anyone have any experience of bipolar/postnatal psychosis and PMDD?
I became unwell around 8 weeks postpartum, and had an MBU stay - postpartum psychosis and I was in a full blown manic episode, my first ever. I had undiagnosed bipolar, it had only been type 2 before, but after this episode my consultant said I was a type 1 automatically.
Since discharge this August 2022, I have been having mood cycles. I have been tracking them. I’ve found out that I have a low mood for 1 to 2 weeks, starting on almost the same day every month for the past four months. There might also be a chance that I am peri menopause as I am 44.
Any others have experience of hormones and bipolar etc? I am working with my community health team but want to know of anyone with lives experience
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MotherOfBears
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hi MotherOfBears - yes I was diagnosed as Bipolar 1 while in the MBU. Apparently if you have a full psychotic episode, combined with periods of depression that I had in my history, I was almost automatically assigned that diagnosis. Very happy to share more about my experiences, and answer any questions. I have only had one other psychotic episode (since the PP) but I do have depressions and then other times when I’m more anxious / racing thoughts etc.
The charity Bipolar UK ran a great series of webinars on moods and hormones. They were all recorded and you can find them here:
I took part in the fourth one, and prof Ian Jones (of APP) was in the second one. The wonderful Clare Dolman, one of APP’s trustees organised them all.
Really hope this is useful. Please know you’re not alone and many of us here share this diagnosis. While it is a severe and enduring mental illness, it absolutely can be well managed. I’m always amazed at how often people share experiences of bipolar, when I let on about mine
ps I should add the first webinar in the series talked quite a bit about PMDD and how some women experience misdiagnosis around that. Hope it’s interesting!
Hello MotherOfBears, I don't have a bipolar diagnosis but did have PP after my eldest child was born (he's now 13 and I have a 9 yr old too, and was thankfully well after that birth). As your experience of PP (& bipolar 1 diagnosis) is recent, I wonder if things are "settling" a little in terms of physical and mental health for you at the moment? It's so hard to deal with ups and downs of hormones and I remember my recovery after MBU being a rocky time of wondering if I was ever going to be "me" again... I am, it just takes time and is really frustrating I know! Hormones is definitely something that plays a part in PP and you mention tracking your moods, which I know can be helpful. I hope your community team are a good resource for you in this too. Have you talked to your GP about this in case there is any further support they can also give? I have a really good practice nurse who I know is a good link in terms of womens health issues more generally and she recently talked to me about menopause (I am not there yet but probably not far off too!)
In terms of possible perimenopause, I wanted to share some resources that APP has developed in this area: app-network.org/what-is-pp/... There is also a link in there to a webinar that BipolarUK did about the menopause which you might find useful (direct YouTube link: youtu.be/NgmrpvKsCys)
In terms of PMDD, again I don't have experience of this myself but others may be able to share. Mind also has some useful info and resources: mind.org.uk/information-sup... and there are other organisations mentioned there who offer peer support and info around this too.
I hope things are going OK with your time at home after MBU earlier this year. This time of year can be really hard too I know, for lots of reasons. Sending you lots of warm thoughts and hope you get some other lived experiences here, we've all "been there" after PP and are here to listen and help where we can. Take care, xx
Hello MotherOfBears, I was very manic during my Postpartum Psychosis and my diagnosis was Bipolar 1. My mood swings completely related to my menstrual cycle. The world was a dark place, premenstrual and lightened afterwards. Bizarrely, friends without a mental health history have reported the same.
I have been very fortunate to sale through the menopause, I don't miss my menstrual cycle!!!
I don’t have experience of bipolar, but I had PP in 2014 and have subsequently been diagnosed with other conditions including PMDD in 2020. My panic attacks, PTSD and all of the typical PMDD symptoms were cyclical and fortunately, after some medication changes, my symptoms are a lot more manageable.
I hope your community health team can help you find ways of managing it too. Have you been in touch with a gynaecologist at all?
yes, I can resonate with your experience. I had my son in my 40s. After ill-treatment in a Psychiatric hospital, and eventually receiving better after-care by health professionals including full time care by my partner I still continued to suffer with my mental health for many years.
I was peri-menopausal, suffered from PTS and lived with undiagnosed BP until I received help 6 yrs. after PPP when contacting APP and receiving one to one support. In addition I was grieving the loss of my dad and mum in law. I did not sleep much for 8 years and suffered from constant mind-racing, lack of concentration and lots more...
Due to very strange circumstance I put my foot down when my Care coordinator told me about her assessment at the partnership and used me as a case study, explaining very casually to me that she said to the assessor I have bi polar like symptoms. Only then, did I start to explore avenues for a second opinion in order to receive appropriate guidance and support. I received a diagnosis of Professor Ian Jones (mentioned by Kath as well). Yes, when having PPP, you will be categorised into BP1, although seing Ian again 6 month later, he explained that my symptoms are similar to BP2.
It took many years to recognise that I have a pattern, but remember we are all different, because of make up and BP spectrum. In my case I am 2 weeks hyper before full moon and then coming down for 1 week and 1 week stable.
You are more than welcome to private chat. My recovery path and choice of treatment is based on therapeutic modalities and plant medicine.
Wishing you well Mother of Bears, keep on tracking your moods, journalising and communicating.
I honestly can say that my life quality has improved, because of my partner, APP members and Professor Ian Jones.
I had Postpartum Psychosis in 1998 when I ceased breastfeeding my periods returned. Sometime later I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1. I have always had PMDD although this was undiagnosed before my PP. This is mainly because back in those days it was just known as the less severe PMS.
PMDD is much more debilitating than PMS. For myself 2 weeks prior to my period my mood change would go very quickly from normal to depressive. I felt like a totally different person in the fortnight prior to a period. It affected my confidence immensely in that time and I would struggle to work through those 2 weeks. I would also cancel everything in my calendar for that time, including nice things like meeting friends etc. My motivation would plummet and all I really wanted to do was shut myself away. It was always such a difference to my usual mood that I literally felt like 2 different people depending at what point in my cycleI was at. a dark cloud would descend and stary there until my period! It was quite unbearable. This was all before my PP and although I had been to see a gp several times about it the treatment options weren't satisfactory back then.
After PP I continued to struggled with PMDD
but also I had mood changes and depression left right and centre but it was most exaggerated just before periods. As my moods were so frequently changeable gps would no longer listen to my concern over the hormonal problem.
However as I was treated with antidepressants and antisycotics and then eventually antidepressant and a mood stabiliser it did become a little more bearable to manage the PMDD.
Very recently due to perimenopause I am trying out moving from HRT with a monthly bleed to using HRT continuous so no period in the hope that the added progesterone removes the symptoms of low mood that I get before a period. Finger crossed.
Sorry for this long answer. To sum things up I would say have a think as to whether you had severve symptoms each month prior to giving birth. Unfortunately for diagnosing PMDD retrospective information isn't very accurate.
You may find when approaching a gp they have a problem diagnosing PMDD for you. Mainly because, as I'm my case, it's very hard for a doctor to determine if you have PMDD or if the mood disorder (eg bipolar) is exasperated by the menstrual cycle. You may find it beneficial to ask your doctor for refferal to the following service ncmh.info/resources/cups/
It is a free service and appointments can be online or in person. However some doctors are reluctant to follow up on it and so I would recommend you follow the link and print off the info so you can present it clearly to your doctor.
Sorry I have rambled on but do ask any questions if I have lelt anything out!
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