[Amelie10]

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts about whether or not you think BP is a progressive disease. What has your pdoc said about this?

My pdoc says it is and that really scares me. I definitely feel like my depressions are lasting longer and are more severe than they used to be. My husband says I just don't remember how bad the previous ones were because there were some really fun hypomanic periods in between.

Looking forward to your replies.

Thanks.

[pegasus]

It ain't necessarily so!

[venusss]

Doesn't have to be if you find ways to help yourself and to sort your life... It can be managed to be less painful and miserable and destructive.

So it depends.

[A Red Panda]

Really don't know. I've read that it can be.

But like the others have said... a LOT depends on how we each manage it.

Like... so far? Mine's gotten more manageable by the year. I've taught myself a lot of coping skills, I've became aware of triggers and watch for early warning signs. I keep as much routine as possible.

Some people can do that without meds, others will struggle and still decline even with them. It really depends on each of us. Some can manage excellent with meds. So don't give up hope

[ultramar]

I think it really depends. It seems likely that, left untreated, it may worsen over time. But if well treated by medications and other measures are taken to keep stable, I would hope not...

Did your pdoc elaborate on this, did he say anything else about it? Now I think I'm going to ask my pdoc

[Skittles56]

My doctor say that BP "ages." He said that, untreated, the lows get lower and the highs get higher. He said medication would help that. I assumed he meant that the meds would have to be adjusted over time.

[BipolaRNurse]

Originally Posted by Skittles56

My doctor say that BP "ages." He said that, untreated, the lows get lower and the highs get higher. He said medication would help that. I assumed he meant that the meds would have to be adjusted over time.

That's pretty much the way it's worked with me. I wasn't diagnosed till I was 53, which was when things reached critical mass and I could no longer ignore what was happening to me. It kept getting worse (my dx was BP-NOS at first and has 'evolved' over time) until about six months ago, when I started an AP on a regular basis instead of PRN. I've had to have the dose bumped up a couple of times, but I'm pretty steady on the meds now despite what's going on in my life.

[comicgeek007]

The idea is kinda depressing. My eighteenth birthday is this week and I've already had to be hospitalized for bipolar things -twice (albeit once was to change meds drastically). If it gets worse I don't know how I'm going to lead a fulfilling life.

So I think I'm going to live on a that happy little island called optimistic denial.

[Skittles56]

It's not that bad. I have been undiagnosed bipolar for most of my life. I saw one therapist when I was a kid and he was useless. My BP didn't reach critical mass until I was 53 like BipolaRNurse. I know the prospect of being on meds and in therapy for life is a bit daunting, but it's like any other challenge. It becomes integrated with your life and you just move on.

I feel that mine has gotten better as time has gone on, I suppose all the work you put in during therapy does start to pay off.

My mother was worse when we were younger too. Now she is in her 50s and is more stable than I have ever seen her in her life - unmedicated.

I'd never heard it was progressive but I'd like to see the stats.

[Trippin2.0]

Mine has gotten easier to navigate, knowledge is power afterall... I have a stellar memory (well the parts the lithium didn't erase permanently anyway) and my monster episodes have not gotten worse over time.
I use the term "monster episode", because I'm referring to my longer lasting or most severe depressions, not my normal bp cycles. You know those whoppers we deal with every so often...

They vary in intensity, the worst ones being after my dad and brother died, and bout of anhedonia 2 yrs later that morphed into a yr long depression.

I've had horrible ones to not so earth shattering ones inbetween, before and after those 2 nasty ones....

Logically if my bp were getting worse, the episodes would worsen consecutively. No?

Admittedly, each one feels like the worst as its happening, but once I can "see" properly again, I realize it really wasn't the worst one to date....

In conclusion, any illness/condition/problem/issue/disease will undoubtedly get worse if you take the "stick your head in the sand" stance... So while I'm not medicated, my head is not in the sand, and I'm managing my bp as best I can.

[primetimetush1]

Originally Posted by Amelie10

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts about whether or not you think BP is a progressive disease. What has your pdoc said about this?

My pdoc says it is and that really scares me. I definitely feel like my depressions are lasting longer and are more severe than they used to be. My husband says I just don't remember how bad the previous ones were because there were some really fun hypomanic periods in between.

Looking forward to your replies.

Thanks.

I think it probably is a progressive illness, although evidence for kindling or stress-sensitization in bipolar has been mixed. Over the next few decades, scientists will get a much clearer picture of this with longitudinal studies, particularly biological and neuroimaging ones. Right now, they don't really know how the "bipolar brain" changes over time. And a lot of brain findings have been mixed too.

[thickntired]

I was also told that bipolar progresses with age, and I was factoring in menopause. I think that pharma will be ever producing better medications for bipolar. Also, as you live with the disease you can be better able to read the red flags that you're headed for a high or low. I heard on the radio that they are testing a once a month medication for bipolar right now. I'm not sure if it is an injection or a pill, but wouldn't that be great.

Peace,

TnT

[nachocheese]

I have been dealing with bipolar for 20+ years. I took meds and then I quit. I was good for about 10 years and then it hit me like an oncoming train, destroying many parts of my life. And almost taking mine. I am medicated now. Most days I'm ok. But then there are those days I couldn't feel any lower. I am aware, very much so, that depression is looming before me. The problem is, there isn't a whole lot I can do for it except try not to let it take me under too far. Medication takes time and trial and error. I have been through it enough to know. I feel as if I am progressing into a mental mess.
I'm sure there are plenty of bp people out there in this Godforsaken world that manage it. I just happen to be one who is just plain tired. My memory is so bad. Skills I onced possess are now lost to me. My thoughts are so disorganized.
Sorry if I am being a huge downer but that is my story about my debilitating and what I believe is progressing bp