Bipolar cysters - Page 3

trolkin · 10-31-2007, 05:22 PM

I am on wellbutrin but I notice a positive difference while on it but the problem is .... when on the up swing there are no concequences.

Bethann · 11-01-2007, 07:29 PM

I don't know if I'm bipolar or not, my new (fantastic) psychiatrist suspects I might be, but haven't confirmed it. I definitely have GAD/panic attacks, SAD. But the depressive episodes I get can be very severe, and last for a couple of months. The weird thing is that I don't seem to get very clear manic phases--I get mania at night, particularly with long lasting insomnia phases, but no euphoria. I hate to admit it, but I mostly get long periods of being really cranky/angry, and SSRI's seem to be only moderately helpful. Right now I'm taking Cymbalta, but that didn't ward off another depressive episode which is now lasted 2 months.

Does anyone here deal with mixed episodes? I've been reading about those and wonder if that's what I experience. I never seem to be really happy, just depressed and then not so-depressed and after decades of this I'm really tired of it. But I'm scared to try mood stablizers (what my psychiatrist thinks I might need.) I took seroquel and it was amazing, no anxiety, no depression, no insomnia, but I felt totally numb, like I just didn't care about anything and I really don't want to feel like that.

Thanks to anyone who read this, I hope I'm not intruding on this thread since I'm not sure about the diagnosis.

pal · 11-02-2007, 06:34 AM

Bethann,glad you've got a good pdoc. that's the first step, and it's a big one. I'm taking Seroquel with really good results.

My pdoc said I was bi-polar and wanted to put me on lithium...but I knew myself pretty well, and knew my medical and emotional history and felt pretty sure I was having emotional roller coaster due to hormones (I was going through menopause, but had no other big emotional/personal issues that were upsetting me.) So I wasn't really eager to try a mood stabilizer either. But I could recognize that I was having big unexplained mood swings and needed some help.

So we settled on trying Seroquel. Worked like a switch. But I could tell the dose was too strong at first (zoombie effect, I also was t-i-r-e-d!! at first, but that went away when I got used to the drug). Try lowering your dosage and seeing what happens. I finally found that all I need is 12.5 mg grams twice a day, and I stay in the stable zone without the side effects. This is the smallest tablet that's made, which I split in half and take morning and night. The stuff works over about 8 hours, one table a day worked pretty well, but worked slightly better if I took it twice a day. This is a incredibly small dose, and not the usual way it's perscribed.

I too have had the cranky/angry episodes. (Like I turn into the Mean Hulk.) I see a total correlation to what my blood sugar is doing. When I forget my meds I get an immediate drop in mood (which usually reminds me I missed the meds!) and dip right into the depressed side of the spectrum, which for a long time I figured was my usual way of looking at life (never had big highs, would also say I was more "mixed").

Once I got on the seroquel, I found out I was generally pretty positive and upbeat. To me my moods are really related to the PCOS. Let me know what your pdoc says about this. I figure the drug company will be thrilled to learn there's a new market for their drug! Let me know how you're doing, too!

Bethann · 11-02-2007, 11:56 AM

Maybe I should try the Seroquel at the lower dose--I was taking 25 mg.

trolkin · 11-02-2007, 03:29 PM

I hope that you all are having a good day!

trolkin · 11-02-2007, 04:02 PM

i don't know if any of you are cyclothymic but I started a thread for us.

I will keep posting here too thought since they are kinda the same thing.

Cyclothymic Cysters

trolkin · 11-05-2007, 06:19 PM

Hope everyone is having a great day!

lwebstar · 12-05-2007, 12:30 PM

I have bipolar disorder. I'm 24 now. I was diagnosed at 19. I've had it since I was at least 14, though maybe earlier. It was a long struggle, mostly with the depressed side of things and suicide. I had a mixed episode a few years ago and I have to say that is the strangest experience! I've also been paranoid and worried people would kill me. I would hear the voices of people in my family yelling at me in my head. I also had social phobia ontop of that.

But I'm happy to report that I am fine now. It takes a long time and a lot of work to recover, but I concider myself recovered. Of course, you are never cured. It could come back at anytime and I'm always watching for it.

