Bipolar 2

[Dos4GW]

This is my first post (kinda) here on CF, so I suppose I should take the time to introduce myself to those who frequent this topic. Ehem.

Hi. I'm a student living in the midwest, currently on summer break, and about ready to return to school to continue working toward my BA in music composition. I've had problems with depression as far back as I can remember, along with an ADD diagnosis in grade school, and panic attacks and extreame anxiety surfacing just about the time I graduated high school. The official diagnosis they gave me a few years ago was Bipolar 2. It sounded like something the doctor made up on the spot, though. Bipolar 2: The Sequel. Er...anyway, the doctors explained to me that unlike traditional, down home, just-like-mom-used-to-make Bipolar disorder, I do not become manic. Instead, I get extreame anxiety and panic attacks. So, I gets to be crazy with none of the benifits. How sucky.

I have friends that have the traditional bipolar, and being able to talk with them is helpfull, but only so far. So....here I am. Does anyone else here have this diagnosis? How is living with it been for you?

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear Dos4GW


I am bipolar 1. But the last thing I had to overcome is extreme anxiety.


The med that worked wonders for me is Lamictal ( lamotrigine ) .


It took it away almost immediately.


What med are you taking for this???

We have many good folks ready to listen, and give advise here on CF. I hope you will also make this your home.


IT'S A REAL COMFORT TO REMEMBER:






X Even though you can't see him, GOD is there!!! O
( click on the x and drag to the O ) ( then see who is with you ) steven

 

[Dos4GW]

Dear Dos4GW


I am bipolar 1. But the last thing I had to overcome is extreme anxiety.


The med that worked wonders for me is Lamictal ( lamotrigine ) .


It took it away almost immediately.


What med are you taking for this???

We have many good folks ready to listen, and give advise here on CF. I hope you will also make this your home.


IT'S A REAL COMFORT TO REMEMBER:






X Even though you can't see him, GOD is there!!! O
( click on the x and drag to the O ) ( then see who is with you ) steven

Thanks wonderwaleye,

Currently, I'm taking a combonation of Trileptal, Seroquel, and Lyrica. I've been on a the Trileptal and Seroquel for about two years now, which is probably the longest time I've ever been on the same medications in my recent past. The Lyrica was added just a few days ago in response to a fairly big depression I've been going through. A bit too early to tell how it's working, but I'm optimistic.
And yes, I've heard of Lamictal, and I've actually tried to get my doctor to prescribe it for me, but the guy I was seeing at the time was worried that the possible side affect of a rash would not be good for the skin condition I have. Kind of wish I could have at least tried it; the rash is a possible side affect, not an inevidable one.

The drug does sound like it would help me out a lot, and I think I might ask my current doctor to perscribe it if this whole Lyrica buisness doesn't work out.

It's interesting to hear that a person with Bipolar 1 would have problems with anxiety as well. Perhaps the diagnosises used aren't as cookie-cutter as they would lead me to believe.
How long have you had this anxiety, wonderwaleye? Did you try any other medications before being perscribed Lamicatal? My anxiety has been a big problem for me for years, and I've yet to find a drug that would simply 'take it away.' So if Lamictal has a one-of-a-kind affect, maybe I should try to get on it sooner than later.

Also, still looking for others with the Bipolar 2 diagnosis...if you're around.

 

[PrairieGurl]

Thanks wonderwaleye,

Currently, I'm taking a combonation of Trileptal, Seroquel, and Lyrica. I've been on a the Trileptal and Seroquel for about two years now, which is probably the longest time I've ever been on the same medications in my recent past. The Lyrica was added just a few days ago in response to a fairly big depression I've been going through. A bit too early to tell how it's working, but I'm optimistic.
And yes, I've heard of Lamictal, and I've actually tried to get my doctor to prescribe it for me, but the guy I was seeing at the time was worried that the possible side affect of a rash would not be good for the skin condition I have. Kind of wish I could have at least tried it; the rash is a possible side affect, not an inevidable one.

The drug does sound like it would help me out a lot, and I think I might ask my current doctor to perscribe it if this whole Lyrica buisness doesn't work out.

