BiPolar

[sindylulu]

Age - 55 - diagnosed 11 years ago as manic. Have fought to maintain a functioning life ever since and have been, I think, very successful My son has also been diagnosed but the depressive end and my daughter is just in denial (good for her!) Live every day, don't give in - life is a gift.

[mrsmummy]

Living every day and not giving in is great advice.

[Olderal]

Hello Sindylulu, how nice and encouraging to read a post from someone who is successfully fighting what ,from your post I take to be bipolar 1,in as far as these labels mean anything.

I'm 73 and diagnosed bipolar 2 and lived a normal life and had a fairly successful career. As with yourself it was a fight , and still is at times. I'm not sure that bipolar ever goes away. There are conditions that make a functioning life even more difficult but adding my experience to yours might demonstrate to others struggling that a functioning life is possible even with quite serious forms of depression.

I usually post that in addition to all the outside help one must try and obtain ; a very important part of the battle is one's own courage and resolve , or as you put it. Live every day, don't give in, Life is a gift.

Olderal

[sindylulu in reply to Olderal]

Thank you, what a lovely reply and very much appreciated x

[Mayday29]

Hi sindy

I am 52 and really think I am bipolar but just get given antidepressants. They have some effect but my mood swings are so dramatic and always have been. I know i need a psychiatrist to diagnose bipolar but not been referred. like you, i soldier on and lead a reasonably normal life so I don't think I am viewed as a priority. How did you get your diagnosis and what happened after it? I would really appreciate some advice.

[sindylulu]

I was incredibly fortunate that when I first had a breakdown I was working in a high pressured job and got the very best treatment at a private clinic (The Cardinal). The psychiatrist (Dr Maurice Atkins) was the person that turned it around for me. He diagnosed Classic Bipolar (Manic Type 1). I had never heard of it before that day. Long story short, I spent a month in the Clinic and then 18 months unable to function (drugged to the eyeballs on an assortment of meds). I know I was fortunate because the company's insurance company picked up the tab for this. I spent the next 6 years working in a variety of much less stressed (and much less paid) roles, but gradually worked my way back up. My experience on the NHS has been at times, great, at times terrifyingly bad. You need to push to get a diagnosis, sadly it is those who shout loudest who get the attention. Depakote has kept the episodes down, I get one every couple of years on average but the one I am currently recovering from (for which I was briefly sectioned last week) has been the worst in the last 11 years, voices, hallucinations, the whole 9 yards. As I have said in previous posts, trying to give up my biggest crutch (alcohol) and taking part in massive amounts of exercise has definitely helped enormously. Good friends (real friends) have been a massive support as has my long suffering mum who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. Don't give up, fight for a referral to a psychiatrist and if you think they are fobbing you off, say so. My life is full of fun for 90% of the time and the rest, well, I just take deep breathes (and Depakote) and know eventually it will pass. Good diet, believe it or not, also helps a lot, keep away from foods with additives as they won't help. Do let me know how you get on, this website has shown me that help is such a postcode lottery on the NHS xxx