Hi-
A few things to consider:

1). Loved ones, friends who you trust- sometimes are better than at spotting a manic episode than you. They'll notice the changes in your tone of voice, attitudes, before it becomes apparent to you. So you do need to assess how well your friend knows you- have they been successful in spotting a manic episode starting before, do they have your best interests at heart, ect.

2). The amount of sleep you get is a very common trigger in bipolar. What triggered your previous manic episodes? Was it sleep- was it a diet change- change in kids schedule. Identifying your triggers is crucial to being able to distinguish what is manic vs what is not.

I know you mentioned you'd see your pdoc in a week- one lesson that I learned recently is that I can call my pdoc when I am not sure if what's happening is normal. Take ownership of your health- it might hurt financially- but if you truly trust your pdoc- make that call today- let your friend know that you called your pdoc for input.

With me- the manic stage starts feeling as a relief but it can spiral out of control quickly. For what its worth- I've heard that you can detect some improvement in lamactical after a week. Be careful and continue to take care of yourself!