Bipolar & LL??

[That's_So_Fetch]

Can you do LL when you have Bipolar??

I am abit confused about this because i asked a local LLC if i could do LL having been diagnosed with Bipolar over 3 years ago and she asked me to make an appointment with the practice nurse (or GP) and see what they had to say after looking at my medical history, medication, my state of mind at the moment and my issues with my weight etc.

I was abit confused about this because on the LL website it states that i cannot do LL with Bipolar but my LLC said to check with GP and then she'll check with the LL medical team.

I thought i would ask about it in here because i am getting very anxious and frustrated waiting to see my practice nurse. I made the appointment last Tuesday and i have to wait until Thursday 9th and i dont see the point of waiting just to go into the surgery and be told straight away that i can't do LL because i'm Bipolar. I am getting my hopes up and i dont want to end up in tears when i cant do LL (i'm a very emotional person and my weight depresses me). Also i could be restarting CD right now but i cant lose any weight before i see the nurse incase i can do LL because my BMI is just above 29. Does that make sense??

Basically, i want to know right now if i can do LL or not so i can get myself mentally prepared for what diet i am doing and so i can start on CD if i cant do LL. I have a few weeks before i start back at uni and i want to use it to get into the swing of things with whatever diet i do and so i can be at home when i go through the initial anxities and side effects of being on the diet rather than spending it waiting around to see what diet i can do.

I'm sorry about the long post but i can be very impatient sometimes and i'm worried i'm getting my hopes up about LL when i may not be able to do it.

My Bipolar is a very persoanl issue with me and i wasn't going to post about it but i am really very annoyed and frustrated with having to wait so long to do LL (i'm also getting depressed about my weight and don't want to be seen by anyone). I'm also hoping someone will know if i can do LL with being Bipolar or share there experinces of doing LL with a mental illness.

Thank you xx

ps. I can do CD with Bipolar because my GP signed the forms with no problems and when i first did CD i was seeing him on a regular basis to monitor my moods etc.

 

[karmawitch]

I think it's a reallly hard thing to say yay or nay to. I can see the pro's and con's. I have depression issues, and part of my recent depression has been my weight. So I'm doing something about it and starting to feel better in myself.

Maybe LL are coming at it from the counselling issues - they may think that CBT and TA aren't going to address the deep down issues, I dont' know, I'm just rambling! When I told my CPN that there was CBT and TA her concern was that I would get confused and too bogged down with issues, but as I explained to her, they are the very basics of CBT and TA.

Sorry I can't be much more help

 

[That's_So_Fetch]

Thank you very much for your response. I am sorry to hear that you suffer from depression :hug99:. Its such a difficult illness to live with and i hope that you are coping well and living your life. I have suffered form depression since the age of 16 and i have only ever had the 1 Manic episode (so thay had to diagnose me as Bipolar), but i do get depressed more often and my weight has alot to do with it.

I am thinking that i may not be able to do LL because of the effect it may have on the absorption of my medication, i am not sure though. I am not too concerned about the CBT and TA, i am actually very much looking forward to it and its one of the reasons why i want to do LL.

I dont see a CPN anymore because i have been well for awhile now, but my wieght very much effects my mood, self esteem and if i go out or not. I intend to address my issues with my depression further after i have done LL (if i can do it) because i think i will be more positive and be able to see things differently rather than seeing everything negatively.

With having Bipolar i do suffer from the occasional mood swings so maybe LL is concerned about its effect on them. Either way when i see my nurse i will make sure that i discuss everything with her, maybe evein increasing my meds whilst i do LL because i am on a very low dosage at the mo.

Its all very annoying because it was the medication that i first took for Bipolar that made me gain the weight that i am now trying to lose. Its all abit unfair really.

Thanks again for your reply. I'm sorry again for the long post, i just have a habit of writing too much.

I hope you continue to do well on LL and you are able to deal with your issues regarding your weight and not have to go through depression xx :hug99:

 

[KD]

No advice. Just wanted to say Hi, from a fellow biopolaric. Biopolaric? Is that a word??

Sounds good anyway, so I'll use it

Hope you get the support you need which ever diet you end up with.

 

[That's_So_Fetch]

No advice. Just wanted to say Hi, from a fellow biopolaric. Biopolaric? Is that a word??

Sounds good anyway, so I'll use it

Hope you get the support you need which ever diet you end up with.

