Are these mixed episodes?

I have been diagosed with Bipolar two years ago, but have had it ever since I can remember.  Up until now I aways get the mania followed by depression.  Then it goes away for a while and I feel normal. 

My symptoms usually only last for a couple of days each so I just I ride them out knowing that the end will not be far away. They can feel quite bad at the time.

A week ago the depression kicked in, I felt that it was going to be worse than normal, but as time goes on I have been having the rapid thoughts one minute then in sobbing tears the next, I  haven't been able to sleep and it feels like I have got both the maina and depression happening if not together on and off all day.  As soon as I think I might have got over it it's back.

Has anyone had normal bipolar turn into mixed before?  I just wish I could find an end to it.

agree with tortoise11. i live with mixed also. jamie

Been to the doctor she has uped my meds and I am to see how they go for two weeks. Had to wait over two hours to see her - just to be told to take an extra tablet of what I already have.

I normally get on well with my doctor but this time she has frustrated me.

She can't understand how I think that having episodes of depression for nearly a week and a half can be worse than my normal episodes of mania and depression only for a couple of days!!

I wanted her to refer me to a new ph doc, as my current one is over an hours travel away and really hard to get into. But she thought she would just up my meds instead. I was hoping to get a better out come than this. I think I will have to track down a local phycologist myself instead - can't find a phyciatrist without her referal.

Totally frustrated, just hope I am over this soon.

Thanks Jammie

Thank you for taking the time to comfort me when you are having your own problems to deal with.  I hope I can be here the same as you are for me.

I am starting to think I am coming out of it.  I had spent 15 hrs in bed not motivated to do much.  But got draged out to the beach for some fresh air - which seems to have taken the edge off things - but I am back in the mania faze.

In my frustration with my doctor I made myslef go see a natropath, hoping to get as much help as I could from anyone willing to give it.  She is quiet knowledgable and has give me some preparation to try.  I am willing to give anything a go at the moment.

Thanks again, hoping that things get better for you soon and the sun shall shine your way once again.

Some days you just need to do nothing.

You just need time to recoup before you can get back out into the world. It's ok to spend sometime on yourself everynow and then.

Tomorrow is another day, and a better day is only around the corner.
Chin up and keep plodding along and you will find it.

how are you doin' my friend? jamie

about as good as you. **** day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! with healing compassion 2 us both, jamie

night is here, slowly coming good. very slowly. hope ya get some sleep soon. i got some but not quality. quality over quantity anyday!!!! here 4 ya, jamie

poted my day on the depression forum if ya want to take a peek.

thx only me, just back from the shrink. down to 300mg, been tapering from 1200mg. sorry about ya head, yeah stuffs me in the mornings too. (zombie) we have decided to go down to 200 from 300mg. tried not taking the seroquel wed night, bad mistake, very bad!! seen the sleep dr. have mild sleep aponea, i stop breathing a lot. and snore in rem sleep-both in rem sleep that is. we are going the sprays. see him in 4 months. me and no sleep. massive trauma. i will leave it at that for the minute. sleep dr puts lack of sleep down to the above factors, incl psychiatric disease, smoking, and diabetes, and weight.

the seroquel tapering has gone from 1200-900, 900-600, 600-450, 450-300, and now 300-200. will go to the chemist for meds in the morning (tomorrow or later today. been a busy 2 days.

take care, jamie

Hi Jamie

Glad to hear that you have some sucess with the sleep doctor. I find it always helps me if I think there is some sort of action plan for me to follow, even if it takes a while to work out if it has any effect. I hope that you manage to get some sleep soon. I have been told that I need to practice deep breathing before I go to bed - both for good sleep and to keep my moods under control. I try to do it - when I remember :)

Did you get the results you wanted from the sleep doctor?

I think some good doses of fresh air and a bit of gentle exercise is always good for sleep.

I wouldn't try to miss taking the seroquel at the moment. You need to reduce the amount before you can even try to cut it out. By missing a dose you body will go into automatic withdrawal (not a nice thing). I found even coming off the final 25mg was not a nice thing. Took me a week to get rid of the side effects.

When do you go back to the shrink?

My headache is still here was hoping that it would be gone by now :(
I think it might be related to either my body detoxing, as I have been trying to eat a little better and drink more water or the effects of me trying to paint the house. Either way it should go away soon (hopefully if I take care).

I sent the day yesterday relaxing, got out and had a nice lunch out in some fresh air (just what the doctor ordered - well more the natropath the doctor just wants to give me tablets). And the headache subsided for a while. I don't feel it as bad as now as when it first started.

Another week before I am back to the doctors so hopefully I have the headache under control by then. Not back to work till monday, so I have to time to relax before then.

Hope you have a great weekend and get some good sleep.

glad your headache is subsiding, fresh air and relaxing helps. no i will not try to go without the dreaded seroquel again. yeah sleep dr. have mild sleep aponea. comes in rem sleep and i intermittamtly stop breathing, also during rem i am snoring as well. he has prescribed some seriously expensive sprays. rhinonnocourt 64 and atrovent forte just before bed. see him in 4 months time. see the shrink in 6 weeks. hoping you get that headache under control soon only-me. hey paint fumes don't help the head either. glad you are looking after yourself a lot better, more fluids and such. yeah mate a routine for sleep helps, i to follow one. thx for checking in and caring. appreciate it.

trixie, mixed moods totally suck. am looking forward to sharing with you. we are here for ya. with much ealing compassion 2 you both, jamie

got sleep last night as well. had to stay up late though. around 1 am. feeling a tad better. the sprays are definately working. how are you doin'? got house cleaning to do today, plus certain other bits-clothes on the line etc. haven't walked buttons yet, slept in, then went back to bed. it is very windy and warm. time to check my sugars and take a needle and pill. keep posting ok. here for you. ~jamie.

i hear ya. i have been doing a little every day, (cleaning) albeit i am behind. go away nasty headache!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bad nights sleep last night, oh well you get that from time to time. with much heaking compassion, jamie