Bipolar Check-in #84

Went in for a 6 month lab update with my family doctor. Labs are great. I'm still on the edge of diabetes but the metformin I take for weight control is managing it if it needs managed. He didn't say anything about that so it's good.

I left with a diagnosis of bronchitis/possible pneumonia, a script for antibiotics and the hated "I'd give you steroids but I can't give you steroids".


Glad I had that appointment although I hated showing up sick to a wellness check. I have had a cough for a few days but it got a lot worse between yesterday and today so I couldn't cancel and I wasn't sure it was that bad until today. They had to get the doctor to agree to see me since I was wearing a mask. Oops. Maybe I should have called in but it's not COVID.


My mom posted a new picture on Facebook. I don't know if it is the angle or just a shot of reality but she suddenly looked her age to me in the photo. It really hit me that she's not young. She is so incredibly independent and active it's hard to remember. I hope the picture is off and I can return to my previously scheduled denial.

@Mountaindewed Only you know how you feel. If it were me I'd probably go in to be checked but if you waited a bit and things calmed down then it's just a judgment call.

Back from urgent care. I was dehydrated which I knew. They gave me 5 of those half bottles of water which is equal to a bag of IV fluids. So I could finally pee and give a urine sample. The portal said all tests were normal and continue to hydrate yourself. I got dehydrated because I was taking Mirilax every day per my primary’s recommendation for constipation from psych meds. The problem was I didn’t think to stop taking it when I had several days of diarrhea.i was just taking it every day per my primary’s instructions. Just took my new muscle relaxer for my back and gabapentin. This new muscle relaxer shouldn’t cause sedation so it’s fine to take with gabapentin.

I’ve got a follow up to this urgent care visit coming up one of these days soon. Monday is my pelvic ultrasound to check on my ovarian cyst. I’m thinking it was normal as my period started 10 days later. A little short for a luteal phase but that’s probably normal for perimenopause.

I had some pedialyte to help with the electrolytes and some Dramamine for the dizziness

Seems to have calmed down at least a bit. I was on the verge of going to the ER cause my heart was pounding and I was very dizzy like room spinning. The dizziness has calmed down some and the heart pounding stopped. Part of the heart pounding thing cause as soon as I felt like the room was spinning I started having a panic attack on top of it because I was afraid I was dying.

I had one other episode of dizziness like this severe a few months ago. I felt like the entire room was spinning around quite literally. I managed to go to sleep that time and I woke up feeling better and didn’t experience it again till this evening. It’s highly uncomfortable and scary so I would like it to not happen again. I’d also like to know wtf it actually is and what causes it. I know my meds cause dizziness but they never have for me and I’ve been on them a long time. This is like sudden vertigo

My dog has perked up!

@Blue_Bird vertigo is the worst. I'm sorry you're having to deal with it.

Work is weird right now because of how things have blown up/the situation I mentioned yesterday that my boss didn't handle well. There is a lot of tension between certain people too. Eventually, things will probably even out a bit, but my guess is that will take some time. It sounds like I'm not the only one thinking of getting a new job though-there could be a few of us who don't come back.

I had a nice evening at home. I went on a walk, watched a tv show, and did a little reading. Now, it's already almost time for bed.

That's great!!

Oh, and for what it's worth, my SAD lamp is helping. My depression is better yesterday and today after I think I found the sweet spot for the intensity. I'm not all better by any means and combined with being sick I may not get out of bed tomorrow but something is improving I think.

I don't use the SAD lamp even every year but I recommend having one if you are at all prone to seasonal depressions. I suspect I'll be using mine until March or April now.

I’ve always wanted to get a SAD Lamp but I’ve just never gotten around to doing it then every winter I kick myself in the shin for not getting one!

I just got my teaching allotment for next year. I don’t understand. They’ve given me Year 9…..they’re this year’s Year 8s. The Year 8s are what caused me to have a breakdown and I’ve got them again next year. I’m thinking of emailing them principal.