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    How much must one sacrifice?

    For the last four years I've been on Lithium, Cessamet, and 1000mg of Seroquel. Since I started with this dosage I have gained 60lbs, I have short term memory issues where I can't always retain information and have blanked out mid-sentence in staff meetings, I sleep every chance I get, I have terrible cravings for food, and I sleep so deeply that I can't get up when my baby cries and snore so loudly my wife kicked me into the guest room. We haven't slept in the same bed for three years.

    I'm tired of living in a mental fog. I used to work out every morning at 6am and run marathons. I used to be mentally sharp and ate healthy. I want to go back to this. Over the years I have tried to switch Seroquel with Haldol, Respirdone, and most recently Zeldox - all three of which left me with crippling Akathesia.

    My wife is not supportive at all with a change in meds - I get the feeling that she would rather me be in a mental fog all the time than try a new drug or reduce the amount I'm taking because she is too afraid of risking another manic episode.

    I guess what I'm getting at is how much are we supposed to sacrifice to keep at a controlled level with meds. How many side effects are we supposed to put up with? I've heard it said that it is better to be alive and deal with side effects than to be dead - if those are the only two choices then it is a sad world indeed.
    Last edited by The Zeppo; August 1, 2011, 10:40 PM.

    #2
    Hello Zeppo and welcome. I don't know what all you have tried, but I know what you are taking would leave me flat on my back and unaware of my surrondings. Seroquel is noted for it's sedative effect in hugely large doses. (I can find no info what so ever for prescribing over 800 mg and you advise that you are taking 1000mg) . Add this to the Cesamet(I could not find Cessamet), which is a synthetic cannabinoid and the combo of the two would have a synergistically(or additive effect where 1+1=3) affect on your system. If per chance you meant 100mg of seroquel, it lithium and Cesamet all can add up to excessive tiredness, especially when you add in snoring

    I'm no doc, so I can't say what to take, but the first thing I would look at is your snoring. It probably is caused in part by the sedative effects of your medications. Snoring in itself can rob us of a good nights sleep and produce psychiatric symptoms all on it's own. I would ask my doc to schedule a trip to a sleep lab and see what possible cures are available. I know that in my own case, this was part of my over all path to feeling better.

    I would also ask for an appointment with a specialist in what your illness is. I know that most pyschiatrist consider themselves specialists, but there are also specialists who deal only with people with bipolar, schizophrenia etc. A second opinion by a specialist can really help.

    I would also ask about the Cesamet(if that is what it is) and see what the alternatives to it are. It is also known for causing a lot of the problems that you are having all by itself.

    I'm sorry that I don't have a better answer, but a better quaility life is sometimes hard to find. I know it took me a very long time and my doctors didn't do much to help me at times. You might also want to look at a good CBT course (Cognetive behavioural therapy) as an alternative to help with your mood swings. It's not known for stopping mania, but I have found that anything that stops my cycles of swings helps a lot. Keep looking and asking questions, it is possible to enjoy life again. Take Care. paul m
    "Alone we can do so little;
    Together we can do so much"
    Helen Keller

    Comment


      #3
      Welcome to the forums Zeppo. Paul has made some good suggestions. I know it's not much help, but I can relate to your frustration with the weight gain and being in a mental fog. I so miss being fully alert with all my faculties fully functional.
      AJ

      Humans punish themselves endlessly
      for not being what they believe they should be.
      -Don Miguel Ruiz-

