[Bipolarvet163]

so im diagnosed Bipolar II, since being diagnosed last may I have been in treatment through the VA (being diagnosed ended my military career.) ive been on different meds, go to all my appointments, and do everything i can to try and manage to just get through each day. I have actually gotten worse since being in treatment, so much so that the VA raised my disability rating from 50% to 70%. I have read almost eveywhere that on average people who suffer bipolar II only have maybe 4 episodes of hypomania a year. I cycle almost like clock work about every 2 weeks and there is never a middle ground its always going from really High to really low. is this something abnormal? also more recently during my hypomanic episodes I have been experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations (for example I swear at least 10 times or more a day i hear the ringtone my mom has on her phone, or other odd noises but its always one of the same noises over and over.) (the visual hallucinations are not as severe as they could be, its like seeing a shadow move out of the corner of your eye) I dont know if the hallucinations are from the lack of sleep or the hypomania itself but it seems as if the hallucinations are beginning to occur much more frequently and i feel like im slowly losing it. What do i do and does anyone have a similar experience with this

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I saw this hadn't gotten a response so I wanted to say welcome. I don't really have any answers for you except to keep working with your pdoc. I know it can be hard to get appointments at the VA. Do you see a therapist? That can help you learn how to control things more.

A website I found really helpful when I was newly diagnosed is PsychEducation | Treating the Mood Spectrum It's written by a psychiatrist who specializes in bipolar and is very informative about a wide range of topics.

[Bipolarvet163]

Appreciate the response. I'm seen pretty regularly at the VA by both my psychiatrist and a therapist. I don't want to say that they don't care but I don't think that's the case it's just they don't seem to know how to answer my questions. I did pick up the bipolar survival guide and I do try to do as much research as I can. Appreciate the new resource though I will definitely look at it.

[Ripose]

Risperidone seems to have stopped most of my visual and auditory hallucinations.
Are you on any meds?

When someone cycles as fast and as often as you do it may qualify as ultradian cycling if I remember right.
Again meds should be able to help with this.

Just tell your doctor everything you just told us.

[Sunflower123]

I'm sorry you're having a tough time. Can you work with the VA to tweak your meds? You are rapid cycling. I'm diagnosed with bipolar II and never experience hypomania so it varies widely. I hope you feel better soon. Best wishes.

[Alpha91]

How does it work exactly with the VA for bipolar. I'm actually about to start my process of getting discharged in the army because I have bipolar as well. Sometimes I hear or see things but it's like really small things hear and their like a flash of light or something moving in the corner of my eye even tho there's nothing. Sometimes I hear someone say my name or like a hello or I hear my phone go off but I never got anything. I've had a lot of stress lately and I've been trying to find ways to calm down I just started yoga and drink sleepy tea every night to relax somewhat. I hope things get better for you

Diagnostically, you can't hallucinate in hypomania. You can hallucinate in depressive episodes in bipolar 2, but hallucinations in 'up' phases are classified as mania, which would make it bipolar 1.

That being said, what you describe really doesn't sound outside the realms of 'normal', so I'm not sure I'd consider them hallucinations, IMO. Many non-MI people I know hear their name being called or their phone ring/vibrate when it didn't, and think they see something out of the corner of their eye. However, you should mention it to your pdoc so they can correctly tell you what it is and, if they are hallucinations, update your diagnosis.

ETA: The website that Beyondtherainbow recommended is really informative!

All the best,

*Willow*

[Bipolarvet163]

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

I'm sorry you're having a tough time. Can you work with the VA to tweak your meds? You are rapid cycling. I'm diagnosed with bipolar II and never experience hypomania so it varies widely. I hope you feel better soon. Best wishes.

I am seeing a psychiatrist about monthly and he hasn't mentioned tweaking them he does do blood tests to make sure I'm within a certain limit. I'm on lithium 1050mg daily and latuda 20mg daily.

[Guiness187055]

Has the military put you on medications and if so which ones?

[Bipolarvet163]

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

Has the military put you on medications and if so which ones?

I'm currently taking lithium 1050mg daily and latuda 20 mg daily