Lol, Biopolaric, good word, lol, i think i might use it too .

Thank you for your lovely words of support :hug99:. I wasnt aware that there were any other Bipolars or Biopolarics , lol, here. But i guess not many people want others to know. It took me awhile to accept i had the illness and let others know about it but its a part of who i am.

Thanks again xx

 

[Blonde Logic]

Hi Maybe

I have suffered depression for years - since the death of my father in 1993. I tried meds for a short time, but came off them as I felt they changed me too much. Life has gotten better, and so has the depression, but it's always there a little - and if anything, I have found POSITIVE benefits from the diet.

BUT - my only thought was what you just addressed, and that is how the medication would affect you. At the minut, I am up to my neck (no pun intended) with neck pain - and the meds I take are very strong and sometimes I have an unpleasant reaction to them due to the lack of food in my system.

I think LL is wise for you to speak to your doctor. If their concerns are about how it would affect you mentally - I think you would just need to try it and see - and I would imagine the reaction would be feeling better about yourself.

We all understand depression about weight. And this is so fast - you will see results straight away which is a real mental boost.

I wish you luck. My ex BF was bipolar, and he spent most of his time in the dark side of it. Its a very dfficult illness. You should never feel embarassed about discussing it though. I understand wanting to keep it personal - but there is no shame in it. If that makes sense. But you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders.

Keep us posted - Thursday will be here soon, and I will be hoping the best for you.

XX

 

[That's_So_Fetch]

Awww thank you for your lovely and supportive reply Blond Logic. Its so nice to have support form people who understand. I have always kept my Bipolar to myself because mental illness is a very taboo issue in my culture and no matter how much you try to explain, some people dont understand.

It was also a very traumatic experience when i got unwell. It was months of no1 knowng what was wrong with me and various cocktails of medication for insomnia, anxiety, deprsssion, all sorts, then came the depression and then to top it off, mania. I was only 18/19 at the time. So its taken a while to get over it.

I am sorry to hear about your father passing away some years ago. I couldnt imagine going through that, it must have been very difficult for you. Its good to hear that you came off the medication for depression. Personally i do not like medication for depression, i think it does make you into some who you're not and i feel it is responsible for the 1 manic episode i had.

I agree with you that the medication is probably the major issue. I am hoping to dicuss this with my nurse as i could be increased for better absorption but then again i does make me drowsy, so will have to think about it. Having said that i did CD SS last year for 3 months whils on my medication and i had no problems with that at all.

I am also hoping that the quick wightloss with the diet will help me get out of feeling depressed about my weight and help me to get back into the actvities i was involved with before and socialising.

Thanks again for your reply, i really do appreciate all your support and advice.

And well done on your weightloss, you have done so well, your pictures are an inspiration. I hope i can be as successful as you have been. I wish you the best of luck with RTM and look forward to seeing how you get on xx

 

[KD]

It took me awhile to accept i had the illness and let others know about it but its a part of who i am.

Thanks again xx

I was diagnosed years ago when it was referred to as manic depression Yuck...takes all the 'fun' out of it. I prefer the term 'bipolar'. Makes me feel all Christmassy

Yep, it's a part of who I am too and I seem to have it under much better control now. No more hallucinations which is good, cos they were proper scary

 

[That's_So_Fetch]

I was diagnosed years ago when it was referred to as manic depression Yuck...takes all the 'fun' out of it. I prefer the term 'bipolar'. Makes me feel all Christmassy

Yep, it's a part of who I am too and I seem to have it under much better control now. No more hallucinations which is good, cos they were proper scary

I refer to it using both terms, but i do not like the term manic depressive, it just sounds like you're doomed for some reason.

I'm happy for you that you've got things under control. I think its such a difficult ilness to live with and i think over time i will learn to control it better and not be so afraid of relapsing. My family went through hell when i first becasme unwell and the thought of puting them through it again makes me very anxious and upset.

Right now i'm hating how unreliable it makes me when it comes to employment and friendships, so i'm just trying to get my head around that.

Gosh hullucinations are the worst. I've only had the 1 manic episode and i had to be sectioned for it because it was very bad. At the time i just thought i was happy again after going through derpession for 9 months, so i just wanted to be left alone to be happy. Looking back i was very manic but it was also so much fun, lol.

