The Bipolar Support Thread

[BippityBoppity87]

Hi everyone Just thought I'd start a shiny new thread for anyone who is suffering from bipolar disorder.

Hope everyone is ok!

Yeah it was! I did a lot of stupid stuff. Calmed down a bit now thank god.

We’re still living together, but I don’t know what my next step will be. I might look into supportive housing as I don’t think I will be able to cope on my own. I’ll need to ask my cpn to help me.

Hey everyone, how has everyone been doing?

So I’ve been put on lithium, to the ever growing list of medications. So I’m now on sertraline, lamotrigine, risperidone and lithium, but my psych is hoping that I’ll eventually just be on lamotrigine and lithium.

I’ve been hovering around a 4 mood wise, I don’t think I’ll ever be a 5. I seem to jump from a 4 to a 7/8 and no in between.

I feel like my life is just one big shit show. I just wanted to sit down and cry yesterday as I’m finding everything too overwhelming. Feeling sorry for myself

I hope the lithium works well for you. I was on it for a few years but when my psychiatrist retired I came off it. My bloods weren't getting done and I had a constant shake so stopped taking it. When it worked it was good though. Glad your docs are taking good care of you.

I've been really low. I was going to start sertraline again but can't sleep so am just suffering. I pushed myself yesterday to leave the bedroom and go watch tv for a few hours but ended up back upstairs. I forced myself out to take my son for a haircut and then down to my parents for an hour.

I'm still so stressed about my ESA renewal. I feel physically sick thinking about it.

I feel better at night. After I've taken my meds. What time do you take your sertraline @BippityBoppity87 ?

Oh gosh sounds like you have a lot on your plate. I take my sertraline in the morning as it wakes me up. Still haven’t heard from pip yet.

I think I'll start my sertraline in the morning. I'm really down just now. It's an effort getting up and I'm so pleased my sons are older as I feel I'm neglecting them. They're fine though as long as they are fed and watered they don't take much looking after these days.

I'm depressed all day then take my nighttime meds and ping! I feel great. So awake though.

Oh the joys!

Yeah I would take it on the morning. I really struggle to look after my DC. My ex is his primary carer as I just can’t cope.

I think I’m on too many meds. I’m Stafford get the shakes. I’m only on 200mg lithium and it seems to have started since taking that.

My psychiatrist did say I was quite sensitive to meds though.

Way to many typos there haha. Just woke up, so just feeling a bit out of it still.

Remember to drink regularly when your on lithium. I took sertraline about half an hour ago so hopefully I should still sleep okay tonight. I'm really sensitive to meds too. I think I ended up on 800mg lithium. You'll need your bloods taken every few weeks to start with when you take it just till your levels go up.

Yeah I have a blood test in two weeks time. I was able to go on it straight away as they checked my levels when I was in hospital.

That’s good, hopefully that helps! I remember when I was just on sertraline without any other meds (before diagnoses) I felt like I had taken speed. It still wakes me up, but not to that degree anymore!

Lost track of this thread but relieved to see you’ve started lithium, even though I’m sometimes sort of ambivalent about taking it personally (and I started it twenty years ago!) you can’t really ignore the evidence for it. Hope you settle into it and feel better soon x

Yeah, tbh, I’m the most stable I’ve been in a long time, which is good. I’m only on the starting dose of 200mg at the moment.

I can't take these sertraline I've been awake since 3:30am and have a splitting sore head. I can't even sleep today because we're going out for dinner. I'm not tired anyway.

Happy Easter 🐣 I hope you are all well.

Oh gosh that sounds hard. Can you ask to try a different anti depressant? I’ve heard good things about mirtazapine, I can’t take it though as it made me worse, but it might work for you. Can be used as a sleep aid as well.

Well just as I thought I was getting my life back on track, I stupidly went out last night, pulled my (girl) friend, made another friend( have her number for some reason) and pulled this random guy. Why do I do this?! Why can I not just be a normal human being!?

Don't be so hard on yourself. I take it you were drunk? I'm a lunatic when I drink so just don't anymore. Which is easier said than done. You'll feel better tomorrow but stop beating yourself up!

Yeah I had a few drinks, and this is why I don’t drink! I’m ok now, I’ve gotten over the trauma!

My MP just called to say she had spoken to the ESA assessment centre and it looks like I won't have to go for an assessment or have a home visit as they have enough medical information to male their decision without a visit. But they report back to DWP so fingers crossed I don't need an assessment

That’s good! @DiaryofWimpyMumm

I have my pip assessment on Friday. Really never out about it. Anyone have any advice?

Nervous about it *

Take your ex partner with you. Just answer honestly, they'll ask you questions about who cooks the meals, what's a typical day for you, do you get dressed or do you need prompting? Do you go out? Do you need help going out etc good luck!

Ah ok thanks! Yeah I need help with all those things. I’m ya quite bad really.

Hope today goes or has been okay for you @BippityBoppity87

Thanks @DiaryofWimpyMumm didn’t go as bad as I thought it would and the lady was really nice. I’d heard so many horror stories.

She did ask when was the last time I showered and I said erm.. I want to say 3 days ago. Not going to lie I’ve been wearing the same clothes the past 3 days including bed.

You'll be glad it's over with. Hopefully you should hear on the next few weeks. I still haven't heard from DWP about my ESA. They make the decision so until I hear from them I'm not feeling relieved as yet.

I'm bored today. Both boys have friends in so it's been a constant stream of people coming and going to the door.

I’m not in a good way. Haven’t showered in the best part of 3 days, just want to stay in my bed and not wake up pretty much. I went and met a guy, I know I shouldn’t have, but I did because I’m an idiot and now I just feel absolutely worthless. My whole life is a mess.

My cpn wants to see me next week, but I have no idea what I’m going to say. I don’t want to tell them everything in case they put me in hospital again.