Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 1/8/2009

Question
I have always suffered from what I thought was ADD or ADHD (and a few members of my family for that matter). I occasionally have some manic-ish tenancies but they don't really bother me, they actually help me to get things done and relive me from the everyday ADHD-like symptoms that I deal with.  I have done much research and seem quite textbook when it comes to ADHD, it seems like they are talking ABOUT me!  I don't really deal with depression except a severe case of post partum depression about a year and a half ago.  I took Lexapro for about 5 weeks, felt great after 3 weeks and horrible after 4 weeks, depression starting to return.  I discontinued using it after the 5th week due to the way it was making me feel.  Other than that I don't really have depression issues at all, just low once in a while around my cycle time but only for a day or two.  I went to a psychiatrist yesterday, he reviewed my questionnaire and told me that I do not have ADD but I have Bipolar Disorder.  This came way out of left field for me and was very upsetting because all of these years I though I understood what was wrong with me.  Until yesterday I had not decided to have my symptoms relieved.  I'm also considering bariatric surgery and have some real weight I want to get off, he decided to prescribe me Topamax 25mg 2x A day.  I have taken a total of 3 pills and I am a zombie.  I cannot concentrate, my eyes are numb, I cannot taste (not a bad thing I guess), FEEL DEPRESSED, feel mopey... and so on.  I have decided not to take this anymore and am trying to get another appointment with him.  Why would he give me something that would MAGNIFY the very symptoms that made me walk in the door in the first place?  What says that I have Bipolar and not ADHD?  He was very brief, should I get a second opinion?  I have done research and saw that Wellbutrin works well for those who suffer from both, would this be a better alternative?  I really only want the inattentive symptoms treated,  I'm not bothered by the other things (maybe for other people but not for me at all).  I am disorganized at home and work and have issues with staying on track, this medication makes working IMPOSSIBLE.  What is there that I can take?  

Thank you so much!!

Answer
Hi Jamie,

You mentioned ADD, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder and depression, struggling wit being overweight and all these symptoms seem to point into one direction.

Please have a look and study:

Self Help Personal Growth Program at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/self-help_personal_growth.html

and ask to be referred to a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or Nutritional Psychologist if you want to.

Also search our web site for "Obesity + Depression".

The above program helps you to analyze your own problems and help yourself or get the assistance of a Nutritional Doctor or Clinical Nutritionist.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman