Thanks for the suggestions guys!

There is quite a learning curve for this sort stuff, but I'll make. Luckily (in many respects, not so much in others) I'm living with my super supportive parents again. So they've stopped and told me when I start getting the rapid speech that defines the beginning of 'the highs', and are there to worry about me when I sleep for almost two days straight. I'm going to try and avoid caffeine till whenever I can see my psychiatrist, and try and be the squeaky wheel with the VA till that happens.

It's very frustrating being told "well I'm sorry you feel like that sir, but I still can't get you an earlier appt" to the doc who is 3 hrs away and I talk to through the TV anyway. Ah well, I'm learning a lot on these and other boards that if need be I can at least cope, without any major incident either way, until it happens. And I started keeping a 'mood diary' so I can tell him exactly how I was feeling when. And I'm looking for a new job, because currently I do almost nothing, so it just gives me 6-8 hrs inside my own head, which is NOT a safe place right now.

Anyway thanks for all the support! It's truly appreciated!