Hi,
How are you?
I hope you are doing well.
Want to hear something really strange.
Okay, I have been looking for some people to volunteer with some work that I have and also some research and writing people.
So I have had 6 people contact me recently. I have no idea how they got through to me.
Anyway, I was excited because each looked good.
Some had some questions about how our organization worked. We emailed back and forth. After a while, it takes way to long to email back and forth.
So I gave each person my cell phone number and asked them to call or asked them to send me their number and I would call them.
Only ONE person did.
I have no idea what happen to the others.
It’s really strange to me.
Okay, I have a strange story to tell you with a very important bipolar lesson.
Okay, remember the other week, I was travelling all over the place. I went to the Carolinas, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, etc.
Well, okay, on the way home, I was using my GPS system. That’s Global Positioning System.
(You know, that thing that tells you where to drive.)
The strangest thing happened.
Okay, so I wasn’t familiar with the area but I was looking at the directions and they looked “off.”
But then I said to myself, “Dave, it has to be right, it’s a GPS system. What do you know about Virginia, anyway?”
So I was driving and driving.
There was this huge mountain range. The directions were leading me right to the mountains!
I thought maybe it was a shortcut because I put “fastest route” in the system when I got the directions.
So anyway, I’m driving. All of a sudden, I’m going up this HUGE mountain road.
The turns were super sharp. I felt like I could slide off the road at any time.
I started getting worried.
Then all of a sudden I was at the top of the mountain road and guess what?
Take a wild guess?
Scroll down for what happened.
The system stopped working!!!!
I was “out of range.”
I was super mad.
I was totally lost for over 2 HOURS!
The system had failed me.
I was thinking about this and asked myself why I followed something that made no sense.
Even when my gut instincts told me that something was wrong, I didn’t listen to them, because I thought the GPS was the expert and I wasn’t, so I followed it even though it made no sense.
BIG mistake!
Well, this got me to thinking about my mom’s old doctor who took her off her medication and didn’t replace it with anything for a few days.
This is a big NO NO with bipolar disorder unless you’re under close, and I mean CLOSE supervision. My mom was not.
Anyway, she went into a super bad episode.
In my courses/systems, I talk about listening to your doctor, because he knows what he’s talking about, and that’s usually true. But I also tell you to watch out for bad doctors (and they are out there), and that’s why I developed my doctor finding system to help you find a good doctor.
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SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
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HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
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We look to experts for their advice, because we believe they know more than we do.
With bipolar disorder, you look to your doctor to prescribe the right medication for you, watch that medication, change the dosage if necessary, etc.
You look to him to listen to you and what you report to him about how you’re doing with your bipolar disorder.
You look to your doctor as an expert, because to you, he is. Kind of like that GPS system was to me.
But that doesn’t mean he’s always right. Just like that GPS system failed me, there is a chance that your doctor can fail you.
YOU know yourself and your disorder better than he does.
Like I was saying about how I should’ve followed my gut instinct, you should listen to yours, too.
If you feel like something isn’t right, it probably isn’t.
Why did I follow something even though it didn’t make any sense?
Because I thought it was the expert and I wasn’t.
And remember what a big mistake that was for me.
Don’t make that mistake.
Don’t think that just because your doctor is the expert and you’re not, that you should do something that doesn’t make sense to you.
Like taking a higher dose of medication when you feel like you’re doing fine on the dose you’re on That’s happened before. And the person didn’t speak up, even though it didn’t “feel right.” And then they started waking up real groggy.
They should have spoken up, because doctors aren’t perfect, and they aren’t always an expert when it comes to you and your bipolar disorder. You are more of an expert there than they are.
Or if your doctor wants you to change medications and you really don’t have a good feeling about it, or you just don’t want to, because you like the medications that you’re on and you think they’re working ok. What about you?
Have you ever had experiences like these?
Or had something happen where you just had a feeling that something wasn’t right?
What happened?
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Visit: http://www.bipolarcentral.com/testimonials
Well, I have to go!
David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.
