Bipolar disorder and living with it

[BelgianMadCow]

I wonder how many on DU have a bipolar disorder, and how those who do organize their life.
I am diagnosed with having type II, and I think I have mixed state.
My wife and I are wondering to what degree we have to adapt our life.

Any input from knowledgeable DUers is more than welcome.

regards
bmc

[cutlassmama]

1. I have it. Take 6 medications for it and am on disability.

I have type I though.

[BelgianMadCow]

2. Thanks for responding

I hope you live a happy life nonetheless cutlassmama!
:hug:

[lildreamer316]

3. Kicking.

Sorry can't help more. Best of luck..glad you got diagnosed. I know so many ppl who refuse to go...and they are paying for it,and so are the people who love them.
:hug:

[BelgianMadCow]

9. sweet of you!

I always post in the wee hours from europe, thanks for the kick
:hi:

[MadHound]

4. I don't have bipolar disorder,

However growing up my father had it, and didn't treat it despite all the entreaties of his family and friends. It was a living hell in my house. Please, please, even when you're feeling good and feeling like you don't need the drugs or therapy, please continue to follow the regimen.

Good luck, I feel for you and send you my best. If you have any major weapons, guns, etc., please remove them, you never know.

[BelgianMadCow]

11. I tended to quit therapy when I feel bad

but I got smarter than that luckily.
Thanks for your input. My grandfather had it as well, genetics play quite a role.

[MorningGlow]

5. I don't have it, but a close friend does

She posts here occasionally. She might weigh in if she's noodling around. She has type 2 and is doing an amazing job at staying stable, despite lots of unpleasant elements of her life that should easily send her round the bend! I'm very proud of her vigilance--she takes charge of her illness.

[formerrepuke]

6. I have it..and so does my dad; I have learned to be 'in touch' with my feelings

...enough so that I (usually) can tell what is genuine emotion, and what is the result of chemical imbalance. Its a bit like using logic to override the imbalance. It doesn't always work.. but medication certainly helps, also.

[Ellen Forradalom]

7. I have it

I take two meds and live a fairly normal life.

[BelgianMadCow]

13. I take two since 3/4 of a year now

And I had the longest period of being not depressed ever since being 19, about 4 months.
Unfortunately, the doc didn't follow the dosage in my blood of the stabiliser as you're supposed to, and let go of the antidepressant too abruptly and since a couple weeks I feel like shit. Changed doctor now.

Thanks for giving me hope!

[Ellen Forradalom]

18. Oh, that kind of thing happens

Medicating mood disorders is still more art than science. Hang in there. It WILL get better.

[TrogL]

8. A few tips

• Take advantage of your highs so they offset your lows. Get your housework and work projects done.
  
• Anti-depressants may not be for you, ask your doctor about mood stabilizers
  
• Lithium may not work all that well for rapid cyclers
  
• Hide your money from yourself during manic swings
  
• On a depressive swing, remind yourself there's a manic swing just down the road
  

[WritingIsMyReligion]

10. I don't have it.

It fascinates me, though, to read about.

:hi:

[BelgianMadCow]

12. Well it is fascinating

although people with type I (clear manic phases) may find it "better" than I do, being depressed a majority of the time with a very rare and short upswing.
:hi:

There are a lot of fascinating examples of succesfull people with bipolar disorder (Churchill being one), but mainly type I I think.

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. I know someone who does.

He's living fine now, but has a history of travail. And is oddly willing to judge others utterly, in spite of having had his own dire problems.

I've found a greater understanding of others' fear and problems through my own issues (not bi-polarity). Odd how some hunker down out of fear instead of transcending. My advice is to transcend. Good luck.

[StrongBad]

15. Don't have it but have known and dated people with it

It's a very unique condition for each person from what I've read and experienced directly. Some people are so on point in recognizing their symptoms and what having this disease entails that they can lead an extremely normal life and have people not close to them not even know they have it.

Others, either b/c they don't take medication or b/c it doesn't work for them, have a tougher time.

I think bottom line that aside from a good therapist/medication regimen, education about the disease and what you should expect to go through are most important.

[Vidar]

16. I've dealt with it most of my life, sometimes successfully, often disatrously.

[BelgianMadCow]

20. I can relate to the disasters

still being married is a miracle.

