Supporting and promoting the well-being of mental health carers and their families.
Mental Health Carers Austalia.
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27-11-2022 09:11 PM
27-11-2022 09:11 PM
Bipolar 2: breaking bad
Hello Sane Forum,
I am writing to you today from one of Brisbane’s finest psychiatric wards after experiencing my first bipolar blackout and very nearly ending up dead. Feeling fine aside from when trigger topics come up.
I’m now being treated with a range of mood stabilisers, anti-psychotics and meds to keep me asleep at night. I’ve been in for just over 10 days and expect I’ll be here for a little while longer.
I was hoping to hear from the community about their experiences with manic/psychotic episodes, trips to hospital and just general feedback about your lived experience trying to stay healthy and get meds right.
Thanks in advance for your contribution!
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27-11-2022 09:15 PM
27-11-2022 09:15 PM
Re: Bipolar 2: breaking bad
HI @PolarOpposite - Great you could join us tonight! I'm sure there are many here who are able to share their experiences with you.
It sounds like you are in safe hands 🙂
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27-11-2022 09:35 PM
27-11-2022 09:35 PM
Re: Bipolar 2: breaking bad
Im sorry you had a blackout. That must have been really unsettling. Sorry you ended in hospital but at least you are getting the right treatment.
I have bipolar 2 and I have hypomanic episodes but no psychosis. It’s only a relatively new diagnosis. But my hypomanic episodes at this stage I can mostly keep myself safe.
The psychiatrist is still trying to get my meds right for me to be stable. I spent most of my time in the depressive side. I have 2 mood stabilisers, an antidepressant/anti anxiety. Plus I have an anti psychotic for if I can sleep or go into a hypo.
I’ve been given a sleep routine to follow the ensure adequate sleep to try and stay stable. Too little sleep is usually a sign of me going up.
I don’t know if this helps any.
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27-11-2022 11:28 PM
27-11-2022 11:28 PM
Re: Bipolar 2: breaking bad
Hello @PolarOpposite sorry you've had all this to contend with. I hope they can iron out the meds for you - it can take a while to know if the meds are working well but if they can eliminate any you're not tolerating well it's a start.
Having supportive work and home environments will be important - not always easy to negotiate. Flexible work arrangements can help a lot especially in the first few weeks back.
Staying healthy in the longer term - in terms of lifestyle and maintenance on meds - may be a conversation for another time. For now, perhaps you should focus on recovery and not rebounding. Maybe you could try to muster a good professional support team using the hospital networks and expertise if you don't already have one - planning ahead for after discharge.
Best of luck, and I hope your partner and baby are doing OK.
Dimity
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31-01-2023 12:06 PM
31-01-2023 12:06 PM
Re: Bipolar 2: breaking bad
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31-01-2023 12:10 PM
31-01-2023 12:10 PM
Re: Bipolar 2: breaking bad
Thanks for your comments and support, it means a lot.
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31-01-2023 11:34 PM
31-01-2023 11:34 PM
Re: Bipolar 2: breaking bad
Thanks for updating us @PolarOpposite . It's great to hear your progress.
I hope you can work something out re your family situation... do persevere.
Best wishes
Dimity
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24-02-2023 07:15 AM
24-02-2023 07:15 AM
Re: Bipolar 2: breaking bad
Hi @PolarOpposite ,
Being in hospital is not fun, I have been in a number of times, sometimes at my request, others by the behest of the mental department. For me meds have always been a problem, it was the side-effects that really did me in. Many people find medication helpful, I hope you are still finding that.
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25-02-2023 06:43 PM
25-02-2023 06:43 PM
Re: Bipolar 2: breaking bad
It has been three months since I got out of hospital, and I am very happy to report that the medication has worked wonders for me. I take my tablets consistently and haven’t missed a single tablet on any day.
That isn’t to say there aren’t side effects - I’m exercising like mad to try and stave off the weight gain, fibre tablets to help me with the havoc the meds play with my digestive system.
The best side effect is sleep, but I have to take my tablets early at night to ensure that I am clear headed in the mornings. I haven’t (yet) suffered from shakes, sometimes muscle twitches. I’ve stopped drinking alcohol (104 days now) to both treat my disorder with the respect it deserves and also to ensure there are no unexpected reactions with my medications.
My moods are under control, they’ve restored my sleep patterns to more normal than they’ve been in years, I feel mostly clear headed and have been able to go back to work.
Im just glad to be out of hospital and feeling confident I won’t be going back any time soon. I hope that you are finding peace with treating yourself in a way that works for you, and thank you for reaching out to both related to me, and with such kind words of hope.