[Becoming]

Hey all,

So, I've been pretty good at taking care of myself, but I've yet to tackle a few things which could possibly make living with Bipolar easier.

First, is there such thing as a Bipolar diet? Things that should and should not be eaten for emotional regulation? I don't eat meat, just so you know. Only fish/seafood. Any sort of supplements/vitamins?

Second, how much is okay to drink? I take lamictal 200mg daily. I don't really want to cold quit drinking, but I'm aware that drinking too much throws me into depression for quite a while afterwards. I can also experience swift mood changes when drunk too which tend to confuse people. Happy one second and basically crying the next because something (example: a song or a person) triggered me.

Third, any medications I should avoid/that would mess with my lamictal? I take a sleep aid at times that's given me nightmares and makes me feel a bit depressed the next day. Also, I think certain pain medications conflict as well?

Fourth, how much exercise? I don't exercise at all right now. I hear it's good for mental health though.

Anyway, these are just a few things. I want to work on these to get my moods even more regulated. I've got intrusive thoughts mostly under control as well as self-understanding, but I'm still not as well/free of extreme emotions as I'd like to be. Graduating college soon and want to be as healthy as I can be for life (develop habits and all).

Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Skywalking]

I'm on 300 mg lamotrigine and I've never had any issues with drug interactions, or even been warned about any, fwiw. The lamotrigine sometimes gives me weird nightmares if I take it too late at night so that might not have been your sleep aid.

How much to drink, well, as much as you want, but know what the consequences will be for you based on how you react to alcohol. I have maybe two or three beers or some Jack and cola once in a while, not enough to get drunk. Never causes a problem but that's me. I've never heard anybody say you can't drink at all on lamotrigine, though. I think it depends on you.

I think just the usual "eat fruits and veggies, get some exercise" is basic advice that anybody and everybody with any sort of health issue is given, rather than being specifically about bipolar. I enjoyed working out three or four times a week, about half an hour to 45 minutes each time. I got out of the habit and should go back.

Glad you're doing well.

[Flyer]

Good questions for your pdoc and pharmacist.

[Becoming]

Originally Posted by Skywalking

I'm on 300 mg lamotrigine and I've never had any issues with drug interactions, or even been warned about any, fwiw. The lamotrigine sometimes gives me weird nightmares if I take it too late at night so that might not have been your sleep aid.

How much to drink, well, as much as you want, but know what the consequences will be for you based on how you react to alcohol. I have maybe two or three beers or some Jack and cola once in a while, not enough to get drunk. Never causes a problem but that's me. I've never heard anybody say you can't drink at all on lamotrigine, though. I think it depends on you.

I think just the usual "eat fruits and veggies, get some exercise" is basic advice that anybody and everybody with any sort of health issue is given, rather than being specifically about bipolar. I enjoyed working out three or four times a week, about half an hour to 45 minutes each time. I got out of the habit and should go back.

Glad you're doing well.

I'll keep that in mind about the timing of taking Lamictal. I think that I had taken it later on those nights. Maybe I'll keep a chart so if I accidentally miss taking my meds at regular time (usually around 8pm for me when I start feeling down) and take them later, I will know if it has an effect. I guess like a med and nightmare chart.

Last night, I chose to drink only two Smirnoff's. I had to drive anyway. I didn't get much sleep though, so hard to say if it's lack of sleep (more than likely) or the drinks that put me in a sad mood today.

Yeah, last time I had a habit of exercising was probably a couple years ago. I was feeling pretty good then as well.

Originally Posted by Flyer

Good questions for your pdoc and pharmacist.

I don't currently have a pdoc right now. Only a therapist who sees me once a week for an hour. The rest of the time I'm on my own to manage myself. I could probably talk for 2 or 3 hours every week if she let me. XD

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pjcjr77]

Originally Posted by Rachael_S

Hey all,

So, I've been pretty good at taking care of myself, but I've yet to tackle a few things which could possibly make living with Bipolar easier.

First, is there such thing as a Bipolar diet? Things that should and should not be eaten for emotional regulation? I don't eat meat, just so you know. Only fish/seafood. Any sort of supplements/vitamins?

Second, how much is okay to drink? I take lamictal 200mg daily. I don't really want to cold quit drinking, but I'm aware that drinking too much throws me into depression for quite a while afterwards. I can also experience swift mood changes when drunk too which tend to confuse people. Happy one second and basically crying the next because something (example: a song or a person) triggered me.

Third, any medications I should avoid/that would mess with my lamictal? I take a sleep aid at times that's given me nightmares and makes me feel a bit depressed the next day. Also, I think certain pain medications conflict as well?

Fourth, how much exercise? I don't exercise at all right now. I hear it's good for mental health though.

Anyway, these are just a few things. I want to work on these to get my moods even more regulated. I've got intrusive thoughts mostly under control as well as self-understanding, but I'm still not as well/free of extreme emotions as I'd like to be. Graduating college soon and want to be as healthy as I can be for life (develop habits and all).

Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I find that Lamictal makes drinking a bit unpleasant. Pre-medication I drank a fair amount and pretty frequently (In all honestly, i was a borderline alcoholic). What I've found is that anything beyond 4 beers will make me feel pretty terrible now. Also, I had a bit too much one evening (not a crazy amount) at a wedding reception. We were staying at a hotel, and I got up in the night to go to the bathroom and I literally blackout out slightly and fell in the bathroom. This is something that had never happened to me before, so my guess is that the Lamictal may have played a role. It was also kind of scary.

At this point, I really don't drink much at all....beside it not making me feel that well...I don't have the strong desire to "shut down the machine" all that much anymore.

For food, just eat well. Stay away from processed foods, and eating out too much. Try to eat on a schedule.

Working out, I think this is almost as important as taking any meds. Set up a schedule that can work for you, and stick to it. For me, I go to the gym every weekday morning before work. It helps immensely. I've lost a bunch of weight, and it helps my mental state a lot.

I've found that having a routine helps...a lot. For waking up, for the gym, for eating...almost everything. Anytime I fall out of my routine I notice my mood start to become less stable.

It seems like we need to know/feel comfortable with what will happen next in most situations. At least for things that we don't directly control.

I can get on my motorcycle, and ride for hours without much a of plan, or firm directions. It's just me and the bike, and it is amazingly freeing. It is also kind of meditative in away, as you are forced to live in the moment.

[BlackSheep79]

First I eat fairly well. I eat veggies, love spinach. I also take fish oil pills and cod liver oil pills. I could be wrong, I think the cod liver oil pills have the omegas but also vitamin D. I found that those two make a difference for me personally. I think I read, but maybe not proven, that the fish oil helps with bipolar. Please don't quote me on all this.

The biggest thing for me is a set schedule. I take my pills, eat, sleep at the same time everyday.

Now for exercise, I need to work on that one.

I also believe in having a hobby. I play the piano and I just go into my own little world, which means for me no racing thoughts, just the beauty of music.