Archive for January, 2009
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
Right before I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder I went to China during a hypomanic episode. I left everything in Seattle inluding my parter Ivan who had been through a terrible year with his bipolar disorder- I left my family and the few friends I had not alientated with my behavior- and just got on a plane!
I studied Mandarin in the five weeks I was in China- and because I was slightly manic, I learned it quickly.
My mom followed me to China because she was worried about me and when we finally reached Hong Kong I knew I was very sick. To make a long and very interesting story short, I was diagnosed and started meds the week I got back to the states.
That was in 1995. Since then, I have talked about studying Mandarin again. In fact, I have started classes and never finished them. After my trip to Florida last month- I realized that if I want to live my dreams, I have to take action instead of just talking about the past!
I signed up for a Chinese class and started last night. My goal is to be fluent in Chinese by 2014 so that I can go to China with my nephew who is in a Chinese emersion program at school.
Enough of my talkin- it’s time to start walkin! I am going to reach my goal of finishing what I started in China.
Julie
Tags: Bipolar, bipolar affective disorder, bipolar depression, Bipolar Help, bipolar illness, bipolar mania, bipolar questoins, Bipolar Treatment Tips, bipolar triggers, bipolarhappens.com, bp magazine, DBSA, general bipolar disorder, Get It Done When You're Depressed, julie fast, juliefast.com, loving someone with bipolar disorder, manic depression, manic episode, NAMI/DBSA, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in About Julie | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
Hi Julie,
I was taking generic Lamictal for 4 weeks during December, but around Christmas the side effects-headache, anxiety-became too much on 50mg. I know you’re not a doctor, but in your experience do these subside over time. I’m a street musician in Portland and just getting turned on to your bi-polar crusade. Your work looks pretty amazing.
Regards,
Ted
Hi Ted,
Well, side effects are so tricky as they depend on the person. For example, I take 500mg of generic Lamictal (also called generic Lamotrigine) and have more side effects when my dose gets too low!
The normal Lamictal dose is 250mg- but that is just an average. What matters is that it works- the dose depends on the person taking the meds.
My first question would be just that- did it work? If it did, you may want to wait out the side effects if you can- if they are even moderately tolerable. It’s such a great drug when it works, but the side effects can be tough. I had them for three months until they got better. Mine were severe neck stiffness and breathing problems. Now I get the restless legs and twitching! It is an anti epileptic drug, so it makes sense it would really affect our nervous systems. If the side effects really are impossible to live with, you have some options.
If you are well enough to function in terms of bipolar- then you can talk to your doctor about going onto a lower dose until you can tolerate the side effects and then very slowing going up in dose. You have to be really careful about going down in dose though as withdrawal can be tough and painful!
This is definitely something to talk about with your doctor. I would have a list of questions to ask so that you can get the most out of an office visit. I don’t suggest doing this on your own as you need to be closely monitored for mood swings. I went down too quickly once and got super depressed.
It can take many months for a medication to work and many months for the side effects to lessen. Sometimes, they don’t go away and you have to switch meds. I hope your side effects can get better as Lamictal is such an amazing drug.
Good luck, maybe I will see you when I walk around in Portland!
Julie
Tags: , anti epileptic drugs lamictal, bipoalr illness, Bipolar Disorder, bipolar disroder, bipolar happens, bipolar illness, bipolar meds advice, bipolarhappens.com, dangerous rash lamictal, dangerous side effects lamictal, drugs, generic lamictal, generic lamotrigine, help with lamictal, julie bipolar tips, julie fast, julie fast bipolar tips, julie fast books, juliefast.com, lamictal and twitching, lamictal dosage, lamictal excellent drug, lamictal is lamtrigine, lamictal problems, lamictal questions, lamictal side effects, lamictal teenagers, lamictal troubles, lamictal withdrawal, lamotrigine, lamtigine, manic depression, medication advice, medication bipoilar help, medication problems, medication side effects, medication trouble, mood stabilizer, neck lamictal, problems with lamictal, psych drugs, psychiatric drugs, rash lamictal, son on lamictal, what are the side effects of lamictal? should I try lam, what is lamictal? Lamictal kids, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in Lamictal, Medications | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009
I woke up depressed- nothing new unfortunately. I knew it was going to be a tough morning- but it doesn’t have to be a tough day!
Then I turned on the TV and saw Barak Obama being sworn in as President. I felt such happiness. No matter what a person feels politically, I think that seeing a million people in an orderly gathering in Washington is a powerful thing- and it helps depression because it makes you see that people can get out and do things – even when it’s cold!
I now have to get on with my day. It’s hard to get going when your first thought in the morning is that there is no purpose to your life. I have to remind myself that I didn’t feel this at all yesterday and that this is depression talking. Now I have to get out and work on my book proposal- see friends and get going! I will not listen to this depression. It’s an illness and it’s not real.
Julie
Tags: , bipolar depression, bipolar disroder, bipolar hope, depression, depressive episode, disorder, Get It Done When You're Depressed, Julie Fast Radio Show, juliefast.com, manic depression, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in Depression | 3 Comments »
Monday, January 19th, 2009
Three treatment tips you may not have thought of….
1. The people in your life often cause more bipolar disorder symptoms than you do yourself. Make a list of the people in your life and rank them in terms of which ones make your symptoms better and which ones who make them worse. Then you have some decisions to make!
2. Caffeine is a drug just like pot and alcohol. It’s addictive and it causes sleep problems just like pot and alcohol. Though it feels like it helps depression, in reality it makes it a ton worse because it affects sleep. I LOVE coffee and I have taught myself to drink decaf. If you have sleep problems or trouble with anxiety- coffee, energy drinks, super dark chocolate and lots of black tea may be the culprit!
