so heres the issue. my moods are not nearly as severe as they used to be, thanks to trileptal, a good therapist, and a sympathetic and caring pdoc. but here is my thing. it was my understanding that "rapid cycle" was 4 or more episodes in a year. my mood changes either daily or multiple times a day. it wasnt something i really noticed until fairly recently. but ill be depressed one day and wired the next. now neither is what i think of as extreme, becaues like i said the trileptal and my intellect has helped me get that under control, but these moodswings are still more severe than my perception says they should be. i havent yet had a chance to discuss thiswith my pdoc (next appt in march) but are there any "bipolar" types that have this? am i really bipolar? im still trying to figure out triggers and there really are none, as far as i can tell. my mom suggested that it may be my diet, which i would not doubt at all, as my boyfriend and i eat crap all the time. i really just dont have the motivation to cook all the time though, and all i crave is chocolate, carbohydrates, and salt, depednign on my mood. i try to throw some veggies and fruit in there, which seemse to be less and less. i dont have a weight problem, thank god for a high metabolism, but ive also been hungry less and less, losing my appetite, so that its come to the point that i eat only once or twice a day, and not very much. sorry this is so long..but input would be nice
thanks

The losing your appetite part is what concerns me. When I was at my sickest, I absolutely could not eat. I lost 20 pounds in about 2 months and all my loved ones were trying to get me to eat, but I just didn't want food.
I wonder if what you're having now might not be some kind of mixed episode? Maybe it's worth changing your appointment just to check out what's going on. If you're feeling concerned, it's probably better not to let it ride too long or it might mushroom into a bigger problem.
I'm not saying that to scare you--just want you to stay above water!

my moods are not nearly as severe as they used to be...
Always remember that to keep medication, everyday life, and willpower in perspective!

it was my understanding that "rapid cycle" was 4 or more episodes in a year. my mood changes either daily or multiple times a day. it wasnt something i really noticed until fairly recently.
weasel, I'm a rapid cycler. My cycle is usually about 5 or 6 weeks. Rapid cyclers usually have weeks between cycles. There is a classification of ultra-rapid cyclers, however, which may have just days between cycles. I don't know much about it aside from the name and interval of time between cycles.

but ill be depressed one day and wired the next. now neither is what i think of as extreme, becaues like i said the trileptal and my intellect has helped me get that under control, but these moodswings are still more severe than my perception says they should be.
When I get really stressed out, I tend to just snap on certain days. And because I'm stressed, I've got a really negative attitude, and I let it ruin my day. Then I want to ruin everyone else's day. But if things are going better, I can be happy the next day.

i havent yet had a chance to discuss thiswith my pdoc (next appt in march) but are there any "bipolar" types that have this? am i really bipolar?
Please don't fall into that trap. "Impaired awareness of illness" is one of the large problems with bipolar. It does sound like you need to talk to your doctor, and before March.

my boyfriend and i eat crap all the time. i really just dont have the motivation to cook all the time though, and all i crave is chocolate, carbohydrates, and salt, depednign on my mood. i try to throw some veggies and fruit in there, which seemse to be less and less.
More and more it's sounding like you're starting to slip. Make yourself eat better. Only you can do it, and once you make yourself, it'll start to get easier. You'll feel better and better about yourself. I've been making an effort recently and it's really paying off.

i dont have a weight problem, thank god for a high metabolism, but ive also been hungry less and less, losing my appetite, so that its come to the point that i eat only once or twice a day, and not very much.
Seriously, it sounds like you're going into a manic or hypomanic phase. I used to get to the point that I would eat once a day, and only then if I made myself. I know from experience that even if you're on meds, it's possible to slip... and once it gets going, it gets hard to stop. Get some help if you need to, and take care of yourself!

Weasel:

I have been a rapid cycler for the bulk of the time I've been diagnosed (since teen yrs, and I'm 28). My mind's definition of "rapid" is very similar to what you are explaining. I know it does not fit the DSM diagnostic criterea very well, but some of us are just like that. Some MDs will lable it "mixed" episode, due to the fact that the cycling is so rapid, but it's all semantics. I am getting long here, but my point is: yes, some of us are like that. I do want to say though that when I am like that, it does tend to be when I am a little on the less stable side of things. Not to say I'm totally manic or depressed, but it can mean (for ME anyway) that I'm headed for a little more severe swings, although not always. Trileptal works pretty well for me too, but I actually required a 2nd mood stabilizer (topamax).

As for diet, it can do all sorts of wierd things. If you are craving things, maybe you are deficient. It wouldn'y hurt to try to eat better, and maybe start a vitamin. I am doing all of that right now.

Angie

thanks for the input. i take a multivitamin, just cause i should. went grocery shopping yesterday and tried to stick with healthy things. i also think that maybe something that could be affecting it is that i started birth control last month. it the nuvaring, which is the lowest possible dose of thehormones, but i cant not be on something like that because my periods are so excrucuating.....thats a wholeother story, so the point of that was i think i may have to add to my meds to find a balance again...

thanks for the input. i take a multivitamin, just cause i should. went grocery shopping yesterday and tried to stick with healthy things. i also think that maybe something that could be affecting it is that i started birth control last month. it the nuvaring, which is the lowest possible dose of thehormones, but i cant not be on something like that because my periods are so excrucuating.....thats a wholeother story, so the point of that was i think i may have to add to my meds to find a balance again...


Hormones can do all sorts of things (good and bad), so who knows. I would do anything to have those pregnancy hormones again (without actually being pregnant). I know that sounds backwards, but I was SOOO stable. Even when by baby was in the ICU (I have a preemie). The food issue can't hurt, neither can the vitamons. I bought some too, after posting to you. I think I'm going to end up needing more meds too, unfortunately, but what can you do? I hope you strike a good balance soon,

Angie

i also think that maybe something that could be affecting it is that i started birth control last month. it the nuvaring, which is the lowest possible dose of the hormones
My girlfriend takes Zoloft, and when her friend visits every month, her Zoloft takes a nap. Her doc says her hormones are interfering with it somehow. She's also on birth control, but I don't know whether that has any effect.

i think i might be starting to get depressed again....been sleeping longer, butnot as restful andfeeling crappy all day.............callled my psych waiting for a return call...............................

i think i might be starting to get depressed again....been sleeping longer, butnot as restful andfeeling crappy all day.............callled my psych waiting for a return call...............................

Tell the psych thickman needs help today as well...