Post responses below
I see your point about the experts, right now I have a son that is in the system 90 miles away from me. I sent him up there with the understanding that they could get him help. Do to his bipolar and need for someone by his side a girl that also has bipolar and not on any medication followed him. The system (drs) said as long as this girl is there they can not helop him? Isn’t this a part of bipolar bad chocies? This is going to lead to him being on the street again and begging me for help, only now he wants us to also take care of this girl. Where do you draw the line, he takes none of my advice while this girl is in the picture, Loosing ground on this. John
Good Morning Dave and Everyone,
When my NP retired a Pdoc took her place. This doctor wanted to and WAS changing the medications I was taking. Mind you, I was doing fine on what I was taking, but she decided it was too much and started changing meds around and wanted me to come off some. I felt very uneasy with this, but went along with it AT FIRST because I thought, well, she’s the doctor and must know better WRONG!
Well, I had issues with her and her manner and some things happened that told me she wasn’t a good doctor, at least not a good doctor for me, so I fired her.
I spoke at length about this with my therapist. I had to write a letter stating why I wanted a new pdoc and submit it to the powers that be. I understand they spoke with that doctor. Good. So, fast forward, I got a new doctor and he’s great. He is thorough, listens, knows his stuff and so on, so I am now happy.
Point is, you are right about following your instincts. There have been many times I didn’t follow them and I ended up being right on the money, so have learned to follow them even if it doesn’t make sense at first.
Better safe then sorry.
Thanks for today’s email Dave and sorry you got so unbelievably lost!
My Dr. (expert in BPD) perscribed me Depokote, I gained 100pd within a year, complete stop of cycles, cysts all though my breasts, growing hair where men do, had surgery on tail bone twice because of polyistic cysts developed there and that ‘cut’ took 4 months to close each time, stopped my metabolism, my skin changed from where I got sooo tan to can’t tan at all—very pale, even my eye color changed some from a very clear rich green-blue to completely hazel and clouded eyes, hair fell out, and I was still depressed!! The years were ’95-’98, and when I said to change my medication he said there was NOT anything to change me too except Lithium which I didn’t respond to very well. Moved to Jax, Florida and the Dr there said I was getting off of it that day because it was killing me. Then he said I wasn’t BPD, so off medication and had another break-down two months later then he put me on some medication for BPD. That other Dr KNEW what all was happening to me and said he was concerned and wrote that down but did NOTHING to help me. My life is forever changed because of that medicine. I still haven’t been able to lose this weight and I used to model locally. After some more yrs here my GYO performed a D&C on me and my periods started back then I stopped having so much testostone in my system and got back my curves, missed my chance on having kids and because of that medicine I am told that I can’t have kids! In a few days I will be 39yr old. I talked to a lawyer and sent all my documents but they said they wouldn’t take my case against that company. I’m so totally screwed. My husband didn’t like the weight gain and me not be able to have kids so he left me. I haven’t had a man in my life in any shape or form in 12 yrs!! Yes, I am pissed because what he did. He made a terrible situation a living nightmare! I am on a cocktail of 3 medications that has worked for me for the past 4 or so yrs.
hi….
I dont no if i have bipolor. I no i have mood swings but doesnt every body. How would I if I had it. What is the simterms.
Linda….Take care
Hi Dave ,
What happened to me in the early days was shrinks would higher the dosage of my meds when i was having my manic bouts it took me over twenty years to realise that the Dr’s was not helping my depression but simply containing it by heavy sedation i went along with it missing out on my late teens , twenty’s and mid thirties because i believe they knew best and was too sedated to disagree, for years i called the meds” my shut you up pills” or the “liquid cosh” along with other the patents who were having hospital stays .
To date however i have a younger doctor and a right on Doctor who are very bi polar aware and i have great support.
When i am on form i run a support group called Wellness Recover Action Plan.
in the group we have written advance directives which we do when we are well so they are taken seriously when we are ill.
a tool box with things that keep us well IE relaxation types , art materials and writing materials for our creative writing . and lots of others tools that work for us as individuals.
I feel that i am one of the fortunate ones who managed to turn my lets downs of the medical system in to a positive move by supporting fellow bi polars and saying to them i understand what you are saying and not i think i know what you are saying .
keep up the good work Dave not just for the latest bipolar sufferers but for the thousands of bi polars like my brother who never survived bi polar and ended their existence with the only final control they thought they had taking their own lives .
your most sincerely
maggie
I love how your emails seem to fit the things going on in my life. My doctor had put me on a medication that was supposed to help my anxiety and help my sleep problems at the same time. Within 3 months of taking it(I knowit seems like a long time before the side effects showed up), I felt like I was a zombie. I couldn’t get up and take care of my kids, I was lucky to be awake at all. So I stopped taking it. The anxiety, thankfully didn’t rear it’s ugly head, but I did stop sleeping. When I went back to the doctor’s office he didn’t want to give me anythign else for sleep, but I pushed. No sleep is just as bad as too much sleep. So now I’m on another medication just for sleep and I’m watching carefully because it seems to have a lot of side effects, but so far so good. I’m sleeping and still able to wake up when I need to. I listened to my instincts and they turned otu to be accurate.
