Some meds cause weight gain, others do not. Lithium, Seroquel, and zyprexa are some of the big weight gainers. Lamictal and geodon are supposed to be weight neutral.mtopomax may actually cause weight loss. So you see, different Meds act differently. If you do start gaining weight and that upsets you, you can discuss being put on something different.

If you can function at work now unmedicated, you should be able to continue working on meds. Meds might even make your work easier.

The medication may sombify you but that doesn't mean you have to put up with it. If one of them does, you can ask to be switched to something different. Zombification is one of the reasons (out of many) why I won't take lithium. Even if it worked for me (which it doesn't) I would not take it because of this.

Your meds are really up to you. It might take some trial and error to find the right combination so just be patient and hang in there. Even if you against meds, therapy will be useful in learning how to mange your illness without them.

You WILL be ok. Bipolar is a tough thing to come to terms with. It took me two years - longer if you take into account I was originally dx at 18 and denied it for eight years.