Re: OCD BACK FULL FORCE! Barb

[Guest guest]

Barb,

I'm so sorry about your son! What on earth is going on with our kids???!!!

I feel so helpless, and I'm sure you do too! Especially when you don't even know

what your child is thinking and what they are thinking makes no sense. What they

say makes no sense.There is nothing we can do but keep trying new med after new

med.

I understand what you mean about them saying horrible things. My son has said

other things too that I won't write on here.

When is this ever going to get better?

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this nightmare too!!!!

You are in my prayers Barb.

Hang in there!

Hugs

Judy

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb,

My dd has been on depakote also as well as several other mood stabilizers,

anti-psychotics, SSRI's etc. Nothing has really helped her(just made the ocd

worse and gave her sone horrific side effects) You are so right- the SSRI's are

making the bipolar worse and the anti-psychotics are fueling the ocd. My son is

on seroquel.

I will say that when my son was on trileptal he was awesome but we had to

discontinue due to a full body rash.

This is why I'm so scared. With the bipolar, the meds you NEED for the OCD, you

CAN " T TAKE!!!!! How do you get rid of bad thought ocd when you cannot take the

meds???? With my daughter, she has intrusive thoughts, but they are not anything

at all like what my son is having. This is a living nightmare!

I hope you find help for your son Barb!!! I don't know what is worse, when they

are little, or when they are older.

Hugs

Judy

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy,

Don't think age matters, it's all hard. But my heart goes out to

young ones with these horrific thoughts. It shamed, terrified, my

15yr old when it started, he wouldn't talk about it, so I can't

imagine for someone so young.

Living nightmare pretty much describes it. I feel like I'm in the

spin cycle and keep wanting to find the off button. On good days I

can sit in the " eye " of the storm...

I've decided to look for yet another doctor, psychiatrist. I want an

independant assessment, and perhaps new eyes that have " time " to

really see. Our health care system is so burdened it is difficult to

get any care let alone good care. I think too, when it is a hard to

treat case, they, like us, don't know what to do, and get tired and

lest I say it, lazy(for lack of a better word). I can empathize

really, it's not like it is an exact science. So, in the end, I

think you need to find the " best " expert you can, and I don't think

we've found them yet!

You know I'm with you on this one and hope we can both find the

answers we need for our kids!!! I do hope in the immediate that

things settle down for your son.

Hugs back!

Barb

>

> Hi Barb,

> My dd has been on depakote also as well as several other mood

stabilizers, anti-psychotics, SSRI's etc. Nothing has really helped

her(just made the ocd worse and gave her sone horrific side effects)

You are so right- the SSRI's are making the bipolar worse and the

anti-psychotics are fueling the ocd. My son is on seroquel.

> I will say that when my son was on trileptal he was awesome but we

had to discontinue due to a full body rash.

> This is why I'm so scared. With the bipolar, the meds you NEED for

the OCD, you CAN " T TAKE!!!!! How do you get rid of bad thought ocd

when you cannot take the meds???? With my daughter, she has intrusive

thoughts, but they are not anything at all like what my son is

having. This is a living nightmare!

> I hope you find help for your son Barb!!! I don't know what is

worse, when they are little, or when they are older.

>

> Hugs

> Judy

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb,

My son is better tonight.( I shouldn't say anything yet) (as soon as those words

leave my mouth, a tragedy happens)

I'm thinking along similar terms here also. I need to get some tests done on my

son first. My dd had an EEG and an MRI done before taking any meds. I'm going to

first insist on those for my son, than I'm going to get him a neuropsychiatric

evaluation done. Not that I don't think his present doctor is good, but I'm so

tired of , " Here is another med " . The problem I have is all the experts are hours

away.

My son's psychiatrist called saying he could raise the seroquel for now until

he sees him next Thursday. I said, " no " I'm thinking if he gets as bad as last

night again, I might do it, but if he acts this way on the anti-psychotic, and

the Celexa, it's obviously not working.

