Bipolar 1 rapid cycling

[darlenedaisy]

Hi,
I am Darlene and i have rapid cycling too.

My moods swing every 5 days, or every 7 days.

Up, mid, down, mid, up .....and so on.

I am on lamotrigine and ciprilex, synthroid for thyroid.

How do you manage life wiyh emotions that are often disconnected from the situation ?
Do u prepare for ups and downs ?
Do u still have mood swings ?  I do but they are much less severe than before.
Thanks Darlene   Age 43  vanc., B.C. Canada

[Bobby3000]

Hi, I believe diagnoses are difficult in many peoples situations.
Bipolar 1, 2, NOS. When you say rapid cycling , is it more depression daily with some glimmers of hope? I rapid cycle daily. Sometimes I think it is more like cyclothymia
though I have diagnosed with BP 2. Lamictal  seems to help..

[BipolarBear75]

Hi, I too have a thyroid problem.... I am also a rapid cyling Bipolar 1 ....I feel like I cycle so fast that there is a spin class going on in my head...lol  

My doctor gave me an rx for cytomel. That really did help alot. It is in addition to eltroxin. It actually seems to make other meds more potent....however, I am still cycling!!!

Even three years after dx, I still don't know how to prepare cuz I don't know when I will feel high or low until I feel the climb or decline.

[ILADVOCATE]

   I have achieved some relative stability as regards moodswings though they are still a part of my life and can affect thought and judgment. I try to plan things out and thinks over that involve any major changes in my life on days when I am stable. Trying to cope with emotions that may be inappropriate for the situation is complex and I have started to address this in talk therapy (which my psychiatrist does in addition to prescribe medication) which is to understand what is going on at a given time why I reacted to it and what might be a more appropriate coping technique. I know support groups have been help in this regard as well.

[lindahand]

I would talk to your doctor about the cipralex as SSRI's can make rapid cycling worse. I know it was a positive when I went off mine. Google it so you have the research to back it up though. I had to talk my doctor into trying it so it isn't widespread knowledge.

I wish I knew what to tell you about how to prepare. I was switching every day or so and it was so tough. I couldn't plan anything because I never knew how I would be. It was the start of a year off work and two years later I am still not up to full time.

As for preparation. When its a good day I cook a big meal and freeze some for the bad days. Other than that I don't know what you could do to prepare. Hopefully some of the others will have good suggestions.