Medication V: Trying Lithium

Medication V: Trying Lithium


Late September 2013

So a week into my new venture of Lithium, a couple of things are pronounce. The fact yes there is cotton mouth, dry mouth is apparent. Though I do enough to drink plenty of liquids because of kidney stones, this hasn't been as worrisome as I would have expected it to be.

The drawback though is that it takes a little longer for me to unwind, but this I think is attributed to environmental stuff. Otherwise when stresses are pronounce I am able to keep level and modulate through the stress keeping in line with the construction of the 12 step program.

The other aspect is having to compete with making sure I follow a system. Specific routines have to be followed, hallmark in recovery. As time progresses I am at least hopeful this will translate into something substantial. There are a lot of things afoot.

*Update 1* October 2013

After spending sometime with Lithium, all I can say is my teeth hurt, there are some sizable acne, and various aches associated with joint, and muscle twitching. I feel calm, not out of the ordinary, but I am more-or-less not being melancholy yet that is hard with the seasonal change.

I am a lot more aware of the time, as I am feeling like things are slowed down to a point. But I am still dealing with the internal battle with my mind, and the fissures of feeling like I need to answer to someones expectation. This is a hard and engrained behavior that will take some work from me to break. I answer only to myself, and what I do not the other way around.

With taking Lithium I am very aware of the weight situation. So I am doing my best to limit what I eat in regards to sugars, more vegetables, fruits, and water. Working out isn't going to be something I am going to be doing, but walking, and biking are as close to what I can do to mitigate the onset.

As it gets closer to winter, some mild form of yoga is in store. This is what I must do to keep active.

*Update 2 November 2013*

In this updated post I had to change my medication time because of the up all night component. There is still dry mouth, now I have various acne forming. My skin feels cold at times, I also sweat more than usual. Thoughts come and go, but the main component is sticking to a routine.

I have to say that I do feel a big burden of time crushing me. There are good days, and then there are some pretty profoundly difficult days. Mitigating them takes inner strength, and using skills to get 'through' the waves.

Reality versus what I want are two different area codes I am still struggling with. Lithium has given me a bit of a blanket to waver through, but I still feel uneasy with my processing, and what I want to be doing with my time. Which are two different places that I cannot seem to get to co-exist in the same place. Which is odd, but this is my form of bipolar. Very strange to see how this has affected my life. I can only imagine how I have treated people with my bipolar in the 'all or nothing' situation.

Some serious food for thought, as I work through the Al Anon 12 step recovery with Bipolar skills. Thanks for reading.

B.