Have no answers???

[labyrinth]

I was hoping maybe some of you have had the same expercience and could help. I quit drinking becasue my mind slipped into major fog I could not think. my short term memeory was basicaly gone, Depersonalazation,derealazation (sorry bad speller) massive anxiety attacks, loss of sense of time i.e 5 min seems like and hour under panic or stress what seems like only five mins passing is realy an hour. Major confusion. dizziness. there was no way I could drive. it was very hard to read or concentrate on anything. Massive mood changes. Any little thing stresses me out and makes all my symptoms worse. I have been sober for 75 days and these still happen (some slight improvement ). Even my rehab counsler does not think that this is from alcohol but rather something else, and the alcohol just made it worse. Do these symptoms sound like anything you know of or have expercienced? I cannot take SSRI's or wellbutrin. My doctor and I think we should try Buspar becasue he thinks I might be suffering from GAD. anyone had any luck with that? Are there any bad side effects, will it make my brain fog worse? Is it easy to come off of. Any comments would be helpful.

regards




steve

[splendra]

(((((((((Steve))))))))))),

It sounds to me like you may have suffered a head injury. Perhaps you fell while loaded and don't even remember. Do you have any areas on your head that hurt or, are tender? I don't know about any of the medications you mentioned. Let me here back from you ok?

Buspar is a good medication with very little side effects. It is used a lot for anxiety and racing thoughts. I think it's worth a try.

Anxiety can cause all of the symptoms you are having. I had it for years and it can be pretty rough to deal with.

Did your doctor do any tests to rule out physical causes?

[labyrinth]

I dont think a head injury is the reason I had a cat scan about 2 months ago and nothing showed up. I finaly got insurance so I am going to the doctor on the 4th. I am going to ask her to have my thyroid tested along with a glucose test for my surgar. Are there any other test I should request?

regards



Steve

[BLUESMAN52]

Just reading your post and you remind me a lot of myself and I cannot find answers either.
I am a recovering alcoholic just sober for 13 days. For the past 2 years or so, my docs have been treating me for Bipolar II. I get panic/anxiety attacks, insomnia, social phobia's, crying spells, pain that feels like a heart attack but is just anxiety, among a lot of other things. BAD MIGRAINES TOO!
The docs have tried EVERY anti-depressant, and EVERY mood stabilizer know to man, and I am totally medicine resistant. In fact, I think I have gotten worse.
You mention Buspar? It is supposedly a good drug for a recovering alcoholic because it helps stop the urge to drink, it helps with anxiety(sometimes), but other times it can make you more agitated and lose sleep.
The best thing is to get all the tests done, and then let the docs call the shots.
In the meantime, I have a question for anyone out there who knows about quitting drinking and the symptoms of Bipolar II. From what I understand, even though a person quits drinking, and the alcohol is gone from the system in about a week or two, isn't it true that alcohol withdrawal and Bipolar II symptoms are very much the same? How is a doc supposed to know the difference? Do you think permanent damage has been done to me because they gave me all those meds, and maybe I am NOT Bipolar?
I don't know what to do anymore. Right now I am just on Klonopin for panic/anxiety and that doesn't even help me too much.
I need some good advice. Even the docs are baffled and want to give me shock treatments. I refuse that. Could I still be withdrawing from booze? I drank for 37 years...Will I ever get well? Are there any good combinations of meds that may have worked for anyone out there in my position?
Thanks, and good luck Steve.

[labyrinth]

If you drank for 37 seven years you could have developed this disorder from the drinking (actualy the the drinking and or drugs dont normaly cause you to develope a disorder they just take what you already have and make it worse). Also if you drank for 37 years you could be suffering from Post Acute Withdrawal otherwise known as PAWS. Go to the Alcoholism forum there is some great information there on that, also someone posted a link to a website about it that is full of good information. Thanks for your response and good luck, if you find out anything make sure to let me know.

Regards



Steve

[BLUESMAN52]

Thanks for the response!
Good luck to you also, and I will check out PAWS.

[Little Missy]

Hey Steve, I have taken Paxil along with Buspar for a couple of years now. They work really well for me. I haven't noticed any new side effects with the buspar. All of mine come from the Paxil I think.

Just thought I'd let ya know!
Good luck,
Missy

When it comes to medications I would really suggest a psychiatrist rather than a regular physician. Physicians are limited in the medications they can give and the combinations they can use. You can ask to be referred to a psychiatrist for a medication review.

I think the thyroid test and the glucose test are good tests to start with. You might just ask for a liver function test while they're at it.


BLUESMAN52
Alcohol can make medication ineffective so you may have been resistive to the medication because of the alcohol. They may start working now that you are sober. You may even need to reduce the dosage. Try to see a psychiatrist if you haven't already and make sure you get medication levels taken every six months and liver function tests every six months when on certain medications that are hard on your liver or require therapeutic blood levels. I know this is necessary with lithium, tegretol and depakote and others. I can't remember if Klonopin falls into that category.

Panic and anxiety can make you feel terminally ill, insane and every other thing you can think of. Bipolar disorder can really do a number on you too. It takes a lot of trial and error to get the medications right to make you feel better and then they need to be changed and adjusted at times when they stop working.

Try not to be afraid and keep working at it until you get it right.

Hugs
MG

[BLUESMAN52]

Thanks MG.
I am seeing a psych and they are making med changes today.
This morning I woke up feeling cold sweats, short of breath, dizzy and nauseous.
I am so scared.

I know you must be afraid. It's not easy having your physical health out of your control. What are the doctors telling you when you tell them about your symptoms? Read your medication side effects and see if these symptoms are listed.

