welcome and thank you for telling us a bit about yourself. It is always good to get to know others and have an opportunity to share and learn from each other.
I am fascinated by your comment about being more introspective and perceptive. I also feel, that were it not for my illness, I might not have been as intuitive as I am. Isn't it great to finding something good about an otherwise crippling condition.
I am soon to be 33 and suffered a major breakdown after a traumatic marriage and divorce 6 years ago. I was diagnosed with depression and then bipolar II. I'm quite stubborn by nature so after a couple of months and 3 hospitilizations, I declared myself well and tossed all my medication and said "I will never be that way again". Until this year, a short while before my second wedding, I crashed again. Inexplicably, except for a very stressful year. Again, I tried so very hard to cope and use self help techniques because my husband is a "snap out of it" kind of person. Eventually, there was no hiding from the pain I was in and I was about to lose my brand new husband. I sought help again and was given GAD to add to my mix. This was a relief actually, to know that an illness can cause excessive and what is to others, silly anxiety. My little boy of 6 was also diagnosed with ADHD this year. My doc also said that I am quite treatment resistant. I'm still wondering if I should be proud of that!!
My current medication after a flop on Effexor is Lamictal. This is the only med I am on at present. I do not envy you at all!! How do you cope with side effects on all your different meds. Effexor alone produced over 20 side effects in me. Weight gain being the absolute worst. I have not yet felt any side effects from Lamictal. I keep looking at my skin waiting for the dreaded rash to appear. I agree about the expense of these meds. Quite exorbitant.
Anyway, I was really just welcoming you and saying hello, but you got quite a mouthful. Please continue to visit with us and on the other boards too. This place is my best friend during some really dark times.
Look forward to getting to know you better.
Sabrina
poster:saw
thread:416598
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/newbs/20040812/msgs/416611.html