mania and appetite

WHEEEE, here we go, time for a ride on the Mood Swing Express.

My sleep hasn't been too badly affected -- yet -- that's just starting, but the lack of an attention span, easy distractability, and general speeded-up feeling are all in full swing. I have noticed that I have to force myself to eat, though. I'm too hyper to sit still, fidgeting away in my chair, but I can't bring myself to go get some lunch. It's been that way for a few days now. I had 3 small apples for dinner last night and that seemed like a lot. Eating just sounds like too much trouble to go to, and nothing sounds appealing anyway.

This is a new one on me, so I'm wondering if anybody else gets too distracted to bother eating? Lord knows I need to lose weight, but I suspect this ain't the best way to do it.

CB

You know, before I started treatment if I got depressed I wouldnt' eat and if I got really manic I wouldn't eat. I was a totally healthy weight so nobody was worried but it felt weird to me. I was hungry inside but had no appetite if that makes any sense.
Since meds unfortunitly, its turned around. If I'm depressed I eat for comfort and if I am manic I binge. That added to the fact that some meds I used to take can cause weight gain have me now 30lbs overweight (although that is 20 less than I was a year ago! I've been working on it). Talk to your doc about your eating habits. Make sure it is not going to turn into an eating disorder. Maybe your meds are causing it?

I haven't had any changes in my meds for awhile, but if this keeps up I will definitely call pdoc.

I skip meals and eat little when hypo.Usually lose weight both depressed and hypo.I consider it a perk.
Good luck....

i tend not to eat in both stages and i'm just barely in the healthy underweight group.

I think you have it right CB. I wouldn't be too terribly worried about it if it is temporary, but if it keeps up you should see your doc. I'm sure even the most healthy people have variations in their appetites.

Mind you, my appetite fluctuates frequently. Sometimes I hardly eat at all for days on end and then at other times I eat all day (literally), but this has never seemed to be much of a concern for my doctor; I'm not sure why, but it's as though to him it's just one more symptom. The surprising thing in my case is that I've always been slim even when I eat tons of food but when I am sick or just plain not eating my weight can get (to me) shockingly low. I'm 6 feet tall and have sometimes gone below 135 lbs. Let me tell ya, it's hard to find the energy to do much at that point. On the other hand, right now I'm about 15 lbs over my normal weight of 150lbs and my doc doesn't seem to be at all concerned.

Here's hoping it doesn't get too serious but either way it can't hurt to see your doctor. Take care.