Depression Learning

DEPAKOTE, SEIZURES & WT GAIN

Question:

Wow- you certainly have alot going on! It sounds to me that you’ve been doing pretty well, despite the setbacks. I cannot imagine the strength you must have taking care of this baby, mananging being bipolar, moving frequently. It’s all very draining on a person’s resources, but you just keep going, pushing yourself farther. AND in your letter you spent most of the time talking about those you care about (Jordan, your mom, the baby’s father). Despite what you might be feeling right now, I think you have alot of courage. As does apparently everyone else who responded. You’re doing a great job- hang in there. All my love, Jill

Response:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank EVERYONE on this newsgroup for their support. Anyone who has read my original post, knows how hard it has been for me. I am feeling better today I even managed not to feel guilty because I spent money on my daughter that I really didn’t have to spend. She was in desperate need of a winter pram and I saw one, the only one that fit her, on sale. It was $60.00 and I paid $44.00 for it. I never spend that much on clothes for her because I only get SSI for her and they don’t give me enough to live on. But anyway, I feel good today and I hope that tomorrow I can continue to feel the same way. I just wanted to thank you all for being there for me. Love, Judi

Response:

Hi. I posted the "New also….." article awhile ago. I wanted to say thanks to everyone who responded to me. I have been depressed for many years now. I feel like my life has not had any sort of organization or routine for close to 7 years now. I know this might get long, but I need to talk. For the past 7 years, ever since I graduated from high school, I have had no real "purpose" in life. I have moved damn near 15 times during this time. I got married and divorced inside of four years. I have a one year old girl with Down syndrome. It is so hard for me because I was diagnosed with manic depression 4 years ago. I was put on prozac for it. That didn’t help. I also suffer from ADD. I feel like my life is going downhill. I have to go into a shelter next week because I can’t continue to live with my daughter’s father. (He cheated on me with a friend of ours. He still talks to her even though he knows how I feel.) I can’t move back to my mom’s for a couple of reasons: I moved back home four times and each time, I screwed up. It’s not my mother’s responsibility to care for me. I’m 25. She and her husband, have been married only 4 years. They need their own life. I strongly agree with mom’s line of thinking on that. Lastly, If I can’t get out on my own and care for my daughter by myself, then I’m never going to able to. I need to prove that to myself. I know this is getting long and some people may not want to read on from here. If I was talking to you instead of writing all this down, it wouldn’t seem to take so long to listen. but, I am just so depressed today. I can’t seem to get out of this "hole" I’m in. Why can’t we just not be depressed? I hate feeling this way. I feel like my heart is so heavy. I have no boyfriend so I don’t have any shoulder to cry on. People just don’t seem to understand that I feel like crying sometimes for no good reason. They also don’t understand depression. They tell me to "lighten up" or "snap out of it". I hate that. Why don’t they put themselves in my shoes and see how it feels for once? Anyway, I am not going to the extreme measures of trying to kill myself. I have a kid to think about and besides that, I really want to live. I must admit though, sometimes the thought of suicide does enter my mind. I just want to have one GOOD day. Just one. Is that too much to ask? Anyway, I’m tired all the time. I just can’t seem to get away from this problem. No matter how much sleep I get I am always still "too tired". Is this a symptom of depression? Can anyone help? Judi

Response:

Judi, I am so glad you wrote all of that!  Maybe it seemed a bit long to you, but I did not mind reading it at all.  What you are describing about your feelings are symptoms of depression, and you are not alone.  You can come here and talk whenever you want, and someone will always be listening.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : Hey Teresa, : I’ve been on 1500 mg of Dep for about 4 years now to treat seizures. Took : a minute to get used to, but no side effects or weight gain. I would : suggest that if you’re feeling those "physical" pains, then perhaps the : med is affecting you neurologically.  (It’s a seizure med *and* and : anti-depressant.) Have you talked this over with your : psych? I hope all gets better. Hello, Depakote is *not* an anti-depressant, this is why it is used in conjunction with anti-depressants. It’s a mood stabilizer only, whereas Lithium is a mood stabilizer and an anti-depressant. Angela (not a know it all, just been on every drug in the land)  I thought lithium was a purely antimanic med. that stoped mood swings only.Shows you whatI know.

Lithium is a mood stabilizer that theorically puts a roof on the manic, but no basement.  At least for me.  The problem is that there was no basement.  I am in "process" switching to Depacote and Remeron. Too much depacote and slept for two weeks straight. Like everything else, experiment and see what works best for you at the time.  I was on lithium12 years but the headache was reaching suicical option level.  I really could do without the weight gain. Roy 46 and still bipolar

Response:

Hey Teresa, I’ve been on 1500 mg of Dep for about 4 years now to treat seizures. Took a minute to get used to, but no side effects or weight gain. I would suggest that if you’re feeling those "physical" pains, then perhaps the med is affecting you neurologically.  (It’s a seizure med *and* and anti-depressant.) Have you talked this over with your psych? I hope all gets better. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (Thanks to all of you who have written me regarding this topic.  I have hard copied them for the eductations of my doctor who never heard of these side effects.) Is there anyone else out there who is on depakote and experiencing feelings of "hot pokes", or bone crushing so painful you search for bruising; or just something crawling on your skin that makes you look for something crawling on your skin??   What about any problem with experiencing both the mania and the depression at the same time?  i understand from my readings on this, that Problems with being overtired contributing to the overall picture?? and, that weight gain?  any solution to that??????  before i have to kick into manic gear & go on a shopping spree for all new clothes?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : Hey Teresa, : I’ve been on 1500 mg of Dep for about 4 years now to treat seizures. Took : a minute to get used to, but no side effects or weight gain. I would : suggest that if you’re feeling those "physical" pains, then perhaps the : med is affecting you neurologically.  (It’s a seizure med *and* and : anti-depressant.) Have you talked this over with your : psych? I hope all gets better. Hello, Depakote is *not* an anti-depressant, this is why it is used in conjunction with anti-depressants. It’s a mood stabilizer only, whereas Lithium is a mood stabilizer and an anti-depressant. Angela (not a know it all, just been on every drug in the land)  I thought lithium was a purely antimanic med. that stoped mood swings

only.Shows you whatI know.

Response:

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