| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| chickenbone |
Posted - 03/18/2013 : 19:06:48
In the last 20 years, I have been on and off low dose amitriptiline at least 8 times. Every time I have gone off of it, I have never had any problem doing this. The last time I went off (25mg) was about 3 years ago and I stayed off for about 8 months. Then I decided to start taking it again because I just felt better when I was taking it. My mood was much better, I felt more optimistic and I was less inclined to enjoy the bad news in the world. My husband (a doctor) strongly felt that I had everything to gain and not much to lose from taking it. Then, based on some books I read recently and the fact that I just don't like taking meds in general, I decided to stop taking it again. I first cut down to 10mg and then after a month of that, stopped it completely. I had no adverse effects from the withdrawal. However, now I am noticing (and my husband too, so it is not just my imagination) that my mood has gone into the toilet again. I am back heavily into conspiracy theory, hoping to see some huge disaster like a big asteroid hits the earth before I die, and generally in love with all manner of bad news again. Of course, this also getting me revved up. I am now extremely easily angered and impatient with everything. I just keep getting worse and worse. This is a shame because I was doing so well with the Keys. I am going to begin taking the 10mg again tonight and I will never let anyone talk me into not taking them again. I don't believe that they are placebo, at least not for me. I think I can quickly get back the good progress I have made, at least the pain hasn't come back, but I have had hints of it. I really think I get great benefit from the serotonin lift. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| chickenbone |
Posted - 03/20/2013 : 18:27:59
I am so relieved to hear you say that. Thanks so much. |
| RikR |
Posted - 03/20/2013 : 17:53:35
Chicken
Bipolar is one of the most often misdiagnosed conditions in psychiatry. When I worked in an eating disorders clinic every single person left with the diagnosis. Some doctors diagnose it for anyone who has fluctuating emotions.
Bipolar is much more than that – there is a very good possibility that you are not BP and yes even some BP people are able to stop medications. I have an old colleague that stopped years back because they tend to damage kidneys. He is a severe BP and he has had good control with an extremely healthy lifestyle and low stress. He still has episodes but he get through them then he is OK again |
| chickenbone |
Posted - 03/20/2013 : 16:43:53
Sorry, RikR, I didn't make myself clear. My question is: Do you think it is reasonable to expect that someone with mild bi-polar disorder could get off all meds and do ok? |
| RikR |
Posted - 03/20/2013 : 16:14:59
Chicken - I am not sure of your questions
Shawn - when you have lost 4 family members to doctors mistakes come talk to me |
| chickenbone |
Posted - 03/20/2013 : 15:14:25
RikR, I agree with you about doctors. My husband is a doctor and he has told me stories of doctors accidentally killing people. It happens all the time. I think most of the time the doctors can cover it up so they don't get sued.
Can I ask you something? I have been trying to discover the true nature of my issues. I did not have a good childhood, but not terrible. Years ago, after my first husband died of cancer, a Psychiatrist I was seeing thought I had a mild form of bi-polar disorder. I sure am moody. However, none of the meds he tried me on helped and all gave me side effects. Finally, for 15 years, I took Triavil (low dose) and it helped me a lot. When we retired to Panama 8 years ago, that was unavailable here. I had to order it from the US so I stopped taking it. My husband also did not want me taking it. So I just took the 25mg amitriptiline. I used Zolpidem for when I had trouble sleeping. Almost 4 months ago, I stopped the Zolpidem. Now I take 1mg Klonipin for when I can't sleep, but don't have to take it very often, about once every 2 weeks average. What do you think about bi-polar and meds? It seems like I do fine until I get down to the last bit of meds and then have what seems like a mild bi-polar episode and I have to take the low dose antidepressant.
I also, when I am in my lower moods, just love all the negative things in life. When I am in a good mood, I enjoy the positive. I don't think I can give up my negative enjoyments, like my interest in conspiracy theory (I frequent the blogs, like Zerohedge) because positive can be so boring and negative so exciting. What do you think? People get really upset at times because I think most people are really afraid of bad things happening. But I expect bad things to happen. |
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 03/20/2013 : 06:12:58
You know what RikR? You are on the wrong forum. You are a complete downer and extremely negative person. Really, please consider another forum as you are not helping yourself or anyone else. I know you are suffering but your comments are actually impeding your recovery as well as hurting others. There seems to be a meanness there. Suffering can do that to a person,and has in the past done it to me, so I understand it. I am sure there are numerous forums which would welcome you and you could talk about all your medical knowledge and latest research findings.
RikR, people die every single day from one thing or another. You never once mentioned the many lives physicians and modern medical science have saved and you instead concentrate on those who died while getting treatment. Physicians are not God. The cannot heal every single person who comes to them because the body is a complex organism and diagnosis is not always straight forward no matter what people my believe. They do their best with the information they have been provided with but no one can claim 100% success. In fact, every single patient a doctor has ever seen has either died or will eventually.
I am thankful I have a physician. I am thankful for the miracles of modern medicine. And I am thankful that everyday members of the medical profession are working hard help people works towards getting well. Many of them are my friends and they take their professions very seriously and truly want to help others. But a negative person would concentrate on the few bad apples and in the process seek to spoil the whole barrel.