It's interesting to hear that a person with Bipolar 1 would have problems with anxiety as well. Perhaps the diagnosises used aren't as cookie-cutter as they would lead me to believe.
How long have you had this anxiety, wonderwaleye? Did you try any other medications before being perscribed Lamicatal? My anxiety has been a big problem for me for years, and I've yet to find a drug that would simply 'take it away.' So if Lamictal has a one-of-a-kind affect, maybe I should try to get on it sooner than later.

Also, still looking for others with the Bipolar 2 diagnosis...if you're around.

Welcome here Dos4GW

I'm "around" and have just recently been diagnosed with bp2.
For years I was diagnosed with depression, I tried more anti depressants than I care to remember. Nothing seemed to work. Then after adding addictions to my already unstable mental state...(to deal with the addictions spent time in detox) then a very wise, elderly, pdoc said I was one of those who does not "react positively" to antidepressants, and diagnosed me with bp2 and put me on Lamictal, along with EffexorXR.

Re: the "rash" that most docs are so concerned about as side affect of Lamictal...pdoc said if drug was started on small doseages and increased slowly...there was small to nil chances of "rash". I started with 25mg and have "worked" my way up to 150mg with no side affects. As I always add ... we are all different and what works for one person may not work for another and one person may have side affects on a certain med and another no side affects.

Hey Dos4GW...you're right...diagnosises are NOT "cookie-cutter" as some docs would lead you to believe! It just drives me nuts when I hear docs suggest that!

 

[Alive again]

HI, Yes, there are several of us here with bp2, and I am one of the two'ers I am 46 and can also remeber battling with depression for much of my life. I rember uncontrollable crying jags as a child and extreme anxiety in tense situations displayed in shaking hands primarily. I was no diagnosed as bp2 untila couple of years agao however I had been treated on ce su ccessfully for depression and then became severely depressed about 10-12 years ago and was no longer able to work. It took several years before the more typical hypomanias developed. My father and son were and are also bp 2. I tend to get irritable, anxious and even downright into anger anduncontroallable rage when I am hypomanic, definitely more energy and more active in things. But truly most of my time was spent in deep dark depression. I fight hard to control my anger/irritability and the right med helsp with that tremendously, the anxiety I hate as it is more difficult to reason with and control, but prayer and the Holy Spirit are my greatest allies in both those issues.

I got my BS in nursing and worked for 10 years as an ICU/CCU nurse and then 5 years in hospice before I became so depressed.

So welcome here and come join us anytime, with your encouragements, victories and struggles. you will find acceptance, encouragement and support here, and people who will help you ask the hard questions of yourself if you want.

But the best advice I can give you is to tkae your meds, stay on them, work with your doctor, be honest with your doctor, learn everything you can about your illness, your meds and yourself. Do not be afraid of the hard work of counseling. Thes things will allow you to find your place and meet your goals within the framework of your illness and who you were created to be!!!

Blessings and prayers! And again WELCOME!!!

 

[raylenar]

I am happy to hear that they diagnosed you as bipolar 2, instead of just ignoring the symptoms. That's what happened to me. From what I understand from what was explained to me, the difference between 1 and 2 is that 1's sometimes experience extreme superman-like feelings. Examples given to me were driving way too fast, believing you can fly, etc, whereas one just experiences everything else that goes along with bipolar, but not to the same extreme. So the depression, anxiety, and euphoria are there, just the extreme mania is not. 2's respond to the same meds though, which is the difference between bipolar 2 and just depression. It is bipolar, but you are blessed to not have the tremendously dangerous mania symptoms. Hope that helps.

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear Dos4GW


My anxiety did not surface till after they got my depression under control. I may of had it but I was in clinical depression so I have no idea.


Now my son is different. He has suffered from extreme anxiety for some years. They had him on the give all meds and they did not give relief.


When we got him back into the hospital I talked with the doctor. I told what I was on. He decided since it worked for one member of the family that it might work with him.


Well my son calls it the miracle drug. He said I suffered all those years and this drug went to work immediately and gave him the relief he dreamed of getting.


All you can do is get your doctor to try it and see if it works for you. I pray it does.


NO MATTER WHAT, ALWAYS REMEMBER:





X Even though you can't see him, GOD is there!!! O
( click on the x and drag to the O ) ( then see who is with you ) steven

 

[Dos4GW]

Hey all. Thanks for the the warm welcome. Nice to know that some others have the same diagnosis...I was feeling quite lonely.
My Doc also greatly stresses that I'm not to take any anti-depresants of any kind. I didn't believe it enough untill I moved away and my new doctor prescribed Effexor I spent a good week in the hospital for that stint, so needless to say, I now stay far away from them (and the stubborn doctors that prescribe them).

