New to this forum - 16 yr old BP
Hi, I'm new to this forum and am totally overwhelmed by what I'm reading. I don't even know where to start. Technically my son is not "newly diagnosed" as he was diagnosed in March but it still all feels so new to me. And its so frustrating because while he seems better on the one hand, on the other hand he still seems so far removed from how he used to be. I guess I'm still in shock. He was a very social outgoing athletic olympic-bound athlete up until signs of a mood disorder started appearing. He has spent almost 75 days in the hospital this year. Diagnosed as bp with psychotic tendencies due to possibly hearing voices. And now he is angry, depressed, disrespectful, sleeps all the time, and I just don't see the medicines really working. Will they ever get him back to the way he used to be?? He doesn't really hear voices anymore, but he laughs to himself all the time, he cannot focus on school - he is homeschooled but cannot do more than 1 lesson without falling asleep or getting distracted. It is so so hard. I'm exhausted. I don't know how to respond to the strange comments that he sometimes says because I don't want to set him off on an anger outburst. He does have a 504 plan but he is not adhering to it. What other options are available to us? Where do I start? I feel so lost. And I'm so sad and exhausted.
Hi Patsy,
It would be super helpful if you wrote back with the medications your son is on, and your location in CA. Some others may be able to chime in with ideas and help once we know where you are and medication info.
I'm sorry your son is struggeling, he doesn't sound stable yet, and while it can be a lot of trial and error w/meds, it can get a lot better than what you describe.
((((((((((Big Hugs))))))))))))))
--Kathleen Smith, 46 - Support group BP11
Married to Steve, 47, husband of 23-years. Have 4-daughters together, and reside on the central coast in CA
Katelyn 23, lives at home and attends local Univ - graduating in Dec !!!!!!!!!!
Brooke 20, attending Cal Poly - living the dorm life ;)
Jillian 18, lives at home (but wishes she didn't), smart as a whip, mood issues, attending our local Jr. College - bulimic-no meds
Megan 11, lives at home, dx at age 6.5 w/mood disorder nos, ODD and some sort of eating disorder/compulsion n.o.s.
Attends a Private Christian school, in 6th grade...working on 504 plan
Current meds:
Lamictal 200mg, Risperdal .5mg am & 1mg at pm, SeroquelXR 200mgs am and 200mgs pm
Meds she's been on before, but didn't work:
Lithium - tried it twice, did not tolerate it, said it didn't make her feel "right".
Depakote - had a paradoxical reaction - self harm, angry, mean, hated self.
Abilify - Internal restlessness (awful)....was never settled or content.
Equetro - didn't work
Lexapro - made angry in a split second, sexual, driven, awful.
Luvox - Initally looked promising.....3-weeks into it became extra compulsive, angry.
Focalin - Risk taking behavior, defiant, angry, WOUND up....awful
The best suggestion I have about how to communicate better with him is to seek out a NAMI Family-to-Family class if you have one in your area. You can find your local NAMI affiliate via www.NAMI.org
As for will he ever get back to where he was before. Maybe. Maybe not. We are all changed by our experiences. It becomes a part of who we are. You, too will be changed by the experience you are going through now. But I understand what you are asking.... My older daughter who got ill as a teen, after 13 years of being impaired finally is "back" with full cognitition - maybe even better than before. But she has changed life goals along the way. But she is "back." The younger one got the illness -- whatever that is -- very young. It did seem to really throw off brain development. She is "back" but academics is harder for her than before her psychotic break. But, she. too is back. She is happy, productive, and about to graduate from University with a B.S. (she got A.A. and A.S. degrees earlier). Look on the Success Stories board for more hope and inspiration.
--"Naomi"
ItsNotMental
Older dd: formerly teen-onset bipolar (morphed into ultradian cycling): After over 13 years - stable off psych meds over a year. Now fine on just diet changes and higher thyroid levels after healing - addressing gut issues/Candidal overgrowth while using EMPowerPlus and other supplements.
Younger dd: formerly Childhood-onset schizoaffective, TS, OCD, anxiety, PTSD, migraines. After over 15 years, is "recovered" for almost 5 years after treating endocrine issues, food sensitivities, gut issues, sleep issues, nutritional/mitochondrial needs.
March is recent enough to qualify as "newly dx'd". This is a very difficult stage of the illness for the parents. Your son is not stable, he is not functioning, and you are grieving terribly for the loss of the son you knew, as well as the possible loss of his potential for success. It's important to maintain hope, it is entirely possible that he will recover to be fully functional again. In the meantime, seek out all the support you need for yourself, including counseling and/or medical treatment if indicated.
I also can recommend the NAMI course. Here is a link to the California resource page for NAMI.
--
Brenda,51, CABF Parent to Parent Volunteer
Mom to A, 17, BP, Tourette's, OCD, ADHD: Eskalith CR, Trilafon, Lamictal, Seroquel, Cytomel, Allegra
E, 15 1/2, BP,AS: Seroquel, Eskalith CR, inositol, Buspar
B, 14 & H, 11
Married 18 years to DH, 50
FROM CABF: Do not start, stop, or change medications or other treatments for yourself or your child based on what you read on this Website or elsewhere on the Internet. Information presented here should not replace the considered judgement of a doctor who knows you or your child.