Lived Experience Forum

[Racer]

Hello, first post here. I have a totally hopeless situation I have Bipolar 1, combined with a severe headache disorder and tinnitus. I am so depressed and need help I’m at the end I can’t take anymore, and have no options left - medication snd ECT aggravate tinnitus snd have made it so loud that in it self make me suicidal, headaches are constant and I wake with the sickest simply cruel feeling knows my head I just cry.

I need ECT or some type of help my psychiatrist has written me off saying nothing can be done, I want to have ect and just be kept in a heavily sedated state during the course of treatment which I suggested but he with his usual arrogance just said not possible. I know really nothing can be done I’ve just had enough this is not a life at all.

[tyme]

Thank you for reaching out and posting your first post @Racer . It certainly takes a lot of courage to acknowledge things are tough at the moment.

I'm so sorry to hear of your chronic headaches and tinnitus - and to then have to manage various mental health conditions too.

From what you have written, you have tried a few things with this psychiatrist. Have you asked around for a second opinion? Sometimes, it takes 'fresh eyes' with a creative mind to brain storm ways to support patients. 

Do you have support networks around you who you can speak to?

Sitting with you,

tyme

[Robby1]

If I were you I'd get a second opinion from a different psychiatrist. Good luck.

[NatureLover]

Hi  and welcome, @Racer , it's good you've joined. 

I'm really sorry to hear of all you suffer, and that you feel you're out of options. 

I would echo the others in saying another psychiatrist might have a different opinion. I'm also wondering if you have a talk therapist? Like a psychologist?

You can certainly talk here, and we will listen. But a professional counsellor is really helpful, I've found. 

A handy forum tip is if you type @ and click on a name in the drop-down box, that person will get a notification and won't miss your reply. 

I hope you find the forums supportive. 

[NatureLover]

Hi and welcome too, @Robby1 !

[Scream58]

@Racer I'm hearing you on the headaches. Have you had them diagnosed?

I suffered for years with unbearable pain in my head which made me suicidal. The mental health professionals passed it off as a symptom of depression. Eventually a GP diagnosed it as Occipital Neuralgia and started me on a course of treatment & medication. Physical pain can be a huge contributor to depression. I still have bouts of depression caused by PTSD and more recently after a stroke but it's not constant like it was.

[Estellar]

Hi Racer, 

I have Bipolar 1, tinnitus, and vestibular migraine (the world spins, you throw up, then your head ache arrives) and I'm in the depression part of bipolar right now.   Have you seen a neurologist about your headaches and tinnitus?  Do you have any balance issues with your headaches?  I've had the headaches since I was 16 and have had heaps of different medications for them.  If a neurologist won't/can't help you, then it wouldn't hurt to see an Ear, Nose and Throat  specialist.  I've only been diagnosed with bipolar 1 for 2 years.  Also, find a new psychiatrist.  Nobody should be told that they're a hopeless case.  You deserve better.  You're entitled to a second opinion.  Don't give up.

[Racer]

I have had second and third diagnosis nothing can be done, I’m new to site so I’m not sure if I posted this before.

I have New Persistent Daily Headache and is just a constant headache 24 hours a day wakes me in sleep just cruel. So rare pharma won’t research as there is no profit to be had. There is only one pain medication that helps gives relief for 2 hours but I think has made anhedonia and depression way worse. I am addicted to them I don’t really care but would love to get off to see if depression lifts a bit.

pychiatrist told me I am worse off than terminal cancer patient it’s was then that I lost  all hope I hate that jerk but unfortunately he Is right I feel.

untreated bipolar patients are high risk. I don’t like talking to people they could never understand and say the stupidest things in response. I read in the UK they try injecting a steroid into the inner ear if patients that medications effect tinnitus snd even then it is rarely effective but of course here the practice isn’t accepted. My only hope is some alternate treatment or if they make exception and treat me as a unique patient and do course of ECT kept in sedated state for two weeks but they wouldn’t dare help someone out even in unique case.

some deep Brain Stimulation I think could help people in the future but it’s only in trial stage.

I joined this forum hoping by miracle someone had an option they were given.

[tyme]

Hey @Racer ,

I'm sorry to hear how difficult things are for you at this moment.

I'd really encourage you to get a second opinion about available treatments from a dr/specialist, because it doesn't sound like things are working for you at the moment.

As a peer support space, community members are unable to provide the medical advice you are probably hoping for?

All the best.

Happy to hear of how you go with any professionals if/when you are able to see them.

Kindest,

tyme