ADD / Bi-Polar | ADHD Information
I am hoping for the best with the Milk Thistle, since they said I am very limited on the medications they can give me.
Last 6 months has been a end of the rope experience here, having to seek charity, and food assistance to get by. Finally approved for housing assistance, so just a matter of time, before things fall together.. including approval for SSI or Disability.
My moodswings are terrible, I get so sad, I just cry a lot, I have been keeping journal, and finally got back into counseling, 4 months ago when public aid granted medical card.
Prior to that the other meds I was on, would exceed 0 per month, not counting office visits, and blood work to keep tabs on meds. I estimate that cost could exceed k per year. That would be half my income, just knew we could not do that.
Looks like the meds I got now, don't cover ADHD, just the other stuff, but doctor said we are very limited with my liver levels. So hoping the best with the Milk Thistle.
I found lots of info on http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.bipolar.html. Just doing a search on "Bi-Polar" +DSM returned a lot of links!
Thank you SOOO much for the Social Security site! It'll save me a lot of time and frustration!
Thanks so much for the link - alredy started reading some of it, boy there is a lot of information. Thanksfamily?
CreativeCrazy38484.955625No right now none of the doctors know for sure why my liver levels are elevated. My only guess is years ago I use to drink a lot.. but that was maybe a 6 / 7 year span, since I had been married I had not been drinking much, once in blue moon.
And my period of time on medication is very limited too, I was around 16 / 17 when I took Prozac, Lithium, and Ametriptiline. Then in the last year I started again on Cambolta, Lexepro, Rispuderal, Mythiline, and then nothing for 5 months and then now on the Abilify and Zoloft.
Last year doctors office made mistake of giving me 5mg of Rispuderal, I know it was a mistake cause the warnings on it say people with liver problems should not exceed 4mg of this medicine.
Hoping the Milk Thistle reverses the damage, and the bottle claims to be able to do.
On my family history, I have always known my family - first few years grandparents raised me, until around 78 then I went to live with my biological mother and step father, was then I met my sister, and before I left for foster case another younger sister was born in 80. A few times over the years my one sister was in homes with me, both having suffered variety of abuses by family members.
I remember quite a bit over the years told to me by my sister, she later went back home, and I was released for adoption, I still keep up with her to this day to know what is up with the family. Though I will never talk to my mother again.
Just this year the counselor added Post Tramatic Stress Disorder and compulsive / obsessive Disorder... she things resulted from the earlier abuse, but as far as most things go, it was something survived, just a few personality qurcks now lagging.
Don't loose hope!
I am fine with most things, as they say what don't kill ya, will make you stronger. And you know what, if I had it all to do over again, I would not have changed a thing, cause I like who I am, being open minded to a many things that others go through. By no means will I work in the social field, or raise children for that matter, but not all is bad.
My last job got me hooked on teaching about credit reporting agencies and how to improve credit reporting.. that has been a real boon having stumbled into that field of work, though I am not working now, I still continue same work as a hobby online.
Was on the Lexepro last year, but this time they didn't opt to put me on it. I took Lythium years ago, but was very young and didn't stay on the medication as I was suppose to. That seems to be a common problem for bi-polar people, staying on meds. But I am hoping to beat that one out this time.
Very sorry to hear about your mothers situation, I do have an adoptive mother hare that would take care of me if I asked her, I really would not want to unless I had to, she is limited on income herself, and fact of the matter, she can drive me crazy sometimes. I don't like being obligated to her for anything, I do love her.
The doctors were concerned with my liver levels, so I am guessing that is why they are not going to put me on lexepro again. This one wanted to try new medications all together for me, and I can say I have never taken these two before. Last few days I have been really tired though, taking naps in the middle of the day, I am thinking about switching to only take these pills at night.
I am suppose to be starting a diet, called DASH, it is high grain, fruit & Vegetable, but low in protien. Suprising that is the way of it now for me, I eat a lot of carbs, pasta and such... it is taking a lot to try to switch over. Recently found that too much acid fruits cause cold sores, I love fruit, just can't eat it as often as the diet calls for unless I eliminate a whole range of fruits. I started a journal to track what I eat, but I find it very hard, already stopped, plan to pick up on it again.
Never had any ounce of determination here, or will power, to do given things... always go so long then drop off. I am hoping with the counseling that I can develope a plan to fix that problem.