Do you mind if i ask if you're on medication?? I am ok with being on medication now because with studying i do get stressed but i would like to think that in the future i wont have to be on medication. I am on Carbemazapine at the mo and its workin for me. I was on Depakote when i was first dagnosed and i hated it. My hair fell out and i gained 3 stones in less than 6 months, ahhh, nightmare.

Sorry if i'm asking perosnal questions, its just nice to talk to someone who has been through similar experiences and can give me some hope for the future, lol.

xx

 

[That's_So_Fetch]

Oh my gosh, i keep typing long posts, sorry about that. I dont think i am capable of writing short posts, lol. Well apart from this one, lol xx

 

[Starlit_Cazza]

Hi Maybe - Hopefully with LL your GP can continue to monitor you closely, the same way they did when you started CD? With any luck your GP and LL counsellor (is that what they are called in LL?) may be able to actually communicate with each other and come to some kind of agreement.

Is your bipolar pretty well controlled with medication? And can you recognise in yourself when it is less controlled? I am guessing that because of the types of medication used in bipolar that they will be keeping an eye on you for toxicity?

 

[KD]

.

I'm happy for you that you've got things under control.

Under control? Did I say that

It's liveable with. I'm better at understanding what is happening, and make good use of the highs which help me in my job. I use a lot of brain work...moving into a 3rd person. Bit hard to explain, but it helps me cover things up.

Gosh hullucinations are the worst. I've only had the 1 manic episode and i had to be sectioned for it because it was very bad.

Yes. Not pretty eh. I don't take medication any more. Probably unwise, but I had ECT, and it was god damn awful. Lost all faith in the medical profession and was totally convinced that they were trying to kill me. Shouldn't have worried me too much, since I was attempting suicide whenever I didn't have much to do Guess, I just wanted to die when I wanted to die...not when the drs wanted to kill me Spoilt brat behaviour really

 

[Starlit_Cazza]

Shouldn't have worried me too much, since I was attempting suicide whenever I didn't have much to do Guess, I just wanted to die when I wanted to die...not when the drs wanted to kill me Spoilt brat behaviour really

Sounds very familiar. Had been banging my head against a brick wall with one of my Bipolar patients lately - 18, loaded, beyond talented, world her oyster literally, and yet was taking overdoses and trying to throw herself in front of cars at every opportunity. Then a friend of hers lost a fight with cancer. The girl I was working with just changed completely - she was so devastated that her friend, who was so so desperate to live, had died, that she suddenly realised just how bloody lucky she is to be alive at all. She started taking her medication and got in control, and started living her life.

This was several months ago now that I stopped working with her, but she rang me the other day. She is doing really well, and has just got a recording contract! (she is a massively talented musician). Sorry completely pointless story

 

[karmawitch]

No story is completely pointless ! I am so sorry for those of you who do have bipolar, it's true, there is so much stigma attached to it, and to depression.

I can't believe you had ECT - I am a nurse and have witnessed it and tbh think it is the most barbaric thing anyone can go through, my heart goes out to you and to you maybe_baby for having been sectioned.

Sorry inane ramblings again, I'm not getting across what I am trying to say

 

[That's_So_Fetch]

Sorry for the late reply, i couldnt get myself away from watching Harry Potter, i love it .

Ok, i'll warn you now this will be a long post, sorry people

Thank you all for posting, its so interesting yet sad to hear about all your experiences and those of whom you work with Bish Bosh.

KD - I too find that with Bipolar, i dont have it under control, its just about liveable for me too. However, at this point in my life i am convinced that i will not be employable because my moods make it very difficult for me to be reliable. I have been low about this for awhile after experiencing problems at univeristy this year because of my Bipolar but i'm hoping it'll pass. I'm happy for you that you find it benefits your job (when you're manic). I haven't worked since i became unwell and dont think i ever will. What i enjoy most about my mania though is the creativity.

I'm also shocked to hear that you went through ECT. I havent personally experienced it but i have read about it and had a friend who i met in hospital who had the treatment and you could see it was destroying her inside. I'm sorry you had to go through such treatment and your feelings of suicide. I too experience these feelings, i dont know how i get through it, i just do (mainly because of my relgion i think). I really do pray and hope that the worst is now behind you and you're enjoying life.

