I get to see my psychiatrist in November. So 2 months away. I could see them sooner if I needed to though (so they say anyway).
But short of changing meds there’s not a lot I can do. Would you change a med(Abilify) that’s kept you out of hospital for 8 years? I’m not sure I would want to.
I could change with the hope of going back on it if the change didn’t work out, , but there’s no guarantee that it would work again.
But my quality of life is zero. Every day is a big struggle. I feel I’m trapped in hell.
I would make the appointment sooner than November.
And I like the suggestion about maybe adding a med without coming off the Abilify. Fair warning - I recently reduced my Invega from 12 mg to 9 mg (with pnurse’s full support) to address high prolactin. Took me five days to go psychotic again, and then the 12 mg didn’t work anymore when I went back up.
I am now on Trilafon instead and it’s working better than Invega ever did. So there is also the argument to be made in favor of a med change. We originally thought to do half Invega/half Trilafon but the new med is doing great so it’s a total change. I am finally at our full target dose of 48 mg tomorrow, but I have been greatly improved from two weeks ago when we started.
Don’t be afraid to change meds, but also, the primary thing is to listen to your pdoc’s suggestions since he knows you way better than anyone here. Good luck.
I was on olanzapine 5 years and had to change. So glad I did. I literally didnt have a choice though, that med was killing me. Sometimes a change can be a good thing, and personally I think these meds do sort of lose their effects over time
I was feeling that way too. I made some serious lifestyle changes toward my physical and mental health. I plan to take a walk almost every day even if its brief. I take Abilify in the morning adding a pill that eliminates water and salt from fluid I gained in the hospital. Came down with a severe case of pneumonia due to cigarette smoking and stress. I have mild signs of COPD but its reversable, meaning my lungs can heal over time. Am making an effort to engage with community more. You need an advocate. Someone who really cares for you that will fight for you to win. I thought I had lost everything, and almost did. I fell asleep with my oxygen rapidly going down and they couldn’t wake me up. My dad has over a year and says he quit for me. I quit now. I feel amazing too, so I dont smoke anymore. I limit to one coffee 2 max per morning. Eating a lot less, like I had carrots for lunch yesterday and fish for dinner. Someone kicked in my door while I was gone, at the HUD place, and the area was swallowing me/and I may have to go back but I need to let go of the past I dont want to die in the same town where everything bad happened.
Getting overwhelmed can be a trigger, Ive been in and out of the ER over 6 times this past month–I was anemic, so they prescribed me 50,000 IU of Vitamin D. Once per week. Im wearing oxygen when I feel tired and using a bipap at night so I dont die in my sleep. Im not sure if this is all a result of poor decisions or bad conditioning or a condition that I cant help that I have. Whether Genes are real or not, certain trains exist and carry forward. You are not alone. Remember to be yourself and you dont have to satisfy or prove yourself worthy of anyones merits.
I really hope you feel better and if you are in a dark place just know that the more you push through the lighter you’ll feel when you are free from the pressure or the dark night of the soul, I have seasonal affect when it gets cold also—Im going to be seeking out some inexpensive vitamins, mostly D and A and Folate.
That sounds bad, I got offered a med change and didn’t change for the same reason as it has kept me stable but I would consider changing if things got really bad
I just got taken off a med I’ve been on for many years and that was my best med ever. I’m not allowed to go back to it. I’m still holding up okay. If I can do it, you can do it!!!
I’m so sorry you feel like that @everhopeful. I hope the best for you. I’ve felt like I’ve been trapped in hell before, I know how it feels like… it’s not cool.
I’ve also tried med changes but I think I’ve given up on it… I have hopes for the new meds coming out with different mechanism than dopamine.
I changed med but there were a number of reasons and it was the only way for me, its been the best thing I’ve ever done and I take a low dose med now.
lots of good advice here but I’m sort of not keen on adding too many meds, I realise that some people need more but I’ve always kept it to a minimum, if I was forced to take something else I would but I don’t even like taking pain killers unless I am forced like I will try and fight off a headache instead of instantly reaching for the pills lol.
