| Apr 30, 2006 @ 5:54 PM |
Bipolar Disorder
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LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 10,088
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Someone suggested that I start a thread about bipolar disorder in this section awhile ago but I just kind of got around to it now....
I'm not going to go look up bipolar disorder and explain it scientifically or anything because I have the disorder myself and I feel I can pretty much explain it.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. A person who is inflicted with this disorder can have rapid mood swings (usually the cycle is euphoria or mania, extreme anger, then depression but it can go in any order), to prolonged states of one constant mood and then a sudden change to a prolonged state of another constant mood. Anxiety and hallucinations sometimes accompany bipolar disorder as well as hypersexuality and paranoia. Some people tend to think that bipolar individuals are crazy and cannot function in every day society. That can be true in some cases. If an individual is not properly medicated, he or she may not be able to function in society. However, a properly medicated bipolar individual can function...usually... like any stable individual. I am currently taking 5 doses of Lithium a day, one dose of Topamax a day, and one dose of Paxil. My parents and I fought for years trying to find a combination that worked. I have been on Risperdal (first medication I ever took, made me sleep all the time and made me gain thirty pounds), Trileptal, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and Prozac. I have been on Topamax for about three years because it suppresses my hallucinations. I have been on the Paxil for about four years also, on and off, because of FDA regulations...I take the Paxil to suppress social anxiety. I have been on the Lithium for a year, and that works on my mood and my concentration.
If anybody has any questions, please feel free to ask.
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| Apr 30, 2006 @ 8:30 PM |
Bipolar Disorder |
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Atone74
Posts: 335
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LGQ,
That was a great explanation, how long ago were you diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder? At some point, the medication will be increased because of the immune tolerance. Do you think the medication actually helps? Or just bring-forth other side effects all on there own? I know someone who's Bipolar, he does some very odd things, and his anger is very violent meaning he does not control or think about the consequences before he acts/reacts.. He alway's say's he has not had his medicine.. Could this be true?
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| Apr 30, 2006 @ 8:54 PM |
Bipolar Disorder
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LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 10,088
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how long ago were you diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder? I was diagnosed when I was fourteen but I knew deep inside that I was bipolar when I was eleven. I was diagnosed because I was having very violent hallucinations, and I believed they were reality.
Do you think the medication actually helps? Sometimes I ponder that, and yes, I do think it helps. While there are certain side effects, the medication does lots of good. Example: before the Paxil, I was terrified to leave my house. My friends would call and invite me places, and I would decline because I was afraid that someone would make fun of me or something bad would happen to me. Now, I could care less. Of course, one could make the argument that I just simply grew out of it, but when I don't take the Paxil, the symptoms return. When I am off the Topamax for an extended period of time my hallucinations will return. However, sometimes I doubt the effectiveness of the Topamax because sometimes my hallucinations will return at random anyway.
I know someone who's Bipolar, he does some very odd things, and his anger is very violent meaning he does not control or think about the consequences before he acts/reacts.. He alway's say's he has not had his medicine.. Could this be true? This is completely possible, even if he's had his medication. It's happened to me before while on the medication, however, while unmedicated I shouldn't be let out of my room if I'm set off. I know another bipolar individual who randomly lashed out at his friends one day for putting gum on his chair, while he was sitting on it. So anything is possible, really.
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| Apr 30, 2006 @ 11:08 PM |
Bipolar Disorder |
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paperchase417
Posts: 101
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it seems to be pretty common as I know quite a few people that have been diagnosed and are medicated, but some times I can't help but think maybe its over diagnosed, and some people are just reacting normally to their crappy lives and all the drugs and alcohol they consume. Maybe thats just the kinda people i know.
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| May 1, 2006 @ 12:17 AM |
Bipolar Disorder
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HarleysB_WV
Posts: 860
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some times I can't help but think maybe its over diagnosed,
You are correct paper. It is a HIGHLY over diagnosed problem. I know many people who have been diagnosed as bi-polar during very stressful times in their life and after the stress had subsided, they were living happy comfortable "normal" lives without medication and no bi-polar episodes. A good friend of mine went through this and went for a second opinion when her doctor prescribed a pretty heavy drug to control her "bi-polar". The second opinion told her the first diagnosis was incorrect. He prescribed a medication to help her relax and some stress relieving exercises. In a matter of a month she was back to her normal self.