Hi Dave,I can relate to this,I think i’m due for a med change and have for awhile now.I was in personal care for a couple of years and this past yearI finally got out on my own.I ended up switching hospitals and doctors because I live close to the new one and the doctor I got had treated me inpatient before.Well I started getting physically ill after taking them,but kept up due to the doctors recomendations,and her telling me that I have been doing well with no episodes for a few years.then my pcp and a nuroligist have diagnosed me with fibro mialgia and the nuroligist said in his opinion I need not be on topamax.Well I have started getting really depressed and pulling away from people and activities.Thats a big no no.I take responsibility for my own thoughts feelings and actions and have to take care of myself.I ended up calling the old outpatient clinic back.Iv’e had trouble retrieving my records from the new hospital its taken two and half weeks but maybe they have it straightened out now.I know enough if it gets too bad I will find a facility and get help.Thanks for all your advise take care daleen
I was diagnose with bi-polar one year after my mariage . When we first wanted to have a baby I consulted my Psy and he recommended I get off the Lithium for a year. Well 6 mths later I was pregnant and my parents were seperating. I could not hanndle all the stress around me and I asked to be hospitalized to be kept under supervision. I blood test came back neg and then my family Md though it would be best to start back my medication and put back on the birthcontrol then I consulted my psy I was on so many meds..then 13 weeks later I felt pain in my abdomen and brough through the emerg the first thing they asked was if I was pregant and I said no and gave them a list of meds I was on . A ultra sound confirm a pregancy and a D&C was the best choice for me .I was confused and frustrated at my Psy &GP and he came to me with appologies. I became suspisous and in denial of my bi-polar and asked to see another Psy. I traved 4 hrs to meet with another and my family doctor secretary did not foward my medical file. So my husband and I explained my story and he left with a comment that from what we were saying : from what you are telling me it doesn’t seem to be bi-polar..to this day I have doughts that I am not bi-polar or a typical bi-polar because so many professionals have told me that I am not maybe because I follow treatment and do well. I blame my husband saying that he caused me so much stress that he was causing me to go in an episode..and knowing a lot about the disoder he shows symptoms also. My daughter who was exposed to lithium is talking about suicide and killing me or her brother is interfearing in getting custody. I worry about my daughter and seeking costody because of this . lost a child at birth so Now I have a daughter 14 and a son 7 yrs. My ex is now seaking for divoce because he has a girlfriend and the judge has giving him primary costody their is a clause in my seperation agreement that he can obtain general information and this caused me to be less and less with my children..what should I be able to do to convince a judge to guive me full costody ..I am waiting to meet with a lawyer and need help on this.. hope you can respond to my email
I wished that everyone…especially me…had read this three years ago when BD absolutely ruined my life. Resperdol and Abilify? I lost everything because of poor physicians. Maybe that’s why they call it a medical practice! Doctors are not Gods and unfortunately we all need to work diligently to help ourselves find the right mix of medications and monitor ourselves as closely as possible to take the right medicines but as little as possible. Medicines have kept me lathargic for the last three years…I am 41.
EXPERT??!! While I was on the University Hospital Psych Ward, I HAD no treatment. I was in a full-blown manic episode, and the psychiatrist they assigned me to bore little resemblance to an actual DOCTOR. To slow down my mania, he prescribed med after med after med, until I had NO appetite. He NEVER saw me on an individual basis, only large group meetings. I was never allowed a furlough, though I asked for them at every meeting. Even my Mom (who didn’t believe in “mental illness”) thought he was a fraud.
To make a long story short, I went down to 78 lbs (5’9″), and the doc sent me to the State Mental Hospital to DIE. It was the holidays, and they wanted to empty the ward for the benefit of the techs and nurses’ convenience.
I fooled him; a Filipino doctor diagnosed me with pernicious anemia, and followed up with Vitamin B12 shots twice a day, megavitamins, nutritious shakes 2X a day, and double portions of meals. I left the hospital weighing 100 lbs! (n.b. This “doctor” later committed suicide).