:hug:

[Vidar]

29. Alas, my former marriage was one of the disasters. I hope you continue

to fare better in that way.

[BelgianMadCow]

30. So do I

but my better half is running low on empty, patience-wise...

[Eurobabe]

17. You need an "Other" my mom is BP

Knowing as much as you can about being bipolar, goes along way to understanding it. My mom's has gotten worse as she has aged (she is now 66) but there are other mitigating factors (thyroid condition) Multiple med changes to find the right cocktail have proved to be difficult and frustrating. She in an episode right now, and I never know from one day to the next how she is going to be mood-wise because the 2nd drug a doc added hasn't kicked in yet. Sometimes it is scary and overwhelming for me, and all I can do is not take her moods personally and try to support her as best I can.

A tip -- make sure they check your thyroid levels. Doctors should do a CBC with thyroid before they prescribe meds, there is some connection between thyroid levels (high or low) and bipolar. Make sure your doc checks you for autoimmune thyroiditis (hashimotos or graves, not sure which end of the spectrum they are talking about in this article) Hashis or Graves diseases affect the thyroid and can make people either manic or depressed, and with both you can swing between the two states.

Best of luck in your journey.... :hug:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-06/uopm-rzi061405.php#

[Rising Phoenix]

19. I have bipolar 1 ...mixed state

as well as other illnesses and it currently rules my life, despite medication....hoping for this to change soon....:hug:

[BelgianMadCow]

22. Here's to hoping along with you

:toast:
:hug:

[Rising Phoenix]

25. cheers

and if you ever need to talk...PM me...

[ironflange]

21. I'm not bipolar, but I picked the second one. . .

On behalf of my daughter, who is now sixteen. She's been diagnosed for half her life now, since she was eight, and we're very grateful we caught it early. She leads a perfectly normal life, thanks to her three meds and a wonderful psychiatrist. She uses it to her advantage now, as she's a passionate singer, dancer, actress, and artist. Touched with fire. We're not free of problems by any means, she still hits down times, such as right now, so sometimes her school work suffers, but she's at the alternative high school so she has a lot of flexibility. She's never going to be able to cope without the pills and therapy, but she will live a normal life.

[BelgianMadCow]

23. That is wonderful

especially of you guys to find it out so soon!!
That it starts before puberty is rather unusual.

Glad to hear about the passion - wish I felt that more often (many BP people don't want to miss out on the high times lol).

:thumbsup:

[libodem]

24. Don't have it

But I married my first husband not knowing that he had it. I learned a lot from the ups and downs. His was classic. Exaggerated self-importance, spent money like a drunken sailor, not sleeping for days, etc. Then he'd get depressed, be a slug and one time tried to kill himself. I've known several people since including a friend who recently moved to Michigan and my poor exSIL. Seems like a lot of them have been Rx'ed antipsychotics. If they weren't crazy when they started they are now. It seems like a real challenge to get the medications right. I still have hope for my exSIL. She and my friend who moved away are both disabled from the mood and thought disorders it causes and are applying for disability. Thank God, I'm just depressed, and the Wellbutrin is working. (So you know I am not judgmental about BP, I have my problems, too.):pals:

[graywarrior]

26. Was diagnosed in 1980 and stayed on medication til 1990

Been off all meds since then. Did a complete change in diet and lifestyle and have maintained a relatively smooth existence without meds since then. Had help from a shrink going off meds. I am really, really strict about food---no sugar, no alcohol, no flour, no meat. I also do intense aerobic exercise 4-5 days a week.

I am not recommending this for anyone. It just worked for me.

[Ellen Forradalom]

27. I've scaled way back on the potentially destabilizing food

and work out like a mother. It really helps me, too.

[graywarrior]

28. I just fear getting an injury or moving to a place where I can't work out

I would have to run 10 miles a day to equal what I am doing now--spinning.

[Roon]

31. My ex-lover had bipolar

We decided that we can't live together while he was suffering. In this town, he can't get any help for his condition. He moved to Wyoming with his new lover to start a new life...he is still sick though and is not on the right meds....

[bridgit]

32. i do not, but know some who have, adaptation on some level will be key...

whether you to others, others to you, or yourself to the world of nutrition, glandular secretion/release (or lack), internal chemical production & pharmacology