[agent2465]

I was recently told that i may be bi-polar.I have been prescribed lithium 300mg & seroquel 300 mg.some days i cant do anything but sleep then other days i only sleep 1 to 2 hours daily.
I no longer go anywhere i had to move back with my parents.it just seems like my life has ceased to exist.
i have been on these meds for 6 or 7 months and i still cant make myself go anywhere except to the doctor and that is a major undertaking.IJUST WONDER IS THIS AS GOOD AS IT GETS?
I no longer work and i just cant make myself no matter how hard i try.I just cannot function in society anymore,im afraid but i dont know what im afraid off?Have i lost it for ever?

[ashley22]

Hi agent. Welcome to PC.
This is not as good as it gets. People with BP disorder can live "normal" lives, and have good functioning.
I think it's very important to find the right treatment for you. Meds really make a difference. So does therapy.
Please, don't lose hope...
Would it be possible to see another pdoc for a second opinion on treatment?
You need to get your sleep patterns under control. Life is just unberable if you don't sleep...

There are lots of people w BP on this forum, very supportive. They are the living proof that life with BP doesn't have to be about suffering.
Take care

[28andforward]

Hi Agent2465,
I agree with Ashley; get your meds changed or adjusted (whichever it takes). Make yourself get up and around and get to a pdoc ASAP; you don't have to be so miserable.
I am not bipolar but my son is. He was a lot like you until he had a very small adjustment in his meds; it made all the difference in the world in him and his outlook on life. He was seeing an MD and finally agreed to a psychiatrist, who is the one who made that small but marvelous adjustment.
She didn't change the meds, just adjusted them and changed the time of day when he took them. He went from what you are describing, which he described as "life being unacceptable" to actually enjoying life. He was so fortunate to fine the right med recipe so quickly (most have to do more fine tuning, it seems) so take action ASAP to make life 'acceptable.' Hang in there, it can be much better!

[Azalysa]

Welcome to Psych Central, Agent!

I agree wholeheartedly with the above posters. I have been Bipolar for 40 years and in that time I've only had approximately 5 or 6 episodes like that place you're in right now. I'm currently on short-term-disability due to a major episode resulting from a number of triggers. My pdoc is making adjustments to my meds and sometimes that can take awhile to find the right med, in the right dosage as everyone reacts differently to medication.

My last major episode was 10 years ago, with minor depressive days lasting less than a week.

So, the good news is that this isn't all there is. I've thought that during bad times, but I have always come out of it. And you can too!

[SuspendedInTime]

Hi Agent,

I've just come out of your situation, all because of a change in meds. It's taken me a little over a year and several meds later to come up with a mixture where I feel "normal." I never thought it would happen, so hang in there. Be sure you tell your doc what it is you don't like about your meds so they can be fine-tuned. There is a combination that will work for you, trust me. Something that really helped me was to track my moods. There is a copy of a chart you can use at www.bipolar-tightrope.com I brought this with me to each of my appointments so we could tweak my meds accordingly...it really helped. Good luck!

[DaveyJones]

Hi agent,

I can sympathize with the way you're feeling...it's very frustrating, especially when you feel so bad and nothing seems to help. Definitely get yourself to a psychiatrist and to therapy...try to do these things...keep a regular schedule, especially sleep. You' ll have to work with the pdoc to find something to help you sleep...and if something doesn't work, call her within a day or two so you can try something else for sleep. Second, try to get some excercise of some sort. Thirdly eat a balanced diet, and include some kick-butt vitamins with lots of B-complex as well as fish oil. Lastly, find a good therapist, preferably who uses CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) techniques...all these things have been shown to improve outcomes for bipolar patients. Good luck, and don't forget that we're here for ya!

DJ