[r010159]

I need someones opinion.

I seem to have rapid intraday cycles from time to time. This is where I have no problems driving for 30 minutes for coffee at a coffee shop on a whim, and in a relatively short time, out of energy, lethargic, fatigued, needing to lay down. As I lay down, I feel immobile and sort of paralyzed. Then this passes in a few hours. On Lamictal this happens much less frequently and I am still able to function at my low point.

Is this rapid cycling? Or opposite sides of the same coin? Like mania stupor I hear about?

tucson

[Lobster Hands]

Originally Posted by r010159

I need someones opinion.

I seem to have rapid intraday cycles from time to time. This is where I have no problems driving for 30 minutes for coffee at a coffee shop on a whim, and in a relatively short time, out of energy, lethargic, fatigued, needing to lay down. As I lay down, I feel immobile and sort of paralyzed. Then this passes in a few hours. On Lamictal this happens much less frequently and I am still able to function at my low point.

Is this rapid cycling? Or opposite sides of the same coin? Like mania stupor I hear about?

tucson

I've never heard of mania stupor...can you enlighten me?

[r010159]

Manic stupor is where even though a person is in an elevated but agitated mood, they cannot move or perhaps even think for a period of time. But that is all I know about it.

tucson

[Lobster Hands]

Originally Posted by r010159

Manic stupor is where even though a person is in an elevated but agitated mood, they cannot move or perhaps even think for a period of time. But that is all I know about it.

tucson

That sounds scary!

r010159, I have rapid cycling mixed states and I feel exactly like you have described every day. I recently got to 200mg Lamictal. So far I'm feeling somewhat more stable, but I sure hope it helps more- and soon.

[IndieVisible]

I really don't think there is anything engraved in stone. It seems the bipolar spectrum expands every year due in part to better communications no doubt. I have experienced sudden bursts of energy followed by fatigue but honestly how do we know to attribute it to our bipolar or simply normal mood swings for whatever reason?

[Trippin2.0]

Idk either, but any type of sudden adrenalin rush is sure to be followed by some sudden fatigue. Guess I don't really give it much thought tho, pathologizing everything has been known to drive me bonkers.

[r010159]

Originally Posted by Sister Rags

r010159, I have rapid cycling mixed states and I feel exactly like you have described every day. I recently got to 200mg Lamictal. So far I'm feeling somewhat more stable, but I sure hope it helps more- and soon.

I do appreciate everyones replies. All of you made sense to me. But this particular reply of yours did get my attention. It is nice to understand what I am experiencing is "norma"l for some people. But I cannot imagine dealing with this every single day for a great period of time. I do have frequent reprieves. But then when this happens to me, it does go on for days.

Do you notice that the episodes of depression lighten up as the day progresses? And when you focus your attention on something else while you are depressed helps some?

My dosage of Lamictal has been recently increased to 300mg. I do feel more stable and grounded. But I still do have my mood swings, the worst one today. But so far the mood swings are not as bad as they have been in the past.

tucson

[Crazycatlady82]

I always get this! Wow! I call it "running out of gas" but its so sudden. I can have tons of energy or feel just fine, go out to do something, be having a good time and then suddenly it's like hitting a brick wall. I'm so exhausted I can barely drive myself home and if I don't lie down I will fall asleep sitting up.