Got my bipolar 1 diagnosis!

[Isabella5991]

Thank you everyone for giving me support every time I write here (which is a lot) I just got my bipolar 1 diagnosis and feel so relieved. Been desperate to know what’s wrong with me for years, passed around to many psychiatrists and now have it in writing. It was really important for me to know after many suggestions xx x

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hi Isabella5991,

That's great news that you've had a diagnosis through and it's brought such relief, it must be so difficult having unanswered questions hanging over you like that. I hope having this diagnosis will help you get access to appropriate support when needed too.

Sending very best wishes,

Jenny x

[Pikorua Volunteer]

Good Morning Isabella5991,

I remember it well when diagnosed with BP1 in 2018. Professor Ian Jones from Cardiff University was meticulous, thorough and a humanist. So kind and caring when talking to my partner and I in two consultations.

In the long run life certainly has become easier, but at the beginning I just did not want to be labelled, but remembering that it was important for my partner. Explanatory and logical for him, all those years of struggles now made sense.

I am pleased that you feel relief. It takes a while to sink in, at least in my case, because mood changes affect my view point and behaviour.

Since my diagnosis I learnt to manage this chronical condition so much better. It is always important to know that one has bipolar instead of saying I am bipolar. Life quality is part of your planning and understanding your needs and BP does not inhibit in your intention setting. Creating a toolkit for coping mechanisms and identifying triggers is going to be useful. In addition connecting with those, who can make you feel more confident and knowledgeable when tackling low and high moods.

I found it important to read about BP, connecting with Bipolar UK, but also building peer support with those, who are in the same boat like me, able to share compassion and support each other when we go through rough water.

What is important to me maybe useful tips for you

- a good sleeping routine

- a healthy diet (I do not eat processed food/take away/nor do I like fat or too much salt, no meat

- no caffeine (easier said then done, did a 21 day detox and now become a caffeine addict only on Sundays, I turned to decaf throughout the week, sometimes still tough )

- Yoga and meditation in the morning

- volunteering for APP and sending out Reiki to those, who request support (family and friends)

- prioritise my small family and very selective with friends, I avoid energy vampires, who suck energy out of you, those once who just take, take, take

- asking for help, if struggling. Overall establishing a support network, which can change over time due to different needs (health professionals, family, friends you trust)

- pursuing hobbies, something you enjoy (I love learning and usually do professional courses online, which contribute to my well being such as art therapy and Reiki)

- Journalising and mood tracking

OK, these are just a few ideas, representing my life style focusing on health and happiness.

Wishing you well and I am sure there are many in this community, who will respond with their experience of BP1.

x

[Isabella5991 in reply to Pikorua]

Thank you so much for this! Xxx I love that you do reiki, I have been interested too, perhaps it’s something I should look into! Currently studying counselling but this could go nicely along side it xx

[The_Wes_Anderson_Fan Volunteer]

Hi Isabella

I think I've found my bipolar 1 diagnosis after PP, generally a positive thing. I am probably lucky in that my own condition is acute rather than chronic. My episodes are up to two decades apart, we are all so different. Pikorua has some good suggestions for keeping yourself well and I practise many of these.

Good Luck!

[Isabella5991 in reply to The_Wes_Anderson_Fan]

Oh that’s good for you! Glad it hasn’t been too often, but still very difficult i imagine xx

I have a very long list of mental health problems and issues every month unfortunately. It is usually a lot milder and more manageable due to medication but they have taken me off my antipsychotic because it was giving me horrendous thoughts, but I’m quite hypo so will have to take my old one tonight and speak doctors again. Monday

[The_Wes_Anderson_Fan Volunteer in reply to Isabella5991]

It's great that you are communicating well with everyone here. That's a good start.Good Luck X

[Arabella-]

Congratulations Isabella! I felt massively relieved when I got my diagnosis. ‘If it’s got a name, I’m not alone and it can be treated,’ I remember thinking. Have an awesome Christmas xx

[Isabella5991 in reply to Arabella-]

Yes! Exactly xx thank you, enjoy your Christmas too xx

[NMG1991]

Hi Isabella,

That's amazing news and must be such a relief.

May I please know what symptoms led you to being diagnosed?

