I think that it is pretty common for OCD symptoms to be comorbid with bipolar. When I was a lot younger (like 11-12), I had some pretty serious OCD symptoms; washed my hands until they bled, couldn't stop worrying about starting an epidemic, thought that I was going to accidentally kill this kid in my class who had a peanut allergy by eating a butterfinger, etc. When my mood disorder began at age 12, it interacted with the OCD stuff; while depressed, I had obsessional thoughts on something terrible that I thought I had done, for example.

I don't believe that I have OCD because most of these symptoms have gone away. My brother, however, has OCD, so I know that I am genetically vulnerable for it.

If you think that you may have OCD, treatment is definitely a good thing. CBT is very effective. Unfortunately, you probably won't be able to take meds for it, because the treatment for OCD is high dose SSRIs...yeah, not a good idea for someone with bipolar!

Good luck getting this aspect of your illness under control.