Bi-polar Disorder?

Avatar for careyfeel
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2003
Bi-polar Disorder?
6
Sat, 06-18-2005 - 1:30pm
What is bi-polae,mixed. I was in the hospital the first week of May and the diagnosis was bi-polar, mixed.I had always been diagnosed with depression and even my psychiatrist and therapist wonder if that was the the righ dignosis.
In the last few weeks I have from high to low within a hour or less. I cannot say that I really "manic." However, at times I get very talkaive and I am happy I spiral down into depression with thoughts of suicide.
I do not do any risky behavior except for SI.I am on Wellbutrin XL. Lamictal for mood stabilizatio nand Klonopin(which Iam being weaned off of ) and Trazadone and vistaril to help me sleep.
I called my psychiatrist for my sleep problem the other day and I told him what was going on and told him what is going on.He told me he will talk to me about putting me on Lithium on Tuesday when I see him. Thaank you for any information you can send me. careyfeel(Fran)
Avatar for schitz
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2004
Sun, 06-19-2005 - 1:39am

Hey fran,

"mixed" episodes are difficult things to describe. The simple definition is that they contain elements of BOTH mania and depression. For me anyway, it comes out as irritable, dysphoric mania (instead of euphoric) and lots of suicidal and self-mutilating thoughts and behaviours.

I'd like to write more, but my head is still a spinning mess.

Amanda

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Registered: 05-23-2004
Sun, 06-19-2005 - 7:12pm

I have been diagnosed as bipolar II, meaning that I have major depression with hypomania rather than full out mania. I am only on Wellbutrin XL, but I do some holistic things to help control the depression as well. Like exercise and diet. I do not like the side effects of medication, so I work very hard to take as little as necessary.

Steph

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."--Philo


Mom to Kaitlin and Benjamin!



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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Sun, 06-19-2005 - 11:00pm

Fran,


Welcome to the board, I'm glad you found us--this is a great group and a wonderful place of support.


While the "classic" mania is the wild, uninhibited risky behavior, there are lots of ways it comes out--for me the riskiest behavior is spending money I don't have and talking NON-STOP (even when I try not to), while for others it's just a mild irritability (other than what they normally experience).

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 8:34am

fron,


i've been following this thread but haven't been clear-headed enough to post a response. at any rate, what has been said thus far is good sound solid advice.


one thing i want to touch on that marci put in in her post was the diagnosis itself. i don't know what the community you grew up in and/or live in is like, or the beliefs of your parents, but for me the diagnosis was scarier than the actual illness. everyone in my life up until the past few years has had negative views of bipolar disorder and my mother had a very big problem with the med lithium. as a product of my environment and upbringing i had the same irrational fears. i've suffered depression for years and that was bad enough for my mother to swallow as in her opinion i was "copping out" etc.


but when i received the bp diagnosis in december of '04 i kept that from my mother because there are just some things that woman does not need to know (especially when my age of 38 is factored into the equation). many people here are on lithium and it's been a god-send for them. i'm on a host of meds, but lithium isn't one of them, although, if it was the only thing that could help, at this point (after a lot of education about bp) i'd take it in a minute.


i also have an awesome tdoc who helped me get over the initial diagnosis by showing me, as many here did as well, that bp is just a name, like any other illness has a name. the other thing i have learned is that bp is more common than one would realize. many people that a person would never suspect, have bp and it's not known because these people are on meds that work for them and they can lead productive lives.


okay, my 2 cents turned in to 4, but simply put - the diagnosis isn't what's important, it's the treatment that matters most, in my opinion. i know once i get my meds ironed out and get on a regimen that suits me, things will be a lot better. until then, i just have to keep at it - progress not perfection.


hope this helps.


traci

Avatar for missyflanders
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 6:38pm

Can you tell me about the holistic measures you take? I take meds but feel like anything I can do to help, I should. What things do I avoid within my diet, how much exercise, etc. (I have the same diagonosis)

Missy

 
 
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-23-2004
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 8:39pm

I started a diet and exercise program under the care of a physician and my psychologist. I work out a total of about 7 to 10 hours a week. It is a HUGE commitment. I do spinning or rowing at the gym on MWF and either Saturday or Sunday for about a an hour each time. On T TH and one weekend day, I do weight training. I also walk the dog every night for about a mile.

Diet wise, I eat and don't really diet. I drink at least 72 oz of water a day (there are flavorings from Crystal Light that you can put in the bottle of water to make it taste better) and I eat small amounts at a time. I stop when I am about half way full, because after about 20 minutes, it will be full. The stomach takes a little while to tell the brain that it is full, and that is why people overeat. The exercise does a LOT to keep the depression at bay, but I still need meds. I just don't need several meds. :-)

Steph

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."--Philo


Mom to Kaitlin and Benjamin!



Please visit my website!

http://www.stephworld.net

"Those who can make you believ