Spread the Word!
Get a DS flyer to post
DS Store is Open
DS t-shirts and more

usualsuspect’s Profile

  • Image of usualsuspect

    About Me

    I live in rather small town in MA. Have a history of bipolar disorder for 30 years and Parkinsons with dystonia for 7-8. Used to work in health professions but not since 2003. Never married, but who knows.

    Interests

    I like music, movies, cats, the ocean, and travel. I should say that I LOVE music, makes me come alive. Any kind--pop, classical, blues, some jazz, and world. Classical roots reggae--I always come back to it.

  • Recent Activity

    Thursday

    Wednesday

    Tuesday

  • Journal

    • Journal Entry for July 1, 2008

      Mood July 1, 2008 4:42pm

      Computer experiencing frequent prolonged loss of signal---no phone or internet for hours. I think it's in the modem. Comcast can't have …

    • daily life

      Mood June 30, 2008 7:01pm

      OK, this isn't going to be fancy cuz every time I try hard to come up with clever graphics and dialogue DS always seems to screw me up and …

    • Journal Entry for June 12, 2008

      Mood June 12, 2008 4:59pm

      Its still hot. Gotta go find a sprinkler.

    • Journal Entry for June 8, 2008

      Mood June 8, 2008 9:15pm

      To celebrate his daughters baptism today a friend had a barbecue for about 40 people. He has an unusual family--sons age 23, 25, and 27 by his first …

    • Journal Entry for June 1, 2008

      Mood June 1, 2008 9:13pm

      Everything is moving slow, slow, slow. I walk slow, turn slow, bend slow. I find it hard to believe that the small dose of clozapine is causing that. …

    Read Journal

  • Hugbook

    Give usualsuspect a hug

    • Hug

      From barbra2 Tuesday

      hey my lobster connection..how have you been? I am hanging on

    • Flower

      From angeleyes92 Monday

      Thank you for the comments on my Damn Drunks journal. I am sure my tdoc will feel that I am doing great in the way I handle my parents too...will find out tonight when I see the gent. You, sir, certainly are an amazing man with a wealth of stories and information. I am so glad that we have become friends. Thank you and enjoy these flowers...they are sent from an Angel.

    • Hug

      From manicgirl99 June 28

      I survived a few days of hail here, too. I'm okay... just been a little busy. Hope your weekend is going well. How have you been?

    • Hug

      From hobbyjan June 26

      Hey Dave, I know this is many weeks past that you sent the hug. Hope all is well in your world and the blessings abound for you. Speak soon, God bless

    • Hug

      From angeleyes92 June 22

      i appreciate that...been at this since about march and thinking im on the right track

    Read Hugbook

  • Photos

  • Goals

    lose fat; improve tone

    Progress

    5 %

    Goal End Date is Jun 28, 08 7 days ago.
    Current Weight (Lbs)
    195

  • Support Groups

    • Close Parkinson's Disease

      PD X 6-7 years, tremor never much of a problem, mostly dystonia of neck, 56 yrs. old, unable to work much since 2003

      Treatments

      Cogentin Somewhat Helpful
      balance better severe dry mouth had to discontinue. Also postural hypotension, light headed
      Ibuprofen Somewhat Helpful
      helps with muscle aches
      Requip Working / Worked
      Helped but very difficult yo assess since increase in dosages is strung out over weeks-months.
      Sinemet Working / Worked
      worked but tremor was never as much of an issue as dystonia and stiffness
      Symmetrel Working / Worked
      helped with balance but lightheadedness worse
      Symmetrel Working / Worked
      works to help control balance difficulties but made me very lightheaded; blood pressure 80/60
      Botulin Toxin Working / Worked
      works for dystonia in the neck, but if involved muscles are forward flexors it might not help as they can't inject these sometimes--too close to vital structures.

    • Close Bipolar Disorder

      I developed recurrent severe depressive episodes and one manic spell at age 24. Lithium and other meds ever since. Initially some imbalance and nausea But for 30 yrs. have taken 300 mg. on alternate days up to 1200 mg./d. Tremor occ. first year, took Inderal and it helped. No side effects or drowsiness. Very helpful in blunting the broad sweep of emotions. changes in mood. Its cheap and, for me, effective. Need to occ. check thyroid function. Psychiatric meds ?caused Parkinson's.

