I recently took a leave of absence when starting all of my meds (first time officially diagnosed was in June this year) and it took me out for 3 months to get everything in my system and try to have days where I didn't feel like I was losing control every second.

I then went in for a follow up and said everything was great because I wanted to go back to work since financially things were getting difficult. The problem is things were far from great and have since become increasingly worse, as some of you have probably read my complaints about mania and depression both hitting me pretty bad this past 30 days.

I let my pdoc know via email that I am having a really hard time, and he said it is time to add Lithium to the mix since I have been having "idealized suicide thoughts". My question is - has anyone ever introduced a new med and still gone to work everyday? Specifically Lithium? Are the side effects going to make me better pretty quickly, or am I due another 30 days of trying to balance myself out while figuring if the side effects are ones I can live with?!?! Any insight? Help?!?!