[hamster-bamster]

I read some stories and I just cannot believe what I am reading. Dealing with BP+fibromyalgia! Chronic pain! Diabetes! Asthma! I don't know how I would have kept going if I faced physical challenges on top of bp! Not being able to sleep seems bad enough! I am so thankful to my body for functioning like a clock! No pain aside from occasional mirgraines! The biggest physical pain in my life has been the natural pain of childbirth and that, although intense, did not last long - I had fast labors. My ex lives with chronic back pain and I just cannot imagine how he does it. Functions! Despite pain. I would not be able to. I used to have sinusitis often and when I had it, I panicked from being unable to breathe through my nose. I panicked as if I were about to die! Glad I do not have it any more! Hate physical symptoms! And just the sheer number of meds I am taking either for bp or to fight the side effects of bp meds - we are talking many meds! Cannot imagine adding more for physical ailments! What about all those drug interactions!

So if you battle something physical on top of bp, I am in awe!

The topic was meant to read "Bipolar coupleD with physical disease"

[BipolaRNurse]

Hey, Hammy, at least you're not so f'ed up that you wouldn't be allowed to live in your own assisted living facility, LOL!! Seriously......I have diabetes, asthma, peripheral vascular disease, alcoholism, arthritis, morbid obesity, metabolic syndrome, AND bipolar. In medical circles, I am what's known as a "train wreck". But I'm a nice train wreck.

I don't think much about it, except when somebody brings up the topic of comorbidities. With my list of diagnoses, I hope I never do need a care facility because nobody will want me. They'll take one look at my medical/psych history and go "Oh HELL no!"

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

Hey, Hammy, at least you're not so f'ed up that you wouldn't be allowed to live in your own assisted living facility, LOL!! Seriously......I have diabetes, asthma, peripheral vascular disease, alcoholism, arthritis, morbid obesity, metabolic syndrome, AND bipolar. In medical circles, I am what's known as a "train wreck". But I'm a nice train wreck.

I don't think much about it, except when somebody brings up the topic of comorbidities. With my list of diagnoses, I hope I never do need a care facility because nobody will want me. They'll take one look at my medical/psych history and go "Oh HELL no!"

I am glad that you have the energy and the sense of humor to put such a positive spin on things!

[Blue Poppy]

i think that the stress associated with mental illness leads to physical ailments

i have a kidney problem and had surgery ten years ago to remove part of one

when I got really depressed, my kidney decided to act up and I ended up having another surgery

when it rains, it pours

My husband and I both are diagnosed with bipolar disorder. My husband also has BPD which certainly complicates the BP. But his bigger issues are major physical/medical illnesses. He has had reflex sympathetic dystrophy since 1985 following a work injury. He lives his life in debilitating pain and has an implanted pump that bathes his spine with morphine at all times just to keep the pain level down about 50%. He has terrible problems with high blood pressure and diabetes on top of everything else. The chronic physical ailments really are far more debilitating and much harder to control and deal with than the mental ailments, and they complicate the mental illness issues because the chronic pain, high blood pressure, and diabetes symptoms also affect how you feel emotionally.

[Clinte89]

Wow hearing these I feel very lucky like hamster I have no physical ailments of course I am only 23 but ill try my best to keep it going, I applaud those of you who deal with so much yet still keep it all together.

[Broken Angel]

I suffer from bp and some other physical health issues. Such as hepatitis A and weak immune system and I am anemic. I have weak ciliated cells in my nose which causes me to bleed alot when I am depressed or when the weather is hot. And over all that I don't take any kind of medicines nor for bp or even physical issues. And I am glad that it's not affecting my life that much.

[canacrip]

I was born with Spina Bifida and use a wheelchair. I've read that BP is common with SB. Nice. I'm in the right place, though I often feel that I've somehow won the s**t lottery. Anyway, Hamster I am happy for you. I am also sad knowing that we are all human and frail. Stay well. Treat yourself well. You deserve this!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by canacrip

I was born with Spina Bifida and use a wheelchair. I've read that BP is common with SB. Nice. I'm in the right place, though I often feel that I've somehow won the s**t lottery. Anyway, Hamster I am happy for you. I am also sad knowing that we are all human and frail. Stay well. Treat yourself well. You deserve this!

That must be very tough. I depend on walking for managing my BP. I have found that walking fast works better than Klonopin for anxiety. Walking clears my thoughts, too, and helps to not get too obese. It would have been extremely challenging to live without access to walking.

[canacrip]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

That must be very tough. I depend on walking for managing my BP. I have found that walking fast works better than Klonopin for anxiety. Walking clears my thoughts, too, and helps to not get too obese. It would have been extremely challenging to live without access to walking.

It's not so bad. Pushing a wheelchair a couple miles is all the exercise I need. I am blessed that I can do that and doubly so because I live in a beautiful place where walking is always fun and an adventure! Peace.

[faerie_moon_x]

My mother-in-law has BP and chronic degenerative bone disease, which is a cousin illness to rheumethoid arthritis (it's like in that family.) Anyway, she's in pain pretty much 24/7 as her bones deteriorate and has to be on pain meds to function.

[~Christina]

Bipolar I and Fibromyalgia here .. Yes it does indeed SUCK ! My pain level stays at about a 7-8 with burts of a 10 numerous times a day.

But things could be worse right?

[Anika.]

Chronic pain brings me down lower than the bipolar does. I don't deal well with it at all, I am glad my runs in cycles, so I do get a break from it in between, hopefully it will be a thing of the past. Asthma here too BipolaRNurse, and allergies, lots of them, I have Polymorphus Light Eruption (PMLE), ... Solar Urticaria that one I would willing trade, the rest are not too bad.

[Trippin2.0]

No chronic physical conditions here... Altho I did have 'crushed pelvis' twice last month. If it happens again, I will spend my travelling fair to go to the gp cos I REFUSE to put up with such HORRENDOUS pain that drives me up the wall, yelling obscenities all night... hope it was a fluke and doesnt return