Question:
I'm Bi-Polar & On 2 Meds For It - Anyone In Similar Position "2006"
I have Bi-Polar & am on Lamictal & Seroquel for it for many years now. So far they have controlled my symptoms. I also have Medicare (1st insurer) and Aetna (2nd insurer) do you think this will stand in my way for operation??? I'm in my middle 50's does age also play a part. So confused...but going to the doctor March 24, 2006. — silentwriter (posted on March 18, 2006)
March 18, 2006
I know of bi polar patients getting WLS. Its IMPORTANT to get liquid meds
for the immediate post op period when you cant take pills. DONT GO OFF YOUR
MEDS RIGHT AFTER SURGERY!
— bob-haller
March 18, 2006
Here is my .02. This was something that was completely overlooked by my
surgeon. I was taken off all of my psychotropics. All of them. For 7
days. I nearly ended up back in the hospital only this time in a different
ward if you know what I mean. You MUST make sure your surgeon understands
how important this is. You MUST make sure your mental health provider is
working with you as well, so that right after surgery, you are back on your
meds as soon as possible. I wish you a good outcome.
Chris
— CChappell
March 18, 2006
i am bi-polar, was approved by Cigna, I have taken lamectal and serequel b4
also, good luck, this should not hold you back if your psych dr will ok you
for surgery
— rmc5605
March 18, 2006
I'm Bi-Polar and didn't have any problem with getting approved. I didnt
have to go through the physc approval because the doctor I was already
seeing wrote a letter saying
that he found my condition to be stable. I don't think your age will
affect your approval. Good luck.
— badkidzmom
March 18, 2006
Good answers from everyone! I have chronic depression, and restarted my
Zoloft as soon as my NG tube was out. I would ask you doctor if there are
any similar IV forms of your meds you could have until you are allowed oral
fluids. (Not everyone has an NG tube, so you may be able to restart them
even faster than 3 days). Barix Clinics said that they sort of have age 60
as their top age, but will go a bit higher in certain circumstances. We
are living a lot longer these days and want all of our years to be as
healthy as possible. I also was able to have my own psychiatrist write a
letter supporting my need for surgery and my competency for it. Good luck!
Valerie Z.
— ValerieZ
March 18, 2006
I don't think you will have a problem with being cleared as far as the
bipolar is concerned, as long as your psych. doctor feels you are stable
mentally. I am bipolar take 1,500 mg depakote, 20 mg paxil, & 1 mg
klonopin ( i did have to change my depakote to liquid for my upcoming
surgery 4/5) the other (2) pills are very small and i don't feel i will
have a problem with them...but we will see. As far as age i believe my
surgeons age limit is also in the 60's range.hope this helped somewhat~good
luck
— tiffany E.
March 18, 2006
I am also on Lamictal (yeah, I love what it's done for me) My Dr. is very
supportive and will perscribe it in a liquid form when it is time for my
surgery. She also said it is fine to crush them. She has also written a
letter of support, adressing the phmacology of my medication, my mental
readiness for wls and available support systems for all the changes that
are sure to come afterwards. Please talk to your psychiatrist well before
surgery. Good Luck on your surgery. Laura J.
— lbjohnson
March 19, 2006
I am bipolar and had the surgery in 2003. I was taking lithium and prozac
at the time. I has placed on liquid meds for a few days following the
procedure and had my lithuim level checked very often afterwards to make
sure that as I was losing that I was not being overdosed. My psych doc did
have to write a letter stating that he felt that I was bing managed well on
my meds and I also went through the psych eval with the doc my surgeon
recommended as well. I was completely honest about my disorder and it
helped me and my surgeon to better maintain my disorder after the surgery.
Good luck to you.
— KittyKatt
March 19, 2006
Age will not play into it usually. Went I went to my first meeting with the
dr there were a number of people much older than myself there...I am 47
— RobertMiller
March 19, 2006
I have not had WLS yet, but when I went to the first WLS doc I was taking
Seroquel and Lamictal. DON'T STOP TAKING YOUR MEDS SUDDENLY!! Make sure
your doc knows you are on these meds. I was in the hospital for a
different reason and I was ABRUPTLY taken off ALL of my meds including
Seroquel and Lamictal. I got soooo sick. It was awful. Good luck with
everything!!
— Agrippina05
March 19, 2006
I'm also bipolar, taking lamictal, buspirone, and effexor. I had a consult
with my Psych once I found out all my meds needed to be in liquid, chewable
or crushed. At the mg that I take Lamictal I am better off crushing the
meds, lamictal does not come in liquid form and the dissolving kind only
comes in 25mg. My buspirone also is the same story, and very difficult to
crush since it is so compact. However, the effexor should be the easiest
to take, since I can carefull pull the capsule apart and take it with a
spoonful of yoghurt or applesauce, etc. I never was denied because I was
diagnosed as being bipolar as a matter of fact I was approved by both
insurance companies after the first letter (UHC, EPO and BCBS-GA, PPO). I
am fortunate enough to be able to use both my insurance and my husband's
insurance. I haven't figured out yet how I'm going to manage meds right
before surgery and shortly thereafter, but I'm assuming that my surgeon
will help come up with a solution. I'm sure I'm not the first bipolar
patient he's worked with. :) Good Luck!!!
— sunpine26
March 20, 2006
I had no problem getting approved for surgery. I take Lamictal, lexapro,
lorazepam. The only day that I didnt take them is on the surgery day.
— cheymax
March 21, 2006
I am 6 months post WLS and bi-polar. I take Lamictal, wellbutrin and
trazadone. I have been stable with my meds for three years until last
Friday. All of the sudden I felt myself "sinking" and
"deconstructing" very quickly. IT FREAKED ME OUT. (as well as my
husband, my children and everyone else in my family). Bottom line- stay in
VERY CLOSE TOUCH with your med doc while losing weight. Your meds need to
be very carefully monitored while you are losing weight. For me, the dosage
I was taking at 235lbs is not the same dosage I need at 185lbs. It seems
obvious but I thought I would point it out.
Hope this helps-MB
— mb
May 1, 2006
I suggest that anyone who has a diagnosed mental illness or who is on
psychiatric meds, come right out, very first thing and ask the surgeon if
he/she will accept you for surgery.
The surgeon I was originally going to use refused to operate on anyone who
was bipolar, regardless of how well they were doing. NO exceptions. This
is something you need to know as soon as possible. The frustration and
disappointment is awful.
Good Luck to anyone else in this situation.
— Shanon ..
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