My guess is as good as yours. Is your son any better now?

My heart goes out to you also Barb!

Hugs

Judy

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb, I'm so sorry to hear about your son!

I know you had a bad experience also with the anti-psychotics, but maybe if he

tried another one? I'm grasping at straws here because your son is ultra

sensitive to meds, it seems, just like my kids are.

Mine is not well again also.He, too, is just like his first onset of bad

thoughts. I sent him to school, only to have the nurse call me to come get him,

30 minutes after he got there.

I ended up speaking with his doctor who once again suggested I raise up his

seroquel, and see what happens. I can't give him the extra half of a pill until

tomorrow am. The doctor also told me that if he threatens to hurt me or himself

again, that I need to hospitalize him so they can watch him and get him

stabilized(LOL, been there with my dd and it didn't work!)He explained to me

again about the ocd meds and bipolar meds working against each other and that

he'd see me on Thurs. He said that most likely he will not be able to take any

more antidepressants until he is stable. The reason he isn't stable is because

of the thoughts!!!!!! The doctor doesn't seem to understand this. My son only

goes " off when he has the bad thoughts!

I wanted him to have some tests to rule out seizure activity and organic stuff,

because he never had one done. I know it won't show what is wrong with him

mentally. I just want to play it safe.

I don't know what to do about this anymore either Barb.Tonight is my oldest dd's

National Junior Honor Society Induction and I feel so exhausted. I don't know

how I'm ever going to get myself there to celebrate with her , especially

knowing my son is so ill.How much longer can this go like this?I can't even

enjoy my one " NORMAL " kids life?!

I guess I should just stop the pity party and keep dealing with it!

Maybe we should just take offf???(lol)

I hope your son is better tomorrow and you get some answers from your doctor

real soon!!!!!

Hugs

Judy

[Guest guest]

Hey Barb,

Sorry to hear your son isn't doing well on the Lexapro; after

only one dose, too. Really big hug to you Barb!

Take care

Connie

>

> Hi Judy,

>

> Well...today is another day and so far not so good. After one

dose

> of lexapro our son is worse, like full blown at the outset of

> severity worse. He was up at 6am doing the shower thing because

of

> an OCD dream, couldn't touch his clothes to get dressed, couldn't

> move, go through the door... I was afraid I'd be stuck with a

naked

> kid, who I'm not allowed to look at, (not that I want to!)... He

> could not feel " safe " anywhere, and finally sat in his " spot " on

the

> couch and said he couldn't move. Needless to say he did not make

it

> to school. He did get dressed though.

>

> Guess lexapro is not our drug of choice.... Had a good cry, not

> having a good day myself. Maybe I should take some lexapro, then

we

> can both be loopy together! So tired of this and know there will

be

> no real answer any time soon. Too depressed to deal with this

today,

> but had to call the secretary to ask what we should do now, and of

> course started to cry. At least it's a change from my usual

> frustrated, snarly demeanor for them. Need to pull it together

for

> if and when the doctor calls back. Wish I could be clear about

> what's what.

>

> Now tell me about the EEG and MRI and what that might tell you

with

> regard to the medications. I know our son had some brain imaging

> done when he was in the hospital, but I thought that was to rule

out

> possible brain tumour. I'm interested in how it is used where you

> are.

>

> I am definitely with you in the " had it " category. Feeling

somewhat

> defeated, no energy to fight this today. Will hold onto the

thought

> that tomorrow is another day, who knows what that will bring...

>

> Good for you preparing for your next appointment, writing

everything

> down. I do this too, it's the only way. The challenge, I find is

> sticking to the sheet, as the answers will pull you in myriad

> directions. Last time I wrote a one page " letter " that I read to

our

> psychiatrist and psychologist. I got to say what I needed to,

which

> in itself felt good, but there was no resolution, because there is

> none really. Sorry I'm so negative! Guess misery loves company

and

> all that. Wasn't going to post today, but saw your post and

figured

> I could commiserate.

