I have just been diagnosed with bipolar after 12 months of pure hell.
Does anyone here suffer? Or do you know anyone who has it?
After a few tests I will be taking lithium which I have been told I will have to take for the rest of my life.
Does anyone here take it too?
I just want to know what I have to look foreward to.

Sorry to hear that mate. No personal experiance but I would highly recommend Stephen frys 2 part documenatary on bi-polar disorders. Informative and interesting and it is around on the web to watch with some googling

Good luck

New name for depression, see if you can get some mental health input,via a charity or comunity psychie nurses wthout resorting to chemicals and drugs.

Best wishes for the future.

Its more than depression. Bipolar you should haver manic episodes as well I would have thought. Lithium does seem to work from what I know although there may be other options in the future.

Try for some input from community psychiatric nurse maybe.

I’m no expert, but ‘on it for the rest of your life’ seems like a strong statement for a mental health condition. It’s not something cut and dried like high blood pressure, say. Changing / optimising medication is something that seems to happen frequently for bipolar indications.

Anyhow, I think there are people who can offer real advice / share experience here – I hope things workout.

Certainly isn’t a new name for depression. 🙄
Bipolar affective disorder aka manic depression has been recognised a long time.
As TJ says characterised by episodes of being high/manic/hypomanic- possibly psychotic with disordered thoughts, pressure of speech, possibly extrovert spending/behaviour due to feeling invincible, but also severe depression at times as well.
Lithium is used as a mood stabiliser and does work very well.
It is a significant long term mental health problem and while “on it for life” is probably not true, you can expect long term follow up from mental health services.
Having said that a close friend was diagnosed with it a few years ago and is now well on no medication whatsoever (and working as an a+e consultant) so anything is possible.

Glad things seem to be settling iolo 😀

Great summary from Docrobster in my professional opnion.

In the case of bipolar, do be wary of websites that look linked to or sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. Many have or are in the process of getting their antipsychotic medications licensed to treat the ‘manic phase’ of bipolar, which is as a treatment option A Good Thing in my experience (of treating people, that is), but also the pharma companies concerned are currently on a drive to max out their potential customers for these drugs. In the States where there are different laws about advertising prescription-only medication, there really are adverts in the ‘normal’ press/magazines that say stuff along the lines of “Always hectic, stressed and spending too much? Snapping at your husband? Perhaps you have bipolar, ask your physician for (insert brand name of drug).” I think this is terribly irresponsible and I am glad we aren’t exposed to this over here. What I mean to say is, don’t ignore your symptoms or your Doctor/CPN/care co-ordinator, but also don’t get too freaked out by the prognosis or fret about whether you should be on x/y/z medication instead. Listen to your friends and family if they notice you being a bit different, and learn what things stress you out or really push your buttons, then take steps to manage these.

Taking lithium carbonate is a biggish deal:
-your binge drinking days are over! Varying opinions and real life experiences (from ‘teetotal’ to ‘moderation’) out there as to what is safe, particularly if combined with driving/cycling/machinery!
-you really do need to keep up with your blood tests,
-double check with the pharmacist if you get given a different brand on repeat prescriptions (the only mental health drug that this can really matter for),
-seek advice from the doctor if you have the runs or get terribly dehydrated, (this affects how much you absorb and retain),
-but once you are on a dose that suits, it works very very well.

All the best dude 😀

I am Bipolar.

So, some basic questions. Who has diagnosed you, your GP or a Psychiatrist? I assume the later as I would be a little wary if a run of the mill GP had made such a strident diagnosis and put you on Lithium? If so I would ask for a referral.

Have you been diagnosed as Bipolar 1 or Bipolar 2, sometimes called classic or hard Bipolar (1), or soft bipolar (2). The main difference is the severity of the highs or manic phases. Not sure if there are strict diagnostic characteristics between the two, some say it is whether full blown psychosis is present.

I am bipolar 2, so fortunately for me I do not completely lose the plot, although when I am manic (strictly hypomanic) life can be difficult for me and those people around me. I can become close to homicidal.

I spent over 2 years under the care of a GP experimenting with any number of ADs and wondering why I was never stable then spent about 2 years with a Psych in a state of denial following my formal diagnosis, but things then got really really bad again, so I finally accepted my diagnosis and accepted the advice of the Psych.

It has taken my Psych just over 2 years to get me stable and find the right medication for me (Lamotrigine, which is better suited to people with BP2 rather than 1 as it is mildly anti-depressant whilst also “so called mood stabilising” i.e. it slows the brain down)

So my advice would be if life really has been hell then work with the Psych, although it is perhaps easier for me to say as Lamotrigine has a pretty benign side effect profile but from what I understand Lithium is not too bad either (or rather it has been around forever and is well understood at least).

