Haven't checked in for a bit and I thought that I'd pop in and let ya'all know what's been going on. To recap, about a year ago I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, and Bipolar Disorder. Finally we had an answer for my out of control mania/sex drive that was driving me, well, nuts!

I've been on a variety/combination of meds now for a year. My mental illness requires that I take a combination of four different meds. For once in my life I'm pretty stable mentally and my out of control mania/sex drive is gone! One of the side effects though is that with all of my meds there has been a huge cessation of testosterone. In other words along with becoming mentally stable I’ve also managed to become chemically castrated. If one wants to find out more about what changes mental health meds will have check out www.crazymeds.org (http://www.crazymeds.org) .

I’ve noticed that I’m starting to have quite a little atrophy with my penis and my scrotum feels like it’s changing too. In addition I’m starting to see several of the features that others speak about here that happens to one’s body when there is a lack of testosterone. In addition climax is pretty much impossible and when it does happen not much happens & hardly any serum is ejaculated.

My psychiatrist is considering putting me on a different med, Depakote, which in itself will completely cause my testicles to quit working completely. Right now I’m kind of ambivalent about switching to Depakote. If my psychiatrist does switch me I’ll make sure I fill everyone here in on what happens.

The good news in all of this is like I said earlier, my out of control sex drive is gone! I was sweating it big time last year that if something big didn’t change I was afraid I was going to do something stupid and wind up in jail, or worse. Now I have that worry no more!

bigwichita (imported) wrote: Tue Feb 28, 2006 3:59 am To recap, about a year ago I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, and Bipolar Disorder. Finally we had an answer for my out of control mania/sex drive that was driving me, well, nuts!

I'

m glad that you figured out what is going on! I was diagnosed with bipolar last summer. All I can say is that I'm glad I did not castrate myself. That would have made me *really* crazy. At least I know why my sex drive fluctuates so much. I hope everything stays stable for you.

I decided not to go down the medication route because of possibly bringing back some chronic fatigue syndrome stuff. Anyway, I just wanted to say hi especially since you are only a two hour drive from me.

Eventually I will post my journal online. Maybe it would help someone else. It is a little on the long side though--about 75,000+ words. You think anyone would actually read something that long?

I'

guy26 (imported) wrote: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:25 pm m glad that you figured out what is going on! I was diagnosed with bipolar last summer. All I can say is that I'm glad I did not castrate myself. That would have made me *really* crazy. At least I know why my sex drive fluctuates so much. I hope everything stays stable for you.

I decided not to go down the medication route because of possibly bringing back some chronic fatigue syndrome stuff. Anyway, I just wanted to say hi especially since you are only a two hour drive from me.

Eventually I will post my journal online. Maybe it would help someone else. It is a little on the long side though--about 75,000+ words. You think anyone would actually read something that long?

I think many of us would read it. I learn so much from so many folks who post their personal experiences. You might help someone who is going through something similar to you and reading your journal will let them know they are not alone.