>

> BIG FAT HUG to you kiddo! You sound feisty, you go girl!!!

> Barb

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy,

OK, Well, I advise you to go and celebrate and rejoice in your

daughters " normalness " and her accomplishments. It will be

energizing for you. I know exactly how you are feeling(or can

relate), and find it hard to move and get myself out the door. But

once there it's good to be social, get out of ourselves and have some

positive. Just thought I'd give you a kick in the butt on that one.

I can be a pushy " one " , can't I?! Must be getting some fight back

myself...

Sorry your son is continuing to have a hard time. I know what you

mean about hospitalizing to stabilize, sounds so good doesn't it? If

only it happened that way. I know it is meant to get them moving in

that direction, and when in crisis, which it feels like is ongoing

anyway, right?! If you do increase the atypical I hope it helps.

Got to keep trying stuff, all we're left with.

Re drugs. Yes we've " done " all the atypicals with crazy results.

Not keen to explore that option, but have been thinking about it. I

wish we could have our son hospitalized to try out some of these

meds, it is just too scary to go through some of them. We can't get

hospitalization unless it becomes life threatening(which generally

happens after the drug is taken), and even then they will turn you

away because there are no beds. So, we are hesitant to make any move

basically, but are playing with the ssri's for now. Expect we'll go

back on the celexa, since it's the only one our son feels comfortable

with at this point.

Our son was hospitalized this time last year, Mothers Day to be

exact. My husband was reminding me, I'd just as soon forget... Like

you, I think this time of year is a factor, even though we have no

official diagnosis I believe there is some mood cycling going on.

Ok, just got off the phone with the doctor. No clearer about

anything, because we can't be. The only clarity is that our son does

not have typical reactions and that there is something else going on

that they can't diagnose, and they can't diagnose something they

don't understand(or have a category for).....nothing new. At least

he acknowledged that much.

He did mention that there are some blood tests that can be done to

measure the levels of ssri's, not in Canada, but US. It would not

tell you therapeutic dose, but would tell you the levels in the

persons system. So in our case, low dose, may mean high level, which

would point to how it was metabolized (this is what I think anyway).

Only other thought is an alternative person I have seen who uses a

kooky machine called QXCI(?)and can measure your body's response to a

vitamin, as in postive/negative response. Could try it for the

medication, and even dose, nothing to lose at this point. Not sure

if this is too kooky for you? At this point, not getting any clarity

with our doctors, I'm ready to at least try something, if it will do

no harm and might give some information.

Ok, this got really long, guess I needed to talk/write it out.

Thanks for reading, if you made it this far. I DO SOOOOO hope your

son AND daughter for that matter, improve, find answers, all that,

for all of us struggling with this life-sucking disorder!

HUGS!!!

Barb

>

> Hi Barb, I'm so sorry to hear about your son!

>

> I know you had a bad experience also with the anti-psychotics, but

maybe if he tried another one? I'm grasping at straws here because

your son is ultra sensitive to meds, it seems, just like my kids are.

>

> Mine is not well again also.He, too, is just like his first onset

of bad thoughts. I sent him to school, only to have the nurse call me

to come get him, 30 minutes after he got there.

> I ended up speaking with his doctor who once again suggested I

raise up his seroquel, and see what happens. I can't give him the

extra half of a pill until tomorrow am. The doctor also told me that

if he threatens to hurt me or himself again, that I need to

hospitalize him so they can watch him and get him stabilized(LOL,

been there with my dd and it didn't work!)He explained to me again

about the ocd meds and bipolar meds working against each other and

that he'd see me on Thurs. He said that most likely he will not be

able to take any more antidepressants until he is stable. The reason

he isn't stable is because of the thoughts!!!!!! The doctor doesn't

seem to understand this. My son only goes " off when he has the bad

thoughts!

