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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CareBear04 on April 5, 2006, at 12:47:10
hey everyone,
I could defnitely use your input. i am diagnosed as bipolar. i had been in a deep depression for months with two hospitalizations. since upping my prozac to 60mg, i started to feel better. last week, i was definitely better than before, but still a little depressed and not back to baseline. this weekend, i went out of town. my flight on saturday morning was early, so i only slept about three hours. that same day, i stopped taking abilify and keppra, my mood stabilizers. since then, my sleep has been erratic, and my personality has changed enormously. i toured all day, went to a dinner, went out dancing and to bars with my sister, came back late, then couldnt' sleep. i got maybe two hours. i've been napping more than sleeping, and i'm up late and early. whereas i isolated when i was depressed, i've been super social this past week, talking to everyone about everything. when i've been hypomanic in the past, i've felt magnetic, like people were drawn to me, and it seems to be happening again. men are definitely paying more attention, maybe because i think i'm dressing a little skankier. i'm much more confident, talking more, talking faster, and i feel high and exhausted at the same time. i'm really jittery, can barely sit still, and i'm barely eating. my thoughts are going too fast, and i can't shut them up to sleep. but even without much sleep, i don't feel very tired. the main difference from my other episodes is that even though i'm more confident than when i was depressed, i'm still very aware of my limits and don't really have feelings of grandiosity.what do you think is going on? and did my lack of sleep cause this behavior, or is the lack of sleep a symptom? i stopped taking keppra and abilify because i didn't feel like they were doing anything. do you think that's why i'm like this right now? i see my therapist tomorrow and my psychiatrist on friday. what do you think i should do? no matter what, i'm enjoying myself at the moment and taking advantage of feeling good again. the question is just whether i'm feeling more than good and where this is going to all lead.
please give me feedback!
thanks,
CB
Posted by med_empowered on April 5, 2006, at 13:32:04
In reply to Do you think I'm hypomanic?, posted by CareBear04 on April 5, 2006, at 12:47:10
hey! Personally, for the time being I wouldn't really worry about it. If you recognize your limits, then hypomania really isn't problematic. Its not until you feel compelled to do stupid stuff (and are unable to stop yourself) that the episode becomes problematic, to me at least (although the old rule applies: if it messed with your quality of life, then something must be done about it.)
Do you still have your Abilify? The good thing about atypicals is that they can be used short-term for acute manic episodes...sooooo, should this become more problematic, you can take some Abilify to calm things down until you see your shrink. Personally, though, I wouldn't worry too much; if you have anything for sleep, try taking that...other than that, I personally wouldn't do anything until you feel its problematic (example: you consider emptying your bank account on a business venture). Then you might want to address the situation. Until then..have fun!!!
Good luck!
Posted by MARTY on April 5, 2006, at 14:20:00
In reply to Do you think I'm hypomanic?, posted by CareBear04 on April 5, 2006, at 12:47:10
Hi CareBear04,If what you want is a clear and simple opinion; Yes, if you don't tint the facts you describe in your post, I think you have become hypomanic.
I agree with med_empowered that it does seem catastrophic since you are 'present' enough to see you act hypomanic and I think you talk like someone 'lucid enough' to be able to control yourself.
That said, if I was you I would get back to my mood stabilisator meds, abilify and co. Hypomania feels good especially after depression but is part of the dynamic of why you do depression and so must be disabled with stabilisators in order to supress you depression.
Attack your hypomania right now it's attacking your next depression and so attacking your next hypomania and so attacking your next depression .. and so .. etc you got the point by now :P
Hope you feel not TOO good ;) lol
Marty> hey everyone,
> I could defnitely use your input. i am diagnosed as bipolar. i had been in a deep depression for months with two hospitalizations. since upping my prozac to 60mg, i started to feel better. last week, i was definitely better than before, but still a little depressed and not back to baseline. this weekend, i went out of town. my flight on saturday morning was early, so i only slept about three hours. that same day, i stopped taking abilify and keppra, my mood stabilizers. since then, my sleep has been erratic, and my personality has changed enormously. i toured all day, went to a dinner, went out dancing and to bars with my sister, came back late, then couldnt' sleep. i got maybe two hours. i've been napping more than sleeping, and i'm up late and early. whereas i isolated when i was depressed, i've been super social this past week, talking to everyone about everything. when i've been hypomanic in the past, i've felt magnetic, like people were drawn to me, and it seems to be happening again. men are definitely paying more attention, maybe because i think i'm dressing a little skankier. i'm much more confident, talking more, talking faster, and i feel high and exhausted at the same time. i'm really jittery, can barely sit still, and i'm barely eating. my thoughts are going too fast, and i can't shut them up to sleep. but even without much sleep, i don't feel very tired. the main difference from my other episodes is that even though i'm more confident than when i was depressed, i'm still very aware of my limits and don't really have feelings of grandiosity.
