Boyfriend Problems

[winneythepooh7]

Originally posted by absolutuscchick
Sorry in advance for the length of this entry but don't discount it because its so long!!!

Ok, well, I realize that I havent been on this website for atleast a month, but anyhow, I just wanted to weigh in about meds anyhow. I, like all of the women in my immediate family have bipolar disorder as well. While I am lucky in that I do not have major problems with paranoia and cant imagine not taking meds, I do have to say that the side effects of the meds for bipolar, pretty much ALL of them are AWFUL. Seriously awful. Some of the meds I've been on have caused: a ravenous appetite, resulting in a fifteen pound weight gain in around a month; the development of night-eating disorder (which basically meant that I sleepwalked, fell down the stairs, and also ate large quantities of food and even other odd substances...again contributing to the weight gain factor); muscle spasms so bad that I would have to lay down wherever I was (including, the middle of campus, offices, classrooms, etc.....and even then my muscles would be spasming); vision problems and extreme grogginess all the time (definitely contributing to four speeding tickets and one accident in like six monthsish); migraines; extreme jitteriness (is that a word?!!); and of course, sleeping 12 hours a night (not just sleeping but like PASSING OUT); and some side effects I'm just not going to go into right here. It's a rough disease. The side effects are so bad that I pretty much think about not taking my meds every day. But when I skip, even for a day (for example two nights ago I had a migraine and was throwing up uncontrollably for around eight hours....so it really wasnt an option to take my meds) I realize just how moody I was because I end up crying, irritable, depressed, not wanting to go out, hating my life, or just totally unreasonable. I'm lucky that I notice this I guess, but it is really a hard thing to deal with. I've been trying to hone in on the right meds for almost two years now, and its been really tough...for example, right now, alot of the negative side effects have gone away but I get headaches every single day and migraines atleast once a week. And all these side effects that I get pretty much go away if I don't take the meds. So it's a constant struggle. But it's really important to get a GOOD PSYCHIATRIST....and they are few and far between. It may take a while to find one that is willing to thoroughly work with him, and try to make his quality of life as good as it can possibly be.
And yes, I do also agree to a large extent with winneythepooh7 in that when you first go on meds for it, the idea that the mania is going away IS awful. I can't even tell you how much I miss being able to stay up all night and study nonstop and have an awesome retention of everything, going out every night, soooo happy, and just up for pretty much anything. But it's hard as hell to deal with someone who is not properly medicated. Even though a person may not have a rapid cycling form of bipolar (basically that just means that you go from depression to mania on more of a few times a week to a few times every two monthsish....or atleast that's my understanding), both the mania and the depression will definitely tend to result in alot of moodiness.
I think it's soooooo awesome though that you are willing to keep with the relationship and get him help. That's such an amazing thing. He may not appreciate it now, but in the future, once he's back on his meds, I think he reallly, really, will (I know I certainly would), because you can find plenty more people that are willing to stick with you in the good than when the going get's rough. A great deal of people (like, for example, James) will bail. You are definitely an awesome person for sticking with him and trying to get him help, and I can't even tell you how great that is.
Well, good luck with everything....and pm me if you have any questions!!!!
<3
Rachel

What an amazing post. Rachel, can I have you come and talk to some of my clients? Some of them are on AOT status (most are bipolar too on AOT) and have no insight into the importance of treatment.

[absolutuscchick]

Originally posted by winneythepooh7
What an amazing post. Rachel, can I have you come and talk to some of my clients? Some of them are on AOT status (most are bipolar too on AOT) and have no insight into the importance of treatment.

Thanks! Ok, sorry to sound totally ignorant, but what does AOT status mean?? If there's ever anything you need, let me know as well...I obviously cant actually visit any of your clients, but I'm always willing to help!!

[winneythepooh7]

Originally posted by absolutuscchick
Thanks! Ok, sorry to sound totally ignorant, but what does AOT status mean?? If there's ever anything you need, let me know as well...I obviously cant actually visit any of your clients, but I'm always willing to help!!

Hi! AOT means "Assisted Outpatient Treatment" which was a result of Kendra's Law (where a woman named Kendra Webdale I believe was pushed in front of a train by a Schizophrenic that was not being followed up on, went off his meds, and well, tragedy resulted). I have my issues with this program because while it works for some, it doesn't work for all. Plus the AOT people do and say totally unethical stuff a lot of the time and want us as Social Workers to do totally impossible things (ie. they tell a client "If you don't take your meds you will be mandated to go to the hospital or a supervised residence". DUH!!! A hospital is going to release a client if they are stable and they feel they are merely a "behavior problem" and not a threat to themselves or others. There is a process to apply to a community residence and these programs are very picky about who they take. I was venting in my staff meeting this past week because I think the director of the AOT program has issues herself and I don't like her style with the clients. She uses "threat therapy" and speaks down to them. It really aggravates me.

How is the boyfriend from the original posting of this thread doing?

[twhrider13]

The boyfriend from the original posting of this thread is only marginally better. His appointment with the psychiatrist is a week from Monday (July 26), and I hope he begins to make improvements, no matter how small, after he goes to the doctor.