Information and opinions on health from karmas at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/2539/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/2539/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/2539/index http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/17541/december-im-stable Sun, 09 Dec 2007 02:31:00 -0500 karmas  This is a big day for  me. One year ago I had a major meltdown that resulted in my being hospitalized for 8 days. This year, on December 8, I am stable now for one month. I'm not depressed for the first time ever in the winter months, at least that I can remember. Neither have I gone on any shopping sprees with the justification it's Christmas. I can make rational choices I found out my mother's cancer is back. I... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/17541/december-im-stable http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/13382/coming-light Sat, 08 Sep 2007 23:38:00 -0400 karmas Although I am getting better, I am a bit apprehensive that winter is approaching and I get into my worse depressions in November through January. Last year, in December, I was hospitalized for 8 days. I heard there is a light you can get that helps ease the depression. Does anyone know about it? Any experiences you may have with it? If it exists, does it help? Can any light work if you stay in it long enough? I don't want to go there... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/13382/coming-light http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/13351/im Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:57:00 -0400 karmas I have less crying spells over nothing. I feel less anxious all in all. My pdoc is very responsive, even had me come in on a day he was catching up on his paperwork and wasn't seeing patients. I was having a very bad day and a friend had to drive me. I wrote down the questions I had so I didn't have to speak and cry again. He looked over my questions and went right to the last one - "Would I ever get better?" He... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/13351/im http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/12945/didnt-spend-money Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:29:00 -0400 karmas I am very happy with myself right now. It's lasted almost a day. Here's why. I am almost always a little hypomanic along with varying degrees of depression all the time. When I'm hypo I spend money because there will be more in a couple of weeks. $20 dollars at the Dollar Store, $50 at Barnes & Noble on books I never read and my last binge was 4 pairs of Cole Haan shoes on ebay and the stretcher I needed so they... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/12945/didnt-spend-money http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/12589/im-57-mom-moods Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:49:00 -0400 karmas  I can be feeling good about my life for a change and my mom has to throw crap in the mix. Case in point...As some of you may know, one of my biggest fears was that I would never find a good relationship with a nice guy because I was a few pounds overweight, 57, been married three times and had bipolar disorder. I spent the last two years longing to be with my ex-husband I left on afternoon on one of my "life-changing" manic... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/12589/im-57-mom-moods http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/11263/fast Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:57:00 -0400 karmas My 29 year old nephew, who we believe has bipolar tried to kill himself yesterday. He has been separated from his wife and son for three months because he had been (and we suspect he still is) using meth. He's a Notre Dame graduate and has been a great kid until a couple of years ago.  We need to get him into a hospital to  be diagnosed with whatever is going on with him and I know it well be against his will. We live in CA and as... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/11263/fast http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/10745/interesting Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:54:00 -0400 karmas Lately I've been having weird stuff happening. I am having trouble writing and typing at my regular pace. I can't remember what things are. I forget letters in words, even in my own name. I'm also dropping things (like ice cream cones), knocking over water or whatever liquid is convenient. I feel like I'm dyslexic in everything I say or do. I have to stop and slowly think out what I'm going to say. If I slowly focus, I... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/10745/interesting http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/10663/forgot-effxor-week Sat, 23 Jun 2007 10:42:00 -0400 karmas I have never been in such an awful depression as I am now. I just noticed I didn't have my effexor 150mg capsule in my daily pill regiment (lamatil, depakote, cholestral, blood pressure, etc) I have been having soaking night sweats, can't sleep, don't want to do anything, crying all day, and been nauseated. When my friends can drag me out of the house I feel a little better. I have a headache, have been taking atavan to reduce the... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/10663/forgot-effxor-week http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/10252/date-bipolar Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:42:00 -0400 karmas After two years of being single after my husband died, I'm ready to date again. I'm 57 and haven't dated since the 70's (yuck). I'm afraid no one will be able to put up with me. They won't be related and HAVE to put up with me. I am currently on disability and embarrassed and don't want to give all that information. But on my way to mania I talk too much. Anyone else been through this? How do you handle it? Will... http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/10252/date-bipolar http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/9281/brain Mon, 07 May 2007 11:37:00 -0400 karmas I have had bipolar my whole life and now am medicated for it. Since I've been taking Lamictal & recently added Depakote, I have been unable to think things through. I also take Effexor. Is it common for people who are medicated with these drugs to have somewhat dimished capacity? Normal stress sends me to the bottom fast. IF I stop my Lamictal, will I get my brains back or are they gone for good? Help!-Kathy  http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/2539/9281/brain