I've been really unhappy about my meds and their side effects, so much so that I decided to get a second opinion. One of the worst side effects has been feeling like I'm drugged, which I am. My regular therapist lives in another town, so we mostly do our sessions over skype. However, I sometimes get back to her town and see her personally (which is always nice). This happened a couple of weeks ago and she said she was alarmed at how medicated I appeared. Another time a good friend of mine and I were on skype and she said I looked out of it. And the person I saw for the second opinion said I looked quite sedate. I guess I've been going around looking stoned, thinking I was fooling everyone that I was okay!
Anyway, the woman I'm seeing for a second opinion is an APRN and I quite liked her. She was shocked at the number of meds and the doses of them that I was taking. Also, she isn't convinced I have bipolar II disorder. So now I have two differing professional opinions. Well, the first one is definitely not working, so I'll try door number two. First off, we're titrating me off of the lithium. Then we'll look at the anti-depressants, see how I'm feeling and what side effects are still present, and go from there. Wish me luck.
I've been on the lower dose of lithium for a week. I also started exercising (okay, I've only gone twice, but I have a walking partner that I really like and we're committed. . .). Plus, it's summer and the sun is shinning and the weather is really great. So am I feeling better due to the med change, the exercise, the weather, or none of the above? I guess I don't care right now. I'll just take anything that's better than where I've been.
One thing that has been empowering is changing doctors. I have a tendency to see a doctor as an authority figure and therefore I'm hesitant to question them and change doctors when I'm unhappy with one. But I've been questioning this particular doctor for several months and finally got the nerves up to see someone else. Of course I haven't told the him that I'm getting a second opinion, I'm too chicken for that! I'm just going to stop seeing him. But I'm glad I had enough gumption to go through finding another doctor/APRN. For those of you who have gone through the process of finding a new therapist/doctor, you know how hard it can be. So I'm grateful I could take those first steps, they're always the hardest.
Anyway, the woman I'm seeing for a second opinion is an APRN and I quite liked her. She was shocked at the number of meds and the doses of them that I was taking. Also, she isn't convinced I have bipolar II disorder. So now I have two differing professional opinions. Well, the first one is definitely not working, so I'll try door number two. First off, we're titrating me off of the lithium. Then we'll look at the anti-depressants, see how I'm feeling and what side effects are still present, and go from there. Wish me luck.
I've been on the lower dose of lithium for a week. I also started exercising (okay, I've only gone twice, but I have a walking partner that I really like and we're committed. . .). Plus, it's summer and the sun is shinning and the weather is really great. So am I feeling better due to the med change, the exercise, the weather, or none of the above? I guess I don't care right now. I'll just take anything that's better than where I've been.
One thing that has been empowering is changing doctors. I have a tendency to see a doctor as an authority figure and therefore I'm hesitant to question them and change doctors when I'm unhappy with one. But I've been questioning this particular doctor for several months and finally got the nerves up to see someone else. Of course I haven't told the him that I'm getting a second opinion, I'm too chicken for that! I'm just going to stop seeing him. But I'm glad I had enough gumption to go through finding another doctor/APRN. For those of you who have gone through the process of finding a new therapist/doctor, you know how hard it can be. So I'm grateful I could take those first steps, they're always the hardest.
