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Mood Disorder Community
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picurn
Starting Member
2 Posts
Gratitude: 4
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 Posted - 01/30/2011 : 14:02:24
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Hello All;
I am new here but would like some advice. My husband was diagnosed 17 years ago with Bipolar I after going manic and having a psychotic episode. It was very scary as we had no idea at the time what we were dealing with. He was hospitalized and thankfully we had greatly psychiatrists and insurance and after very little manipulation, we were able to get him on a steady lithium regime for which it seems to keep him pretty stable. For approx 5 years he stayed on his meds but was feeling less and less mood swings, more stability and the side effects were really getting to him.
With the help of his psychiatrist, he tappered down and eventually went off all his meds. Occassionally he would need to use xanax to help with his anxiety, but has pretty much kept his mood swings in check with healthy diet, lots of exercise and feed back from me when I felt he was starting to race or getting into a depressive rut.
12 years later he has been experiencing an incredible amount of stress at work these last couple of weeks. He has always had a very stressful job and has had ups and downs handling it. About 5 days ago, I started to notice him ramping up and I commented on it. He traveled out of town for a day and I could tell when he got back he had slept very little. He had continued to only get 2-3 hrs of sleep a night for the past 4 nights. Last evening he made some comments that were out of character and even paranoid. Then this morning he really started behaving very similar to how his episode started 17 years ago. I have quickly brought this to his attention. I am an RN in the ER so I do know things I need to be aware of.
However, I am not sure if we can truly pull him back, settle him down enough this time, and get him through this manic episode without too much lost. He is actually up for a huge job promotion for which he is meeting with the board of the company on Wed for a final interview. Under my advise, he did take 0.5 of xanax, ate a good lunch and has currently fallen asleep. I am hoping if I can keep him calmed down and get him to take more of his meds tonight we can get him back into a regular sleep cycle and break this manic cycle. Does anyone think this is feasible?? Also, I have him contacting his physician in the morning to possibly get an RX for lithium to start at least short term, hoping to stave off the psychosis..
I am very worried about him. Not only is his health the most important thing, if he blows his opportunity for this possible promotion, I fear this will send him into a downward spiral that may be nearly impossible to break. Any suggestions??? I would so much appreciate your help and comments...
Thanks!!  |
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| Rainbowfish
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
5628 Posts
Gratitude: 637
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Posted - 02/01/2011 : 22:33:55
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Hi Picurn, I wish to welcome you to My Therapy and hope the best for your husband and family. Seeing the doctors I would think is the best approach, and sounds like that's what you're doing. Please post again an let us know how he is and also for ongoing support for you, too.
RAINBOWFISH |
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| stigmastomper (inactive)
Super Incredible Member (10000+ posts)
24317 Posts
Gratitude: 1940
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| lynn2150
Super Incredible Member (10000+ posts)
21329 Posts
Gratitude: 2146
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Posted - 02/02/2011 : 05:44:58
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Hi picurn,
He is very lucky to have you as a Wife.
I love Nurses. and the Medical professions, seeing that I have an elderly Mother.
Before I was aware of having BP 1, I instinctively used mild tranquilizers to calm myself down.
I have heard there are other meds besides Lithium to stabilize mood swings.
and many many anit psychotics available, to squash a manic episode.
Sounds like your Husband may need to see a doctor to be evaluated, and treated.
This disorder, comes and goes,
I agree, being passed over for promotion might cause a depression.
BUT keep doing what you're doing, until he can see a good doctor.
I applaud your work in ER.
Been there to ER many times with my mother and, I always feel I am in the prescence of greatness, when around Nurses, and staff.
God Bless.
Please let us know how everything turns out?
.
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| picurn
Starting Member
2 Posts
Gratitude: 4
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Posted - 02/02/2011 : 14:23:29
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Thanks everyone for your support and advice. We were able to get into his former psych who took care of him 17 years ago late Monday afternoon. By that time, we were in full blown mania to a point of being mute. We started him on Seroquel XR for which he slept for 13 hours 1st night. Had fit of rage yesterday and destroyed our bathroom, but I was able to finally control with 450 total of seroquel xr before we got him to pass out for the night. Trying to keep him out of hosptial and being an ER nurse and all, doctor is working very closely with me to get him regulated as quickly as possible.
He awoke more lucid this afternoon, and was able to be pretty coherent, but gave him 150 mg after 3-4 hours and when he seemed to be starting to become a little anxious. Didn't want another episode of last night. This medication has made him seem very drugged, but the doctor says that during the first couple of days this is what is done in the hospital, until we can start to back down. Drug/sleep/OT/drug/sleep until they can break the manic cycle-we are just trying to accomplish this at home. It has been a very difficult 72 hours. Hoping just another day or two of this cycle and we will be able to start "getting him back".
This message board has been a heaven sent because as a spouse, this can be a very lonely place. Thanks for all your thoughts and well wishes... |
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| warblaster
Super Incredible Member (10000+ posts)
112498 Posts |
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| warblaster
Super Incredible Member (10000+ posts)
112498 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2021 : 10:06:15
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| warblaster
Super Incredible Member (10000+ posts)
112498 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2021 : 14:58:13
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| xek
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
4089 Posts |
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Spouse going Manic
