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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lepus on January 28, 2004, at 17:20:58
I have been wondering lately if it is true that bipolar even if medicated only gets worse with age, particularly for women. Does anyone have any good articles on this or personal experiences?
Hope I posted this in the right place...
Posted by linkadge on January 28, 2004, at 19:23:01
In reply to Does Bipolar only get worse with age?, posted by lepus on January 28, 2004, at 17:20:58
My mother's bipolar disorder got significantly better after menopause. Her hormone levels, (although perhaps low) are significantly more stable. She even admits herself that her moods are much more predictable.
Linkadge
Posted by Maximus on January 28, 2004, at 19:23:27
In reply to Does Bipolar only get worse with age?, posted by lepus on January 28, 2004, at 17:20:58
> I have been wondering lately if it is true that bipolar even if medicated only gets worse with age, particularly for women. Does anyone have any good articles on this or personal experiences?
Bipolars tend to have more and more depressions lasting longer and longer with time. Often, there are no more manias, just depressions. Whether medications decrease episodes is unclear, but some data suggests successful medication reduces the return of the illness. Your choice. Talk to a psychiatrist that does manic depressive work and listen to your options. The more chances you give yourself to get well, the better off you are.
Posted by HappyGirl on January 28, 2004, at 21:27:10
In reply to Does Bipolar only get worse with age?, posted by lepus on January 28, 2004, at 17:20:58
Hi:
In the reading/hearing, without proper med./med. combo., there is some 'evidence' to say that Bipolar might/could get worse, .... like any other illnesses. Hence, once found to have this illness, Bipolar, it's needed to be under proper psychiatrist's care.
It's sometime NOT easy to admit Bipolar we have and live afterwards accordingly, ... but this is to be, ... rather deny and resent on the dx, we are all happy to look for the future that there is/are more effective meds. coming EVERY YEAR. For that, we, M.I., are EXTREMELY lucky, unlike old .70's and even early '80s when there were quite high percentage of self-harm to end one's life, because there were not enough effective meds. for them to choose/take.
H.G.
Posted by Sooshi on January 29, 2004, at 9:55:34
In reply to Does Bipolar only get worse with age?, posted by lepus on January 28, 2004, at 17:20:58
From my own personal experience, having this dx from early childhood (although I might have been through many different dx's, I feel this was the actual dx) I can certainly tell you that at age 40, I am battling bp harder than ever, and I don't know whether it's because of brain chemicals, hormones, interpersonal relationships, exercise choices, or what, or ALL of the above. I have more episodes, more intense depressions that come on quicker, and I seem to need a whole heck of a lot more meds to get myself stablized than usual.....
Oh well, maybe it's just me.....
Posted by bipolarandlovinit on January 30, 2004, at 1:58:26
In reply to Re: Does Bipolar only get worse with age?, posted by Sooshi on January 29, 2004, at 9:55:34
I have actually experienced a relief from bipolar ever since I turned twenty. I have a lot less mania, and even went off of most of my drugs. The 1200 mgs of Lithium per day for five years didn't seem to help much either. I went on Synthroid and it has helped me with my hormones. This has been the first January that I haven't been hospitalized since I was fifteen. I always figured Bipolar got better with age, and was quite surprised to read everyone's posts.
Posted by Toph on January 30, 2004, at 15:28:41
In reply to Re: Does Bipolar only get worse with age?, posted by bipolarandlovinit on January 30, 2004, at 1:58:26
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I am 52 and have been psychosis-free on Lithium alone for 23 years. My manic episodes almost killed me and I could't move when depressed. I have an occasional hypo-manic episode if I'm exhausted or take less Li. And I'm generally kind of dysthymic. But these moods have no association with age. I am a little worried about the slight memory loss I experience from years of Lithium use. OK, so I'm a little paranoid, too.
This is the end of the thread.
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