As for the dating scene. I was so sick as a teenager with the bipolar and social phobia that I never dated. And I still haven't. I'm 24 and I've never been on a date or in a serious relationship or anything like that. So I'm quite freaked out about the possibility of dating. I thought I would just stay away from it, but I've now started to desire a romantic relationship. So now its like, first off, how do you tell them you have bipolar disorder, and second, what are they gonna think if they know you've never dated before?!

orangey · 08-30-2008, 06:19 PM

Hi!
I had no idea that there were you guys! i'm the only one i know

So i have always felt lonely and outcastish.lol. I can't even begin the stories of how bad it was at first. rocking back and forth for months, and if my eyes closed and opened back it was a nightmare i would start the rocking again. I am taking a bipolar med and just now after 5 years they decide to check my hormones and so i'm taking hormonal therapy so hopefully that will help even more. I have felt great! for 6 months now
i am so glad to have friends that are dealing with this!
Talk to ya soon

oh i'm 25

gatelisard · 09-14-2008, 06:15 PM

I am wondering if one of my half-sisters has PCOS... she has a bunch of the warning signs, and I am posting here because she is also Bipolar. What might be a good way to bring this issue up?

Bethann · 09-14-2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatelisard

I am wondering if one of my half-sisters has PCOS... she has a bunch of the warning signs, and I am posting here because she is also Bipolar. What might be a good way to bring this issue up?

Is there a reason why you would want to bring it up? I mean, is there a particular symptom/effect that you see and hope you can help her address? If so, I'd start there, sis I noticed that you _________...

Don't necessary expect her to be all that concerned, especially if she's newly diagnosed bipolar or still struggling for stability. I know that for me, PCOS sort of pales in comparison to Bipolar, I keep an eye on it but it's not my primary concern. Obviously, not everyone feels that way, but just putting it out there.

gatelisard · 09-15-2008, 11:05 AM

She has been diagnosed since she was 18, a couple decades ago... although she is not too stable at this moment. I just never knew before, but her hair has thinned growing up, she has weight she can not get rid of and excessive hair as well as a lack of cycle. I think it might help her to know there might be a possible reason behind these.

Thanks, I think I will, one of her biggest regrets is going from curly thick hair to straight thin hair, so I might start there.

Thanks much!

Liz

Bethann · 09-15-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatelisard

She has been diagnosed since she was 18, a couple decades ago... although she is not too stable at this moment. I just never knew before, but her hair has thinned growing up, she has weight she can not get rid of and excessive hair as well as a lack of cycle. I think it might help her to know there might be a possible reason behind these.

Thanks, I think I will, one of her biggest regrets is going from curly thick hair to straight thin hair, so I might start there.

Thanks much!

Liz

Just an FYI, both the change in hair and the weight can be side effects of bipolar medications, if she's medicated. My mom's made her's get curly and thicker, but the opposite happens, and it can be really tough to find a medication combo. that doesn't cause weight gain, and that weight can be darn near impossible to lose.

pea305 · 09-15-2008, 11:32 PM

I'm BP as well and was Dx in 2004. I always assumed it was just the meds making me fatter but now I'm thinking the meds and PCOS played off of one another. Either way I finally found Lamictal (the pills from the gods) and aside from the normal BP blips now and then I've been much better.

Now the trippy thing is that since I've been on bp for the past week my mood is totally in the dumps. I almost cried...i'm irratic. It's like PMS to the 10th power. I hope this clears up soon and is worth it in the end. I hate pills. :-(

pal · 09-16-2008, 06:40 AM

Hi, I've been lurking for awhile. Not much to post. But I've recently had a similiar experience with a familiy member and I've been considering the best way to handle it. I don't have much contact with a cousin and just recently saw her again...it looks to me like she's got bi-polar, all the signs are there. My sister, totally out of the blue, also confirmed my own "diagnosis" of my cousin's behavior. (My cousin doesn't seem to have PCOS.) Should I somehow bring this up? In my opinion, there's bi-polar all over my family, but no one talks openly about the "elephant in the room." Normally, I'd just keep quiet, but I see my cousin's children (early teens) taking the brunt of this. Plus, my bi-polar is pretty well controlled so I know there is hope.

I found out first that I had PCOS and only (much) later learned about the bi-polar aspect. Knowing about what caused my problems really helps me cope with them. The official bi-polar Dx was hard to take...yes, I might be ugly, infertile, fat, etc. etc., but being told I was crazy, too, was a really hard blow to take. But, in the end, it's helped me, because the meds are really a lifesaver for me.

I like the description "PMS to the 10th power"...that's exactly what it feels like.