So all well at the moment, but I do feel I have lost the best part of the last 6-7 years.

As for a lifetime on drugs, then that it not what I have been told. I was original told, once I was stable then it would be advised I should stay on meds for 5 years before considering stopping, but last time I say my Psych it was only 3. However, I would rather be relatively stable and on meds than run the risk of being really ill again, so I am happy to stay on the meds indefinitely. But, if I were taking an antipsychotic I may feel differently.

It may be different if you are have classic bi-polar, rapid cycling etc etc.

Personally I do not believe Stephen Fry’s documentary shows a true picture of the illness. On the spectrum the severity of my own illness is pretty mild, but it interferes with my life far more than the impression I was left with of the impact on his own life.

For many people it is a major major problem with a life time on a merry go round of ever increasing cocktails of drugs and an existence on state benefits.

It is only a year or so ago that we lost one of our own and loved forum members through this illness, so please take care of yourself.

Gary

Personally I do not believe Stephen Fry’s documentary shows a true picture of the illness. On the spectrum the severity of my own illness is pretty mild, but it interferes with my life far more than the impression I was left with of the impact on his own life.

Whereas on the other hand, his documentary was the eye opener for me that I might actually be a sufferer (he described my symptoms to a tee)…and had been since a child.

Medication is just the first step to reduce the severity of the lows (and unfortunately the highs), some proper counselling works wonders. I’ve been on a Bipolar self-awareness course and had Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. I’m lucky because I’ve been seen by knowledgeable and sympathetic GPs, and have access to a very good Mental Health Service. I know not every sufferer is as lucky.

It is a significant long term mental health problem and while “on it for life” is probably not true…

According to the specialist doctor on our Bipolar Awareness course, it’s more likely than not. I’m resigned to it, which is nice really, no worrying about when I can stop taking the medication.

One of my school friends suffered from this (or rather started to) when he was at uni.

We lost touch a few years back now but last I knew he was a successful lawyer in the city.

He was on lithium bi carbonate and I do recall him saying it messed with his thyroid so he had to have regular blood test etc.

having seen him before and after treatment my only comment would be it does work once they get brand and dose right.

All the very best for getting things sorted.

I have bipolar 2. I was put in hospital in Vienna as I was suicidal one night. I was kept in for 4 weeks and they carried out all sorts of physical and psycholigal tests. I’m now being seen by a private psychiatrist who I was recommended by the hospital. He’s not cheap but he’s worth every penny. He explained about the blood tests and how lithium affects these. Ive just arrived in heathrow to dicuss this with my uk psychiatrist to see what she thinks. I was being treated for severe accute depression as she only really saw me when I was really low. I never saw the need to se her when I was really happy (too happy by far and thought I was invincible).
Thank you all for your replies.

Best wishes for your recovery, it’s obviously been a really tough time for you. Nice to see some really helpful responses from the STW medics too.

Good book title that BTW: Bipolar? Tell me about it!

My best mate suffers from it – he’s an extremely bright, insightful and colourful character. He has a thrill seeking personality and has got in a few scrapes over the years as a result. I know he’s been prescribed mood stabilizers, Ritlalin and various SSRI’s.

In terms of his coping skills he needs routine, a good diet and quality sleep. He’s also avoidant of situations that might cause unnecessary stress.

He’s in the process of taking back control of his destiny – and doing well at it.

Is that a Welsh name – how would you pronounce it?

All the very best.

I was diagnosed with bipolar two years ago. I’m not sure but I’m pretty sure I started developing symptoms when I was around 20. I went to the doctor after a violent incident. It was just the culmination of a series of isolated incidents over the course of a few weeks. I was diagnosed as having an alcohol problem since the violent incident took place after I had drunk six pints. I tried to explain that I had been teetotal for three months so I had been completely sober for all the other incidents but she wouldn’t listen. I left the surgery feeling patronised, embarrassed, and lower than I had ever felt before. I decided then that I was never going to see another doctor about anything like that in the future.

Fast forward ten years and my symptoms had been getting worse for the whole time. I was now suicidal but was still refusing to go to the doctor. Eventually I was almost dragged to the doctor by my friends and I’m glad they did.

My first doctor experience in the UK was one of the worst experience in my life but by this time I was living in Norway. I found the Norwegian doctor to be completely different. He listened and I was prescribed Lamictal (Lamotrigine). It took about four months but eventually my symptoms stabilised and I was able to go back to work.

