Don't listen to the people in your life who assume that a 2 week hospital stay will cure you. If you're bipolar or have some other psych disorder, it usually last for life...That being said, I was in psych hospitals for 7 months, I'm still not "cured", that was 3 years ago. But I take meds, see my psych doc, and have a therapist I see on a regular basis. I've had 3 manic episodes since the end of June, so definitely need to see psych doc for med. adjustment/s. I'm a lot better than I used to be, you will get better, too. It just takes time, possibly another med trial or maybe more, depends on how your body and mind respond. I take Abilify 15mg. and Effexor XR 300mg. The Effexor will probably have to be adjusted; it's an anti-depressant and can cause mania if dose is too high. So may have to add another med. I hope you feel better soon, that your medicine works for you. Good luck.

As for the people, they might as well be mimes with no mouths. The most important thing you need to take care of right now is YOU. The most important person you need to listen to right now is YOU.

First thing Monday morning I would be on the phone with your Pdoc about this medication. If you were doing fine on your dose in the hospital, I'm assuming that you may have had a last increase right before you left and that's were the rapid heart rate came in, which also could have been exacerbated by the stress and anxiety of going home. So your case person busted you wwaaayy down to an 1/8 of your regular dose, which is not what she should have done. She should have put you down to the last dose you were stable on.....now she's got you on a really low dose and it's going to take a while for your body/brain to readjust to this medication.

So call your Pdoc tomorrow and see if he'll put you back up to your stablist dose you were on prior to your heart issues. At least that way you don't have to start from the beginning with this med.

I know its hard coming home from the hospital, everyone expects such a difference and they don't know how to talk to you, they don't want to upset you or anger you or embarrass you...it's not an easy situation for anyone. So you just kind of have to ride it through for a bit until you get back to comfortable.

I was lucky when I had to go in-patient, my mother-in-law would bring my boys to the hospital everyday after school and we'd do homework and play board games and try to keep it as normal to our regular weeknight as we could, they'd come for a long time on Saturdays too. And we always had discussions about what part of the hospital I was in, why the doors were always locked, why I coudln't just leave and go for a walk if they wanted too, what part of me was sick and had to get better before I could come home. I raised my sons to understand that Mental Illness is a very real part of life, it was a very real part of my life and they would always be a part of it. It wasn't something that I would ever hide from them. Ad in that, they both developed a level of carrying for all people, normies, crazies, young, old...they don't discriminate....they love them all.

I hope that you get in touch with your Pdoc early Monday and get your meds sorted back out so that you can stay out and not bounce back. But Ivybelle, seriously don't waste too much of your energy explaining things to people, you've got more important things to do with that energy.

Take care,

You go to hospital because you're sick and sometimes they're just isn't anything tangible that they can do besides adjust meds. You're NOT automatically cured! Sometimes there's nothing they can do to keep your brain from declaring mutiny (I LOVE that phrase!). And it may be better but unfortunately we just don't have the kind of illnesses that respond to treatment so easily, like a broken bone or flu or something. People don't get it. I'm sorry you're still so ill. Sending big healing hugs your way! Sometimes it just takes time, whether you're in hospital or not but PLEASE people don't let folks just suppose everything is marshmallows and rainbows! 'Cause sometimes it just aint.

Thanks! I needed some support. I knew I could count on you guys! I'm trying to tune out the well meaning but destructive people in my life. Was just feeling really down. Thanks!

I appreciate the wisdom that OldCPer shared & agree that those with a mood disorder are often times dealing with a life-long disease & especially with Bipolar, it can me degenerative. This is not something that gets "cured". I had my own day hospitalization a couple years ago for 5 days. It def wasn't a magic potion it it helped me to summon up some of my own inner strength & gave me the space, time & rejuvenation to think & know what I needed to do to get myself better.