      Comment


        #4
        Hi Zeppo & welcome to the forum. I just had to comment on that Seroquel dosage.WOW That is crazy, 1000mg. It's a wonder you can walk around. I take 200mg at bedtime & 50 in the AM (early)at 6am which puts me out till noon. When I take the 200 mg at bedtime I am running into things if i'm up more then an hour after taking it.I also take alot of other things as well for the Bipolar as well as alot of pain meds. It makes you wonder if it's all worth it with the meds. I have only ever had a couple manic episodes but I don't ever want to go there again so I am very complient with my meds, even those I think I am over medicated.I was on Risperidone for quite awhile & I like the Seroquel better but still am really foggy mentaly which I have just come to expect.You are right about it being a sad world that you have to deal with side effects & be alive or be dead.There has to be a middle ground if only people could find it.I am in a really bad place with meds right now & have 4 mths to wait for them to adjust them again.Hope you get to your better place with your meds & they level off.I am lucky to have a very supportive husband when he's home but he does phone every night when he works out of town.I am very glad to have him even away I know I can always phone him because he sleeps with his cell by his head when he is working away from home in case I need him. Maybe if your Wife came to a few appointments with you with your PDoc,Councelor or who ever you go to. My Husband came to a few with me & it really helped him understand & become more supportive.Just a thought.I wanted to add that ,it's funny I have actually lost weight on the seroquel but that could be it mixing with something else i'm on.Also have the terrible short term memory,can not retain information,sleep all I can get a chance to, & will lose a thought mid sentence as well so I think it just comes with the package i'm sorry to say.I can relate but sorry to say have yet to find the magic pill or pills. Still plugging away trying though.Guess that's all we can do.
        Last edited by Aurora; August 3, 2011, 12:44 AM.
        Aurora

        Comment


          #5
          Hi Zeppo,

          I'm sorry to hear how you have been responding to the meds. I have also had many of the side effects that you describe and still continue to suffer from some of them; however, I have gotten used to some of them over time and they don't effect me as strongly as before.

          I have often said that it is a sad world where one has to choose between the side effects/disorder and death. I do think that there can be a better option though. Paul makes some really good suggestions. I don't think you should have to put up with what you are experiencing in terms of side effects right now.
          be well,
          astronaut

          Comment


            #6
            Welcome to the forum Zeppo, and thank you for sharing.

            About wanting to be that healthy person again, who did so many good things - I can relate. Sometimes I feel robbed. But you can come back with the right treatment for you (whatever that might be) and lots of support. We lose our way, but then we find it again.

            How much sacrifice? I ask that question too. The answer changes, depending on the day. (Not much help, I know.) But at least we aren't examining the question all alone. That counts for something.

            Please post again anytime. We're a pretty understanding bunch.
            uni

            ~ it's always worth it ~

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by paul m View Post
              I'm no doc, so I can't say what to take, but the first thing I would look at is your snoring. It probably is caused in part by the sedative effects of your medications. Snoring in itself can rob us of a good nights sleep and produce psychiatric symptoms all on it's own. I would ask my doc to schedule a trip to a sleep lab and see what possible cures are available. I know that in my own case, this was part of my over all path to feeling better.

              I would also ask for an appointment with a specialist in what your illness is. I know that most pyschiatrist consider themselves specialists, but there are also specialists who deal only with people with bipolar, schizophrenia etc. A second opinion by a specialist can really help.

              I would also ask about the Cesamet(if that is what it is) and see what the alternatives to it are. It is also known for causing a lot of the problems that you are having all by itself.

              I'm sorry that I don't have a better answer, but a better quaility life is sometimes hard to find. I know it took me a very long time and my doctors didn't do much to help me at times. You might also want to look at a good CBT course (Cognetive behavioural therapy) as an alternative to help with your mood swings. It's not known for stopping mania, but I have found that anything that stops my cycles of swings helps a lot. Keep looking and asking questions, it is possible to enjoy life again. Take Care. paul m
              Wow Paul, I`m really impressed with what you said here. I find it`s true that if you aren`t getting proper sleep it ruins so much in how you feel throughout each day! I also like the other bits mentioned here. Zeppo might not be so bad to check into and since you tried so much over such a period of time. Good luck!
              "An expression held that 'you love with your heart, not words from your mouth.' Even characters in an opera wouldn't say to each other, 'I love you.' Instead they showed their sentiment through their actions." - Egg on Mao, Denise Chong

              Comment


                #8
                Thx Beth for your comment. Much of what I have learned is from listening to others, such as yourself, deal with life's difficult problems. Life is all about experience and because people like you have shared their problems I've had the opportunity to learn a lot.

                I've always been gratefully that others have shared what has happened in their life. Otherwise I'd still be lost(or at least more lost) So thankyou for contributing to this forum. Take Care. paul m
                "Alone we can do so little;
                Together we can do so much"
                Helen Keller

                Comment

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