When my doctor first diagnosed me with bi-polar I immediately went for a second and third opinion. Unfortunately for me they were all in agreeance. So, for the last 17 years, I've been medicated and have managed to keep some sort of semblance to "normalicy" in my life. I also have PD (panic disorder). Bi-polar and PD often walk hand in hand along with other forms of mental health problems. I'm not saying that everyone who is bi-polar has PD.
Thanks for starting this thread LGQ. High time some people learned what bi-polar was REALLY about. 
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| May 7, 2006 @ 1:34 AM |
Bipolar Disorder |
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BlueRoze
Posts: 26
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Just out of curiousity....... does anyone know if anyone can be born bi-polar?
my daughter has been real moody since she was 6mths old........ and since she was 1 1/2 i've been to doctors, coucellors, psychiatrists, etc.... and nobody has an answer for me yet........ she is now 11 almost 12 ..... i've approached my doctor asking if it's possible that she could be bipolar since she was young or maybe she is now and he said "nope she's too young"
Unfortunately living here in northern ontario doctors are in big shortage and specialists are even more in shortage. but i would really like to have more info that i could throw at the doctor and tell him to look into it.......
also how do they diagnose ya ....... what kind of tests/scans/etc....
we have ruled out thyroid problems as a cause for her behavioral problems/major mood swings......
i've been trying to find out more about things so that i can walk into the doctor armed with knowlege so he doesn't treat me like i don't know what i'm talking about :( ...........
my daughter reminds me of the nursery rhyme.......
There once was a girl
who had a little curl
right in the middle of her forehead
when she was good
she was really really good
but when she was bad
she was horrid
it fits her to a tee
she can go from extreme high one minute to either an extreme low or extreme out of control "pick your guts off the wall and keep your head from spinning off" fits.....
i never know how she will react to anything....... she may ask me something today and i say no and she would walk away saying ok ......... tomorrow she would ask the same thing i would say no and ......she goes off and the whole neighborhood can hear her and her fit will last a few hours of screaming and throwing things beating on me or anyone who gets in her way.
i'm wondering if anything i've said sounds like bipolor?
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| May 7, 2006 @ 2:45 AM |
Bipolar Disorder
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HarleysB_WV
Posts: 860
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i'm wondering if anything i've said sounds like bipolor?
I can remember bi-polar episodes from as early as 7 years old. They're fairly vague though and are sketchy at best.
The best advice I can give you is to find ONE doctor and discuss this at length with them. I have learned that(for SOME people) the more they educate themselves about any particular ailment the more convinced they are that they see the symptoms in either themselves or someone close to them. Not everyone is this way, but studies have shown that people looking for a problem will most likely find one whether it exists or not. Any number of health problems can cause severe mood swings. Bi-polar is the most common, but again, highly misdiagnosed. A reputable doctor should be able to determine if your child is or is not bi-polar. I recommend that you follow whatever course of action the doctors suggest (within reason). Keep in close contact with the doctor and advise them on the progress or lack of progress with the treatment. They can change treatments and make adjustments as neccessary.
I pray that your daughter is not bi-polar. It is a very rough way to grow up and a hard life to live. It IS treatable and can be controlled to certain points. Please please give your doctors another try. Emphasize to them that you are very concerned that your child is going to hurt themselves or someone else during these severe mood swings. Make 100% sure that they understand how upset you are over this and how much it disrupts your lives. The doctors only know what you tell them and what they see in their office. Video tape your daughter during these severe mood swings if you have to, and then show the tape to the doctors. Make them see what your concerns are, and then follow through.
All the best to you and your family!! You'll be in my prayers!!
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| May 8, 2006 @ 7:13 PM |
Bipolar Disorder |
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LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 10,088
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I have a book called The Bipolar Child which suggests that there are cases of infant bipolar disorder. There are certain behaviors that a bipolar infant would display, which I can't think of right now...sorry I'm no help.
There is no such thing as too young or too old to be diagnosed. The reason most doctors are hesitant is because this disorder requires heavy medical attention and if they are wrong in the diagnosis it could potentially cause permanent damage to the child. That is why a lot of doctors like to diagnose ADD or depression first...of course, usually, they're wrong.