3. Making successful bipolar disorder management a goal exponentially increases your chances of a happy, stable and healthy life. I reached my goal of being a bestselling author for one reason. I started with the goal that I would learn to manage this illness.
Now, if I could only get it to go away!
Julie
PS: Usually I say bipolar disorder, but many people say bipolar illness.. so I thought I would switch it up!
Tags: Bipolar, bipolar affective disorder, bipolar depression, Bipolar Help, bipolar illness, bipolar mania, bipolar questoins, Bipolar Treatment Tips, bipolar triggers, bipolarhappens.com, bp magazine, DBSA, general bipolar disorder, Get It Done When You're Depressed, julie fast, juliefast.com, loving someone with bipolar disorder, manic depression, manic episode, NAMI/DBSA, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in Bipolar Treatment Tips | 1 Comment »
Saturday, January 17th, 2009
I’ve written a lot about Lamictal and Generic Lamictal (Lamotrigine) the past few months. This is the drug I take as do many other people with bipolar disorder. One reader commented that she couldn’t sleep when she was on Lamictal. That was a side effect I had not heard. Other people have had the same problem- here is a comment from a reader:
Hi Julie,
It took nine months before I could sleep without some sleep aid. Low doses of Zyprexa or levomepromazin helped.
Lena
Hi Lena,
A friend of mine has had trouble sleeping and her doctor suggested that she use a small dose of Zyprexa. She knows it will work, but she’s scared to feel like a zombie again. She just started a new job. It’s frustrating for her. Others use the Zyprexa with great success. She has to find something that will work for her.
I wasn’t familiar with the other drug you mentioned, so I looked it up.
Levomepromazin is an anti psychotic that has strong sedative effects. I can see how it would work like Zyprexa in terms of sleep. Currently, Levomepromazine is not registered in the USA. In Europe it has been marketed for decades as Neurocil® and Nozinan®.
Nozinan® is also available in Canada.
I also read that it has a lot of side effects in high doses which may be why it’s not used as an anti psychotic in the US. Or, of course, it could just be something economic!
Severe sleep problems are really dangerous for people with bipolar disorder, so if you’re having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor and get more information. Also, make sure your sleep problems are not a result of mania!
Some drugs, like Lamictal produce such unbelievable relief- people are willing to stay on then despite the side effects. Sometimes the side effects are just too strong. It depends on the person. The good news is that side effects often get a lot better if you can make it through the first three to six months.
Julie
Tags: , anti epileptic drugs lamictal, bipoalr illness, Bipolar Disorder, bipolar disroder, bipolar illness, bipolarhappens.com, dangerous rash lamictal, dangerous side effects lamictal, drugs, generic lamictal, generic lamotrigine, help with lamictal, julie bipolar tips, julie fast, julie fast bipolar tips, juliefast.com, lamictal and twitching, lamictal dosage, lamictal excellent drug, lamictal is lamtrigine, lamictal problems, lamictal questions, lamictal side effects, lamictal teenagers, lamictal troubles, lamictal withdrawal, lamotrigine, lamtigine, manic depression, medication problems, medication side effects, medication trouble, mood stabilizer, neck lamictal, problems with lamictal, psych drugs, psychiatric drugs, rash lamictal, son on lamictal, what are the side effects of lamictal? should I try lam, what is lamictal? Lamictal kids, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in Lamictal, Medications | No Comments »
Saturday, January 17th, 2009
I always say that I wish I could work full time. I really, really love to work full time. I mean 40 hours a week- the normal stuff. I keep thinking I can do it. Intellectually I can! Yesterday, I gave a two hour talk to a great group on the topic of Seasonal Affective Disorder. I spent a few hours prepping for the class. It was all of the logistic stuff I can’t stand- getting books ready- copying my handout. But gosh, it wasn’t rocket science! After I gave the talk, it was around 4PM. I felt like I had been on a ten hour walk. IT WAS RIDICULOUS!
But this is what happens to me. My body gives out- I think it’s the adrenaline of working for eight hours. My other friends with bipolar disorder experience the same thing. It doesn’t happen all of the time, but it’s definitely a work thing when I have to be around people. But I love to be around people and teach!
Julie
Tags: bipolar blog, Bipolar Disorder, bipolar work, bipolarhappens.com, can I work if I have bipolar disorder, Get It Done When You're Depressed, julie fast, julie fast blog, juliefast.com, manic depression work, Work, work issues bipolar, work problems bipolar disorder, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in Work | 5 Comments »
bipolarhappens.com blog reader comments
Saturday, January 17th, 2009I love all of the reader comments:
If you’re new to this blog, you can look at the top of the blog entry to see if there is a number next to the comments button. I don’t know why they make it so small!
It’s easy to add comments – and I do read them all before they are posted. Lately I’ve added my own comments to each posting.
Your opinions mean a lot- especially to the other reader, so please add as many as you like. I appreciate opinions different than my own and especially like it when readers offer suggestions to a reader’s question.
Julie
Tags: Bipolar, bipolar affective disorder, bipolar depression, Bipolar Help, bipolar illness, bipolar mania, bipolar questoins, Bipolar Treatment Tips, bipolar triggers, bipolarhappens.com, bp magazine, DBSA, general bipolar disorder, Get It Done When You're Depressed, julie fast, juliefast.com, loving someone with bipolar disorder, manic depression, manic episode, NAMI/DBSA, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, www.bipolarhappens.com, www.juliefast.com
Posted in reader comments | 1 Comment »