Ask a Mum who has Bipolar

saraendepity · Jun 20th, 2010, 03:53 AM

Dopeyjopey · Jun 20th, 2010, 04:57 AM

:Wave:

Hi everyone!

Just thought i'd introduce myself and give you tell you a little more about myself.

I'm 25 and Albert is three weeks old tomorrow. Just over a year ago I was diagnosed bipolar although i've had the disorder for over 10 years. Bipolar (or manic depression) causes your mood to change from being depressed to having mania and I also get psychotic episodes. Throughout my pregnancy I was closely monitored although I chose not to take medication and will not be starting it again unless I am sectioned.

I am happy to answer any questions about bipolar (nothing is taboo for me) whether it is linked to motherhood or not!

ddi

xpinkness87x · Jun 20th, 2010, 05:11 AM

why dont you want to start taking your medication again?

OH's mum has bipolar and she had to stop taking her tablets because they made her go toxic or something like that x

Dopeyjopey · Jun 20th, 2010, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xpinkness87x

why dont you want to start taking your medication again?

OH's mum has bipolar and she had to stop taking her tablets because they made her go toxic or something like that x

I stopped taking it as soon as I found out I was pregnant and dealt with A LOT of bad stuff. I moved house twice, broke up with FOB, had redundancy hanging over my head, debt Issues, a friend died and more. I decided if I could do all that whilst pregnant without meds I could cope with anything!

I prefer using behavioural therapy as it is part of my personality. Medication takes my personality away and I felt numb all the time so I just don't feel It's for me.

Not sure what toxic means but it would depend on what she was taking. Anti-depressants are not good for bipolar at all x

xpinkness87x · Jun 20th, 2010, 05:37 AM

is was taking litham (sp)

I agree if you dealt with all that with out the tablets you dont need them

I know what you mean about feeling numb because I have been put on anti depressatants and some days i feel like i am just a robot xx

Dopeyjopey · Jun 20th, 2010, 05:50 AM

I was on lithium too.. you have to have regular blood tests so maybe she was absorbing too much? That's just a guess though.

if it helps at all I deal with my depression by focussing on the end and telling myself it won't last forever. That little bit of hope and positive thinking really helps x

tinkerbellita · Jun 20th, 2010, 05:59 AM

I also have bipolar and went cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant, which led to mega depressive episode after a manic 5 months. I also have ADD.

Do you worry more about depressive or manic episodes now that you're a mum? I feel at the moment on an even level but I do worry where I'm gonna swing next, I know extreme tiredness can trigger mania for me.... I'm so glad I'm not the only one XXX

Dopeyjopey · Jun 20th, 2010, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinkerbellita

I also have bipolar and went cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant, which led to mega depressive episode after a manic 5 months. I also have ADD.

Do you worry more about depressive or manic episodes now that you're a mum? I feel at the moment on an even level but I do worry where I'm gonna swing next, I know extreme tiredness can trigger mania for me.... I'm so glad I'm not the only one XXX

i'm definitely more worried about manic episodes as I don't want to put Albert in danger. I'm the same with tiredness although I have felt more stable In the last 3 weeks than at any point In the last 10 years! Having said that my mixed episodes are hardest to deal with because I can't rationalise feeling happy and sad, up and down, energetic and knackered all at the same time!

x

tinkerbellita · Jun 20th, 2010, 06:21 AM

Yah, I know what you mean about the mixed episodes. I also have felt more stable in some way since being pregnant and having Leo. I was on Seroquel before getting preg, but I can't imagine taking it now, knocks me out dead, I'd never wake in the night to feed my lad!! I had similar issues when I fell pregnant, I was in Spain, starting out my career, FOB left me, had to come back to UK, try find a job, had a loan to pay back etc etc, trigger depressive episode and was eventually put back on Prozac, which was an ultimate god send after being in denial about it all and determind to go drug free through pregnancy!

Dopeyjopey · Jun 20th, 2010, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinkerbellita

Yah, I know what you mean about the mixed episodes. I also have felt more stable in some way since being pregnant and having Leo. I was on Seroquel before getting preg, but I can't imagine taking it now, knocks me out dead, I'd never wake in the night to feed my lad!! I had similar issues when I fell pregnant, I was in Spain, starting out my career, FOB left me, had to come back to UK, try find a job, had a loan to pay back etc etc, trigger depressive episode and was eventually put back on Prozac, which was an ultimate god send after being in denial about it all and determind to go drug free through pregnancy!

Yep, I hated seroquel.. I would be unconscious for 15 hours! Add in lithium and it's too much messing for my brain.