I find that Lamictal works really well for me. My moods are still erratic but manageable. For me there are no noticeable side effects.

Recently I had a medical in the UK for work. There was an issue with the fact that I was on medication so I was asked what for. I told the doctor and his reply was

“For bipolar, and they didn’t try anything else first. Oh for God’s sake!”

Thanks doc, nice to see the arrogant quackery of doctors in the UK hasn’t changed in ten years. Just as well I don’t trust any of you so you haven’t undermined my belief in my treatment too much.

Me. Rapid cycling. My family hate it more than I do. I had an ‘issue’ with my lymph system which after a long course of treatment led to a few discussions about other things. Two very determined suicide attempts in my younger days, erractic job history, inability to retain relationships (my fault nearly always), erractic personality traits ranging from life and soul happy to “where’s he gone?” no longer exists type of thing….
Highs were harder than the lows. She knows where I am and I’m safe’ish when I’m catatonic. The highs on the other hand were hell.
I say were as I was diagnosed almost two years ago and my meds. are pretty much sorted now. I am really stable, I have a superb GP who interacts expertly with my consultant and the crisis team who, although only used twice are completely on it.
My hospital is Stepping Hill which normaly gets slaughtered. I think it’s mint.
I guess my points are:
I am what I am and it is what it is. I didn’t ask for blue eyes but I have them. I didn’t ask to be mental but I am. It’s **NOT** not fair, it just is what it is.
People who care for you will sometimes wish they didn’t. It’s harder for them. They have a choice. You don’t. When you can, try to be good to them. They need you to be well when you can be.
Do all you can when you can to get a team who work for you. These people (medical) do it because they want to. They are great people and I thank them all. Except Beverley Allitt.
Credit cards are not Good Things.

My Dad’s bipolar – some of the drugs he was taking long-term have now caused him to be totally immobile at only 75.
Worth checking up on – http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/default.aspx?page=10495

I am a bit scared of the future but reading these replies have made me feel a bit better.Still a bit scared but less so. Thanks to you all

A friend of my Wife’s is bi-polar, took a few years to get soughted and was sectioned, I believe. However, she now is on medication (no more booze sessions), happily married and is an NHS Nurse.

A good book to get is An Unquiet Mind by a doctor who is bipolar. Gives a good insight to how one person coped with the condition.

Info from Royal college. Best thing to do is chat with your CPN or care co-ordinator about any questions, some worrying inaccuracies above but also some inspiring stories. No easy answers regarding treatment, treatment for anything carries side effects and bipolar is as far as i know is long term management and for some people that can be lifelong. However, take heart from some of the above – there is help available and people can lead normal lives.*

This is all my humble and often ill informed opinion btw 😉

*well as normal as stw gets anyway

Try not to worry about your future iolo, as difficult as it is. I had a break down at 26 (now 30) and was diagnosed with bi-polar. I think with hindsight I had the symptoms since I was about 13 and they got profressively worse till I became a recluse. I have been to group sessions and take medication and am now happily engaged, own house and holding down been self employed. When I see the few photos of me when I was at my lowest I don’t recognise myself, I spent 3 months indoors hardly eating and not talking, no grooming just lying in bed with no real idea of time. Just speak out about anything that’s concerning you, I didn’t and got in a right mess. There is a support network of people there for you and it’s good to talk. Exercise lots, eat well and look after yourself. I have met plenty of people like myself who have a bright future ahead, don’t worry about it, take it a step at a time.

Good on you for talking about it openly. And I’m glad to read all the responses correcting that nonsense about bipolar being a new name for depression.

Please don’t worry about your diagnosis. Just be relieved that it has been diagnosed, and that you (and presumably the people around you) can now deal with something with a name.

Mental illness of any type can be profoundly discouraging, but if you remember that you are not alone in your suffering, the discouragement can be somewhat alleviated.

One final thought: be forceful when you need to be with the health system. If you need help, don’t let anyone fob you off because they don’t understand or believe you.

i’m rapid cycling type 2, it’s not fun but with meds, you can be fairly stable most of the time,mine have been working fine for about two years now, but I can feel I’ve been slipping for a few weeks now, so we’ll see…so don’t expect to be fine all of the time, though some people are I’d have to agree with Monksie, Stepping Hill have been great with me, both as an outpatient and being sectioned and in a locked psychiatric ward, er, a few times now.

Good luck with it, what I found a big help was learning to recognize the behavior that i exhibited just before a mood change.