And though I'm glad that I don't have to worry about dangerous manic episodes, I do not think that having BP2 is any more fortunate then having BP1. Panic and anxiety have made my life extreamely hard for the past few years. I know I shouldn't assume that those with BP1 generally have less problems with anxiety/panic, but it does seem worse for me, based on what my BP1 friends and my doctors tell me.
Anxiety, under many circumstances, can be just as damaging as mania. It's caused me to lose my job on more than one occasion, and it has seriously slowed my progress in college.
It seems that Lamictal is quite a popular drug for BP2....can you guys tell me what you've tried before, and how the Lamictal is working in comparison?

Thanks again.

 

[walshclan]

I'm bp2 with no anxiety but I do have "breaks with reality". That's my nice way of saying I have schizo affective disorder. It probably has a nicer name now. If I don't take my drugs I have a real interesting night and my hubby does too.

So there's a real range of symptoms.

I thought I was more or less under control until I realized that the reason I was sleeping 14 hours a day was that I was depressed. So I talked about it with my Pdoc and he agreed and now we are working on changing my meds. I am definitely not swinging really high and low like I used to, Now I am just more or less depressed a little bit all the time except a couple days a month where I stay up all night fixing computers.

Connie

 

[berry2000]

I am bipolar 2 and have symptoms as you describe w/ anxiety and I do have to say they really do interfer w/ my functioning quite a bit. Hypomania for me is a breeze and causes no problems but I've started taking Xanax for the intense anxiety. That has seemed to help. I was on Lamictal for a while. Ahh it was okay...just when i went of it oh boy..make sure to taper slowly...talk about anxiety. Best of luck. My experience is that they just don't know the right meds for bipolar II so it is a lot of experimenting...which is what i am still doing.

 

[Dos4GW]

I agree that perscribing for Bipolar 2 is less than an exact science. If it were, we'd be taking medications created for BP2, not anti convulsants that "seem to have an affect" on it.

For me, anxiety and Hypomania do not seem to be related at all. I actually welcome the Hypomania, even though I shouldn't. It's not a dangerous state for me, really; I'm usually just really productive, content, and sure about myself. I sleep fine, everything else is okay. But I suppose it is dangerous when I finally bottom out.

My counciler says that I've been spoiled. Back in high school and early college, Hypomania occured more often. Now, at the ripe ol' age of 23, it hardly ever occurs. Apparently my excessive caffeine use is me self medicating in an attemt to achieve the feeling of Hypomania. I say it's because I love the stuff : p.
Has anyone else been 'banned' from caffeine? If so, can you tell much difference in the fluxuation of your mood while under its influence?

 

[walshclan]

I haven't been banned from caffeine but have been told that I shouldn't have too much because when I do I can't sleep and when I can't sleep I go hypo and when I go hypo eventually I go depressed. I drink decaf except when I'm out or when I'm depressed already and sleeping 16 hours a day.

Connie

 

[Dos4GW]

Just a bit of info, those who are taking Lamictal: My doctor perscribed it today! Hopefully it'll work out, and I'll be nice and even...at least for a while.

 

[Alive again]

Caffeine is a stimulant and as such cna mess with our stability, trigger difficulty sleeping or even manias. Up to 30% of any caffeine ingested is still in your body about 24 hours later. Not healthly truly for anyone. I limit my caffeine, but do not avoid it. Sometimes I am better at this than others. At times I can feel myself getting jittery and almost nauseated due to an increased caffeine consumption to try and stay awake after a very bad nocs sleep. Kind of a poor choice on my part but thought I'd let you know the little I know.

 

[Alive again]

Dos4GW, May God bless you with succes with this med. It has a very good track record for bp, but like with any other med, we all react differently. May this be effective for you. I am on a very similiar med and it has been very effective for me!!!

 

[Mitsy]

Hi,
I have bipolar to so I can relate with all of you Blessings!

 

[Alive again]

Hi,
I have bipolar to so I can relate with all of you Blessings!

Welcome to CF Mitsy! Join us anytime, this is a wonderful place for support, encouragement and just unloading when you need to.