[BLUESMAN52]

Well MG,
I messed up again.
Just when I thought I had things under control last night, I went and drank 6 beers.
I think this time I am going to die.

It's not too late.

Don't take the all or nothing approach.

It's going to take some time to get it right. You have a lot going on and trying to treat a dual diagnosis. I know how hard that is.

I don't know what program you are using to help with your alcoholism, but get back to it. I've seen others on this board struggle just like you are and they now have a year's sobriety. The reason they do is because they kept trying.

Keep coming back.

Hugs,
MG

[BLUESMAN52]

MG

I will keep coming back. I have to do this regardless of what my previous posts may have implied.

Thanks for the support!

[Paulie]

Hey bluesman-

Don't give up on yourself. You are reaching out here and that is a great thing. What about a face to face program? are in you interested in something like that? Death is not an option. You can do this, just one day at a time, don't trip on the future, or even on tomorrow. Just focus on not drinking right now, this hour of this day.
The program that I went to almost 9 years ago is now a dual diagnosed program, I visit it often and I can only begin to understand what you are going through, I will not deminish your feelings by saying that i understand completley. But the powerlessness over drugs and drinking, that my friend I understand completley.
You can do this, make a choice right now not to drink for the next hour, then when you that hour passes give yourself credit for what you accomplished, because it is an accomplishment. then face the next hour, when it gets here.
We are here with you, doing the same thing, just trying to stay sober, one hour at a time.

Don't give up on yourself, I need you, we all need you, together we stay sober!!!!

[BLUESMAN52]

Thanks Paulie,

I am not a quitter by far. I just have this Bipolar II along with alcoholism, and it is making life a misery. No drugs have worked on the bipolar, so I often feel real good, and think I can take on the world. I even sometimes forget that I have a drinking issue!

Everybody is different. My Bipolar is standing in the way of my recovery at the moment. No matter what anybody tells me, Bipolar NEEDS to be treated. You CANNOT do it alone and without meds. So, until the docs find the right combo of meds, I am at a higher risk than others. At least that is my opinion.

Thanks for the support

[MootPoint]

bluesman...

you should know that psych meds + alcohol negate the effects of the psych meds, or even cause negative side effects. I'm dual diagnosed so I know the problems you are having with this.

But........ you are here, reaching out to ppl. You have recognized the problem and are willing to take whatever actions are needed to correct it.

You slipped with the beers. Right now that is not pertinant. What is pertinant is that you have today....... this very moment. You can choose to not drink this very moment.

If this takes staying online......... do so! post in this thread or any other! Just don't pick up that drink! My pm's are always open to you. Heck... I'm gonna pm you!

Steve....

I dont think a head injury is the reason I had a cat scan about 2 months ago and nothing showed up. I finaly got insurance so I am going to the doctor on the 4th.

------if you have a doc appt on the fourth and are still feeling this way, i'd go to the er!

[MootPoint]

I forgot to mention that my s/o is bipolar and is sitting right beside me........ she might be able to provide some help.

[BLUESMAN52]

Hey there!
I am not going to drink today. I wouldn't even if I was offered money

I know that the booze interfered with the meds, but the problem is I cannot convince my docs to retry me on any of them. After the reactions I had, they are afraid.

Lithium was working well for me mixed with effexor and klonopin. Quite a cocktail, eh?

But I drank and almost died so I had to stop the meds. The docs wouldn't give them to me anymore.

What next?

[Paulie]

Bluesman -

As I said I will not pretend to understand your situation but I do know that right now, this hour you don't have to drink. As Moot said, that is a choice. Work with your doctors to find the right meds. you can feel better, that I know for sure.

[MootPoint]

I know that the booze interfered with the meds, but the problem is I cannot convince my docs to retry me on any of them. After the reactions I had, they are afraid

-----------can you find a doc who will{ work with you sober? you need to find one. Or have you tried all the docs? You might want to tell them that you'd be willing to take Antabuse, possibly administered by the nurse so the doc can be sure your taking it.

Lithium was working well for me mixed with effexor and klonopin. Quite a cocktail, eh?

---------according to bipolar s/o, that is a very common and effective combination. So you don't think this was a major coctail, let me tell you mine.... wellbutrin, remeron, abilify, neurontin, klonopin. Now THAT is a combo. so don't feel bad for taking drug combo's. they work.

What next?

you HAVE to find that doc who will work with you.

what about being hospitalized?

BTW....... where are you in your cycle....... i.e. depressed, manic, hypomanic, "normal"?

[liveweyerd]

Who ever said bi-polar could get better untreated???
You know better.
MG is 100% on when she says work with the psychiatrists.
Family practice is not the place for psychotropics. Those appmts make me want to bang my head.

[BLUESMAN52]

Moot,
Right now I am crying, deep depression. I am like this a lot.....All I do is worry about finding work...losing my house .....God...what do I do...

(((liveweyerd )))
I have chatted with others on another site that do not take meds. It is AA and that is it. They claim to be Bipolar, but I don't think AA can help with what I have until I get it under control. And I DO go to a psych...not a regular doc..

[MootPoint]

AA is great but it cannot help with bipolar!! It irritates me when i hear that..... it is misinformation that could be dangerous.

liveweyerd, you're right on the money!

[MootPoint]

joe........ if you don't get this under control, you have the chance of losing your house.

don't worry so much about finding work....... work towards getting your bipolar under control while you have the time off.

have i said "psychiatric hospital" enough times?

I've been hospitalized, i think, 5 or 6 (twice for suicide attempts) times and there is no stigmata attached to it.