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About Me
barney50
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About Me
Mostly stable now for past year, and able to work out regularly and enjoy myself. I read constantly, love live music and dancing, work as a graphic designer for the last 20+ years, much of it freelance or self employed. I've got two grown up kids (not sure if they are adults, or if I am either!), and have a large very close family that spends lots of time playing together. No one seems to really know much about the BP, those nearest are as supportive as I let them be. I tend to put up walls and disappear when my mood crashes. Been BP2 since 18, didn't get diagnosed til much later, had quarterly swings for years (til now!!), lots of drugs, accupuncture, rolfing, ect (twice), tried it all… not going to give up. It won't beat me.
Mostly stable now for past year, and able to work out regularly and enjoy myself. I read constantly, love live music and dancing, work as a graphic designer for the last 20+ years, much of it freelance or self employed. I've got two grown up kids (not sure if they are adults, or if I am either!), and have a large very close family that spends lots of time playing together. No one seems to really know much about the BP, those nearest are as supportive as I let them be. I tend to put up walls and disappear
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Interests
Random and interesting conversation with positive creative people, World music, dancing, Big fat novels (particularly historical ones), art, soccer, movies, live theater, sampling new restaurants
Random and interesting conversation with positive creative people, World music, dancing, Big fat novels
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Recent Activity
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Journal
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Hugbook
Miss You
Miss ya!
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Rainbow
Hope things are going well for you. That your days are filled with sunshine and rainbows. Sending peace, hugs & luv. xo
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Hug
Hi, my friend. I hope you are well.
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Miss You
Thinking of you.
Funny Face
long time no see. i hope all is well
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Photos
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Support Groups
Close Bipolar Disorder
Been battling bipolar for 30 years. Have short mild mania preceding and following deep depressions that hit with each season change. I am determined not to let this condition define me, but I'd sure love to look at the season changing as something positive, rather than time to hunker down for a fight. I am tenacious in my fight against this malady.
Treatments
- Abilify Somewhat Helpful
- Abilify worked with the moods really well, but caused scary parkinson's like tremors, so i had to discontinue.
- Celexa Not Working
- Saw no improvement
- Depakote Not Working
- No improvement, made my hair fall out and gained 15 lbs in two weeks so it was discontinued
- Holistic Health Somewhat Helpful
- Tried accupuncture, rolfing massage, chiropractic
- Lamictal Working / Worked
- 200 mg is working well for me.
- Lithium Not Working
- Did nothing to stabilize moods, lots of undesirable side effects with no benefit
- Risperdal Not Working
- Discontinued, didnt see any change
- Seroquel Working / Worked
- Currently taking 800mg, and its INCREDIBLY expensive at that dosage, even with insurance, but, hey, it works.
- Tegretol Not Working
- Tried for several months, no improvement in mood control, had significant weight gain
- Topamax Working / Worked
- Taking for control of migraines; went from 15 a month to 2-3 a month with no bad side effects
- Trileptal Not Working
- No improvement, tired all the time, trouble getting up in the morning
- Wellbutrin Working / Worked
- No improvement in mood
- Zyprexa Not Working
- Helpful for controlling anxiety when needed, removed due to docs concerned about long term effects
