_jackburton

Viva, Yes I am seeing a psychiatrist for a few months and am currently doing a trial of lamotrigine 100mg monotherapy. I am a little weird with meds. Just about all of them mess up my head. I suppose how i described my reaction to SSRIs prompted her to try a mood stabilizer. The funny thing is I have had similar reactions to every drug I have been on lamotrigine, SSRIs, SNRIs, Adderall (this doc was waaaay off base), lamotrigine even Buspar. So I'm not sure about anything except that I am EXTREMELY sensitive to all meds. I have read SSRIs can throw bipolars into mania. Still my reaction was weird, felt funny after about two hours of taking the med and it lasted about 6 hours, then I felt normal again until the next dose. This prompted me to take the med before bedtime which worked, I would simply sleep through all of the side-effects and feel fine the next day. The lamotrigine seems to work, it has brought me to the same "apathetic like" place as the SSRIs. Maybe that is where all these drugs end up not depressed but not full of life. I suppose the latter is for me to accomplish. Either way if I am somewhere on the mood spectrum I would imagine I am just at the cusp. I have been able to accomplish more in my short time on this planet while having symptoms than most will in their lives. I have seen the med cocktails many are on and sympathize with those needing so many drugs to stay stable. My MD seems more concerned with treating the symptoms than a label. I asked her what she thought once and got a lot of "maybe" "I'm leaning towards," but no "you have..." I guess I will just wait to see. There is an excellent nursing school in my hometown. Ultimately I would like to end up back there with my friends. Moving to Texas was a failed experiment. Introvert in a new town makes it hard to make friends. My whole situation makes me think its more a situational depression in a chemically sensitive individual, it all got worse when I came down here. I trust my MD....i think. So we will see what happens at the next meeting. Thank you All!!

Thank you all so much for the input. I suppose not getting a definitive answer from the BON would suggest not disclosing bipolar when i in fact i dont (or at least the full blown version), or a definite diagnosis. Insurance companies make a distinction between the two and i heard some people can be diagnosed as both bipolar and cyclo.I suppose i am just freaking out for no reason. It just seems ridiculous that that a junkie not in treatment can get through without a problem and honest people may get screwed and worry senselessly. Doing some research it seems like texas is the exception to the norm along with Ohio and as one mentioned Virginia. I wasnt concerned with going through the program so much but i certainly didnt plan on sticking around texas for another two years because of it. So it seems best to get the education here and apply for my license in a friendlier state. Or just go straight for the BSN back home in Wisconsin. Im fortunate to not have any thing to tie me down here. It is pretty funny that i could get licensed in wisconsin and come back here to work since they are both compact states. Texas is crazy they ask the same question when trying to get your drivers license. Again, thank you all for the input. Sorry for any typos im typing on a tiny phone.

Hello all! I have been lurking around on here for a bit trying to find an answer about tx BON and DOs for mental illness. I am possibly diagnosed with cyclothymic disorder...its still up in the air. I have worked up the muster to pursue nursing. I have contacted the BON and TPAPN to try and determine if this is something that I will need to disclose to sit for the NCLEX, the answers I received aren't really clear. I am not sure if this is technically considered bipolar. I have heard varying professional opinions on it in spite of what the DSM says. It just seems like a very grey area. The horrible part is that if I do have to disclose this I have read you are referred to TPAPN. I can't find information on what the TPAPN track for mental illness is on their website. Do I really have to stay in this program for two years? Will I even be able to find a job? I am going LVN -> RN -> BSN/MSN? route to get experience and education. Who is going to hire a fresh LVN in TPAPN. Is there anyone that can give me some insight. My other option is to get my education here in TX and move out to be licensed elsewhere. Maybe I am making mountains out of mole hills.