Thank you

Take care x

[Isabella5991 in reply to NMG1991]

Thank you xx

Well, I’ve had issues all my life really. School refusal for years as a child, anger rage meltdowns, anxiety, ocd, hallucinations. Hallucinosis episode when 19 with a touch of delusions and depression. Then hypomanic and ptsd episodes when 21, then when 24 had my second child and had postpartum psychosis with extreme mania, didn’t sleep for a month, deep disturbing hallucinations and voices inside and outside my head for a month, severe ocd, anxiety, orthorexia and then deep depression. I was stable for a year on meds. Stopped breastfeeding then had a milder episode with hallucinations, voices etc only lasted a week though and wasn’t severe. Then I developed PME and a tic disorder. Each month around my period the bipolar and hormones from period give me really awful hypomanic, depressio, anxiety or psychosis symptoms etc. been transferred to a new team and got my diagnosis on paper after years and years of wanting to know xx also mentioned a dissociative disorder to look into and autism xx I am mostly stable and ok but for a week a month it’s ‘hell week’ xx

[NMG1991 in reply to Isabella5991]

Gosh that's so scary especially the hallucinations and the psychosis. I also had PP and it was a very scary experience.

Glad to hear you're mostly stable now, that's really good news! Sorry it took you to go through so much before getting a diagnosis, that must have been incredibly frustrating.

How has the PP affected you having more children? I'm petrified for having another child but would really like two

Take care x

[Isabella5991 in reply to NMG1991]

I would love more children as well. I am lucky to have two. I’m not sure I’d ever be brave enough to actually try for another child, but if it happens I’d be really happy (but also terrified for my mental health) and I had two emergency c sections so that’s a massive difficulty for me too. Plus sickness whole way through, but I’d be very medicated I’m sure.

How was your pregnancy and birth? This website has a section on planning for another child, perhaps have a read through if you haven’t already xx I’ve read you can book a gp appointment and they will set you up with a mental health team and prenatal etc to support you, so you wouldn’t be alone at all. There would be a plan in place and so much help out there. I really feel for you, it’s so tough. I’m so sorry this illness has robbed you of having an easy way of planning for a second, but it is possible and lots of women have gone onto have no illness second time, or if there was some symptoms they were managed straight away with medication and it was way less traumatic the second time. I hope that helps and keep chatting on here! We’re all here to support each other xx

[NMG1991 in reply to Isabella5991]

You're very blessed wit two and I feel the same with one - it's a blessing to know a love like this. Sorry to hear you had to have two emergency c sections that must have been terrifying - the idea of a c section really scared me - I'm not sure if this is something they'll push on me because I've now had PP.

I also had sickness throughout but weirdly enough I had forgotten about that as the PP kind of took over my thought process.

I have heard you would have a great team around you the next time around as you've already become ill so it's really reassuring for you to also say all this ❤️.

Honestly this website has been incredibly helpful. So glad to have spoken to so many lovely people 😊 x

[Maria_at_APP Moderator in reply to NMG1991]

Hi NMG1991, I just wanted to let you know that there are birth choices for you even with a history of pp. When the time comes speak with your team about your preferences and you will be able to agree on a plan going forward. I had an induction with my second baby (due to gestational diabetes, not pp) and it was a really positive experience. Take good care,

Maria

[NMG1991 in reply to Maria_at_APP]

Thank you so much for the guidance, really appreciate it ❤️ x

[Arabella- in reply to Isabella5991]

goodness that must be hard. Thanks for sharing and being open x

[Florence21 Action on Postpartum Psyc in reply to Isabella5991]

Hi Isabella, glad that you’ve got a diagnosis. I’m bipolar 1 as well but am very lucky that lithium keeps me really well - have you tried it? I just wanted to say if the time around your period is making your bipolar worse you should get an appointment with Prof Arianna Di Florio at Cardiff - it’s part of the CUPS clinic you can find it on the BDRN website I think or the Cardiff University one. She does free 2nd opinion consultations if you can get your dr to send your history.. also look at the Women and Bipolar webinars on the electronic resources tab of Bipolar UK - more info there.

Best of luck and Happy Christmas 🎄

[Isabella5991 in reply to Florence21]

Thank you so much. Her work looks interesting. What can she do to help please? Have a better idea of which meds will work? Xx

[Florence21 Action on Postpartum Psyc in reply to Isabella5991]

Yes and whether it would be helpful to use meds they use for PMDD. Worth investigating

[Alpav]

Hello. Research shows it takes about 10 years to get the correct bipolar diagnosis so it’s great you’re there now.

One thing I would say is that there are lots of different options for medication so don’t worry if the first combination doesn’t suit you due to side effects or anything else you might notice.

I found that learning my early warning symptoms was very helpful. For me that can include spending or trying to spend lots of money in a short period of time. The returning light in the spring can also be a trigger for me going up as it can for several other people I know.

I find the Bipolar UK mood scale very helpful for explaining to others where I am at. They also have a useful free mood tracker app that can help with noticing your patterns. If I want others to understand what bipolar looks like, there’s an amazing graphic novel called “Marbles, Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me.” I think the author’s drawings are amazing at capturing what mania looks like.

I really hope that now you’ve got your diagnosis that helps you get the support you need.