New to this forum.. LONG

Hi
I normaly hang out on the VSG forum but thought someone here might be able to give me some insight. 

A little background.  My DH is a manic depressive(I think that is the official diagnosis anyway it has been a while) and has been on medication for almot 8 years.  His prosac was recently upped to 2 pills a day.  Prozac has changed our life drastically for the better and saved our marriage.  We go to councelling once a month for maintience now.  He is so much better but there are some issues I feel he needs to resolve but he just blames it on his problem and says that it cant be helped.  For one he is a complete couch potato, he can watch TV for 12 hours straight and it drives me NUTS.  It seems that if he got up and moved he would feel bettter but there is allways an excuse.  I get drepressed when I do it with him and I dont have issues like he does.  Today we both have the same virus (stomach bug)   but where I have halfway cleaned the house he is still in bed.  Am I asking too much, I do know that being tired of sick makes depression worse, but is he just using those things as an excuse?  Or is his med wrong still?  he is so much better that I dont know what to think.  I want him to be truely happy and for us to have a life together not just to coexist if you KWIM.  I just need insight, he will not do much more than make excuses to me and because of that I dont know what to believe.  Hope someone here can help.

Emily
My father was manic....I know EXACTLY what you are going through.  My father was on lithium and it was his life saver.....but I he also had heart problems.  Manic can really be a BI**H and so hard on EVERY one in the family.  My father would lay around, wear the same clothes for days, sometimes not bath for days.....these were the signals that things were not right and we would take him to the doctor and usually they would admit him and get the meds back in him (he would just stop taking the meds for some reason)....laying around was one of the sure signs things were going right....when Daddy's meds were right he was up and around, working in the yard, doing things....you might consider seeing someone else or telling his doctor about the signs and see if meds can be adjusted.....good luck.

OMG that is just like DH.  He can not shower for days if he is down and stay in the same clothes!  I am a very postive person and have a hard time relating to this.  Thanks for the support.  it really sounds like he needs to see a specialist.  Getting him to the GP and on Prozac was a great statrt but it is not the cure.

The correct diagnostic label is not Bi Polar disorder (manic-depressive stopped about 10 yrs. ago). Anyway, there are different degrees and criteria:
Bi Polar mixed, manic, NOS
Med's commonly prescribed for Bi Polar:  Lithium, Depacote, Abilify. The first two require regular blood draws to check for levels. 
ALSO--SOME MEDS CAN AFFECT TESTOSTERONE LEVELS IN MEN. THEY GET LIKE NEUTERED CATS. He should have his hormone levels checked as well. 
I would suggest you and he be in contact with a MH professional in your area. (sounds like you are).  Additionally, he shoud NOT be having his psychiatric meds being managed by a general doc, as they typically don't stay up on the changes (manic depressive?) Anyway, make a consult with a PSYCHIATRIST (Medical Doc specialing in psychologial and neurological disorders who can prescribe and monitor meds).

Good luck to you both---
Kathy

He is not Bipolar since they are up and down, he is never really up KWIM?  He can be OK but like I told the councelor today I would love to some day see him really happy.  that is not something he usually experiences.  I mean he has moments, but not in general.  I will look into getting him to see a specialist not just his GP.  He will fight me on it but in th long run I think he will do what I beg him to do.

I hope you can find some help - sounds like councelling couldn't hurt but I don't really know. I wish I had something for you.

(((((Emily Rose)))))

It is just nicce to have the support.  Thanks!

You posted  "My DH is a manic depressive(I think that is the official diagnosis anyway it has been a while) and has been on medication for almot 8 years."   Manic Depressive is no longer a diagnosis. The correct terminology based on the DSM-IV-R  is Bi Polar Disorder. Just wanted to clarify that for you.
If your dh is constantly down, lethargic, no joy or interest in typical things, then 1) could be mis-diagnosed and could possibly be dysthymic disorder (chronic depression). 2) could be Bi Polar NOS or predominantly depressive features. HOWEVER if he is not cycling, then I question his early dx of Manic Depressive/Bi Polar DO.
3)If this were a patient, I'd be looking at a very in depth psycho-social evaluation, as well as CBC, Metabolic Panel, and inclusive of hormone levels.  Obviously if he is down, depressed, and has been on Prozac, HELLO!?!? It isn't working!  Also please go online and look at the side effects, particularly in depressed persons not responding to tx with Prozac.  Sounds like meds are not right.

Best of luck to you...I understand it is hard for you and you want to find answers for his sake....Take Care of You as well.

Thank you so much for the in debth info.  I thnk after reading your post he has chronic depression but again i could be wrong

I can say that prozac brought him WAY up from where he was 7 years ago.  Before he talked about sucicide and would curl up in the bed almost crying when things got overwhelming.  prozac has brought him to where he is just down but not really happy,  I am not sure if I am explaining this right.  He only gets really down periodically.  (This is hard to explain typing)  I do agree that we need to see a phycharistrist though, because although he has improved drastically, he still has a way to go.  He is not one that does not take his medicine so if the Dr puts him on it he will do whatever treatment that is needed, thank goodness for that. 

i am so glad I came here.  I have learned already more than I knew before.  i will look for a new Dr for him and also see about getting his hormones checked.  His sex drive is definitly down since the med increase that he had recently.  Again thanks!

You are very welcome Emily.  Oh, and a P.S. regarding the sex drive...almost all SSRI'S, which Prozac is definately one, have the side effect of decreased or extinguished libido. An exception, based on clinical studies and trials, is Welbutrin. (Bet those were fun studies to conduct!)

Best of luck to you...and remember You Need To Take Care of You Too!

Hugs,
Kathy