I am 43 and have suffered with undiagnosed BP since my teens. Was diagnosed by two doctors, one psychiatrist, two psychologists around six to eight months ago. I always knew there was something very wrong with me but was utterly paranoid that I would have my kids taken from me and placed in care or sent to live a long distance away to be with their father. Now that they are 17 and 19 I wish someone would!! ... seriously.

Just about every thought and many of the actions that are expressed in this wonderful forum I have felt or have done. I relate to everyone here completely.
About eight months ago I was put on Lithium, then a slow release version of Lith and an anti-depressant, Fluvoxamine. I ended up on 1200mg of Lithium daily.
Initially I thought it was doing good things as the constant lifetime of endless brain chatter quietened then stopped. I was peaceful for a while. No more dreams, no more creativity, and then eventually, no more me.
I was unable to remember what I was saying, doing or even thinking most of the time. I couldn't even think what it was that I was supposed to be thinking or feeling at any given time. I couldn't concentrate to read and that is crucial to my work. My mind became mush.
I remained suicidal, 'living' a flatline existence and putting on about 20kg in five months. I couldn't work out what to wear each day, so I would wear the same thing day after day, unless my husband would find clothes for me and set them out on the bed.
After the Lith I no longer was hypo, so there was no break from the mindless depression.
I am self employed as I am not able to work full time, and never have been. I am in partnership in a small business that we are gradually building up. We have several other sub-contractors who we bring in from time to time to work with us. I was almost completely unable to work, everything was a massive effort for a long time before the diagnosis and even worse after.
Then I had enough.
I went off the Fluvox gradually over about three weeks, then went off the 1200mg of Lithium cold turkey.
I had read about Omega 3 in fish oil having some success with both depression and BP. From what I read it appeared that a usual dose is about 3g a day. For someone who is depressed, then 6g appears to help. For a change in BP symptoms, 10g was administered.
I am not a health professional, I just researched this info myself, and reckoned it just had to be worth a try. I had nothing to lose.
When I went off the Lith about six weeks ago I could literally feel a fog lifting from inside my brain, almost like a soggy cotton wool curtain was rising. Each day I noticed an improvement. It took three days. I could actually feel when my head was finally clear that third day.
The first thing to come back was an increasingly busy mind and then my dreams - all in the first week.
Then gradually my creativity has begun to improve, my concentration means that I am now once again a useful member of my business.
Although I am not wildly sociable at the best of times, I am able to socialise and interact with others again (haven't been able to do that for a year at the very least). I can even hold a conversation again.
I still have everything I need to do during the day programmed into my calendar in my phone with an alarm set to remind me, but now I usually know what it is that it is reminding me about before I look at the screen.
From the minute I cold turkied the Lith, I replaced it with seven 1500mg capsules of fish oil daily. My phone reminds me to take four at 7 am and three at 7 pm, bringing the total to 10.5mg. I also take one 7500mg Gingko Biloba blend capsule in the morning.
I am aware that I will have to keep a watch on my hypomanic side, but living without the bulk of the hideous other side, I will persevere.
I am not 'cured', but I would highly recommend you do a bit of research on this and make your minds up for yourselves.
It has made me live again. I cannot remember how long it's been since I felt this good. Long way to go, but, it's a start.