Desperately need advice

[brokenspirit100]

Just tried another medication for my bipolar. This time it was lithium. Was only on it for two to three weeks and had side effects. It made me feel so sick like I had the flu. Stop that immediately. My psychiatrist started me on the lowest dose. It has been seven years since I've been diagnosed with bipolar and tried countless combinations of medication and nothing has worked and the side effects have been unbearable. See my psychiatrist in 2 weeks I am not willing to try any more medication and at this point he even seem frustrated does anybody have any advice.

[Fearoffear]

My ex-husband was on lithium for years until it became toxic in his system then they tried him on Depakote (valpuric acid) and he has tolerated it well for over 21 years to date. He also takes respiridone and he is seasonal effective so when it is winter here in the northeast he does light therapy. Have them do a metabolic test to see what your chemical inbance might be it could help. Good luck and gentle hugs!!

[brokenspirit100 in reply to Fearoffear]

thank you for the advice I will talk to my psychiatrist about getting tested I don't know why it was never suggested to me it's kind of like bipolar this is not a test for that either just a questionnaire and then your diagnosed with bipolar

[Hidden]

Would genetic testing help? I think they have genetic tests that can let you know which medicine will work best for you.

[brokenspirit100 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I will talk to my psychiatrist about getting tested I don't know why none of this was never suggested to me there's not even a test for bipolar just a question off of that they diagnose you with bipolar.

[Hidden in reply to brokenspirit100]

The more experience I have with mental health doctors the more I see it is more an art than a science. They don’t have definitive tests. They can only diagnose through observation when symptoms present themselves, and even then it’s an educated guess. The brain still has many mysteries that medical science can not solve. It’s not a perfect science.

[lillyofthevalley37]

Fish oil capsules are good for bipolar also flaxseed oil capsules

You can.take up to 5 x 1000mg fish oil capsules and 2 x 1000mg flaxseed oil capsules per day

Magnesium is good for bipolar in that it will prevent mania , too much is not good though just stick to a modest dose

Please don't mistake cod liver or any fish liver oil with just plain fish oil capsules

[lillyofthevalley37]

Hi I am suffering from depression atm but I am not on meds

If you do decide to come off sertraline you should do it with your GP very very gradually

You could try fish oil capsules and flaxseed oil I take both every day plus b vitamins vitamin c and more

I saw you have OCD and I thought you should hand it over to God I don't know what your rituals are but if you said ok I am going to hand all responsibility over to you God as it is too much for me to deal with

Just a thought ?

[lillyofthevalley37]

I don't know what to say but surely you have to make peace with yourself before you can get on with recovering from your depression?

Otherwise you are just stuck ?

[lillyofthevalley37]

I think you can recover there must be a way

But you have to forgive yourself first

[lillyofthevalley37]

People do things when they are manic and later find it hard to live with because it is so out of character

it's not their fault

[Hidden]

That’s exactly what happened...

Had I not experienced trauma, it never would have happened.

[lillyofthevalley37 in reply to Hidden]

People with bipolar often do nasty things when manic

again it is part of the illness

my sister had bipolar and my husband has it I know it quite well

[lillyofthevalley37]

Defy the ocd if God can forgive you and you can forgive yourself the ocd doesn't have a case

[lillyofthevalley37]

Why can't you forgive yourself?

[lillyofthevalley37]

There must be a reason why?

[Hidden]

Hello, finding the right medication for bipolar is such a challenge. I have spent 11 years trying different combinations to get me stabl enough to hold down a ob. So I can hear that you are frutrated and I do agree that it is so frustrating. Sometimes doctors become irritable when they have an at-risk patient who isn't wanting meds, usually they are concerned about saftey. Or maybe hes just a jerk, I dunno. LOL.

How do you feel about taking a break insteead of throwing the towel in entirely? I suggest this because if it wasn't for my meds I would hav killed myself years ago, devestating my mother who is also my best friend, and cutting short a life that still has potential. If your bipolar isnt severe/intense, perhaps you could explore alternative treatments with your PCP. If it is severe though, I would be worried for you to go off med entirely and I dont even know you! I do know its very risky though. you have value, you gotta stick around