I have no live-in supporter, so am followed up by the mental health professionals at the local Community Mental Health clinic. I have a GREAT Nurse Practitioner who prescribes the RIGHT cocktail of meds, and a VERY understanding therapist (we’ve known each other 37 years!). Although I had a weight gain to 135 lbs with Zyprexa, it’s nothing to be worried about. I have usually been underweight, so I’m glad to have “curves!”
It is absolutely ESSENTIAL that if you have ANY “gut feelings” about the negative treatment you’re getting from your psychiatrist, that you voice them to the authorities AND your therapist. Let your shrink KNOW that you’re not “feeling right” on your meds, and almost DEMAND that s/he look into alternatives before your health is ruined (like Julie’s above). That to me is malpractice, and she should sue for negligence and compensatory damages. I SHOULD have sued MY doctor at the University Hospital – but who would listen to someone who was “crazy??!!” Get all the information DOCUMENTED and go for it. At least we’re both ALIVE, though “scarred” inside, where it counts.
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I pray for my country.
Hey, I am in a spot right now. My Doctor put me on something for hearing voices and then I found out it wasn’t voices that I was having problems with it was because I am paranoid. Well now I am so doped up that all I want to do is sleep. I am still paranoid, but I do not want to be sleeping all the time. Things that usually interest me put me to sleep too. I do not know if I am depressed or if is this extra medication. I don’t have a Doctor I can just call and my appointment is not for another month. I have been on my other medicine for years and they have kept me going and I haven’t had this problem for a long time. I guess I need to talk to that Doctor. I went to my regular Doctor that I see all the time and he took a blood sample and I will know those results on Wednesday. I guess I can call the psych Dr’s office and see what they have to say.
Had an experience when i was still learning the evil pitfalls of Lithiuma and the magic number .8 and supposed to be fine. My lithium does was 5 300 mg a day. i was toxic and i knew it. Diarrhea and slurring my words and mixing up my words ie like i was talking half backwards were clues for me.
The nurse in the hospital was threatening me with writing I was not cooperating with staff in my chart if i did not take any more li that night. I told her in not so many words to do whatever she wanted. I explained i felt toxic on my li and was not taking any that night until I had my level checked. Sure enought I had a new nurse in the am and she told me she had a friend who od’d on li and my blood level was 1.25. So do follow your gut and know the side effects of your meds even the rare ones.
When I first thought there was something wrong in my relationship with my wife. The arguments were increaseing and intensenifying. I could not get to the bottom of the issues my wife had with me. she use to trust me with everything. 2o years of trust. Then in 2005 things began to change in her fear of things with me. Who I was talking to, always wondering why I was doing what I was doing. I could not direct or correct our kids without her questioning me. Then she began to call me names right there in front of the kids, stupid, and other character assasanations. I had no idea what was going on, I just knew there was somthing wrong. Then after one very severe argument she was having AT me, where yell was unusually loud and extreame or intense show of emotion, then the next day it was like it never happen. She would just talk to me like nothing was wrong. It was then that I called the Dr and went in to talk to her. She mentioned that I need to check in to seeing if my wife was bipolr. When my wife found out about it she went therough the roof. I have checking into sence that time but my wife wont look into it. nad She has moved out and is living on her own. I now feel like it is easyer to pursue my wife in hopes that she will get help. But I have to keep well enough to deal with her attacks on me. It can be hard at times.
