Bipolar Check-In #91

My period is pretty heavy. Gotta make sure I’m not filling a pad an hour.

@Moose72 What about trying a disk, they self empty and hold a lot. If you have to buy more pads maybe that will be a better option. I haven't tried them myself but I will because I have a very heavy cycle.

My hematrcrit is high again. I drank enough water this morning. Going to the infusion lab to "give" blood is so exhausting.

But I haven't had any symptoms related to it besides some high blood pressure and shortness in breath every now and then.

Maybe my doctor won't worry although he tends to freak out whenever its high.

I found out where that therapist that was calling me creepy and then ended up dumping me suddenly. She just didn't show up and it pissed off the director so much that she fired her. She did other things too to other clients. Anyways I''m not surpised she works where she does now

A menstrual cup you mean? I have lots of period products as I bought a bunch when they were on sale and then went 5 months without a period. I’m watching for filling a pad an hour as that’s what I was told is too much bleeding.

It's has more capacity then a cup, pad, or tampon but if your monitoring it for too heaviness then that wouldn't be a good idea.

I'm irritable again today. I'm also restless and have more energy. I don't know if I'm just having a better energy day than I've had in a while POTs wise or if I should be concerned about the irritability/restless with more energy combo. Time will tell I guess.

I've gotten some things done today. I went for a drive, read a little for both work and for fun, did a small workout (could only last 10 minutes but it's something), washed my sheets and towels, and put those away. My restlessness is annoyed that I don't have much else to do and it's only about 5 pm, which then fuels the irritability I have. I might read a little more. Maybe, play Uno on my phone. The problem with Uno is, if I lose, the irritability makes me want to chuck my phone across the room so that might not be the best option. I really hope these are just some break through symptoms that will go away and this isn't the start of mania.

Had a good day but I didn’t get out of bed until almost noon. Was loving my dreams and trying to keep them going.

Then went downstairs to craft Wednesday and made little felt teddy bears. Mine turned out well. I have a bit more sewing to do to finish it but had to get going with the others to get to the protest. Our group is growing.

It was a good day but too stressful. I am feeling rattled and ragged now and that's not ideal with bedtime so close. Just can't seem to get the hang of managing my stress level. Maybe i will just have to get used to a higher stress level?

It was a mistake having F down for a beer late in the afternoon. I can only be active in the mornings. It was fun, but i wound things up after about 40 minutes. It was a bit discouraging that she forgot things i had told her last time.

She has a learning disability ~ it might have been that. She's smart tho, doing her master's degree. It was fun but too late in the day. Or maybe it was because it was inside, as it's blistering hot out today. It's so much more pleasant socializing outside in the dog park.

I enquired about hormone replacement therapy for increasingly intense bipolar episodes in menopause. My doctor says there is no evidence that it's useful. So that was a disappointment.

I'm not eligible for the housekeeping support service the therapist referred me to yesterday. It's only for the PHYSICALLY disabled. That's ableism. I'm furious with the therapist because i almost never ask for help, and to have her give me a bum lead is demoralizing.

I find the referrals for help are usually bum leads. I wish helping professionals would stick to offering their OWN help, being that that's all they really know about. I wish they wouldn't say, "go here, go there, they can help you."

I find helping professionals want to believe that there is help out there, but the truth is, there really is no help out there. Raising my hopes only to have them dashed is an act of cruelty and a waste of my time.

I hit all eight of my time-targets today by within an hour, so even tho the day was messy, i managed to stick to doing things in order, if not on the exact precise time.

Enjoyed my workout again this morning, and have new leg warmers to wear tomorrow. Lots to look forward to!!!

I think the unusually high stress-level is just Summer. Being outside is very joyful, the warm days and sun are a delight, and i am having a great time socializing with my neighbors in the dog park. But even good stress is still stress. The heat today was intense, too.

Has anyone considered getting a hystrectomy so you automatically go into menopause?

My mental health is a ton better after surgery. I got it done when I was 28 and I don't deal with PMS at all anymore.

I have not I have other problems with down there and I'm worried it'll just make everything worse.

There are a lot of us facing perimenopause together. Would anyone be interested in a thread just to share hot flashes and other crazy things are bodies are doing, while dealing with bipolar already? If nobody is interested that's fine, it just occurred to me that it might be a good thread.

I’m right there with you if you make a thread

One is already started!

Just saw it now lol

I think most doctors are hesitant to remove ovaries in women with bipolar. It's just very risky that they'd have uncontrolled mood swings. I suppose if you could do hormone replacement but that can cause mood swings too and not everyone can do it. That's what my surgeon told me anyway.

I just had a really weird dream similar to the ones teenage boys have. After I woke up for a bit and got myself together I went to the bathroom and there was some blood again. My blood pressure was slightly elevated too.

But that dream was kinda hot though.

Yes! Please and thank you!

My GP mentioned it briefly, but my hernia repair surgery was so bad there is NO WAY I'm getting surgery again willingly!

Good morning, heading out for a walk to the library soon. It’s supposed to rain when I go out but that’s okay, I’ll just bring my umbrella. ☂️

I’m mostly doing it for exercise though I do have a couple books I want to return as well

Feeling pretty good today. I haven’t really dissociated in almost 2 weeks now. Which is crazy cause normally for years on end it was like every other day at least. I’m really happy about that and hope it continues.

Things are going fine with the trileptal decrease. Which automatically makes my Lamictal levels rise so I have to hold off till next friday to increase the Lamictal. Then next Friday once it’s been two weeks I can go right ahead and increase the Lamictal from 100 mg to the target dose of 200mg. Then once I see my psychiatrist in August I can stop the trileptal entirely and be finished with the med changes finally thankfully.
My psychiatrist and I decided on not messing with coming off the Thorazine because it helps a lot and there’s no need to stop it especially since there’s no negative side effects I experience from it.

My final med combo which I have confidence that will keep me stable long term since I’m already doing significantly better on the changes is:

Abilify 30mg
Zoloft 50mg
Lamictal 200mg
Thorazine 400 mg

And klonopin as needed (which I rarely take, one bottle lasts me like 3-5 months, because I only use it in emergencies)

I’m excited for the rock painting class I’m teaching next Thursday. Should be fun

Have my Bible study with @LadyShadow tonight at 5pm so am really looking forward to that too!

Hugs to everyone struggling and everyone in general

I’ve never tried CBD gummies but I heard they can be helpful. Last spring:



CBD is supposed to be calming though on its own. Maybe I’ll try it sometime , glad it helped you @raspberrytorte

@raspberrytorte weed is legal where I am and I tried CBD too.

I had a similar experience to yours. But I was taking CBD oil and it was a specific kind, I think it had to do with the strain or something. I was taking it for my anxiety and it did work.

The problem was that my anxiety was so bad that I had to take it 6 times a day.

And yeah, it didn't affect my ability to think clearly. I didn't drive though - I can't be too careful with that.

I stopped CBD after a few months, it was just too cumbersome.

I eventually went another route to manage my anxiety, so I haven't needed CBD anymore.

Also, my mother was taking it for pain, and it helped too. She has difficulty getting to the dispensary, and I can't go often for her, so it kind of fell off the things she takes.

I got the job! I start august 5!!

Congratlations!

Congratulations @HALLIEBETH87!