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| May 8, 2006 @ 7:44 PM |
Bipolar Disorder
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BlueRoze
Posts: 26
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Well over the years she's been on different meds....... dexidrine, rispirdol, and one other which name escapes me right now  not at same time mind you .......
none of the meds have worked ...... she's still on dexidrine but still has her out of the blue outbursts quite often ........ dr. keeps increasing dose but nothing ....... except the fact she can sit and do work a little longer than before but still is prone to outbursts alot......... she can go from cold to hot and back again in a matter of minutes or hit a peek and it will last for hours......... especially the hot....... the cold i don't mind lol
i'll have to look for that book at store or library.....
i'm still reading "Raising your spirited child" and "the difficult child" and "Driven to distraction........ what's one more book in my library LOL
Thanks for info
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| May 8, 2006 @ 8:01 PM |
Bipolar Disorder |
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BlueRoze
Posts: 26
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I found this site and completed the questionaire to bring to my doctor
The Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation
http://www.jbrf.org/cbq/index.html
I found the link to it on http://www.bipolarchild.com/ that books website you mentioned .....
Thank you maybe ...... with a little luck and hope someone somewhere will start helping me if i bring them the questionaire i completed
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| Aug 9, 2006 @ 2:00 AM |
Bipolar Disorder
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Always_Striving
Posts: 7,596
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http://www.matchdoctor.com/forums-2-3233-1.aspx
The link above has more comments about Bipolar Disorder from Match Doctor participants
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| Aug 9, 2006 @ 1:06 PM |
Bipolar Disorder |
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HarleysB_WV
Posts: 860
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http://www.matchdoctor.com/forums-2-3233-1.aspx
The link above has more comments about Bipolar Disorder from Match Doctor participants
I read that thread not long after I came to the forums. I didn't find very much "useful" information about bi-polar, but more on people's personal opinions regarding whether to date a person who was mentally ill. The only thing that thread can truly educate a person about, is other's lack of understanding and ability to educate themselves on a topic before making blanket statements regarding ALL people who have a similar problem. I think that was the purpose behind the start of the threads here in the health and fitness forum. To hopefully answer questions people may have regarding mental illness and hopefully educate them about the people who suffer from them.
DISCLAIMER:
The post I have just made was in no way written with anger and vehemence nor was it directed at any particular poster on the mentioned thread. The post I have made is written with decency in mind and courtesy. It is MY personal opinion regarding the topic of the thread that has been long since defunct of new posts. This post is in no way meant to be offensive to any poster. THANKS!!
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| Sep 19, 2006 @ 9:49 AM |
Bipolar Disorder
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lj450
Posts: 8,400
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I think all women have this. Some to a higher degree than others.
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| Sep 19, 2006 @ 1:16 PM |
Bipolar Disorder |
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uab_5
Posts: 2,371
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I think all women have this. Some to a higher degree than others.
So untrue and so so unfunny. 
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| Sep 19, 2006 @ 1:25 PM |
Bipolar Disorder
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lj450
Posts: 8,400
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very unfunny indeed......but true.
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| Sep 19, 2006 @ 1:31 PM |
Bipolar Disorder |
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uab_5
Posts: 2,371
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If it were true, all women would have vacations is places where the staff asks you if you had a shower or bowel movement that day.
Also lithium and depakote would be available OTC.
The suicide rate for females would be astromical.
Bipolar is a deadly serious illness. Nothing funny about it. It's the closest thing to hell on Earth that God allows.
Zero similarities between PMS and bipolar disorder.
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| Sep 19, 2006 @ 1:36 PM |
Bipolar Disorder
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lj450
Posts: 8,400
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Oh, you are talking about the "more extreme" cases.......Im talking about the ones you meet on the street every day, swinging from highs to lows. Yes, my friend, it is out there in more milder forms than you speak of.......not everyone seeks, nor "requires" those types of treatment.......and whether you call it "bi-polar", "add", or "just not right", the behavior has been around wayyyyyyy longer than any diagnosis or treatment that we have come up with.
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| Sep 19, 2006 @ 1:50 PM |
Bipolar Disorder |
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budo13
Posts: 3,085
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uab i agree 100% this not a problem to be laughed at or pooh-poohed.i have been living with this nightmare all my life.some folks jump to conclutions about bi-polarism and think we are all raving lunitics.myself personally fight it everyday i have been lucky to hold a great job with some very understanding people.we can and do function well and to laugh or make fun of someone with this illness is just a form of bigotry we were not asked to be born with this illness.
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| Sep 19, 2006 @ 1:56 PM |
Bipolar Disorder
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lj450
Posts: 8,400
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some folks jump to conclutions about bi-polarism
I agree completely........concluktions are not to be taken lightly, nor jumped to!!!
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| Nov 12, 2006 @ 6:45 PM |
Bipolar Disorder |
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warrior674
Posts: 4,972
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I think my brother has it. It is amazing how many people are Bipolar. It also can be confused with other disorders. That is kind of scary.
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