Welcome Traci

[kjazzygirl]

Welcome Traci! I tried to reply to your post but experienced "technical" difficulties so I tried and it let me at least start a new topic. I just want you to know that there are many of us in situtations like yours and it is very, very, tough - to say the least. Sounds like your husband is on the right path....he admits he's ill and is seeking and adhereing to treatment. I'm sure you've heard sometimes it takes a very long time to get the meds tweaked just right. I have a few suggestions that might help. First, learn all you can about this illness and about the meds he is currently prescribed. Find support groups for both of you, especially thru DBSA or NAMI and even try to find the "Family to Family" class that NAMI holds for Friends and family of those with Mental Illness.

I think the doctors have to use mainly guesswork on the meds, so give them the allotted time to work, and if things are no better or even worse, explain the situation to pdoc. Be alert to the known side effects of the meds and try to notice what might have triggered a mood change. Sounds like a pdoc change might be in order first. We're on pdoc #3, but he stayed with his first therapist. A good therapy is Cognitive Behavior Therapy, so hopefully he's attending that?

My 27 yo son who has Bipolar I didn't want me going to his pdoc appts with him, but he finally let me write the pdoc a letter and took it to him. I explained all he did was lay around all day smoking cigarettes and watching tv. I'm sure my son told him, "I feel just fine". Anyway, my letter resulting in going from Trileptal to Depakote ER that DAY! And quite honestly, the Depakote has "so far" seemed to work 1000 times better.

He initially was dzd Bipolar II and was on Lamictal, but after a really bad manic episode (which I believe could have been triggered by the Lamictal) when I had to go to court to have him sent for treatment, they dzd him BP I and started the Trileptal. Not sure the Trileptal ever did much except cause him double vision and he layed in bed and smoked cigarettes all day, but at least he wasn't manic while taking it!!!

Learn all you can about Bipolar and meds, but don't overdo or it may constantly eat at you and wreck your nerves. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU and take a bipolar break now and then...however you can!! Do whatever you enjoy to keep your mind occupied and not worrying so much! Find the support groups - you can talk about this with people who don't judge and who know that you're not stupid or crazy.

If you're afraid you might be enabling his behaviour, read "Codependent No More" - this has helped me as much as anything (except the Prozac). LOL And yes, after a year of going thru this with my son (October made 3 years on the roller coaster for us), I had become deeply depressed and went to my doctor and had him prescribe me a low dose antidepressant. Wonderful, love it, takes the edge off and I feel absolutely no bad side effects. It's what's helping for now along with the support group. I've even seen a therapist myself a couple times which helped a lot as well. Please keep us updated. Ask questions, there is a LOT of good knowledge here and Lots of Help!!!! {{ hugs }} Kat

[holdingon]

Kat,

I know this is late in coming, but thank you so much for your informative post and your encouragement. I appreciate all the feedback I can get from anyone who understands what I am going through. It is such a nice contrast from the harsh judgments I had been getting for so long from friends and family who just could not wrap their heads around why I chose to deal with this.

I have tried some therapy as well...mostly I got a lot of advice about putting up boundaries and such...stuff I knew, but I guess the refresher didn't hurt. I also went on Wellbutrin for a bit, which helped, too. But right now I am finding that if I take my Vitamin D, sit in front of my Happy Light for an hour a day, and exercise regularly, I do pretty well. My energy levels are beginning to return to normal just since the beginning of the year. I'm not sure if that has more to do with my regimen, or his getting better. Probably both.

Thanks again for the support here. It helps to know that other people get it, you know?

Traci