Bish Bosh - I think my bipolar is well controlled, i havent actually had a relapse yet which is a good thing. However, I am always cautious that whenever i am feeling abit hyper that maybe i'm going to go manic and when i am feeling sad i will be going into depression. Its all still very confusing with me. I worked with my psychologist and CPN for 3 years after my diagnosis (Early Intervention Programme) and i did work on some issues and i know what my triggers are but i did get confused about my emotions and feelings etc. But i pick up sometimes when something isnt right, this is going to sound wierd but the environment inside my head (yes i did say environment, lol) changes, so i always keep an eye out for that. At the moment i am on 500-600mg of Carbemazepine which i am ok with. I think the max is 1600mg, so it could be increased. I might need a blood test as my meds can affect my white blood cells i think. I am not sure what the doctor will say about me doing LL. I havent seen the LL form yet but i'm assuming there is a box on it to be ticked if you have Bipolar and that will prevent me from doing the diet. Its all making me very anxious having to wait around (i also have GAD and panic attacks ) and i really do want to get a move on with my diet.

I think its an amazing job that you have helping people to get through their bad patches. I always think that the area of mental health would be a good career for me to go into and i would be of help to the asian/muslim community (especially females) as i know there are people out there who go through some kind of mental distress ut are too afraid to ask for help. But i stay away from that area because i think i have to deal with it enough with having Bipolar and i think it would in some way make me worse. I know that may be a selfish thing to say but i really do hate having Bipolar and depression and just want to forget about it when i am not suffering from it, if that makes sense. Maybe in the future when i do have things under control, i'll try to help others.

Its lovely to hear about your ex-patient though. I'm glad she found some happiness in her life and it does sound like shes going places (unlike me, lol).

Karmawitch - Thank you again for your support. Please dont think your rambling,you're not and i enjoy reading your posts. I'm sure you've gone through the stigma of having depression, personally i dont think it will ever change, unless society changes for the better. I think alot of people are afraid of what they dont understand and i think unless you have experienced mental health issues, you cant understand.

Ok. i think i will stop there. I must have put you all to sleep by now with all that reading.

Thanks again for all your replies, please let me know how you get on with things. Also if you ever want to chat about anything, please feel free to PM me xx

 

[KD]

I'm happy for you that you've got things under control. I think its such a difficult ilness to live with and i think over time i will learn to control it better and not be so afraid of relapsing.

Yes. Perhaps I prefer the term 'manage', rather than control. It's been a long time for me, and I've learnt loads.

I was diagnosed over 30 years ago. Apart from the ECT at that time, I have little memory of getting any help. No therapy, for example. I remember a man sitting at the table constantly asking me about this and that and writing it down, over and over again. I don't remember much else

I've learnt about my external triggers. Some of them were quite surprising. For instance, I'm a musician and teacher. When the school holidays come, I invariably have a huge slump....yet, I'm longing for the holidays. I'm ready for them, and look forward to them....but it happens anyway I'm usually exhausted as I have trouble with sleeping...though I can be so tired. My immune system seems to shut down, and the holidays are usually spent with either toothache, bronchitis or a cold

I find it frustrating as it seems there's no relief. No down time during the holidays.

Another trigger is disagreements. They too will send me into a major slump. Fortunately, they are few and far between at home, work or with my real friends as I'm quick to make amends and pretty easy going. And though I do have quite strong opinions about things, I can agree to disagree. For that I'm thankful, because if the disagreement goes on, I can slump further and further. Having said that, I've certainly become much better at moving on recently.

Sometimes I don't find a trigger...it just happens.

I know that when I hyper, I must keep to a routine. I must go to bed at a set time, wake up at a set time etc. Everything is by the clock...mechanical. It's hard because everything is in speed mode. I think I'm achieving great things and getting through masses of work...I don't want to go to bed, but I'm so tired. I want to work, work, work, but always surprised how little I actually achieve during those periods. I run upstairs to bed. Jump in bed. Turn quickly on my side and order myself to go to sleep. It's insane.

Anyway, I also write little notes for myself, ready for the slump which always happens after a hyper. "This isn't real" "you're okay" "just ride it KD" I hide them in my pockets.

I do have an amazing ability to move out of myself; I've taught myself over time, but that can have consequences as nobody sees the signs. I live in fear of what I will do while nobody is noticing

But...other than that, I function, and I function well. I'm reliable. I can keep some element of 'management' over it. I appear to be quite 'normal'

Oh well...wasn't going to write all this, and really mustn't anymore. It's a topic that I try to bury really Obviously not tonight.

