Blood tests over Christmas to check lithium levels.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

I've just gone onto lithium (end of last week) and I know I need to get the levels checked at the end of this week. However everywhere is closed due to Christmas. My psychiatrist said something would be sorted, but I've rung the cmht and they have no idea of this or what I can do.

If anyone else in on lithium where do you go/what could I do/will it matter if I don't get it checked?

[Mitchy1nge]

can it be done at gp surgery early next week?

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

I asked, but apparently not, as it's the first week of it. So it has to be taken by a mh professional place, preferably where they can alter the dose more easily.

I'm skeptical that it really matters this much tbh but they have frightened me into believing that it has to be done and is a Big Deal.

[Mitchy1nge]

it must be business as usual at the hospital over Christmas, could you get there? Is a bit of a nuisance isn't it

given that lithium takes so many weeks to build up anyway you'd think they could have started it after the holidays

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

The hope was to go to the local psychiatric hospital, but the receptionist who was sorting it out for me wasn't sure if she could arrange that despite the psychiatrist saying it was fine

According the the psychiatrist/my own view I was more manic than I should have been, hence beginning the lithium now.

[Mitchy1nge]

are you on another anti-manic for the time being?

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

No, unless quetiapine is?

[Muumi123]

In my experience the psychiatrists seem to promise things that won't work in practise. Hopefully you get your test sorted.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

I've had quite mixed experiences, but this one is brilliant. He looks exactly like Freud, and, with the exception of being slightly odd at the first meeting, he has been great. I think it's in his interests that I get the bloods/lithium sorted so I can't imagine him promising it'll happen when it doesn't, as it does need to, if that makes sense.

[Queenofknickers]

I always have my lithium levels checked at GP surgery - and blood taken by phlebotomist - it doesn't need to be an MH person. GP should also be able to interpret results. I've been on lithium for nearly a year and it's been great

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

It's because this will be the first test, so the psychiatrist said it wouldn't work for the first one to be taken there.
I've had a call from cmht offering me. Blood test on...the only day I'm away over Christmas...so I might have to push for the doctors to do it.

[Mitchy1nge]

any luck? It won't always be this difficult, once you are settled on it

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

I've just rung them and I can have them done on the Tuesday at the mh centre/hospital/jobby.

Glad it won't always be this difficult.

[Mitchy1nge]

well, hopefully not anyway

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

The cmht building has a regular drop in for bloods once a week, so as long as we have no more Friday bank holidays that should be ok.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

After finally sorting somewhere to have blood taken, finding it and everything, just discovered they can't take blood because they don't have a request form from the psychiatrist. Agh. And again agh.

[Mitchy1nge]

oh how annoying! It's such a straightforward thing really and a very basic test once they have the blood - but anyway how are you finding the actual lithium itself so far?

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

The issue today seems to be whether it is a FBC or just a lithium test. Fine.

Still wavering between non stop doing and talking, and then sobbing in JL because I can't decide what to buy in their cafe and it is just too beautiful in there.

It is making me more mentallynormal re eating and self-harming- , am acting like a normal person. Just that inside my head either everything isn't happening fast enough or I am a slug.

Dizziness has worn off, thankfully.

[Mitchy1nge]

yay it is already working its magic!

you inspire me to pick up my prescription, bit overdue

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

Go and get it. Go on.

If I have to take this mammoth pill you have to too.

[Mitchy1nge]

I will see if dispensary is still staffed this afternoon

am on a v low dose at the moment anyway so prob not therapeutic

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

Mine is 200mg, so I think that's pretty low.

Failing getting it, stay in and watch "minors in designers" because that is what all the mentally normal people are viewing currently.

[Mitchy1nge]

sadly I missed the dispensary but I will get it tomorrow while I am still mentally normal enough to want some

yeah that is a homeopathic dose to start with, but you might be lucky enough to respond and do well on it. 1200 keeps me at about 0.8 which is ok unless I'm Being Mental and then it has to go up.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

Oh well, aim for tomorrow instead.

The psychiatrist wavered between starting me on 200 or 400, but decided due to my "slight stature" I could begin on the lower dose and then move up if needed.
I definitely haven't had manic episodes I've seen/heard about, just speeded up thinking/speaking driving shopping everything else

[Mitchy1nge]

is useful in many ways, not just against mania. I think it's a great antidepressant too but not everyone agrees

[Mitchy1nge]

I will remember it tomorrow