Welcome irishgirl4; PT's post is excellent.

There are many different med options for person's with BP. For some they cause weight gain and for others they don't. It does take time for the meds to get to a therapeutic level and for many of us we have had to experiment with different meds and doses. It's well worth the effort. Stopping meds without your pdoc's input isn't the answer.

Is there a family member or friend that can help you care for your children during this time? If you don't already I would also suggest seeing a therapist.

As PT said please don't hesitate to go to the ER if you feel you need do.