I think I am very fortunate, that I was resourceful to find the different programs out there for assistance, usually stuff like that intimidate me, but so far so good. I have had too many knocks in my life, I am a surviver for the most part - not always graceful about it, but some how manage to land on my feet.
Thanks again for the well wishes, I had been in here some months back posting, I don't see the members I seen back then, but will look around.
Scats, 
You said "SSA site a list of medical conditions approved for disability right off". Would you give us the site URL? I have adult ADHD and medication-resistance chronic major depression, and recently have been diagnosed bi-polar hypomanic (bi-polar II subcategory).
BTW - the manic stage of hypomanic is NOT as dramatic as the "old" category manic-depressive in DSM-V4.
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/
Here is the link that I found.
I am not sure the medical coding, I am phase I bi-polar here. I use to be manic off the walls, but looking back hard to say if it was the hyperness of the ADHD contributing.
Do you know where there is a complete code list and explination of the different bi-polar phases?
Thanks much for encouragement, I decided the only way to get assistance was to quit working. I was a single employee, and the insurance plan offered didn't cover mental illness so I passed on insurance.
I found at the SSA site a list of medical conditions approved for disability right off, and Bi-Polar Phase I is in that list, so I am hoping for approval. And with the recent upgrade adding PTSD & CO with ADHD that it is a done deal.
I use to be on SSI years ago, so hoping this time to get the Disability. I have definitely come too far to quit on this, I am in the 5th month and already received pre-approal for the SSI. Just a few more documents to fill out and hope it will be soon for cash benefits to be paid. Now I play a waiting game with local housing assistance.
I have been persistant, and so far in the last few months got help with:
Power bill, through local project now.
Water Bill, once through Social Services, and 2nd time through one of the local churches.
Extra food through the food pantry, plus if I show up once a month to help them unload truck of food, I can get extra bag. Plus another local church provides food.
Only thing is no one will cover extra help for supplies, like toilet paper, shampoo, asprine... stuff like that. Kind of puts a person in a spot to find odd jobs just to get by, I know I would not have made it otherwise.
Last year I was on Lexepro and Risperdol
I didn't take the Lexepro long enough to comment on that one, but the Risperdol, I developed a problem of lactating, very irritating, but otherwise it was not serious to bother me, and the doctors took me off of that one, and I don't think they consider it an option to use again.
At that time there was too much going on to keep my moods down, so it was like all the meds they tried couldn't break my depression. Since then some things have improved, I just have good days and bad days. Take them one at a time now.
I don't think it would hurt you to take Milk Thistle since you are on the Risperdol, ask your doctor about it. Since Risperdol can harm the liver.
NightStar
Hi, I can sympathize with you. I have ADHD and Borderline personality disorder and Depression. I am being treated for these with Lexepro, Risperdol, Neurontin and Conerta and throw alittle Trazedone in. It is certainly expensive, I was supposed to start a therapy a while ago for BPD but could not afford it cause my insurance doesn't cover it. I too am trying for medical assistance I am on short term disability in work, but even when I go back to work I cannot afford pills and therapy. I just wanted to let you know to keep trying, I am, I am sure it is made so that they hope you give up trying for assistance. But don't ignore your treatment! Best of luck.
Scats
My blood sugar is a little low, and I take a supplement everyday with chromium in it. I find it makes me very nauseous for only a few minutes after I take it. It's very strange. I hope it doesn't happen to you.
I don't have anything to add about the rest of it though, since I don't yet even have a formal dx for ADHD (I see the psych on the 17th), and I am not on meds. Good luck with everything.
I know it has been some time since my last visit. I tried receiving treatment for ADHD last year, but due to finances, medication cost, and the stress of work, I quit end of last year, and discontinued medications.
At that time I was on a combination of drugs: Rispederal, Cambolta, Lexapro, and generic for Ritilan (Mylatine) (sp?).
Since then I have applied for disability and finally got a medical card, re-started counseling - and had a few more things added to diagnosis: Post Tramatic Stress, and Compulsive / Obsessive Disorder.
I am today starting new drugs: Zoloft and Abilify.
Doctor is limited cause they discovered I have high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and my liver levels are high too. So I have added these supplements: Milk Thistle, Fish Oil, and Chromium Picolinate.
Just wondering anyone else with multiple diagnosis, or on these medications can give feed back.
Thanks,
"I am today starting new drugs: Zoloft and Abilify.
