Cyclothymia-some answers and a solution for some-just maybe

I stumbled upon this forum and over the past few days have read most of the posts in the Cyclothymia page. I have found it really sad to read some of the letters – particularly the one from 16 year old Nicola from the UK (typsee newbee). This sounds like me at that age. Lots of bewildering questions and very few satisfactory answers. I tried to contact her (no reply) but nearly 2 years have past since her post and who knows what has happened to her life in the meantime.

Firstly, I should state the following:-
I have no medical training and I have not been formally diagnosed as having Cyclothymia, but I do have more than enough of the symptoms (pleasant and unpleasant ones) to be about 95% convinced.

(Update October 9) I have now been diagnosed (by a Physchiatrist) - yes I do have Cyclothymia.

I am now 62 years old and I have had this problem since I was in my early teens (i.e. A very long time) without diagnosis. I do not drink or smoke and I am not taking any regular prescription medication.

How have I survived all this time?. Looking back I have been extremely lucky. I was employed by the one organisation for 40 years. I am now retired. I also, for the past 20 years, have been married to a wonderful woman who has put up with my wild mood swings and sometimes strange behavior. I also had a dream – something I wanted to do – I never got to do it but that does not really matter.

In early June of this year (2008) I decided to have another attempt to find out what I had and try and fix it. After roaming the Internet for weeks (I’m retired remember) I came across Bipolar disorder. My symptoms are (were) like this but nowhere near as extreme. Then I found Cyclothymic Disorder (Cyclothymia). Most of these symptoms I definitely have. I do not have a depressive cycle but have hypomanic (below mania) episodes which can start very suddenly and are never absent for very long. Apparently people with this disorder do not have identical symptoms.

I went to my local GP (Doctor) who agreed it probably was some form of Bipolar Disorder but he would not prescribe any medication for me. He instead gave me a referral to see a Psychiatrist. I could not get an appointment until early October.
I wanted this fixed NOW.
I found from further internet research that Lithium Carbonate seemed to be one of the more successful treatments although to work it must be taken in near toxic doses and can have some very serious side effects. I could not get this without a prescription anyhow.

A solution for some (just maybe)
More research (Internet) and I found Lithium Orotate. This is a dietary health supplement. Don’t be put off by this fact. Lithium Orotate has mixed reviews and the very limited research done using it was inconclusive. It comes in 120mg (milligram) tablets of which 4.9mg is Lithium. It apparently gets to where it works (brain ?) much more efficiently than Lithium Carbonate so Lithium Orotate is effective in much smaller doses. Having said that, this stuff can still be dangerous in larger doses and should be used with caution.
The good news is that it is available over the Internet without prescription from the following company - iHerb USA. It is marketed as a dietary supplement.
Nutrient Carriers Inc – Advanced Research
This is one of the better brands on the market. (Made in USA)
(In my first attempt to post this, the direct URL to purchase Lithium Orotate was removed. This made most of this post pointless).
(to find the product use Google to find iHERB, select the site, select L (across the product line – just below top of page), then find and select Lithium Orotate).
If you have trouble with this, or if the above is removed by our moderator, contact me, preferable with a direct email address and I will send back the direct URL.

I decided I had to give it a try so I imported 2 bottles (400 tablets) and have been taking between 2 and 3 tablets a day for the past 10 weeks. I take 1 tablet morning and 1 tablet evening with food and I drink lots of water throughout the day (as mentioned by Craig in one of the Cyclothymia posts). If I feel a possible hypomanic trigger I up the dose to 1.5 tablets morning and night for a week or so. I felt it working after taking just 4 tablets. I did not believe it but other people on the internet forums have reported similar quick results. I have not had a hypomanic episode in the past 10 weeks and this is the longest I have ever been in 45 long years.
I have to conclude that this stuff works for me. Some peace at last. Be aware that this is not a cure (there isn’t one). The best way I can explain the effect (for me) is it severely clips (limits) the mood swings –it does this for me very well – it is a very strange but welcome feeling.

(Update October 9)
I have been taking Lithium Orotate for 16 weeks now and still have not had any of the Cyclothymia symptoms return. (i.e. NO sudden extreme mood swings, NO spending sprees, NO disturbed sleep patterns, NO racing thoughts, NO increased sexual desire)

The other thing I should mention is I DO NOT have ANY side effects from taking Lithium Orotate.
(other than the fact I now seem to need to listen to Music - I have not listened to music regularly for 25 years - I don't understand it either)

This does not mean it will work for everyone but surely it may be worth trying.
If you do decide to try it, be very careful, as I said this stuff can be dangerous if taken in large doses. Do not stop or reduce taking any current medication without seeking medical advice. I would not advise anyone take more than 4 Lithium Orotate tables in 24 hours as if this amount does not help I do not think a larger dose will change things for the positive.
You should have a Liver function test, and a Thyroid function test (blood tests) preferably before you start (for reference) and then every 3 to 6 months while taking the Lithium Orotate. Tell you doctor what you are doing and if he/ she will not arrange for the tests then FIND ANOTHER Doctor. (I explained all this to my Doctor and he was quite happy to arrange the tests). I have just received the results of my first tests (9 weeks – I could not wait the 3 months!) and all results were well within limits.

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who decides to try Lithium Orotate.

Some Answers
There is a really good book (the ONLY book available anywhere in the world – that I could find) on Cyclothymia available from Amazon (USA). While this is a Workbook for people with the disorder it does contain all the available information on Cycolthymic disorder (Cyclothymia) in a nice big book. It is all very well presented. You can read about your problem without sitting at a computer screen. Amazon are a great company to deal with – very quick and reliable service.

The Cyclothymia Workbook by Prentice Price, M.D. (A Harbinger Self Help Workbook)
US$14.21 plus US$9.98 postage (to Australia)

From first paragraph of the Introduction
……“Although cyclothymia is a mild version of bipolar disorder (or “manic depression”), it is nevertheless a serious condition that can cause you devastating mood swings, bring chaos into your relationships, and sabotage your work and life aspirations”……
From first paragraph of Chapter 1
….. “Many people have also heard of bipolar disorder, otherwise known as manic depression. However, few people have ever heard of cyclothymic disorder of cyclothymia. In fact, the majority of those who are familiar with this condition either work in the mental health field or struggle with the condition themselves”…..

http://www.amazon.com/Cyclothymia-Workb ... 157224383X


The following Web sites may help you understand more although they all have the same rather limited information about Cyclothmia.
(It astounds me that we could put a man on the moon all those years ago but we still know so very little about ourselves. Maybe Bill Gates could spend some of his billions on some much needed research).

http://www.fortunecity.com/campus/psych ... thymia.htm
A Bipolar sufferer from Israel. A very informative and well written site, although the site is no longer being updated.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cyclothymia/DS00729
A highly respected organization.

http://bipolar.about.com/od/cyclothymia/Cyclothymia.htm
Information collected from many sources.

http://www.allaboutdepression.com/cyclo ... bout.shtml
Web site of the Author of the Cyclothymia Workbook.


http://www.fortunecity.com/campus/psych ... ycholo.htm
Trillian also has a collection of really good Psych jokes.
Never loose you sense of humor.
______________________

If you learn from your suffering,
and really come to understand the lesson you were taught,
you might be able to help someone else who’s now
in the phase you may have just completed.
Maybe that’s what it’s all about after all…
Anonymous
(Quote from Trillian’s website)

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