Practical post: Medication versus Symptoms.

I haven't done a practical post in awhile, so tonight is the night for it. The topic? Medication versus symptoms. Medication for any mental disorder, Aspergers, Bipolar, ADHD, anything, can have crazy side effects. One of the most common side effects is INSANE APPETITE. I mean that the person taking the meds is hungry all the time and usually eats all the time. I took Lithium from the time I was 14 until I was 23, ate all the time, and went from 109 to 250 pounds in the time I took the Lithium. I also had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus(basically I drank literally 10 gallons of water a day because my body wasn't absorbing the water and I was using the restroom 50 times a day). This was all due to the fact that I ate all the time and was not eating healthy. When my doctor in January 2011 heard this, he changed my meds immediately. So what lessons can I share from my story? Here goes:

Number one: If you have symptoms develop from a medication that are not normal TO YOU, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as you possibly can. These things you try to avoid don't just go away and can have massive repercussions health and lifestyle wise.

Number two: If you start gaining or losing significant weight to the point where it becomes abnormal, or if you are either eating all the time or barely eating(on the flip side), TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. They can adjust the meds so that they don't harm you.

Number three, and probably most important: If you think there is something, anything wrong that isn't normal to you and your life as a result of medication changes, additions, or subtractions, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR, AND BE PERSISTENT. Even if your family, friends, etcetera think you are being overcautious, do it anyway. I have averted several major disasters by doing this, and also have created several major disasters(like major surgery being necessary) for not doing it. Please, please, PLEASE, listen to your body. You know your body better than anyone. If it is your child and he/she can't communicate, always be on watch for differences(even subtle ones) in behavior or actions, because those who don't communicate verbally communicate through the word of their body. PAY ATTENTION AS A PARENT. If you are high-functioning or have children/young adults that are, teach them this because it will help them in the long run.

Hope I gave you some help in dealing with medication-related health issues :)

God bless!

(By the way, in the name of true success stories, after my doctor changed my meds I am now 32 pounds and counting less than I was on the Lithium[I take Ablify now], no longer have nephrogenic diabetes or high cholesterol/blood pressure :) )