I need to write this post while I’m still feeling good and have my wits about me.
I have schizoaffective disorder, and last summer, lithium, a medication that I had taken for nearly seventeen years, may have caused or contributed to kidney failure. I’m okay, but I had to stop taking the medication. When I quit taking lithium, I had a horrible relapse and it took me quite a while to recover.
My doctor put me on a new medication to replace the lithium. I have only been on it for about six months but I recently learned that it might be negatively affecting my liver enzymes, and now I have to stop taking this medication as well. I am currently weaning off of it.
If I relapse again, my husband and I feel a little more prepared this time, and thankfully I have a very understanding employer. I just wanted to let you all know what’s going on in case I disappear for a while or say something weird.
My blog is very important to me and I will post when I can. Medication changes can be really difficult when you have a mental illness. I just have to remind myself that this is temporary.
Wishing you well.
😉
Best wishes.
It sucks the best you can do is to accept your reality but persevere with evidence-based medicine and treatment, but you have your family and your friends to lean on.
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Dunno if I’ve mentioned this before, but there’s literature to the effect that having dependents for whom one cares is correlated with quality of life and longevity, and you have that too.
May I add that I appreciate you aren’t making light of your situation — that surely wouldn’t help.
Hang in there!
I’m certain everyone on FtB understands your difficulties and we are also glad you have a supportive husband.
Hang in there, we are all rooting for you.
I echo what everyone else says, and hope they can find a medication for you that helps and doesn’t hurt. Thank you husband for us, because he takes very good care of you. Do what you need to do to be well, and know you’ve got friends online.
Best wishes.
I hope you can get through the weaning off the old and onto the new ok, also that the new medicine (I hope there is one!) doesn’t give you any concerning side effects, but actually wors for you.
How are you going, Ashes? OK?
So far, so good. I am completely off the med now but not feeling any effects yet. Thanks for asking. I really appreciate everyone’s support.
Excellent news! First few days are over, and you’re doing well. Happy for you.