Getting Sick before going manic, headaches, dizzy, stomach pain Options

[Hope]

I just wonder if anyone out there has physical changes signaling that a manic episode is about to happen? I get headaches that turn to migraines, sick to my stomach, nausea..

I have been in a mixed state since I started back to college... I am coping but out of my anxiety meds and having panic attack all last night and woke up with one. Trying to get caught up on so much homework because of my being ill and 3 of my 4 kids with flu and 2 of them got pneumonia.

Their dad is leaving for Afghanistan in June.. He told me the week after our van got repoed because I had no unemployment left. I guess you could say my stress level is getting up there. Mom had the kids for Thanksgiving but 3 nights wasn't enough to get my head back on straight. At any rate..not feeling to grand. How are you guys? Can we skip the holidays....?

[bipo_rebel]

Sorry to hear you're going through such a rough situation. Yeah, I can see that the holidays coming up don't help, especially if you have 4 kids. I hope they are feeling better right now.

I do notice significant physical changes when a manic episode is coming on, but usually they tend to be good ones, since the energy level is going up and my manias tend to be grandiose. I can feel my muscles getting more ripped, and the desire to work out more also starts. For people who tend to get dysphoric manias, I've heard of migraines and also restlessness being occasional symptoms. I get mixed episodes at times, which are really bothersome, and I tend to get unexplained aches and pains.

I hope you're feeling better. Sleep is always the major key to this damn illness, so hopefully you can try and get your routines and sleep pattern in control and also try meditation for managing the stress level caused by the many difficult situations you are facing this month and beyond.

Good luck to you.

[Randy]

Wow, I didn't realize that you had 4 kids too. How cool is that?? What's the mix of boys and girls? Mine is 3 boys then 1 girl. No, we didn't keep trying for a girl.

We had the plague flow through our house too. I know it's really really tough, but it shall pass. Hang in there.

As for the mania question; it's been so long since I've had any real mania I don't remember the symptoms around it. I just remember getting really really happy and enjoying everything more...and talking a mile a minute with racing thoughts. Never any bad symptoms like migraines and such. But I've only ever had one full blown mania (effexor induced) all the rest where hypo-manias.

Great to see you back!!

[Hope]

Thanks for the response guys! I have happy mania and the irritated, so sore all over stay up scrubbing floors with toothbrush till Im crying mania. In the ER last night for swollen throat that I thought was to do with my thyroid apparently its all in my head?!? Man, I just feel like God wired me ALL freakin wrong? Can I get some instructions to my own body? They said it could be GERD but they cant DX so I have an appt with ear nose throat. No insurance so thats a no go. Same for my antianxiety and adderall.. hmmm, being broke truly sucks. Tis the season though.. right?! Going to head to the kitchen to do some damage :-)

Always good to come back and know that you all are still here... :-) **hugs**

[Randy]

Everytime I hear about people like you who can't get the meds they need or the checkup they need because of the health care system in the State, I again drop to the ground and kiss my country of Canada. Not to start a political war, but it seems almost barbaric the way you guys treat health care. "Only the rich survive."

Sure we pay huge taxes up here in Canada; but when you're ill, you're treated with the same respect as the guy beside you in the hospital.

[Hope]

Vey good points... id rather pay out the arse in taxes and have health cov than to go on without,,,,

[Flash]

Randy,
That is such bullshit.

[RavenTears]

Holidays are always stressful for every one. But hopefully in the end it turns out nicely for those who go through that stress without strangling all life forms present and then themselves, following.
Every body seems to be getting sick! The good thing though, is that after your children are sick with the illnesses they have at the time being, they won't get sick for a while after that. If you're kids are any bit like you, they're probably strong willed. A mother of four! You are a heroin among us all. =]
Mania for me used to result in headaches and weird tooth aches... At the back of my jaw and then one line of searing and shooting pain down my right side. My fingers and toes would tingle and my eyelids would feel too tight for my eyes. It was awful. But all of this did happen before I had a panic attack, mania attack, or anxiety attack.
But now the symptoms are all gone. I only experience mania these days. Although, its happy mania that I can control for the most part. Its not so bad.
If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm in a much healthier and higher place than I used to be.
Feel free to message me at any time. I'm a great listener and a wonderful responder.

[Randy]

Randy,
That is such bullshit.

Probably. I must admit I don't know very much about the US medical system. What I know, I've learned from Grey's Anatomy!

It just seems that I constantly here horror stories about people becoming in debt for life after a minor illness put them in the hospital for an extended time.

If it's "not that bad", then I apologize for my political stance.

[meem]

I hear that all the time too, Randy.

I get my psych meds for FREE b/c my income is less thatn $28,000 per year. I get my general medical coverage for free, also b/c of our low income, but we get by just fine. We know how to not spend money unneccesarily. All my therapy and pdoc costs are free for me.

If our income was higher, we'd pay a basic rate for health care, which isn't all that much if you have the income! Then all medical needs are covered except for special stuff (elective).

I'd rather be here than there any day....no apologies Flash

edit: apologies to you, Hope, for turning your thread into this. I'm in a snarly mood today.

This post has been edited by meem: Dec 12 2009, 08:54 PM

[Jane]

I agree with Meem. I don't get how people can not support universal health care. How can it be okay for people to DIE for lack of health care in a civilized country? Is there something I am missing?????? Oh sorry Hope for hijacking. Hope, I hope you can damp down that mania. Please take care of yourself....

[Hope]

Just an update.. and a thank you to thorin.. I wrote the first message after leaving the ER being told it was all in my head. In fact.. It was not.. After being sick for many many months, I went to the ER once again for fluids thinking I was dehydrated. My heartrate was 153. I had a mild heart attack and after 8hrs of ct scans, x rays bllod work. I have been diagnosed with Graves disease. I was what they call in a thyroid storm or crisis. My disease causes fake hormones to be released into my body making my thyroid hyper. I spent 3 days in the hospital and at this time they realized my insurance had not kicked in yet.. so they kicked me out.

I went to the endocrinologist and he advised me that I was very lucky to be alive. That I probably had this for years. He said that I may not be bipolar afterall but that my disease could have mimicked it all along. I am on antithyroid meds for 6weeks before I swallow radiation to kill my thyroid and then I will be on synthroid for the rest of my life. It is a life long disease that can be life threatening. The depression at the moment is overwhelming. I am in nursing school after trying to get in for 15yrs and yet I may not be able to continue. The kids dad leaves for Afghan in June. I may lose my unemployment. My dad just lost his job and so the stress level is so high. I need prayers and positiive energy...

Thank you guys for being there for me

[Randy]

Do you have any charity hospital you can go to? Man it makes me sick hearing that they would kick you out even though you were still in crisis!

Do you have someone to help you with the kids after your husband leaves?

Even if it turns out you're not bipolar, you're still more than welcome here anytime you feel like dropping by.

[Rosebud]

I can totally understand the frustration over not having insurance, since I have been going through that with my son after his motorcycle accident. I am sorry you are going through so much, but it is good to know what is causing it. I'm proud of you for going to nursing school and I hope you will be able to continue as it will help you be financially independent and end up with insurance. Best of wishes to you,