Thank you Mari. You are right. You cannot coin a word for the amount of patience that we have to have with finding the right medicines,and/or medicine combinations. I'm on three different medicines for different aspects of my mental health issues.

Everyone is unique,and every experience is different. BF

Waves, thanks for breaking the Meds down for me, I get confused with the half lives and all. I should be at steady state on Latuda in two to three days so that is Sun to Mon! Yeah. I guess I really just need to get through the weekend.

I am in pretty good shape, good enought to do things that bring me peace. I used to push push push myself for faster run times (from the USMC) now I don't wear a watch. When I paddle I take Trip my service dog and it isn't a race, just peaceful enjoyment for us. Yoga, well, I am not the steadiest Yogi but I am enjoying the road of developing my practice....wow that all sounds pretty good. Maybe the Latuda is working.

Mari, thank you for asking about Trip. He partially tore his cruciate ligament and had surgery May 10. I followed the dr rehab instructions to a T which meant I couldn't take him out with me for two mos. he is back on the road with me now and his leg is in the final stages of healing (still gets sore) but he was out frolicking a ling time yesterday and is doing well.thanks for the smoothie tip. Tat is a really good idea for an afternoon pick me up. I went to Costco to pick up my contacts yesterday and they had the vitamix demo. Oh that poor lady. I went on and on about my vitamix. She probably thought I was nuts, she is right.

Bizi, thanks so much I knock out at night no problem around 8. I am on Depakote, trazadone, and buspar at nighti think the trazadone helps me sleep. I usually wake up at 10-1030 thinking it is morning but go right back to sleep until three or four. I am my 8 hours albeit a little earlier than most. My doc says it is my circadian rhythm and to let it ride.

BF thanks for the input too. I learned in therapy yesterday that buzzing around and putting too much thought (obsessing) into other people's stuff is avoidance.i mean I know food,shopping. Excessive exercise can all be avoidance too. I try to rest a bit, I find it really hard to sit still w/o doing anything. I love word finds and I have recently started jigsaw puzzles. So I am still busy but not exerting myself. Today I am going to yoga and maybe repot some plants and do puzzles. I know my car needs to be vacuumed and washed too so we will see how this day goes down.

Thanks tons for your replies, you are more supportive than physical people in my life today because you get it. Thanks.
I am going to to upload a pic of Tripon the kayak.

I forget are you bipolar?
bizi

Yes, I am bipolar. I think I have had it for a long time but when I got my fifth concussion (unconscious) I couldn't control my life anymore or keep bipolar in check. I have TBI, this, PTSD, Cognative Disorder.

You have been thru so much. I am sorry. You sound like you are BP1, so am I. Do you suffer with depression much?

bizi

Hi TBI/PTSD,

I don't want to cut in but I hope you're feeling better now and the Latuda helps alleviate some of your symptoms. It sounds like you have wonderful support on here from people who care about you.

Good luck!!!

WindWalker

I think the funny thing is you don't realize how messed up things are until you start to get better!

Bizi I know it sounds silly to know remember which bipolar I am I or II, but I figured it doesn't really matter. I have it all written down in my paperwork and I can find out but I always forget. I do have depression, most of the time. Sometimes anxiety WITH depression, sometimes (seldom) I am super manic.

I am very uncomfortable outside of my home. I like routines. I can't take overstimulation, noise, and I startle super easy.

Anyway....I hope everyone has a nice Sunday.

ye sit sounds like BP2 or even mixed at times. I am sorry for your depression...There are many here who suffer with depression. You are not alone. If you are feeling suicidal at all reach out for help. there is a survivors of suicide SOS forum here at neurotalk that is for people who deal with suicidal feelings and for those who have lost someone to suicide. so both sides are represented. My mom Alffee helped start it years ago. We lost a brother to suicide some 23 yeras ago. Really awful. WE have some members here who post there on occasion.
hugs to you today.
bizi

TBI/PTSD,

If you have been "super manic" even just once, you are BP1. The only other possibility, if there are peculiarities to your case, would be BP NOS. Your formal dx may be something different if a pdoc did not witness the mania, but technically, you couldn't be BP2 if you've been manic. BP2's, by definition, only ever get hypo. Major depression can be present in all types of bipolar - BP1 is no exception. Some BP1's don't have depression, but many do - and bad.

You are right though, that it is much more important to know that you are on the bipolar spectrum, so you can receive treatments that work for you as a person and your symptoms, such as they are. The formal dx is not so important.

---------

It was great to get an update on Trip. I was not sure if it was you... I remember the CostCo incident now... and some other things. I guess that is a pic of Trip on your profile page. What a cutie. Glad he healing up well - he is lucky to have you taking care of him.

Keep taking good care of the both of you, as you have been. I hope the new treatment plan helps you a lot.

waves

Hi, TBI/PTSD,

Basically, having been manic puts one in the Bipolar I category even though one might feel depressed most of the time.

It does not matter that much about exact diagnosis.
(But do not take my word for it because others disagree.)
With treatment I am Bipolar II --mostly depressed. . . . although the anxiety often is stronger than the depression.
Without treatment or with poor treatment I was sometimes mixed http://pro.psychcentral.com/2013/dsm...s/004312.html#
(Mixed is more likely to cause suicides that any other type of bipolar.)
The DMS IV had mixed as a clear cateagory.
The DSM 5 has moved mixed to "with mixed modifiers:"

http://pro.psychcentral.com/2013/dsm...s/004312.html#
I got diagnosed in the late 1980's when pdocs were still working with two types of of bipolar -- adult and pediatric.
Later, no pdoc re-named my version. (I get very agitated and energetic in ways that go so much beyond anxiety.)

Current pdoc probably has decided on a diagnosis based on one 30-minute session but that is o.k. with me.
He can call me whatever he wants as long as he gets the meds right.

Mari