[cashart10]

I mentioned in my previous thread that I thought I had the after Christmas blues (plus feeling very suicidal all of a sudden) and was also physically sick. Well, 3 days later, I have not improved. I am sleeping for hours a day...this with my ONE year old playing around me. I can't stay awake and I normally do this while I am depressed. I am sleeping about 15-16 hours a day and just laying there for the rest of the majority of the day. I am miserable.

I have also been physically sick. I feel miserable and I have since the day after Christmas. Could this illness be causing severe depression symptoms?

This also has me wondering if I really have Bipolar Disorder. Could it be something physical? How could anyone possibly go from sleeping 0-4 hours per night to sleeping 15-16 hours per day a few times a year? It just seems so unreasonable.

Hey cashart - you bet! When I get an upset belly it's the end of the world, then all of a sudden things are righteous when instant things happen. I hope you feel better.

[~Christina]

Physical illness tends to always make Bipolar symptoms worse. Sucks but the truth. Do you have someone that can care for your 1 year old if your not able to safely care for your child? I remember when my daughter was one, I was constantly needing to monitor her to keep her safe.

You should notify your Pdoc about the change from zero to little sleep to a flip to sleeping excessively.

One thing I might add.. Sometimes its helpful to start one thread and add to it daily as needed , you will be able to see maybe a pattern or a trend in your mood shifts. Its also helpful as many members have done so and printed off the thread to physically show there Pdocs. Just a thought that might keep all your feelings and actions in one place.

Numerous members has/had a single thread they work on daily or as needed.

Hope your feeling better soon

[Crazy Hitch]

When I'm physically unwell, it does affect my mood, definitely.

I'm sorry you're not doing so well physically and mentally.

I can understand a one year old jumping around you and you continuing to sleep.

Sleep is a big symptom for me. Too much - I'm depressed. Too little - manic.

I hope that you transition through this phase smoothly.

Wishing you well.

Originally Posted by cashart10

Could this illness be causing severe depression symptoms?

This also has me wondering if I really have Bipolar Disorder. Could it be something physical? How could anyone possibly go from sleeping 0-4 hours per night to sleeping 15-16 hours per day a few times a year? It just seems so unreasonable.

Illness can cause or contribute to depression, absolutely. If you also have a history of bipolar symptoms, then that would intensify things even more. It takes a while to get a diagnosis of BP because much of it is identified through patterns over months and years. If you suspect that environmental stressors make your symptoms worse, then try tackling those to ease the severity. And see a professional for the diagnosis if this is an ongoing problem.

honestly, it's always the other way around for me

my symptoms mentally cause my physical pain
#
but that's just ne...

[BipolaRNurse]

It goes both ways for me---depression causes physical pain, and physical illness can make me depressed (or manic, if I miss my meds because of nausea/vomiting etc.). Thank goodness I don't get sick very often.....it's just when I do, I get really, REALLY sick.

[LastQuestion]

A few days ago I was feeling rather irritable, easily agitated. My first consideration was that I was probably cycling, or it is due to withdrawal, or... Then I had the most absurd thought, "isn't it normal to be like this when sick?" Strange, I thought, could this symptom I am experiencing be a normal reaction? Another strange thought occured, that perhaps I need not concern myself with 'not being irritable' and just proceed in the assumption that I'm sick...well, the slight tightness in my chest that I assumed was due to the extra circuit I ran the other day turned into difficulty breathing by evening the next day and today I'm exhausted and coughing up green stuff like a completely normal sick person. To top things off, tomorrow I am seeing a normal doctor! :P

[cashart10]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Physical illness tends to always make Bipolar symptoms worse. Sucks but the truth. Do you have someone that can care for your 1 year old if your not able to safely care for your child? I remember when my daughter was one, I was constantly needing to monitor her to keep her safe.

You should notify your Pdoc about the change from zero to little sleep to a flip to sleeping excessively.

One thing I might add.. Sometimes its helpful to start one thread and add to it daily as needed , you will be able to see maybe a pattern or a trend in your mood shifts. Its also helpful as many members have done so and printed off the thread to physically show there Pdocs. Just a thought that might keep all your feelings and actions in one place.

Numerous members has/had a single thread they work on daily or as needed.

Hope your feeling better soon

Thank you! Adding on to the same thread is a good idea! I think you are better at noticing patterns in me than I am. It is not safe for my daughter, but we are, at least, quarantined. Other than that I have no excuse other than I can't function. I'm not sure what to do about it though. Today was a little better as far as staying awake though but I still fell asleep once this morning. The sleep change didn't happen over night it just amazes me how quickly and drastically it can change.

[cashart10]

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

honestly, it's always the other way around for me

my symptoms mentally cause my physical pain
#
but that's just ne...

I've never really paid any attention. I have been so symptomatic over the last few years it's hard to discern what's what. I'm sure I'm not always physically sick while depressed though.

[cashart10]

Originally Posted by LastQuestion

A few days ago I was feeling rather irritable, easily agitated. My first consideration was that I was probably cycling, or it is due to withdrawal, or... Then I had the most absurd thought, "isn't it normal to be like this when sick?" Strange, I thought, could this symptom I am experiencing be a normal reaction? Another strange thought occured, that perhaps I need not concern myself with 'not being irritable' and just proceed in the assumption that I'm sick...well, the slight tightness in my chest that I assumed was due to the extra circuit I ran the other day turned into difficulty breathing by evening the next day and today I'm exhausted and coughing up green stuff like a completely normal sick person. To top things off, tomorrow I am seeing a normal doctor! :P

Ha; imagine that! I sure hope you are feeling better soon!