*=sigh=*

It's a beginning

APRIL 2003 ---- I was diagnosed with depression in 1997 after complaining to the doctor as "feeling guilty all the time, loss of memory, sleeping problems and loss of vocabulary."
In 2001 I was diagnosed as bipolar (see wacky hair page) after the doctor had a look at my unusual hair color and eccentric dressing habits :grin: And here I thought I was just having a good time!

JUNE 10, 2007 ----- So much has happened since I last logged into here in 2003. Other than this note, everything is as is was so I can show some reference. I went off all medication in the fall of 2006. I was a zombie waiting to die. I had started on street drugs out of loneliness. People would come over to get me high and I would. No excuse. I made the choice. It was a subconscious attempt to end it all. I didn't think I'd ever get any better. The agoraphobia was traumatic and I would not leave the apartment for weeks at a time. After coming out of the stupor of my meds and the drug abuse and being robbed and stolen from over and over, my youngest son rescued me and moved me to a safe place near him. Since then the strongest thing I take is Norvasc for high blood pressure. I even was able to quit smoking cigarettes. I've gained back weight I'd lost, but it is a small sacrifice for my sanity and freedom. I'm myself again. A me I haven't seen since before my mother died in 1999. I don't recommend this for everyone. But there IS life after mental illness. And hope and happiness! The only leftover symptom I seem to have is my obsessive/compulsive. I can live with everything in it's place and a place for everything and an overly clean home! LOL! Life is good again.

September 5, 2007 --- All is well mentally I'm pleased to say. I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and am taking Norvasc with no problems. I was also diagnosed with Hepatitis C. I am unsure where I picked this up, as I have several tattoos and knew people with Hep C. But I plan to educate myself and go to good doctors. This past month a routine Mammogram found something in my right breast. Further tests are being scheduled, but cancer runs in my family and is not something I'm afraid of. Besides, it's probably nothing. It's ironic that all this medical info came about from trying to find out what was causing my severe lower back and leg pain. My own research leans toward Osteoarthritis and Sciatica (pinched nerve). Whatever it is is causing me a lot of pain and is making it difficult to walk and even sleep at night. Ahhhh, old age... the body, not the mind LOL!!!

Medications

APRIL 2003 --I'm currently on Paxil/60mg each AM for anxiety and depression, Zyprexa/10mg each PM for voices, Inderal/140mg as needed, for panic attacks (anytime I'm going to be around a lot of people), Neurontin for mania and Trazidon/300mg at PM for depression and sleep (as needed for sleep) and Xanax .50mg as needed for panic attacks.

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Copyright Vikki Powers and "...oh my! art'n designs"

Last revised: September 5, 2007.