I am interested in volunteering. I can be reached by email at kristiherand@gmail.com
Hi Dave I just wanted you to know that I was on the wrong medication for 6 months and my doctor was trying to adjust my lithium but it was still literally making me sick. I told her everything and she was trying to adjust it the best she could. I ended up being on a very manic state where I was hallucinating day and night and I had 7 hours sleep in a week. My meds were definitely not working. I took myself to emerge and found out the lithium level was toxic and needed to be adjusted again. I am now taking the lowest dose of lithium, seraquel and limotrigine to stabilize my Bi Polar. I trusted her that she had my very best interest at heart and we worked together to get my meds adjusted. I am getting blood work done to see if the seraquel is high enough to remove the lithium from my treatment all together. The key point to this is I told my doctor everything and I trust her. I am capable of helping myself by going to the hospital when I know that something is wrong and not waiting to be told. I hope this helps someone else with the same or a similar situation. I also have a mental health worker and great family support because the majority of my episodes happen between 11pm and 1 or 2am. I see a crisis nurse at the hospital meaning we don’t have to wait like an emergency room patient does. There is a difference I promise you that!!! Hope this helps everyone and they benefit from this information. I am from Chatham, On Canada
Hi Dave,
Funny you are talking about medication. My daughter with ultra rapid cycling bipolar disorder just found out she is 10 weeks pregnant. When my daughter called her doctor he said to go off everything. She takes Lamictal, lithium and zyprexa. Luckily I did the research and called him. We talked about the newer research that says it increases the chance of an episode to 70% if you go off cold turkey. He agreed and put her back on lithium. I also want to thank you for your letter about the risk of abortion and women with bipolar. It seems you were the only one who was willing to talk about the true emotional risks. It really helped me to council my daughter to make a the best choice for her health and well being. She will be having the baby and giving it up for adoption. Thank God we know what to do to help her through this unplanned pregnancy.
To DEB: I am sooo sorry to hear your daughter is pregnant, AND taking Lithium. I was an illigimate child placed for adoption into a WONDERFUL family, who had no history of mental illness.
When I had my first psychotic episode, I was 20, and for the rest of my life, I tried to find my biological family to see if there was bipolar disorder in my genes.
FORTUNATELY, I DID locate my biological mother, who told me her father was a paranoid schizophrenic! If that’s not bad enough – SHE was recently diagnosed – at 83 – with BIPOLAR DISORDER. This illness is TRULY genetic, and I am living proof.
I only wish there were some way you could notify the prospective adoptive parents of their child’s emotional background. It would save a LOT of heartache and not knowing, if they WERE to know there was bipolar in their adopted child’s genetic background.
Anyhow, I wish your daughter a safe and normal pregnancy. But – PLEASE don’t keep the bipolar a secret. The adoptive parents have a RIGHT to know, so that IF the child exhibits mental illness, they will KNOW the signs. Just a thought…
Perhaps your Mother has bad withdrawals from these VILE Mind, Body & Soul destroying Filthy Drugs?
Folk tell me their is a Whithdrawal stage, hence we need taper off.
I hear it also causes more Brain Damage if you do not taper off, say you Just stop.
THE BRAIN DAMAGE CAUSED VIA THE DRUGS, IS THE DISORDER, I KNOW FOR A FACT. THE DISORDER WAS INSTALLED IN ME 8+ YEARS AGO.
Never again will I have any form of LIFE!
Yes Dave & others with IQs’ below 15. “Antipsychotics” & “Mood stabilizers” CAUSE Brain Damage. Which fits with the LOOSE description found in the Fraudulent DSM! It has to be Broard as none know how the same Drugs will effect different Minds. No 2 are the same, the Chemical nature is constantly changing, different moods, thoughts, Morals…..
As ALL who have been force fed the garbage will tell you. It Ruins your MIND, BODY, & SOUL!
“Antipsychotics” where used in the USSR as they where known to destroy the Mind. They fed them to folk who where against the Gov.
Now sadly these Drugs are 10 Times as strong….
The Meds & the psych. are the Disorder. QED, The one who makes the “diagnosis.” & of course the Drug Cartels.
How did Lilly go with their Court case?
They cannot lose, they have Multi Trilions, and World Wide Gov. Backing.
Odd Dave, Lillys’ Olanzapine, CAUSES Diabeties, Diabeties Meds are lillys 2nd biggest earner. Do they do a 241 Deal?
ALL FRAUD!
OUR DEBATE, OF DID YOU QUIT B4 IT BEGAN?
Hi Dave:
In part 5 of your mini courses on the different types of bipolar, I noticed you didn’t mention Cyclothymia – the mildest form of Bipolar Disorder. I believe it’s categorized as Bipolar III. This form doesn’t necessarily require medication as the symptoms can be mild enough to be managed without meds. I notice you push the meds alot – are you acting as an undisclosed agent for the pharmaceutical companies – maybe getting a cut from them for your work??? That’s how you come across anyway contrary to your protestations that you’re not getting any $$ for this.
Hi Dave:
I just thought of something else. In one of your blurbs, you warned about the high rate of suicide in people with Bipolar that aren’t on meds. However, curiously you failed to mention high rate of suicide and murders committed by people on psychotropics – particularly antidepressants. Shouldn’t you throw out an equal warning about that?