I was diagnosed several years ago, but have had severe depression pretty much forever, it did feel a bit like bipolar was the ‘new thing’ when I did get diagnosed if I’m honest, but I can’t argue with the diagnosis when I look back in all honesty.

I was hospitalised in 2008, despite a year previous to that of cbt, meds, having a cpn at my door everyday.
My cure was to get my arse back to work asap (seriously). But I was and am extremely lucky to have a very supportive employer, and outstanding cpn, wife, and family who all worked together and took my views seriously. Bipolar itself cost me 2 years off work, but I went back to exactly what I did before I left, easing into it very gently.

I’m med free now and lead a largely normal life, though there are good and bad days.

I had all the main med types for extended periods; lithium, depakote, quetiapine, many many others, my theory is they’re all pretty damn awful and merely a sticking plaster in what is still very poorly understood area of medicine.
My wife could’t stand the results of lithium in particular. I felt grey, lifeless, numb. I ballooned in weight, needed to drink endlessly, and got to the point that just thinking about taking the tablets made me gag.
On top of that, was the dreaded ‘summons’ for the blood test clinic, which I loathed.

I used meds purely to get myself back on my feet and make suitable adjustments in life and educate my family to be better prepared to deal with the ups and downs. With that support, and staying engaged in normal life and doing something positive to help others, I stay well.
I help with research projects into bipolar specifically, and it’s very rewarding.

Moreover, mental health care is a bit hit and miss throughout the uk. I was very lucky, mine has been outstanding. I had therapy, mindfulness courses, plus the usual stuff, all on the nhs with no waiting. The cpm was superb, police kind and understanding. Only real eye opener was hospital, that was beyond grim.

I’m not exactly mr sociable but I found the mental illness ‘community’ to be self defeating. There are many people out there who positively revel in their diagnosis, you’ll find many at the support groups, or writing blogs, and talk endlessly about their issues.
That can be a very slippery slope. Personally, I found it better to avoid, educate yourself, and work hard to understand the condition, yourself, and make your own choices.

Sadly making your own choices comes at a cost. I’ve only recently got my driving licence back, I lost my clearances I needed for certain aspects my job, and I cannot get life insurance, mostly all down to it being recorded as ‘refusing’ medicine.

Good luck, it is really really hard work, but I consider myself no worse off then any of my colleagues at work, in fact a lot better off in many cases 🙂

iolo, I have no experience to add here, but I just want to add this.

I wish you well. I hope that you can make the best of this, whatever it becomes. Good luck, and (even though it’s deeply unfashionable here), God be with you.

Thanks CFH

Hi iolo- I remember your original Vienna thread and am glad to hear you’re getting what sounds like the correct help (btw – hope my joke wasnt too bad!).

I’ve no personal experience of bipolar- just have had family hospitalized in possibly similar circumstances. It’s not easy on any of you. I hope your folks and friends are still there for you – if not it can be worth cutting them some slack (said from the other side of the fence as it were).

Anyway – the very best of luck to you!

/Edit – just read that back and it’s not meant as preachy or anything – just in our case some friends took a fair while to get used to the news / change and it caused some unnecessary worrying/

hey Iolo, I think I remember you are from North Wales? (maybe not u?) anyway if you are ever about Conwy area I’ll happily go for a ride with ya. I hope it works out mate.

People who care for you will sometimes wish they didn’t. It’s harder for them. They have a choice. You don’t. When you can, try to be good to them. They need you to be well when you can be.

Thanks Monksie, my daughter has just been diagnosed with Bi-Polar 2, I’ll pass your comment on to her.
You have also helped a worried dad to calm down a bit.

Someone very close to me has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder but tbh in their case it’s more like depression interspersed with normal periods with the occasional intense rage/anger/distress episodes than “proper” mania. Anyway, It seems like the medication takes a little while to get right and every so often they need to reshuffle things – and the same goes for the therapist. As for the “on it for the rest of your life” thing – don’t worry about it for the moment – diabetics and people with high blood pressure take medication every day and it’s no big deal.

Their parents have never quite accepted that the episodes are not just them being a bad-tempered **** but they’re coming around. And, you know, sometimes they are just being a **** – like everyone does on occasion – not everything is to do with bipolar.

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=104.1269 may have some useful resources and I am sure there will be UK/European equivalents.

Kevevs. Yes I’m from north Wales. I have a house in trawsfynydd (5 minutes from coed y Brenin) but my ex girlfriend lives there. I moved to vienna as I just needed to get away from uk for a bit to try and sort my head a bit. Their health system is fantastic.