>
> what do you think is going on? and did my lack of sleep cause this behavior, or is the lack of sleep a symptom? i stopped taking keppra and abilify because i didn't feel like they were doing anything. do you think that's why i'm like this right now? i see my therapist tomorrow and my psychiatrist on friday. what do you think i should do? no matter what, i'm enjoying myself at the moment and taking advantage of feeling good again. the question is just whether i'm feeling more than good and where this is going to all lead.
>
> please give me feedback!
>
> thanks,
> CB
Posted by CareBear04 on April 5, 2006, at 16:13:04
In reply to Re: Do you think I'm hypomanic? » CareBear04, posted by MARTY on April 5, 2006, at 14:20:00
thank you both for your replies. i don't know about going back on those meds. i feel soooo much better off them! i want to keep feeling this way-- like you said, marty, if feels so much better than depression. i hope my therapist and pdoc don't notice... or do you think i should tell them? i want to tell him that the keppra doesn't work, but i don't want to let him know that i stopped taking it.
right now, i feel like i can control myself well enough, but i AM starting to do careless and rash things like rushing into the street in oncoming traffic because i KNOW that i won't get hit.
luckily, i have a whole pharmacy of prior meds i've taken on hand should this escalate and provided i am smart enough to take them-- mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, benzos, sleeping meds, etc.
how do you think is hould ask with the doctors?
thanks,
CB
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2006, at 22:10:16
In reply to Re: Do you think I'm hypomanic?, posted by CareBear04 on April 5, 2006, at 16:13:04
Just start back on the meds and if he sees a difference in your behavior or others do they will let you know. hopefully. Love Phillipa
Posted by B2chica on April 6, 2006, at 8:51:07
In reply to Re: Do you think I'm hypomanic?, posted by CareBear04 on April 5, 2006, at 16:13:04
i'd say i think you do seem a bit hypoM, but if it's not causing harm to your life than you are ok for now. Definately tell you docs. i believe in total disclosure with docs. but also tell them you think you are ok without the meds, tell them why you stopped and see what they say.
the whole key is understanding your body and your needs. if you know what is going on and know how to recognize symptoms before they get too bad that is great. see if you can take an AP Prn for manic episodes.
best wishes...and enjoy your feeling good.
b2c.
Posted by bipolarspectrum on April 6, 2006, at 13:06:12
In reply to Re: Do you think I'm hypomanic?, posted by B2chica on April 6, 2006, at 8:51:07
Hi Carebear,
I have to disagree with what the majority of these posts are telling u.. This is all my opinion and nothing.... your definately manic/hypomanic.... and i dont think you should just enjoy it... mania is not healthy on the brain and the guaranteed cycling back to depression which will likely happen at some point will be awful... my pdoc always tells me that cycling is bad for brain and can cause brain damage over the long term... i write long term because i dont think a couple short hypomanic episodes will do much... theres a theory about kindling, and i dont know much about it, but it seems to say that the more cycling one does, the harder it is to treat them.... i think my only point is that u dont want to get into a habit of manipulating the situation at times to induce hypomania... in terms of physician disclosure, i think you should have total disclosure... they cant get mad at u...at least if there good pdocs they wont judge u... anywayz, good luck CB!
bps
Posted by CareBear04 on April 6, 2006, at 15:42:18
In reply to Re: Do you think I'm hypomanic?, posted by bipolarspectrum on April 6, 2006, at 13:06:12
thanks, bps. i saw my therapist today, and she definitely thought i was manic. she sent an email to my pdoc, whom i see tomorrow. i'm scared to tell him that i came off my abilify and keppra, but you're right, if he's good, he won't get mad.
as a question to you or anyone else-- after one episode of depression or mania passes, do you pass directly to the opposite without returning to a baseline state? i tend to have depression, then eventually baseline, then at some point, mania. is that odd?
thanks again,
CB
Posted by CareBear04 on April 6, 2006, at 15:44:15
In reply to Re: Do you think I'm hypomanic?, posted by B2chica on April 6, 2006, at 8:51:07
thanks for your response, B2Chica. I do have antipsychotics on hand for if/when i need them, so hopefully, i'll know when to take them. people have definitely noticed a positive difference in me, which is good, i guess. the question is how long the positive will last without turning negative. thanks!
CB
Posted by Caedmon on April 6, 2006, at 23:49:30
In reply to Re: Do you think I'm hypomanic?, posted by bipolarspectrum on April 6, 2006, at 13:06:12
> mania is not healthy on the brain and the guaranteed cycling back to depression which will likely happen at some point will be awful...
Completely in agreement.
Carebear, please see your pdoc when you can and get back on at least one of your antimanics.
I know it feels good not to be depressed, but this is not a good long-term solution. If you are familiar with the "kindling" effect, you will know what I mean.
- C
Bipolar-II
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