Salsa
11-29-03, 04:55 AM
Boogiebutt,
I read where you have ADHD, Epilepsy and possibly Bipolar Disorder. I almost feel a kinship with you.
I am dx'd with ADHD and Epilepsy-- simple-partial, complex-partial and tonic-clonic/grand mal (mostly only simple-partial or "auras" with my medication, though). I probably also have Bipolar II/?rapid cycling. My therapist thinks I do, and my doctor tends to agree, though the diagnosis never got beyond "hypomania." We also never delved into a thorough diagnosis either because the anticonvulsants that I take for my seizures are also mood stabilizers. (See next paragraph).
Well, we (my doctor, therapist and myself) have been trying to get me back on Ritalin. (I've been on it in the past). This is not always encouraged with Bipolar, but as I said, I'm on Tegretol (a mood stabilizer). I'm also on Topamax-- (another mood stabilizer). They are also AED's (anti-convulsants). The problem is that when I take Ritalin (or any stimulant), my seizure threshold lowers and I have more SPS's (simple-partial seizures). If I only have a couple here and there, I can handle that, but I end up having 3 or 4 a day and they last around 30 seconds. Maybe I'm spoiled. (I had surgery 15 years ago for my seizures and before my surgery, a 30 second SPS, would have seemed like nothing). I guess, they're just a pain in the butt and I also have the fear that they might get worse if I continue with the Ritalin.
I took Ritalin as a child, and I've been treated for both "hyperactivity" and epilepsy since age 4, (wasn't called ADD/ADHD at that time). I know that it's possible and I know that it works in me. I also took it a few years ago and it worked well, but because I moved and had to change doctors, I found that I had a new one who was uncomfortable prescribing it for me. Finally got him to try it last month, but it created problems this past time with seizures. >>SIGH<<
We tried Straterra this summer, BTW, but it seemed to bring on the hypomania (the high end of bipolar disorder) that the mood stabilizers had been controlling. If the Ritalin is no longer a possibility, I might try talking my doctor into trying Straterra again. My Tegretol was increased last month for my seizures but, as I said, Tegretol is also a mood stabilizer to help control depression and hypomania. Also, when I took the Straterra this summer, I wasn't yet on Topamax (another mood stabilizer). With the recent increase in Tegretol and the addition of Topamax, (mood stabilizers), perhaps the Straterra would no longer make me hypomanic. (???)
I'm needing to re-enter the workforce. (I'm recently divorced), and it's imperitive (necessary) that I am able to concentrate and follow directions. I had a job-- a "simple" job (for a short period) last Spring. I wasn't kept on the payroll for very long for just this reason. I was a hard and loyal worker-- but I just couldn't catch on. I can't keep a simple job and yet I have a college education! (So frustrating).
OK, well, that's my story-- as short as I could make it. How about you? Are you still having seizures? Are you able to take stimulanats? What about Straterra? Are you medicated or unmedicated for ADHD? Please share either on the board or PM me.
~Sandy
I read where you have ADHD, Epilepsy and possibly Bipolar Disorder. I almost feel a kinship with you.
I am dx'd with ADHD and Epilepsy-- simple-partial, complex-partial and tonic-clonic/grand mal (mostly only simple-partial or "auras" with my medication, though). I probably also have Bipolar II/?rapid cycling. My therapist thinks I do, and my doctor tends to agree, though the diagnosis never got beyond "hypomania." We also never delved into a thorough diagnosis either because the anticonvulsants that I take for my seizures are also mood stabilizers. (See next paragraph).
Well, we (my doctor, therapist and myself) have been trying to get me back on Ritalin. (I've been on it in the past). This is not always encouraged with Bipolar, but as I said, I'm on Tegretol (a mood stabilizer). I'm also on Topamax-- (another mood stabilizer). They are also AED's (anti-convulsants). The problem is that when I take Ritalin (or any stimulant), my seizure threshold lowers and I have more SPS's (simple-partial seizures). If I only have a couple here and there, I can handle that, but I end up having 3 or 4 a day and they last around 30 seconds. Maybe I'm spoiled. (I had surgery 15 years ago for my seizures and before my surgery, a 30 second SPS, would have seemed like nothing). I guess, they're just a pain in the butt and I also have the fear that they might get worse if I continue with the Ritalin.
I took Ritalin as a child, and I've been treated for both "hyperactivity" and epilepsy since age 4, (wasn't called ADD/ADHD at that time). I know that it's possible and I know that it works in me. I also took it a few years ago and it worked well, but because I moved and had to change doctors, I found that I had a new one who was uncomfortable prescribing it for me. Finally got him to try it last month, but it created problems this past time with seizures. >>SIGH<<
We tried Straterra this summer, BTW, but it seemed to bring on the hypomania (the high end of bipolar disorder) that the mood stabilizers had been controlling. If the Ritalin is no longer a possibility, I might try talking my doctor into trying Straterra again. My Tegretol was increased last month for my seizures but, as I said, Tegretol is also a mood stabilizer to help control depression and hypomania. Also, when I took the Straterra this summer, I wasn't yet on Topamax (another mood stabilizer). With the recent increase in Tegretol and the addition of Topamax, (mood stabilizers), perhaps the Straterra would no longer make me hypomanic. (???)
I'm needing to re-enter the workforce. (I'm recently divorced), and it's imperitive (necessary) that I am able to concentrate and follow directions. I had a job-- a "simple" job (for a short period) last Spring. I wasn't kept on the payroll for very long for just this reason. I was a hard and loyal worker-- but I just couldn't catch on. I can't keep a simple job and yet I have a college education! (So frustrating).
OK, well, that's my story-- as short as I could make it. How about you? Are you still having seizures? Are you able to take stimulanats? What about Straterra? Are you medicated or unmedicated for ADHD? Please share either on the board or PM me.
~Sandy