> I wanted him to have some tests to rule out seizure activity and

organic stuff, because he never had one done. I know it won't show

what is wrong with him mentally. I just want to play it safe.

> I don't know what to do about this anymore either Barb.Tonight is

my oldest dd's National Junior Honor Society Induction and I feel so

exhausted. I don't know how I'm ever going to get myself there to

celebrate with her , especially knowing my son is so ill.How much

longer can this go like this?I can't even enjoy my one " NORMAL " kids

life?!

> I guess I should just stop the pity party and keep dealing with it!

> Maybe we should just take offf???(lol)

> I hope your son is better tomorrow and you get some answers from

your doctor real soon!!!!!

> Hugs

> Judy

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Connie. Was feeling rather sorry for myself, and my son this

morning, moving past it now. Got to keep moving, looking forward...

Thanks for your concern.

Barb

> >

> > Hi Judy,

> >

> > Well...today is another day and so far not so good. After one

> dose

> > of lexapro our son is worse, like full blown at the outset of

> > severity worse. He was up at 6am doing the shower thing because

> of

> > an OCD dream, couldn't touch his clothes to get dressed, couldn't

> > move, go through the door... I was afraid I'd be stuck with a

> naked

> > kid, who I'm not allowed to look at, (not that I want to!)... He

> > could not feel " safe " anywhere, and finally sat in his " spot " on

> the

> > couch and said he couldn't move. Needless to say he did not make

> it

> > to school. He did get dressed though.

> >

> > Guess lexapro is not our drug of choice.... Had a good cry, not

> > having a good day myself. Maybe I should take some lexapro, then

> we

> > can both be loopy together! So tired of this and know there will

> be

> > no real answer any time soon. Too depressed to deal with this

> today,

> > but had to call the secretary to ask what we should do now, and

of

> > course started to cry. At least it's a change from my usual

> > frustrated, snarly demeanor for them. Need to pull it together

> for

> > if and when the doctor calls back. Wish I could be clear about

> > what's what.

> >

> > Now tell me about the EEG and MRI and what that might tell you

> with

> > regard to the medications. I know our son had some brain imaging

> > done when he was in the hospital, but I thought that was to rule

> out

> > possible brain tumour. I'm interested in how it is used where

you

> > are.

> >

> > I am definitely with you in the " had it " category. Feeling

> somewhat

> > defeated, no energy to fight this today. Will hold onto the

> thought

> > that tomorrow is another day, who knows what that will bring...

> >

> > Good for you preparing for your next appointment, writing

> everything

> > down. I do this too, it's the only way. The challenge, I find

is

> > sticking to the sheet, as the answers will pull you in myriad

> > directions. Last time I wrote a one page " letter " that I read to

> our

> > psychiatrist and psychologist. I got to say what I needed to,

> which

> > in itself felt good, but there was no resolution, because there

is

> > none really. Sorry I'm so negative! Guess misery loves company

> and

> > all that. Wasn't going to post today, but saw your post and

> figured

> > I could commiserate.

> >

> > BIG FAT HUG to you kiddo! You sound feisty, you go girl!!!

> > Barb

>

[Guest guest]

HI Barb,

I " m glad you found the replacemant doctor. Maybe you will find some more answers

for your son.

They did diagnose my dd with being an ultra radian cycler when she was

hospitalized for 33 days the first time. Other psychiatrists have said bipolar I

mixed state.This is because the hospital had her constantly for so long. I

still do not know if this diagnosis is true or not, like I said. We really don't

know.With the 15 minute doctors appointments, how can they diagnose anything

really? Naturally, the doctor doesn't see much in that amount of time.My dd has

changed alot since than also, so who's to say. Ther is definitely an issue with

mood, but as you say, how do we know it's not the ocd causing the mood? Also if

my dd truly has pdd-nos that can alter the mood. I don;t know!!!!!

I wish you luck and hope things get straigtened out for all of us!

Hugs

Judy