      Treatments

      Abilify Working / Worked
      For me Abilify did cause me to be more outgoing and able to take initiative in gettin things done.?increase dystonia in Park. patients(me)
      Lamictal Working / Worked
      Didn't even know I was taking it except for empty wallet. Probably effective.
      Lithium Working / Worked
      If you can take it without side effects it can help to PREVENT depressive episodes. It's worked for me. It's dirt cheap.
      Prozac Working / Worked
      Anti-dep worked for me. Slight weight gain, without other SEs. Took it for 10 years.
      Seroquel Working / Worked
      150 mg. at night helps me stay asleep longer. For me that means 4 vs 2 hours of sleep before waking up.
      Trilafon Working / Worked
      Even low dose of 2-4 mg./day effective for anxiety, but was 10 years Rx enough to contribute to Parkinsonism?
      Trileptal Working / Worked
      only on it 2 weeks so far but ?depression worse and confused
      Zyprexa Working / Worked
      Virtually no symptoms except again was 5mg./day enough to cause Park symptoms after 8-9 years? Notorious for weight gain. Almost everyone gains 5-20 pounds.

    • Open Dystonia

      57 yrs old Took Trilafon, Zyprexa for 20+ years. onset Parkinson symptoms about 7 years ago. Very mild tremor, balance, postural hypotension,gait, urination difficulties, etc. Biggest problem is severe dystonia right side of neck. Very painful worsening last two years. Writhing twisting feeling spins me right off of chair sometimes.

      Treatments

      Cogentin Working / Worked
      only used it for 1-2 months several years ago. Can't remmber effects.
      Sinemet Not Working
      nothing for dystonia 10/100 ii 4 times/day with 50/200 at bedtime
      Cogentin Somewhat Helpful
      did help some but even tiniest dose gave me dry mouth (severe) for 24 hrs never got used to it
      Artane Somewhat Helpful
      all the anticholinergics seem to have helped a little but SEs prohibitive.Artane caused me to fel paranoid and I woould have mild nocturnal temporary visual hallucuinations.

    • Open Depression
      Type: Clinical (Major) Depression

      Hi. Unipolar (once manic) for 30 years. I'm joining for Beatles-Stones discussion. oh, yeah....PD and dystonia as well.

      Treatments

      Effexor Working / Worked
      so-so, and worse....I became all talk and no action.
      Elavil Working / Worked
      Where did you pull out that old chestnut? Yes, it indeed worked in conjunction with therapy. No doubt it was a lifesaver at the time. Took ages to really kick in(2-3 weeks at least) but sleep improved almost instantly. I don't believe its used much any more because of side effects especially in the elderly---lightheaded dry mouth, bladder difficulties, possibility of worsening of already established heart irregularities, etc.
      Lamictal Working / Worked
      Works great for me but has rare problem of rash that can be fatal. I have no SEs. It also can be fatal to your pocketbook.
      Lexapro Working / Worked
      good drug...no SE's.
      Lithium Working / Worked
      Less helpful after the depression has begun but great way to soften and block recurrences. And its cheap! $15/mo for generic. Some people can't take it, though, due to side effects. But worked fine for me. A little tremor in the beginning responded to small dose of long-acting Inderal. Anywhere from 300 mg. to 1200 mg.day depending on symptoms and kidney tests. Oops...can raise kidney funcion tests but mine returns to normal after dosage is dropped.
      Meditation Working / Worked
      I do believe this has helped but haven't practiced it for years.
      Positive Thinking Working / Worked
      what's that?
      Prozac Working / Worked
      first of its kind but best for me. slight weight gain.
      Psychotherapy Working / Worked
      my rock for 25 years, though for last 23 years I might not have needed it. Made Woody Allen look like a piker, though
      Seroquel Working / Worked
      extended sleep time to 4 hours
      Trazodone Working / Worked
      instant zzzz's but only good for two hours (dose 200 mg./night)
      Wellbutrin Working / Worked
      before my time (hard to believe....so don't)
      Writing Somewhat Helpful
      DS

  • Groups

  • Friends


About Us | Testimonials | Crisis Hotlines | Help  
» Popular Support Groups
· Bereavement
· Bipolar Disorder
· Depression
· Physical & Emotional Abuse
· Breakups & Divorce
· Diets & Weight Maintenance
· Anxiety
· Alcoholism
» Top Treatments
· Psychotherapy
· Paxil
· Prozac
· Zoloft
· Wellbutrin
· Effexor
· Physical Exercise
· Lexapro
» New Support Groups
· Homeschooling
· Androgenic Alopecia
· Parents of ADHD Kids
· Deg. Joint Disease
Content on DailyStrength.org is for informational purposes only. We do not provide any medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. More info
Copyright 2008 DailyStrength, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Report Abuse