New to forum: a few questions

Hi - I appreciate the existence of this board. I was diagnosed as unipolar (mania) 18 years ago and then as bipolar about 10 years ago. When I was a teenager, before I was diagnosed, I was given essentially what were sleeping treatments. I was finally put on lithium at age 18, taken off of it at 21, put back on it at 25, taken off of it at 28, and back on it again permanently at age 30. I have also tried Depakote, but it led to an extremely bad reaction, so for the meantime, Lithium is my friend. It's strange having coped with this for so long and never haven really talked about it much with other people who have it.

I've had 4 major bipolar hospitalizations and 3 of them were when I wasn't on medications. The last time I was hospitalized, however, I was on lithium and a little bit of Celexa. At the time, I had just graduated from graduate school, gotten married, moved to a new state and the first house I've ever owned, and started a new job. A lot of major transitions that I guess helped me breakthrough the prophylactic powers of the lithium. It was a really difficult hospitalization - I had to go in twice - and it was actually a pulmonary arrest and medicine induced coma (long story there) that helped me throw off the mania. Unfortunately I then went into a 2 month depression which was really the worst lows I've ever experienced. Anyway, that leads me to my present situation and questions:

We are expecting twins through surrogacy. I'm always afraid that lack of sleep propels me into mania, although maybe it's mania that leads to insomnia. Has anyone here dealt with the early days of newborns and lack of sleep and how did you cope with it?

I am also really scared about becoming manic again. My manias are not really livable -- I rather quickly reach the point where I need to be hospitalized. One psychiatrist told my husband last time that the more one becomes manic the more likely one is to relapse. Also, he said it's harder to come out of the mania as time progresses. Are these statements true?

Thank you so much for any responses.

I had my daughter before I was diagnosed with BiPolar. During the time that she was an infant I was sleep deprived, manic/depressed and had major anxiety issues. I dealt with all this because my dh was very supportive and helpful. We took turns getting up with our daughter. I would go to bed early and he would stay up with her until 1-2am, he's a later night person anyway. Then after that I would get up with her. I can tell you that I am not one to deal well with sleep disturbances, but we made it through okay.  It probably would have been helpful if I had been diagnosed before hand and knew what to expect. 

I can only tell you this... My husband was a life saver and helps with everything because I can get overwhelmed very easily. If you have people to help out, mother/in-laws/friends/cousins, TAKE THE HELP. I was very proud and wanted to do the mommy thing on my own and didn't take the help. Bad move. Utilize everyone and everything. Family want to help with a new baby (or two). Make sure to take naps too. The more sleep you get the better.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Thank you for your replies!

Smiler - my doctor and I have been talking about this and he set me up with a therapist who is helping me work through my fears and plan what to do. My doctor wants me to contact him when trouble starts brewing. I just hope that the response doesn't have to be hospitalization. I tend to go whole hog when I become manic.

Lady Dragonfly - Thanks for the advice. Guess I'm going to have to work on my perfectionism, too!