[bpcyclist]

Meaning, basically, fairly in the middle and without much at all in the way of symptoms.

For me, over the last year, I would guess I am around 15 or so percent maybe.

[Soupe du jour]

This has varied throughout my life, and certainly the last 16 years. However, I have been having longer and longer euthymic periods these past five years. This year? I'd say 95% of the time I've been more or less stable. The other 5% I've mostly been euphoric or irritable hypomanic...maybe once very very briefly I was heading to full blown manic. My current medication cocktail (with Seroquel XR dose manipulated), improved insight, mastery of coping skills, and lowish stress situation has made my stability possible.

My last severe full blown mania with psychosis was mid through late May 2018. That was a bad one! I have to be extremely careful next month during my trip, because my last bad mania (and many previous ones) developed during international travel. Big trigger for me! My last international trip was the May 2018 that I mentioned.

Between years 2004 and 2009, I could certainly say that mania (often mixed) or depression (to a lesser degree) dominated the years. They were hell years and I spent much of them in the psych hospitals or PHP/IOPs. However, I got through them and I am where I am now. Much, much, much, better! Imagine if "something really bad happened" to my existence during that bad period? If I gave in to the illness, completely? It would be extraordinarily sad.

[fern46]

Almost all of the time. I was symptomatic for about a week a few months ago. The last episode before that was two years ago. It hits really hard when it hits, but I am fortunate enough to find balance most of the time.

[swimmingly]

I'm 2 weeks normal, 2 weeks in dysphoric mania. Rinse, repeat. Sometimes a triggering event will shorten or heighten this. No sign of depression currently. Been this way for several months. Its a fast and short roller-coaster. I have a med appointment next Tuesday, and I'm going to ask for a rip and burn. Take me off everything at once, and put me on new doses. They usually put me in the hospital for this, but I can't go under current circumstances. I'm just going out of my mind.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by swimmingly

I'm 2 weeks normal, 2 weeks in dysphoric mania. Rinse, repeat. Sometimes a triggering event will shorten or heighten this. No sign of depression currently. Been this way for several months. Its a fast and short roller-coaster. I have a med appointment next Tuesday, and I'm going to ask for a rip and burn. Take me off everything at once, and put me on new doses. They usually put me in the hospital for this, but I can't go under current circumstances. I'm just going out of my mind.

I'm sorry you're having a rough time, swim. I'm glad you'll be advocating for yourself. You can stop all meds without tapering?

[*Beth*]

Forgot to answer the question. Euthymic...on my current meds I'm feeling quite stable (are euthymic and stable basically synonyms?). And this is the first time since I was about 4 years old that I feel this stable.


Right now, today, my biggest problem is being tired. Achy and sleepy. It's extremely annoying.

[Living in LaLa Land]

The last time was about March-April, I think. But, it may be even earlier than those months.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by swimmingly

I'm 2 weeks normal, 2 weeks in dysphoric mania. Rinse, repeat. Sometimes a triggering event will shorten or heighten this. No sign of depression currently. Been this way for several months. Its a fast and short roller-coaster. I have a med appointment next Tuesday, and I'm going to ask for a rip and burn. Take me off everything at once, and put me on new doses. They usually put me in the hospital for this, but I can't go under current circumstances. I'm just going out of my mind.

I am so sorry, swimmer..

[swimmingly]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I'm sorry you're having a rough time, swim. I'm glad you'll be advocating for yourself. You can stop all meds without tapering?

They've done this before. It's never pretty. I've always been in the hospital before because its not pretty. I'm sure they'll say no to me. I'm not sure what I'll do then. I'm out of my skin!

I'd say about 5%. When i'm switching from depression to hypo/mania there are probably a few days where i'd probably clock in at euthymic. But they are fleeting.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by BethRags

Forgot to answer the question. Euthymic...on my current meds I'm feeling quite stable (are euthymic and stable basically synonyms?). And this is the first time since I was about 4 years old that I feel this stable.


Right now, today, my biggest problem is being tired. Achy and sleepy. It's extremely annoying.

Good question. I think of euthymic as asymptomatic. Never really knew what stable meant...

[FluffyDinosaur]

This year? Zero.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

This yeai am sorry, Fluffyr? Zero.

I am sorry, Fluffy.

[FluffyDinosaur]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

I am sorry, Fluffy.

Thanks. It's okay though. It is what it is I suppose.

[bpcyclist]

[QUOTE=FluffyDinosaur;6921555]Thanks. It's okay though. It is what it is I suppose.[/QU

What about Clozaril?

[FluffyDinosaur]

[QUOTE=bpcyclist;6921567]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

Thanks. It's okay though. It is what it is I suppose.[/QU

What about Clozaril?

I haven't tried that one before. Right now I'm in the process of trying to set up ECT. I'm hoping that that will work well enough to avoid another round of med roulette. If not, I'll keep this one in mind!

[BipolaRNurse]

I've been mostly stable for the past couple of years. A little depression in the winter, a brief bout of hypomania in the spring. No severe manic or depressive episodes. I'm finally on the right combination of meds and doing well. It took a while to get here, but it's worth all the hard work my psychiatrists and I put in.