Normal Life?

[mrgilpo]

Hi, this is mrgilpo, I am married to gilpo who is new to this board and was just recently diagnosed bipolar II.  We have been married for almost 16 years and have been dealing with her mental illness since her first diagnosis 12 years ago.  Since she has clinical depression, I know how to live with a depressed person.  Problem is, she hasn't been completely honest with me, other family and her doctors until now.  She recently had a manic/hypomanic episode where she ended up waking me up one night to tell me about her mania.  We got in to see her psychiatrist and she spilled her guts about denying and covering up the manic episodes in the past.  He put her on Zyprexa to knock down the mania and then started her on Lamictal, keeping her on Effexor.  That was all about two weeks ago.  

I guess my question is: is there any chance of a normal life after being diagnosed?  She has never had a problem with taking her meds, even when she hated the side effects and she has a husband and two kids who love her and parents who are totally supportive.  She thinks that this diagnosis changes everything and her world has been turned upside down and I totally get that. This disease scares the hell out of me, too.  I hope she soon realizes that she has been bipolar all these years (probably) and that the diagnosis and subsequent treatment are much more likely to make things better, not worse.  What are your experiences managing the disorder with religiously taking meds and going to talk therapy?  Is there hope for us?

[LexiFaye]

I wish more people had support like you! People like you are key in life after diagnosis.

[mrgilpo]

Thank you both for your replies.  I have to say that I am hopeful from reading some of what is posted on this board.  I know that gilpo will be diligent with her meds and so far, the effexor has prevented the crash that has put her in the hospital in the past.

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes I have schizoaffective disorder and have made a full recovery. You can read through my posts for more information on me as what I am on is a Phase II study antipsychotic. But for all of us its a matter of taking medications as prescribed and then things do improve and life gradually returns to normal. She is on a decent medication regimen except as the psychiatrist is probably aware that for a person with bipolar Effexor or any anti-depressent (Wellbutrin is the least likely) can often worsen mania so you might want to talk to him about seeing if that might be worsening things. Zyprexa has a good mood stabilization effect and is an antipsychotic and Lamictal is a good first line mood stabilizer but it takes a long time to build up to a full dose so it may be a while before things get completely stabilized. Good luck. I'd also say go to some support groups for people with mental illness and that might help to understand it as well.

[therese83]

I think she will be fine.  I think she will manage the disorder, try not to worry and take it one day at a time.

I am sure she is relieved that this is all out and she is still the same loving person, she has an illness which can be managed very well.
I hope that she has a good psychiatrist and she is getting good care, good luck