Curious

Avatar for tallyn75
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Registered: 06-22-2003
Curious
5
Sun, 11-19-2006 - 8:36pm

I'm sure it's all here buried under pages of posts, but I'm lazy.

Please post your diagnosis.
If you don't know, tell whether you've ever had a full-blown manic episode.
(Full-blown manic = Bipolar I)
Feel free to volunteer any other related information.

I'm bipolar II (never been fully manic).
First episode of severe depression was at 15.
First Hypomanic Episode was at 16.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2006
In reply to: tallyn75
Sun, 11-19-2006 - 9:46pm

If I take a good hard look at my past, I would say I had my first manic episode at around age 16. That's when I started drinking and drugging. But it didn't last long. Then again 3 years later I had another occasion where I was told I probably had a brain tumor and I went off the deep end and started drinking, drugging and having sex with anything that moved and flat out didn't care. After I found out I didn't have a brain tumor I started settling back down and got back to "normal" and stayed that way until I got married. That's when my depression really started. Only it took 7 years and a separation to diagnose. And then it was just diagnosed as clinical depression - not bipolar. I didn't reveal my past manic episodes. I stayed on anti depressants for 3 years and went off them when I was "cured". That lasted a year then I had my first mixed episode. I sought out help and was accused of being an alcoholic and that was all that was wrong with me. Now while I drank in the past, I don't feel I meet the criteria of an alcoholic. I've lived with alcoholics all my life. I know what to look for. Anyway, I left that therapist and found my current tdoc and she sent me to a pdoc who finally diagnosed me as bipolar II, which he eventually changed to bipolar I. I am med-resistant so I ended up switching pdocs and now my new pdoc has me back at bipolar II. My pdoc is worried now that with the introduction of an anti depressant it will trigger a manic episode, but as far as I'm concerned I'd welcome one right about now. I'm exhausted with work, school, and raising my kids and now I have to take on a second job. I need the extra energy that comes with the mania. But so far nothing:( Oh well. But, on a positive note, the a/d seems to be working. My mood has improved somewhat since I started taking the cymbalta.


Probably more info than you wanted, but there it is.


Hugs,
Traci

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2002
In reply to: tallyn75
Sun, 11-19-2006 - 10:42pm

I'm BP I (with psychotic features)
Started having depressive episodes in my teens, but can't remember exactly what year
Had my first manic episode at 18
Had a major psychotic break that led to my diagnosis at age 20

Express!
Beth "Petrouchka"

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2005
In reply to: tallyn75
Mon, 11-20-2006 - 1:07am

Dx w/BP @ 25. I dont' remember what type. I think II. But I dont' rememeber. I have mostly depression. I might have had 2 or 3 other episodes before that. Dr also thought i might be Schizzoaffective. He was never sure of what i had. I had bad aggression for months. Plan old anger for months before i was dx.

April

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-31-2006
In reply to: tallyn75
Mon, 11-20-2006 - 8:31am

I was DX when I was 18 w/

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2006
In reply to: tallyn75
Mon, 11-20-2006 - 3:21pm

Hi! I am BP II. First su attempt was when I was 13 yo and many, many times after that. My teen years and early twenties were mostly manic - dx'd BP 1 at 17 yo after going i/p.
Now I am mostly "low-level hyper" but have been unusually depressed last two months - a lot of personal stuff happened so it's probably situational. I am hoping the holidays knocks it out and I can be "normal" again!

Pug hugs, Kelli





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