Bipolar anyone....

[MissTired]

ive just been diagnosed bipolar and wondering if anyone else on here has bipolar and wants to chat?

MissTired - sorry I don't have any experience of bipolar but I'm sure others will be along soon to share their experiences. I believe however that there are some very good drugs (lithium being one of them) that are effective in bipolar disorder.

Sending you warm wishes and hoping that you get the help and support you need.

thanks for your post, im supposed to be starting on lithium on 10th i think if blood tests etc come back ok

thanks xx

I wasdiagnosed bipolar this yr. On low dose quetiapine. Doing well. Happy 2 talk if u want 2

hiya handmedownqueen (love the name by the way!) do you have any ups and downs on the meds?? where abouts in country are you?? im in nottinghamshire (with loads of snow!)
xx

I'm near Manchester. It was a first episode in my late thirties. Mixed affective state meaning I was mixed manic and depressed. Nearly caused my marriage 2 collapse because of typical manic behaviours. - say no more!!! Went on for about six months. Caused by stress of an extremely bad work situation. I settled really quickly on meds and love feeling normal again!!! Frightened about the future but taking good care of myself exercise diet sleep and avoiding alcohol as much as possible. My psych recommended a couple of good books - coping with bipolar disorder

btw the name is cos I have five kids!!!

Hi, I've just been diagnosed as well, three weeks ago, type 2. Am having a really hard time understanding and accepting it all. I'm being put on anti-d's first just to rule out "regular" depression - I insisted, but have been told that there is a large chance that I will get hypomanic on the med's. Have been given strict instructions to be very careful and to get help if I feel myself going in that direction and am going back to dr's in two weeks to evaluate. Have not started med's - I never even take aspirin and it is a huge obstacle to even go to the chemist which I haven't done yet... Have been told that Zyprexa is their first choice and having googled zyprexa I am now terrified. So a bit in limbo at the moment. "Handmedownqueen" - do you think any of your children are/will be affected? My oldest son (only 5) is sensitive/moody and can be difficult so I am really worried that he will have to deal with this aswell. "MissTired" do you have family and friends who can help you? I haven't been able to talk to anyone about this because I am having such a hard time, despite having the best Mum and a really close family. Do you both wokr, or how do you deal with your every day life?

My kids are so much better for me being me again. When I was ill I didn't fit into my life at all. Moody irritable and unhappy. I'm so happy again now I'm well. I too have massive issues with the idea I have this illness but the change in me for taking meds is so dramatic I have to accept the idea of it. Quetiapine is like zyprexa an antipsychotic. I really balked at taking it but my advice would be to give it a go and see what happens. You might get a lot better and then you'll know whether you want to take it
I do work inthe NHS. I had a short time off sick but am back to work fine now.

My kids are so much better for me being me again. When I was ill I didn't fit into my life at all. Moody irritable and unhappy. I'm so happy again now I'm well. I too have massive issues with the idea I have this illness but the change in me for taking meds is so dramatic I have to accept the idea of it. Quetiapine is like zyprexa an antipsychotic. I really balked at taking it but my advice would be to give it a go and see what happens. You might get a lot better and then you'll know whether you want to take it
I do work inthe NHS. I had a short time off sick but am back to work fine now.

I realise that my family will benefit if I can find a medication that suits me, which is what keeps me going basically. I can't give up, roll into a ball into a corner and stop living - In have two children who are my whole world and I so want to be well for them. I work as well, but I recognise that the stress from my job is not healthy for me and probably makes me worse in periods. I will have to evaluate a career change - more decisions to make and thoughts to keep me up all night!

well my anti depressants are definately making me kind of hypomanic i think, off to the gp on monday then back to the psychiatrist on friday so hopefully between them they will decide what to do with them and on friday i should be starting the lithium which might help with a bit of luck!! its so hard i think with kids as we just want to put them first and be there for them and in my case i dont always accept that actually he needs more than me just being here he needs me to be calm and rational and normal rather than either so down i want to die or hyper and cant sit still, busy all the time with random things and too crazy to care. Im hoping i will be a different mum on the meds but who knows. i dont work as im just a full time mum as my son has autism and its just impossible to get a job to fit around him etc i have no idea how i would manage working through all these manic and low periods

glad its not just me on here like this its nice to know others are about too xx

Only just seen this. I was diagnosed in July. Been on lithium since then. I have had a hard time coming to terms with it. From acceptance to denial and back again. I am a teacher and have had some long term time off in past. I am currently working 0.5 which is better, but I have to go back full time in sept which I am not looking forward to.

I have a ds, and I know I need to be well for him. I always wanted more children, but it doesn't look likely for me with the meds and everything.

My biggest issue at moment is that Lithium makes me feel sick, and am having trouble sleeping. And I am tired all the time! But I do feel more stable and that is a good thing

My mil is bipolar. I am married to her only son (she was diagnosed after having him) I just wanted to let you know that my mil is an amazing woman an's things get better. She has had many episodes over the years but now she has been able to severly lower her medication and cope perfectly. Her son has also not been affected, instead he is much more emotionally mature and understanding and caring than any man I have ever met. He had to care for her (she was a single mum) abd has dealt with alot. Especially when he was a child. But they talk about everything and how she feels and I actually think it's made him a better man in some ways.

Was diagnosed about 10 yrs ago, has never sat comfortably with me but am sick of arguing about it. Haven't been in hospital for about six years which is great, though if it wasn't for advent of home treatment might have had a couple of admissions since then.

As of fairly recently am back on lithium monotherapy (is that the word?) and hoping to steer clear of antipsychotics as am determined not to tolerate the weight gain ever again! Have been through millions of meds and have accepted that antidepressants are not good for me. Still crave reboxetine though.

whenisitgunnahappen that does help, thank you.

I'm bipolar - I was diagnosed about 2 years ago. Have been on quetiapine as well but have found that in recent months counseling has helped me to stay well.

When I'm unwell my life is a different world. I can't function properly. I live in hope that I won't have any more episodes.

It's such a frustrating illness - I know some people feel differently about it but as I have 3 children the impact on them is terrible if I get ill.

electra- I think that is why I was much more willing to accept help after ds was born, it is more important now that I stay well.

roslily, have you been offered any self management training? MDF might still run courses. I recommend them, think funding might be an issue though.

No I haven't, just meds. I will look on mdf website.