Re: sleep deprivation/rls/depression

[Guest guest]

From: Peppermint1962@...

In a message dated 6/2/99 3:04:58 PM !!!First Boot!!!,

rbelcastro@...

writes:

<< Chronic

sleep deprivation will most definitly cause resultive

depression and

depending on how bad it is, is whether or not the

depression needs to

be

treated or not. >>

In response to this and 's response

(Rainbowped@...):

let's not forget that chronic sleep deprivation also

can cause resultive manic episodes as well as

depression. Suffering from bipolar disorder for over

20 years I'll tell you first hand the less sleep I

get, restful or not, the likelihood of my moodswings

resulting in a manic episode, as opposed to depression

in a bipolar's case. Now add secondary RLS (lumbar

laminectomy age 16), TMJ (temporal mandibular joint)

I'm a definate clencher while I sleep, and the various

med's used to treat my bipolor disorder from the

antidepressants to the anticonvulsants like Depakote,

Tegretol, Neurontin used as a mood stabilizer as well,

and then add secondary Raynaud's Syndrome; I find

myself in quite the pickle. Where do the

neurotransmitters begin misfiring or what causes them

to misfire in the first place, no one seems to really

know for sure. As for current available treatments,

everyone seems to know how to prescribe and how to

blend cocktails (as many of my doctors prefer to call

the mixing of a variety of rx's) and of course, when

and if (in my case always... " when " ) the side effects

prohibit a decent quality of life, then another set of

RX's are introduced to combat those side effects.

Seems like quite the viscious cycle and a merryground

I have recently chose to not ride until the next

episode rears it's ugly head. I try very hard to keep

an open mind and look to the future with hope that

medical technology and its advances will get at the

root of these problems and address them rather than

put a bandaid on the symptoms... and hopefully in my

lifetime. But for now, with my last and most recent

experience with Neurontin, prescribed to kill two

birds with one stone i.e. a mood stabilizer for the

bipolar disorder and for RLS symptomatic relief,

resulted in a complete and utter disaster of chronic

nauseua, dizziness and sedation I barely batted an

eyelash at discontinuing the drug. Neurontin was my

last hope for the time being as I've been on all other

cocktails, meds, and supplemental alternatives with

little benefit and mostly riddled with negative side

effects, of addressing both problems.

Some doctors would say I'm non-compliant (most

doctor's I think), but at 37 I believe the quality of

my day to day life as crucial as risking a future

depression or mania and finding temporary relief for

RLS or TMJ symptoms as I continue to experiment with

some non conventional methods.

As far as a few other drugs of note that caused false

states in my body: Depakote, Tegretol caused

hypothyroidism which was treated with thyroid

medication - once the Depakote and Tegretol were

stopped my thyroid returned to normal.

Paxil (antidepressant) the way it metabolized caused

my blood sugars to produce consistent " borderline

diabetic " readings for the last 1 1/2 years. Change

in diet, exercise (god I missed my occasional white

powdered donuts...smile) resulted in no change.

Stopped taking Paxil and within 1 week my blood work

came back from the lab with a note from my doctor,

" Very good! "

I could go on and on.... as I'm sure all of us have

our gripes and for those who experience the relief of

their symptoms from these " scripts " with little or no

side effects, I'm so envious!

Having a good support system around you, (my

therapist refers to it as a " team " ), family, friends,

support groups, doctors, therapists, etc. has proven

the most beneficial in terms of coping and the least

detrimental to my health.

Good night,

Pepper

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