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!

My DP isn't very happy. His words, 'what the hell have you been buying now?' Oops

Can you return it or is it nice?

It's alright. I think I might keep it. A bit tight around the tummy, but I need to lose weight anyway! Will aripiprazole make this difficult? I haven't noticed any appetite changes, mainly feeling a bit sick and tired. I'm tired a lot now. Thinking I probably didn't need the zoplicone after all!

It’s supposed to be weight neutral isn’t it? That’s why I was so upset not to be allowed it, was on chlorpromazine for years and actually doubled my weight during the first year 😩 it always seems to be the really fattening ones which work best for me. So unfair!

That's what the psych said, that it was weight nuatral. He was torn between that olanzapine, quetiapine or lamotrigine. I don't know what the differences are.

Why are you not allowed to take it Why if you don't mind me asking?

neutral 🙄

Aripiprazole olanzapine and quetiapine are all antipsychotics, lamotigrine is an anti convulsant but they’re all supposed to be better for bipolar depression than antidepressants, or as a mood stabiliser (something that treats or prevents both mania and depression, like lithium). I asked for aripiprazole but was told it would be ‘too activating’, same sort of problem I had with lamictal.

Ah ok, thanks He just said I was 10% hypomanic on Tuesday, felt like saying, you should have seen me a few weeks ago. Well I did mention wanting to paint the living room at 2am..

I work as a dog walker and walk, on average, eight miles a day.

I am two stone overweight.

I think that the quetiapine is a drug I need to drop as it causes weight gain.

I do have a weakness for cheese and drink too much white wine, but it still seems that I am heavier than I should be.

Bippity - before diagnosis, I would be up all night painting my home!

I just thought I was house proud

I used to think the same! Greyeye And I would get really angry if my DP or toddler messed it up. They thought I had OCD 🙄 which just annoyed me even more, I said no, you just like to live in a mess and it would stress me out until I cleaned. I would empty every cupboard out, spray wipe, organise, make sure all the labels were facing the right way etc. Get about 3/4 black bin bags and just dump it all and I still wouldn't be satisfied!

Yo fellow dog walker 👋 I found quetiapine quite fattening too, plus it just seemed to stop working despite going up to 800 mg - if I took 50mg now I’d be in a coma!

Went on to lurasidone and that was weight neutral but also mood neutral, it didn’t really do anything. Have you tried that?

I’ve never been so ill that I’ve cleaned the house 😂 I just make a huuuuge mess 😩

I go through phases. Sometimes I can go a good few days weeks without doing anything then I turn into that American YouTuber who dresses up as a mum and starts cleaning the house like a mad woman! I'll see if I can find the link.

This is me in a nutshell when I go on one of my cleaning sprees 😂

My latest Lego Star Wars set just arrived...

I am on lurasidone and find it weight neutral and relative good antipsychotic. Olanzapine was better but can't take it. Lurasidone is the only one I can tolerate side effects wise. I have tried most of them.

Olanzapine piles the weight on but is really good for hypomanic symptoms. I'll be up decorating the living room in the New Year! I'm actually looking forward to not feeling so numb

Has anyone told their employer that they have bipolar disorder? Do you have to disclose it? They know I have mental health issues, but nothing specific.

They have been very supportive though and I've had reasonable adjustments at work. Mainly not working too late and my shifts are more or less the same as this can trigger episodes quite badly.

Wow I'm so glad that I've found others that have the spending spree bug! It has gotten me in so much trouble and I have absolutely nothing to show for it.
I hate this time of night I get incredibly anxious and weepy and I'm really not sure why. Maybe the change of meds to amitrypline will be good as it will help me with to sleep better.
Nothing else to say really just feeling a bit

I hope you're feeling a bit better today freckles

This time on a Sunday is my down time, I'm not sure why, I just feel a little bit lost. Glad when it's time to take my meds and get into bed. I hope you guys are well.

Oh no freckles I've been feeling pretty rubbish too. I think I'm just run down with a bit of a cold, or a side effect to the meds, maybe a combination of the two.

I've worked 42 hours this week, over double what I usually work. Don't know how I managed that!

Double? My maths is atrocious More like 17 hours more than what I usually work. I've been up since 4am don't judge me