New diagnosis

Hello- I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder during a 2 week long hospitalization. I had been feeling depressed on and off for years but had started taking antidepressant medication 3-4 months ago. On each of 3 different antidepressants I felt worse - flashed of deep depression, irritability and a constant chatter in my head - pressured thoughts. By January I was abusing alcohol to cope with my mood swings - which changed throughout the day. One moment I would feel ok, then have a rapid intense wave of depression hit me. Two weeks ago I tried to kill myself. In the hospital they took me off of cymbalta and put me on lithium and risperdal. I then got manic for 4 days - sleeping 2-3 hours a night, feeling boundless energy, with an elated mood. I then crashed into a depression, where I just wanten to isolate, and would have multiple deep crying episodes. I woas discharged on 3/15, and still feel mildly depressed, but I am coping with it. I have my followup appointment with my psychiatrist next week and also have a full diagnostic assessment scheduled to see if I really have bipolar disorder. Whew......
I'm interested in hearing from group members about what I can be doing now to help myself become and stay healthy. Also, does my story sound like bipolar disorder? What are some do's and dont's I should be aware of at this point? Thank you!!!!!!

I think the diagnosis will probably hold up. I don't have BPI, but I have BPII, and my story was kind of like that.

You should *try* and minimize the amount you are drinking while taking mood stabilizers. Monitor your mood. It's a good idea to start journaling/blogging, or you can use a website to. (I forgot the website name at the moment) This can make it easier for your doctor to see whether or not you're feeling okay. Eating healthier and working out can help minimize side effects, too. Finally, make sure you read the labels on the medication they prescribe. It's important to know the side effects and what the purpose of the medication is. Give yourself power.

WHATEVER YOU DO: Do NOT quit taking your medication the moment you feel better and stable. If you ever want to start taking less because you're feeling better, talk to your psychiatrist first. Or therapist. Or post here. I spent 2 years after my initial diagnosis in and out of doctors offices wracking up the bills because I thought my diagnosis was incorrect. Time and time again, I learned that I am bipolar. x)

Welcome to the boards.

Thanks! What great advice. I was actually diagnosed with Bipolar II throughout my admission...and my discharge summary ended up saying Bipolar I (?????) I have plans to work on my health, meditate daily, work on a DBT skills workbook. I hear you about the drinking and even though I do enjoy a glass of wine every now and then, I'm doing a period of abstinence. I would love to know which website you are referring to......I have a cool program on my Android phone called 'eMoods' that allows me to enter a ranking of my mood, what meds I am on, stressors, hours of sleep ....and I think will graph them.
When you were just being diagnosed, did you feel like you were going crazy? I do. It is a diagnosis that seems to require a total change in lifestyle. I hope I am able to do it.

Welcome Evil Schnoodle. I had received my diagnosis while in-patient for an attempt as well. I created this list for another new member. Hope it helps.

·Take meds as prescribed.
·Educate yourself on the illness.
·Be honest with your psychiatrist, GP, therapist etc.
·Get regular sleep, if you can't sleep ask for a prescription for sleep to be taken regularly or as needed.
·Eat properly i.e. avoid excessive caffeine, junk food etc.
·Avoid alcohol.
·Avoid non-prescription drugs and/or drugs not prescribed to you.
·Exercise regularly.
·Set a routine for yourself i.e. getting up at the same time, going to sleep at the same time.
·Surround yourself with people that fill you up.
·Take time for yourself.
·Be patient. The med regime for many diagnosed does take time, but it's worth taking the time.
·Write in a journal especially with how you are feeling right now; that way if you ever considered going off meds it may help you make a better decision.
·Track your mood. Great free one online at http://www.medhelp.org/land/mood-tracker
·And finally remember you aren't your diagnosis. You have bipolar, but you aren't bipolar.

Thanks. Those are good rules. The thought of making many changes at the same time is a little scary. I know that one thing I need to do is be a more organized person - sleep at the same time daily, make reasonable lists of things to do and better balance home, work, my partner, and my own needs. Deep inside though, I think I'm afraid . Today is a really good day to work on radical acceptance and mindfulness

It may help to make 1 goal each month. There's no point having an all or nothing attitude about it.

You might want to get a basic book about bipolar to start. I would suggest Bipolar for Dummies. It is reasonably priced, well written and covers all the main information about bipolar.

From what you wrote above, I'm concerned for you that it may just all be med related. did you have feelings of mania or hypomania before taking anti-depressants? Anti-depressants aren't as benign as the commercials popular media like to make them out to be and can cause more problems than benefits.

Yagalada- I had the same concerns. I never thought of myself as manic or hypomanic before this. Although, I was significantly depressed, and having a constant stream of pressured , sometimes random thoughts, and a decreased sleep pattern for over a year. My fiance told me that I have been known o get up in the middle of the night, and unpack boxes, and I functioned moderately well on little sleep. I was also prone to heavy use of alcohol. I am having a second opinion consult next week to help determine if this is Bipolar, Generalized anxiety, both, or something(s) else

My BP also started with a diagnosis of depression, that then used to swing between stable and deep depression too frequently and extremely. At times I'd also go over the top and do things that just weren't me.
I'm dx'd BP II

Welcome to PC - I hope you feel right at home

I am not 100% sure what my diagnosis is. I have had several that range between bipolar 2 to bipolar 1 with psychotic features. I have been waiting for my meds to work better before I ask again what my diagnosis is, but now that they are working a little better, I am ready to ask what my p-doc thinks. I have been with her since May so hopefully she knows me well enough to make a diagnosis.

Wow......your story sounds quite a bit like mine. I've been depressed on and off for years and on antidepressents. There was always a logical reason for my depressions......caretaking my mom with Altzheimers.......living on the West Coast when all my family was here, etc. Not until really late in life did I have my first bout of mania.......months long and ending me up in the psych unit. Crashed into depression, back into the psych unit, and this time being given the diagnosis of BP1 instead of BP2 as was first thought. Back out of the hospital even more depressed and made a serious attempt........well, you know. That landed me back in two more hospitals this time, one of them to start recovering from my injuries. Gosh........these memories are making me forget what your question was......(oh, I remember!) What you're dealing with does sound a lot like BP, either 1 or 2. At leastcompared to my symptoms.....and from everything I've read. My case is out of the ordinary, in that it's very severe, with many compicating side effects and issues. You could expect to do really well if this, in fact, does turn out to be your diagnosis. There are so many different degrees of Bp, (and of any mental illness, I imagine.) You'll get the diagnosis, therapy and meds if you need them. Sending you all my best, and hoping to read a follow-up......good luck.........grey

Thank you all so very much! The support feels great. I go for a second opinion psychiatry consult tomorrow, which sounds like it will be very thorough. I'm glad for this because my outpatient psychiatrist "dumped me" today. He said "You didn't tell me how much you were drinking....and you didn't reach out to me before you tried to kill yourself. I'm glad that I will be referred to someone else...what a way to treat a patient on his first follow-up appointment after getting out of the hospital. Ahhh...it feels nice to vent....