Glad the prosaic is working for you.. it sent me very manic so I'm steering clear of SSRIs (think that's what they're called!) x

Jun 20th, 2010, 03:53 AM	#1
saraendepity Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Co Durham Posts: 6,500	Ask a Mum who has Bipolar Welcome to our weekly Ask a Mum thread If you are unfamiliar with these threads, the concept is that each week a member is nominated to speak about an issue that relates to them. People may ask them as many questions as they wish, and they will do their best to answer them. The idea is that we all learn about one another, and discuss issues and lifestyles that affect one another. This week's member is DopeyJoey DopeyJoey is mummy to Albert max. Dopeyjoey has bi polar (manic depression) and is happy to answer any questions you may have on the subject. If you would like to volunteer to be one of our Ask A Mums, then please PM me. (Please do not post in this thread) You need to include what subjects you would like to talk about, and then when it is your week I will PM you the weekend before. Please note though, that it may take several weeks for it to be your turn. If you have any questions about the Ask A Mum threads, then please PM me. These threads are for questions for our weekly Mum only. Previous Ask A Mum Threads: Post Natal Depression 7 Kids 10 and Under Survived domestic violence Assisted Conception Teen Mums in UK & US Cloth Nappies/Diapers Baby Signing Baby Led Weaning BLW Hypno Birthing Working Mum Fell Pregnant 5 wks in to relationship Living with a disibility Baby Wearing Ask a DAD! Dual Military Family Partner in Afghanistan for birth Baby born at 24 weeks Back to back pregnancies Pregnant after tube removal Intended to FF but ended up BF http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...aby-birth.html http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...-her-baby.html http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...ht-gainer.html http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...ome-birth.html http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...t-fathers.html http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...n-allergy.html http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...lp-family.html http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...m-midwife.html http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...peremesis.html http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...m-has-m-e.html http://www.babyandbump.com/baby-club...baby-unit.html Ask a Mum who's baby had DDH Ask a Mum of a mixed race baby Ask a Mum who went back to coollege 1 month after giving birth Ask a mum who donates breast milk Ask a Mum who moved countries before her baby was three months old ask a mum who's baby has Hypospadias Ask a mum of 9 kids Ask a mum who wanted to breast feed but couldn't [/COLOR]

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Jun 20th, 2010, 04:57 AM	#2
Dopeyjopey Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: UK Posts: 6,225	:Wave: Hi everyone! Just thought i'd introduce myself and give you tell you a little more about myself. I'm 25 and Albert is three weeks old tomorrow. Just over a year ago I was diagnosed bipolar although i've had the disorder for over 10 years. Bipolar (or manic depression) causes your mood to change from being depressed to having mania and I also get psychotic episodes. Throughout my pregnancy I was closely monitored although I chose not to take medication and will not be starting it again unless I am sectioned. I am happy to answer any questions about bipolar (nothing is taboo for me) whether it is linked to motherhood or not! ddi

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Jun 20th, 2010, 05:11 AM	#3
xpinkness87x Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,924	why dont you want to start taking your medication again? OH's mum has bipolar and she had to stop taking her tablets because they made her go toxic or something like that x

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Jun 20th, 2010, 05:37 AM	#5
xpinkness87x Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,924	is was taking litham (sp) I agree if you dealt with all that with out the tablets you dont need them I know what you mean about feeling numb because I have been put on anti depressatants and some days i feel like i am just a robot xx

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Jun 20th, 2010, 05:50 AM	#6
Dopeyjopey Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: UK Posts: 6,225	I was on lithium too.. you have to have regular blood tests so maybe she was absorbing too much? That's just a guess though. if it helps at all I deal with my depression by focussing on the end and telling myself it won't last forever. That little bit of hope and positive thinking really helps x

Status: Offline

Jun 20th, 2010, 05:59 AM	#7
tinkerbellita Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 439	I also have bipolar and went cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant, which led to mega depressive episode after a manic 5 months. I also have ADD. Do you worry more about depressive or manic episodes now that you're a mum? I feel at the moment on an even level but I do worry where I'm gonna swing next, I know extreme tiredness can trigger mania for me.... I'm so glad I'm not the only one XXX

Status: Offline

Jun 20th, 2010, 06:21 AM	#9
tinkerbellita Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 439	Yah, I know what you mean about the mixed episodes. I also have felt more stable in some way since being pregnant and having Leo. I was on Seroquel before getting preg, but I can't imagine taking it now, knocks me out dead, I'd never wake in the night to feed my lad!! I had similar issues when I fell pregnant, I was in Spain, starting out my career, FOB left me, had to come back to UK, try find a job, had a loan to pay back etc etc, trigger depressive episode and was eventually put back on Prozac, which was an ultimate god send after being in denial about it all and determind to go drug free through pregnancy!

Status: Offline

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