To Eight Bit Girl,

Focus on eating really quality foods such as vegetables, whole grains, fish, and low fat dairy products rather than doing the calorie count. You'll be healthier and you won't gain weight from the meds.

Congratulation on the all the weight you've lost so far!

I don't mean to be discouraging (or argumentative), but this is not true. Zyprexa also makes you gain weight because it affects the way your body processes lipids. So even if didn't make you hungry, it would still make you fat. This is why it isn't used as a long term treatment (at least not for most people), it's considered a short term interim drug because it's clinically proven to cause weight gain.

For me, it seems that the med induced weight gain is harder to lose than "regular" weight. I've lost weight before and it came off very quickly if I stuck to a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Over the holidays, I faithfully exercised, kept my calories between 1200 and 1300 cals a day (i'm 5'4") and ate nothing but lean meats, veggies/fruits and whole grains, and didn't lose a pound, and my body size didn't really change either. Since the beginning of February, I've stayed on the very strictest low carb diet, and have done brutal gym work, and I've lost about 10 pounds.

Your mileage may vary, of course, and you CAN lose the weight, but be prepared to work hard.

Good luck!

wow. i am so happy (?) to see that others relate, even if i am not the original poster.

i was diagnosed bipolar (with psychosis) a few years ago after i attempted suicide and was hospitalized for a -year- after.

i am currently on lamictal for it. but i have a second opinion scheduled in about a month because i don't think my current psychiatrist is sensitive to my eating/weight issues.

i have many mood swings. it seems like it controls my life somedays. i don't know what else to say.

hi thecity,

You'll definitely find lots of support on this forum! As far as weight issues go, Lamictal is really a great drug. It's one of a precious few psychiatric drugs that are weight-neutral.

The way our brains are wired (and the meds we need to "correct" them) can sure make weight loss difficult, but it's not impossible.

Wishing everyone the best of luck!

Hi there im new on here but I was just wondering if it took long for your bipolar to be diagnosed? The reason I am asking is that I have suffered from depression for nearly 6 years now, and have only recentley read a small amount of info regarding bipolar and it sounds very similar to how I feel sometimes. My moods are up and down alot of the time and can be very hard to justify at times. I just wondered if I should talk to my doctor more about it. Thanks for any advice it would be good to heear from anyone

i got diagnosed in my mid-20's.

here is a bipolar screening test.

see if that helps...

definately talk to your doctor about it!

It's always worth talking to your doctor if you have questions, that's what they are there for! Bipolar disorder and other various disorders can be tricky to diagnose at times because there is a lot of overlap with the symptoms. This is why it usually takes several doctor visits, over a period of time, to come to a correct diagnosis.

It might be helpful to write down a list of all the reasons YOU think you might be bipolar, and bring it to your next appointment. The doc may not agree that you are bipolar, but he or she may notice that there are other things going on besides just the depression, or that the depression itself is causing irritability/anxiety that could be mistaken for mania (thus leading you to believe you are bipolar).... or about a hundred other possibilities. Just make sure you're giving your doc as much info as you can, with accurate details, so they can draw an accurate conclusion. and don't be afraid to ask questions! -- good luck!

Hi there thanks for that i wll have a look and see. I have been treated by the same doctor since being first diagnosed 6 years ago. But it was only a few weeks ago that at the docs i read a small leaflet about bipolar. It made me curious as I have never recovered from what started as post nantal depression. but thanks I will definetley speak to him about it!

Oh my god i just done the tick test and i ticked all but about 2!!! should i be worried? I have never done anything like that before so i have never actually had to think about my feelings etc. I have to say i feel better by just doing that and seeing that I am not the only one that must feel like that to have a list already made up lol!
thank you so much!

No, you shouldn't be worried : ) Those tests are just a starting point -- basically, it means "If I have these symptoms, then it's worth asking my doctor if maybe I have this illness".

But now that you have your list, you can take that to your doc and see what they think. If you ARE bipolar, being properly diagnosed will help to improve your treament and you'll feel even better in the long term.

let us know how it goes!

Yeah I will do and thank you for your help!

I should be back at the docs soon so I wil keep the list and show him. Hes great and knows me well so I know I can talk to him in confidence.

Thanks again
nikki x

boopadoo asked "I was just wondering if it took long for your bipolar to be diagnosed?"

I've had depression since I was a pre-teen, I'm now 46
I had my first hypo-manic episode in college
I was officially diagnosis with depression the year I graduated college ('83)
I was treated for 1 1/2 years.

I was able to get through my yearly week of depression until 1994 when I had several stress factors compond each other. I went on my 2nd short term disability for depression.

In 1996 I had my first full blown manic episode and went on long term disability. I was diagnosised with bipolar disorder type II.
In 1998 I had another serious depression and went on life time disability - which means my insurance covers me until I'm 65.

Five years ago when I told my doctor I have always heard voices at night and since the manic episode sometimes see vissions, she re-diagnoised me with schiziodaffective disorder with bipolar features.

So for me it's been decades to come to this current diagnoisis. The most important point is that I kept with my doctor and we kept trying combinations of medicines until we found what works best for me. AND what works for me is different than my sister and brother who also have bipolar.

Educate yourself about the symptoms and learn about the various drug therapies. Knowledge is very powerful in helping you cope with depression or mania.

I've been stable for 14 months straight since my last med change (which caused the 50 lbs weight loss - so there's hope for all!)

Wow Carolyn,

what an inspiring post.. and congrats on the successful weight loss!

wow that must have been hard for you. I havent been diagnosed I havent even spoken to my doc yet I was just asking the question about it coz only recentley I have heard more and more about it. But the more I hear the more it makes me think I may have it.
Depression runs in my family with a few family members having breakdowns!
I have suffered for along time but mainly since my first son was born. After a traumatic birth it just never got better. I was on meds until I fell pregnant with a second son and only managed 3 months afteer he was born before the black ness came back! I went straight back on my meds.
In the early summer last year I decided I had , had enough and wanted to come off them much to my docs dismay but I had gained so much weight with them I felt so down about that. I started weight medication due to a genetic gene fault. I am on reductil now and have been for 3 months losing approx 1 1/2 stone. which is great but I still have very bad days where i dont want to leave the house coz i get so paranoid about people looking at me.
I havent worked since my oldest son was just over 1yr old because of the depression so have been on long term sick since then.
My moods can change very quickly from good happy go lucky to angry at everything and wanting to cry because im so mad at nothing!
Its like I have a short fuse that keeps sparking and changing if that makes sense? I too have voices and have told my doctor about it but he didnt take it very seriously.I have to say everything in my head before it comes out of my mouth to make sure it is right. Even as i write this now i am repeating it in my head first. But i feel ok.
I was watching a programe last night with stephen fry on it and it was all about bipolar, it was amazing to see other people who have the same feelings as me, but it made me sad too because I could see that it is what i have to go through to most days.
Im a bit confused but im going to go to the libary and see if i can find out more!
thank you for all your help
nikki
x

I have bipolar II, again more of the depressive episodes, easily agitated, etc...because i have pcos which also means its difficult to lose weight my doctor put me on lamictal because it does not cause weight gain...right now i am taking lamictal and celexa together and have not experienced any weight gain