Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in 2011 when I realized my MANIC episodes were affecting my job, marriage and my health. I was like a maniac trying to supervise a staff of 25 employees that told me they could not work with me. I was extremely demanding, particular and couldn't understand why no one else could multitask as well as me! My Husband worked with me for 7 yrs managing retirement communities. He would pull me aside and let me know I was getting out of control and ask me to go take a break before I did or said something I'd later regret.
I became disabled in 2013 because I became physically and emotionally unable to work anymore. My spine, knee and hips are full of arthritis, spinal stenosis, bursitis and neuropathy. I'm Diabetic and Bipolar. I don't know when I last slept 7 or 8 hrs a night, it's been years!
My chronic pain keeps me from doing things I love and the depression is slowly turning me into a stranger to my friends and loved ones. I stay in my pjs all day and some days I'm ashamed to say, I don't bathe. This isn't who I am!!!!! What the he'll happened to me?
I don't like how the Bipolar meds make me feel and most of the drugs made me gain up to 50 lbs. My hair fell out, I looked drugged up and there were times my Husband had to feed me I was so out of it. My psychiatrist knew I was Diabetic and prescribed Seroquel which almost put me in a diabetic coma. I'm taking Celexa now which helps with the mania but I still don't sleep.
Any words of wisdom?
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Hey All...I hope that you have a lovely, peaceful beginning of your weekI have a bunch of chores that need doing but may put them off til tomorrow and just hang out with my landlord/roomie todayWhat about you?...Anything special going on?Have a great day and take good care of you!!..Xo
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Once again I've had a fever today. I'm not going to the hospital because that's a huge waste of time but I did schedule a dr appointment for Wednesday afternoon.
I think you need to challenge your doctor to find a med cocktail that works for you because I think bipolar usually gets worse over time if you aren't medicated.
Celexa is an SSRI anti-depressant so it doesn't help with mania, in fact it is more likely to trigger it. It may be the cause of your sleep problems.
So in affect right now you are unmedicated.
Guess you learned the lesson and now you read the prescription inlets. In the future don't just take the pill, ask your psidoc, challenge him/her. It is more than your right, it is your duty.
Btw, there is no pill to fix your life. If you know what I mean.
Alot of the meds are very sedating and alot of the meds do have pretty terrible side effects. But, theres something out there that will work for you. Dont give up until you find it. It takes time and a lot of trial and error on the pdocs part. But that's what they're there for. To figure it out and help you. It sounds like the meds you're on now aren't cutting it at all.
Therapy is a good tool also, but the right meds are first and foremost. Start there. And hang out here, this is a great place for support!
Hang in there.
I don't know about wisdom, but I have tons of experience.
I've managed my own condition without meds since 2k. It took allot of psychotherapy to get to where I could and even now, it can be a serious challenge some days, but inside my strictly personal skin, it's easier than trying to guess what the meds are doing to me today. I, too, had allot of nasty side effects from med therapy.
Much support to you, you aren’t alone.
I would tell your doctor what's going on right now isn't working and maybe discuss going into the hospital to see if you can get your other medication along with your psych meds into some balance?.... if possible or monitor you closer for a while and tweak your meds accordingly...... Years of not being able to function in any normal level isn't okay..... If not I would consider asking for another opinion.....
I'm glad that you've found us.... This is a good board.....xo
I was Diagnosed BiPolar Disorder with Severe Suicidal Ideation in 1990, 6 weeks after my son was born.
I've had a Degenerative Cartilage Disease and Severe Osteo Arthritis since I was 17 as well as Cluster Migraines, a Seizure Disorder, Liver Disease, Chronic Pain, Chronic Kidney Stones, Peripheral Neuropathy, CTS-Bilateral, MRSA Carrier, and some other crap. Life is fun. I've had 30 surgeries in the last 19 years and I take 21 pills and injections a day.
I still work, I'm a C.P.A. currently and run a Small Company, some days my employees don't like me much, but they're out of the Country a lot, so it works out. lol
I'm sorry your Pdoc has not been able to get you longer periods of Stability from the BiPolar Symptoms. I too would challenge him to find some more fitting combinations to work with your other challenges.
20 years ago I moved up to Chapel Hill, NC from outside of Houston, TX, to get better medical care form UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University Hospital. They were doing better work in my areas. I found my Pdoc who carried a double M.D. in Psychiatry and Neurology with a Sub-Specialty License in Psychiatric Mental Medication Management. There aren't many Pdocs out there who get specifically Licenses in Psych Med Management, but for people like us who have multi-system concurrent Medical and Mental Illnesses, they are genius at what they do. They know every med, what it does, what it can't do, how it plays with other meds, side effects, cross-action with other meds, it's like having a walking, talking DSM-IV sitting beside you.
I don't know where you live, but it if you can find a Pdoc with a Sub-Spec. in Med Management, they're worth whatever you have to do to see them.
There are many Mood Stabilizers and Anti-Depressants that don't cause weight gain at all, your Dr. should be able to find you a better mix that's helpful for you and not harmful to your Diabetes.
I hope that you find the support your looking for here.
Take care,
Kat