barney50’s Profile
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barney50
is feeling OK
"If you're going through hell, keep going. " ~ Winston Churchill
Recently: 12 discussion replies, 3 hugs received more …
About Me
To be nobody-but-yourself– in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else– means to fight the hardest battle which any human can fight; and never stop fighting. e.e. cummings Just turned 50 and feeling good about it, feeling stable now for several months, and able to work out regular and enjoy myself. I read constantly, love live music and dancing, work as a graphic designer for the last 20+ years, much of it freelance or self employed. I've got two grown up kids (not sure if they are adults, or if I am either!), and have a large very close family that spends lots of time playing together. No one seems to really know much about the BP, those nearest are as supportive as I let them be. I tend to put up walls and disappear when I crash. Been BP2 since 18, didnt get diagnosed til much later, had quarterly swings for years (til now!!), lots of drugs, accupuncture, rolfing, ect (twice), tried it all… not going to give up. It won't beat me.
Interests
World music, dancing, books, art, soccer, movies, live theater, trying new restaurants, random and interesting conversation
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Recent Activity
Friday
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barney50 replied to BarnGirl’s discussion post Do you have the guts?? in the Bipolar Disorder support group 3:48pm
[01] Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey? We'll see!…
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barney50 replied to SusanMc’s discussion post Beware of Hotlines.... in the Bipolar Disorder support group 3:39pm
Susan, That was gr8. Thanks for the giggle.…
Thursday
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barney50 replied to jeansmind’s discussion post Tell about your Great Moments... in the Bipolar Disorder support group 10:46pm
Ten years or so ago, I decided to host an exchange student while my daughter was away on an exchange…
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barney50 replied to Heart4Hope’s discussion post Feeling of fatigue may be more than just depressio in the Bipolar Disorder support group 8:11pm
Hey Edsd, It was Vitamin D3. So simple and it changed so much for me.…
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barney50 replied to AMThrasher’s discussion post Moon Time (period) in the Bipolar Disorder support group 2:33pm
Newark Its not in your head. Let me guess, you've got a male doctor, right?…
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Journal
barney50 hasn’t written any journal entries yet. -
Hugbook
Hug
Hey Barney, How you been?
I’m With You
xx
Hug
Hello my dear friend. How are you?...I have been off line for a while. I miss our conversations. Have a great weekend!
Hug
A big hug for my friend
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I’m With You
I am doing it to help with my depression and after a week, whew! it is starting to help I think... you really can do it, just go easy on yourself!!
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Photos
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Support Groups
Close Bipolar Disorder
Been battling bipolar for 30 years. Have short mild mania preceding and following deep depressions that hit with each season change. I am determined not to let this condition define me, but I'd sure love to look at the season changing as something positive, rather than time to hunker down for a fight. I am tenacious in my fight against this malady.
Treatments
- Abilify Working / Worked
- Abilify worked with the moods really well, but caused scary parkinson's like tremors, so i had to discontinue.
- Celexa Not Working
- Saw no improvement
- Depakote Working / Worked
- No improvement, made my hair fall out and gained 15 lbs in two weeks so it was discontinued
- Holistic Health Working / Worked
- Tried accupuncture, rolfing massage, chiropractic
- Lamictal Working / Worked
- Currently trying, just reached 200 mg. Experiencing daily headaches and trouble sleeping, often feel like things are crawling on my skin at night, waking frequently even though I'm taking 800mg of Seroquel
- Lithium Working / Worked
- Did nothing to stabilize moods, lots of undesirable side effects with no benefit
- Risperdal Not Working
- Discontinued, didnt see any change
- Seroquel Working / Worked
- Currently taking 1000mg, and its INCREDIBLY expensive at that dosage, even with insurance.
- Tegretol Not Working
- Tried for several months, no improvement in mood control, had significant weight gain
- Topamax Working / Worked
- Taking for control of migraines; went from 15 a month to 2-3 a month with no bad side effects
- Trileptal Working / Worked
- No improvement, tired all the time, trouble getting up in the morning
- Wellbutrin Working / Worked
- No improvement in mood
- Zyprexa Working / Worked
- Helpful for controlling anxiety when needed, removed due to docs concerned about long term effects
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Snapshot
Recently …
- 1 hug given
- 3 hugs received
- 2 discussion posts
- 12 discussion replies