 

[That's_So_Fetch]

Aww, i'm so sorry for making you talk about your Bipolar , i didn't mean to bring back any bad memories for you. I was just happy to find someone i can relate to.

I dont tell many of my friends or my family (they think it was a one off) that i am still suffering, so it gets very lonely and scary sometimes. Especially since i stopped seeing my CPN and Psychologist.

I really do appreciate you sharing your experiences with me, i can relate to it alot and may actually pinch a few of your coping strategies. I like the idea of puting notes in ur pocket and i am the same about routines.

I'm sorry i keep using the term control , what i mean to say is coping. I am diagnosed Bipolar but sometimes i think i'm just having an emotional reaction to a situation or event rather than having a low or high moment, if that makes sense. I don't know its so confusing.

I was happy to read that you're a teacher. I want to be a primary teacher so much, but i dont think i would cope with the work load and stress and i'm slowly giving up on that dream. Stress is a major issue for me, my brain has become very weak since my breakdown (i had this just before depression and mania and being diagnosed Bipolar) and i cant handle the tiny bit of stress. So still trying to come in terms of what my future holds for me.

I dont think we should discuss Bipolar any further. I am very grateful for all that you've shared with me and want to say that it has made a difference to how i view my future, so thank you xx

 

[KD]

Aww, i'm so sorry for making you talk about your Bipolar ,

Oh, you didn't make me do anything. It was my choice. Must be in a reflective mood tonight

so it gets very lonely and scary sometimes.

I know :hug99: Get all the help you can....and then ask for more

So still trying to come in terms of what my future holds for me.

You'll find a way. Don't limit yourself too much though

I dont think we should discuss Bipolar any further

.

That really is up to you. I need to bow out, but please don't do likewise for my sake.

I am very grateful for all that you've shared with me and want to say that it has made a difference to how i view my future, so thank you xx

There is hope there. Promise :hug99:

All the best.x

 

[Seaneen]

Hello, I have manic depression too (keep a blog about it at www.mentallyinteresting.org | Pole to Polar: The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive).

I tried to do Lighterlife before CD and was told no. If you're on Lithium it's a definite no. Something to do with blood levels and the counselling aspect interfering with treatment.

I find it quite comforting to read all your posts about it. I'm currently off work with it and being looked after by the CMHT. It's almost my two-year-being-sectioned-anniversary! I have bipolar I rapid cycling so have yet to find any sort of stability, keep going from mania to depression, though I haven't had problems with full-on psychosis for about eight months so that's something, just residual paranoia. At the moment am on Lamictal and Seroquel and just started Effexor as a last resort to treat severe depression. All other anti-ds have made me manic so far so crossed fingers that it doesn't happen again as this is the last medication for depression I can try and will end up having ECT in the future otherwise (which sounds horrible KD) and I don't want that.

I gained a lot of weight taking medication, which is why I did the CD. In the past few years they've thrown everything at me but was on Depakote, Lithium, Risperidone, Paxil etc and I ballooned. Since I've started Effexor I've gained 3lbs, which is weird because I haven't been eating, it's killed my appetite.

Anyway, Just want to say good luck to you all. x

 

[Allan G]

Hi ladies, i have found some of the things on here very interesting, My wife was diagnosed as being Bipolar two years ago, and in that time i have seen alot of changes in her, She her self is a nurse practitioner, at the time i was working away from home and she was studying for a degree as well as looking after our two children, we had just had a two week holiday in spain and everything seemed fine.
A week after we got back she just went into a downward spiral which led to her addmitting herself into hospital, she attempted suicide whilst in there, and she too was given ECT and a cocktail of drugs, after a three month spell in hospital she came out. I have watched her go from 11st 3lbs to 18stone in that time, and i am convinced it is because of all the drugs she still takes.
Again it is a vicious circle, she needs the drugs but her weight is making her depressed, but hopefully she has turned a corner, she had a gastric balloon fitted in august and has dropped two sizes back to the 18s and she is happier in her self, i just have to give her the odd nudge in the right direction sometime, living with someone who is bipolar is not easy, but i can now spot the signs when things are getting to her and i try to help her through it.