Doctor is limited cause they discovered I have high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and my liver levels are high too. So I have added these supplements: Milk Thistle, Fish Oil, and Chromium Picolinate.
Just wondering anyone else with multiple diagnosis, or on these medications can give feed back.
Thanks,"
I have two daughters. One has a dx of bipolar and takes abilify and 25 mgs of seraquel to help with sleep. We have acheived stability with just the abilify. The other has dx's of bipolar, ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder and learning disabilities. She is taking Zoloft, abilify and trileptal. She started on the zoloft, which she was given when hospitalized due to a major depressive episode. However she went manic and her pdoc through MHMR wouldn't give her a mood stabilizer. I was finally able to get her on medicaid and took her to my other daughter's pdoc. He added the abilify which eased the mania. Then he added the trileptal. This made the biggest difference of all but she still isn't stable. The doctor told us that he is adding one med at a time until all symptoms have been addressed. Multiple dx's really seem to complicate things but I do know that they are having alot of success with Abilify.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)
http://allpsych.com/disorders/dsm.html
This is a pretty cool web site, explaining a lot of stuff about the codes used in the DSM-IV and the AXIS... I still have a few things to figure out, but when I went to counseling, my counsolor was nice enough to give me a copy of my diagnoses and plan of action for problem areas.
Like mine for example is:
Axis I: 296.7
Axis I (secondary) 300.3 and 309.81
Axis II: 301.9
Axis III: None Reported
Axis IV: Access to health care services, Housing, Finance, Social Enviroment, Occupational, Primary Support Group.
Axis V: Current GAF: 42
Now that last one, I have not been able to find at the site, what 42 means. That one really has my curiosity.
So far my instructions are:
1. Get back on medication - done that just this month
2. Take medications as directed and report side effects - so far I get tired and at night have upset stomach.
3. Be able to recognize symptoms and demostrate self-soothing behaviors. Well she has not instructed me in this area yet, still a work in progress.
Then there is a second set of instructions:
1. Be able to name 5 strengths possessed.
2. Be able to name 5 things I do well.
3. Be able to name 5 things I like about myself.
4. Be able to feel that I deserve good things to happen to me.
5. Be able to enjoy relationships with other people, making and keeping friends.
Well that second set, is going to take quite a bit of work,
Just been excited, cause all the counseling I had in the past, no one ever shared with me their findings, and what I needed to do, no instructions and finally to have instructions is great step forward for me.
Thanks so much for the follow up on the Abilify, so far I am just on the half pills, in the next two days I will up grade to the full pill full 10mg here. I have not noticed a change yet, still sensitive to bouts of crying, and just out right saddness. I am more lonely then anything at this time.
So far no one has put me on any medication for my ADHD, I need to talk to the doctor again to see if something can be added, to improve my concentration as well. Try to get motivated, cause I am suppose to be on a diet, and so far I am not following through like I am suppose to.
I'm not much for talking tonight but I do have bipolar and ADHD. I have recently found a combination that seems to be effective. Geodon, Depakote, Concerta, and Adavan sometimes.
I found this site this morning looks to be real good for understanding how to track moods.
http://www.psychiatry24x7.com/bgdisplay.jhtml?itemname=moodd iary
Also great news, my application for SSI was accepted, finally receiving financial assistance.
Plus some bad news, found out in the last day or so that I am borderline personality.. what I have been reading on this matter is pretty depressing.
Hello, been gone a while, but have an update on my situation.
I figured out what the GAF is:
Axis V: Current GAF: 42
Using a 1-100 rating scale called the Global Assessment of Functional (GAF) scale, a judgment is made as to how impaired (or unimpaired) the patient is on the basis of his or her symptoms in every day life. On this scale, a score of 80 or above means basically normal every day functioning; below 50 means serious impairment, such as a recurrent unemployment due to psychiatric impairments; below 20 pretty much means that the person is in need of psychiatric hospitalization.
------------------------------------------------------------ -------
Well I have good news, I was approved for financial assistance for SSI, and I was also approved for housing assistance.
Have not moved yet, but already served notice to appear in court for foreclosure, hoping to be out of here before eviction can be processed.
I am on two new medications Abilify 10mg and Zoloft 100mg, 3rd week now, for quite a bit I felt foggy, and tired, still feel tired, also I get trembling once in a while, in my hands.
I just got my teeth pulled, lower ones, and in my jaw I notice the trembling too, don't know if that is the medication.