*************************
“Living up to an image that you have of yourself or that
other people have of you is inauthentic living – another unconscious role the ego plays.” -- Ekhart Tolle |
| RikR |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 19:44:28
My two sisters-in laws (both less than 50 years old) , father-in-law and my grandmother all died from medical mistakes and one was in a major teaching hospital |
| chickenbone |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 18:20:33
Keep taking good care of yourself, WavySoul. My attitude would be much different if I was recovering from cancer. Glad to hear from you.
|
| bryan3000 |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 17:40:24
quote:
Originally posted by chickenbone
I understand you, pspa, about the collateral damage to ordinary people and am really sorry for that. I don't so much mean that I am happy to have stuff like this happen, but it is sort of a defense mechanism because of the inevitability of periodic crisis which I blame on our politicians and special interests. History is littered with this stuff. Hoping that this kind of thing won't happen again seems to be a human disease. If you can't fight it, you might as well enjoy it.
Yeah... that's a little disturbing, honestly. |
| alix |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 15:10:30
quote:
I think it's because they understand that for most things, no matter what they do, the body will fix itself on it's own. Even a fractured femur, the biggest bone in the body, will heal stronger then before within thirty days. They like to hand you that little piece of paper for a little frosting on the cake so doc and patient feel like something's been done.
Yes you are right TT. It is a very well rehearsed show that we patients expect. The doctor gets his pad and writes a prescription at the end of the consultation. He is then quickly on his way to the next patient with a satisfied smile. |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 15:01:09
quote:
Originally posted by shawnsmith
Well chickenbone, take it easy because there may come a time when you need a physician and you will sell yourself short if you outright reject their help. They are human beings who make mistakes like anyone else.
CB's probably not too worried about that, since her husband's a doctor.  |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 14:55:04
quote:
Originally posted by alix
I am always a bit puzzled by how quickly doctors diagnose you.
I think it's because they understand that for most things, no matter what they do, the body will fix itself on it's own. Even a fractured femur, the biggest bone in the body, will heal stronger then before within thirty days. They like to hand you that little piece of paper for a little frosting on the cake so doc and patient feel like something's been done. |
| Wavy Soul |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 14:53:21
I wanted to put in my 2 cents, but then I realized that my 2 cents is basically about being careful not to get into the drama of being between people's conflicting 2 cents on this forum.
I know how incredibly TRUE certain things/facts/positionalities have seemed to me at certain times, and I probably needed to have the experience of acting on them. Until I didn't. My own path has taken me all over the grid. Stuff I didn't need to do before I had cancer surgery is now part of my self-care routine, and there is no way I'm going to ask anyone's permission, except my own, since I do tons of research, and trust my very empowering and informed doc.
Some people live to 100 smoking cigarettes and others keel over from healthy living. I'm just trying to get through the day with self-kindness and energy and freedom. Who knows if I need some drug or supplement? Who knows if it's a placebo? Who has the right to say?
Having said that, I do feel on this forum that everyone is loving in intention, which is why I keep coming back (it works if you work it!)
xx
Love is the answer, whatever the question |
| RikR |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 11:16:17
We are at the stage of medical complexity that it is imperative that a consumer be informed and do their own extensive research. Doctors are overwhelmed with data, time crushed by insurance and managed care companies and bought by special interests – they are business men not Doc Welby. |
| chickenbone |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 11:00:14
Shawn, I never said that I would not go to a doctor. I do go to them and I am happy to let them do what they know how to do, whether it is surgery or whatever. I just think they should stick to what they know and not make things up about what they don't know, but only have opinions about. Here is where I don't trust them and do my own research. Most doctors know very little about the drugs they prescribe, for example. |
| alix |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 10:56:51
I am always a bit puzzled by how quickly doctors diagnose you. As an engineer, I check before giving an answer in a databook or look at a formula. CPAs look at the tax code etc... But for doctors, it is always what is on top of their heads and they do make mistakes. I know that medicine is an art and intuition is important. Still, I am not particularly reassured sometimes and double check what I just heard. |
| pspa123 |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 10:42:06
I have had some not so great doctors, but I also have had the good fortune of having some truly outstanding ones. I would be very loathe to condemn the entire profession. |
| alix |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 10:25:52
I don't trust doctors either. I always read about dosage and interaction before taking the medication prescribed. What is prescribed has been wrong more than once.
For example I was given a 100mg starting dose for Elavil (should have been 10mg). Or they happily prescribed Cymbalta and Tramadol at the same time (serotonin syndrome). |
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 10:22:52
Well chickenbone, take it easy because there may come a time when you need a physician and you will sell yourself short if you outright reject their help. They are human beings who make mistakes like anyone else. Yes, our bodies get sick and at times need treatment which physicians can provide. For example, my dad would be dead right now if it were not for the heart surgery he had. Also my brother would be dead if it were not for the surgery conducted on him as a result of a very major accident in which he came very close to dying. In addition, my own mother would be dead if it were not for the vigilance of her physician. But sometimes that treatment does not work because no physician possesses the answers to every single issue taking place in our bodies regardless of how many test have been conducted.
*************************
“Living up to an image that you have of yourself or that
other people have of you is inauthentic living – another unconscious role the ego plays.” -- Ekhart Tolle |
| chickenbone |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 10:21:22
I also have Hashimoto's thyroiditis (the most common form of hypothyroidism). I also had hyperparathyroidism, fixed now. That can really mess with your mind and body. I have often wondered how much endocrine disorders influence our moods and emotions.
There has been an explosion of this disorder in the last few years. Some attribute it to fluoride in our water. This practice has been banned in many parts of Europe after studies showing a relationship between fluoridated water and endocrine disorders. I suppose it could also be a manifestation of TMS. |
