Hello, all. I just created an account here at PC. I'll probably be a lurker, mostly, but it feels wonderful to know that I'm not alone in what I'm experiencing.

I've been bipolar since my early teenage years, only now I know that there's a name for it. It runs in my family, but the type that I've seen in my family members is Type 2, whereas I'm Type 1 with rapid cycling. I spent a good portion of my life self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, but decided to get my act together and got sober early this year. I've been prone to chronic migraines for most of my life, and recently started taking Topamax to help alleviate both my migraines and bipolar symptoms (after a horrible side effects experience with Depakote).

I'm noticing a wonderful change as far as the frequency in my migraines and manic episodes, but I'm also feeling as though a huge part of my personality has gone missing. I haven't felt the same since going on medication, and I don't like it. But it had to be done. Not only for the migraines, but for my own safety...my mania was going to land me in trouble one of these days. I'm presently under the care of a psychiatrist and neurologist, but not a therapist. My insurance copayments are too much for me at the moment (and the sliding scale options are equally costly for my present budget).

Anyway, enough of my rambling. It's great to meet all of you!