So I originally thought I would respond to this post to state the case for going unmedicated, but after reading it. I think I can really speak for both cases.
Brief Background: I'm 23. I was diagnosed bipolar at the age of 15. at the time I was suffering very severe mood swings. I was psychotic/delusion and self-injurying. I spent 5 years in therapy and 6 trying various combinations of meds and suffering from most of the side effects. I went through 3 pdocs before I found a good one who really cares.
Anyway when I was 21 I finally found the right combination of meds. No notably bad side effects and I was relvatively stable. But I didn't feel right. I felt like I was missing part of myself. Most obviously my creativity and passion, but other things too. Anyway after a lot of research and thinking and talking to my pdoc and my friend and my family, I decided to try going off meds. Not because I was frustrated with the side effects, and not because I just wanted to be manic, but because I was willing to accept my condition for what it is. I understood I would have to take the downs with the ups and that both can have equally terrible results. I made an agreement with myself to go back on meds if things got too bad.
Anyway I've been unmedicated for close to a year and even though it's hard some days. I think it's worth it. I have a situation that makes it easier to deal with. I have a job that requires meeting deadlines rather than consistent performance. I've also built a great support system, and I manage my mood swings by carefully examining my emotions and thoughts and disregarding the ones that are mood related. I guide my decisions by logic rather than emotion and refuse to see myself as a victim of my own mind. I still take my feelings into account when making decision (because I prefer to be happy), but they don't rule me. Some days, I decide it's best to just take it easy, because the emotional pain of getting through a normal day just wouldn't be worth it. And some days I decide to push myself because practice makes it a little easier. And I try to avoid dwelling on how depressed or angry I feel when I'm down.

I guess what I'm trying to say is either way can work and you have to decide what's right for you and your situation. And then you have to stick to it. I honestly think that sticking with it and accepting the consequences of that decision is the most important thing. When times are rough you just have to remember, even if it wasn't your choice to be bipolar, you did choose the way your dealing with it. Accept it, don't resent it.