Does anyone else have bipolar disorder?

[sixtyfoothigh]

Hi,

New to this forum. Sorry this is a bit long but there's a bit of back story. I've suffered from AN on and off for most of my life (I'm 30). My last relapse was over a year ago and since then I was maintaining at the bottom end of healthy BMI.

I also suffer from bipolar disorder (BP). I have type one which is the "classic" type of BP where I have distinct episodes of depression or mania/psychosis and then in between episodes I have fairly long periods of being completely well with no symptoms.

I used to treat the BP by only taking medication for a few months whenever I had an episode. But last March I had a really bad episode of mania/psychosis and my pdoc has recommended I take maintenance medication long term (i.e probably forever) to prevent further episodes before they happen. I'm currently on lithium and quetiapine. Both these medications cause weight gain. I'm not overweight (still normal BMI) but I'm completely freaking out with how much weight I've gained since March. I don't want to stop the medication as I don't want to start cycling back to mania or depression as that's so destructive.

So I want to start dieting and get back to the lower end of BMI. But I've no idea if this is possible without relapsing with AN. Has anyone had any success in dieting to take off medication weight gain without relapsing?

I feel so stuck. I want to get back to a weight that doesn't completely freak me out. I want to keep the BP stable. I want to stay in recovery from the ED. So... basically I want the moon on a stick!

I post on a BP forum and asked this question here and it was suggested I might have more luck asking on an ED forum.

Sixty x

[tiptoes]

Hello and welcome,

I most likely have some form of bipolar disorder, my psych has told me that when he does make a diagnosis it will most probably centred around bipolar but has yet to make a formal diagnosis.

I am currently on quetiapine and mirtazipine and have found I've gained some weight with being on them especially over the Christmas period. I also have a history of eating disorders anorexia and bulimia at different times and have the same questions about trying to lose the weight I have gained. My current plan is to join an exercise class with a friend something like Zumba, and having my partner keeping an eye on me so that my weight doesn't fall too low or too quickly.

[random.swirls]

Hi

I have bipolar and found I put on weight with medication but also when I gave up work I stopped all the natural exercise and routine which meant my eating went out of whack to.

Trying to maintain a low BMI isn't easy or healthy and maybe aiming for a healthy one would be better.

Have you spoken to your Dr/care team about this?

[Solar]

Hey

I am Bipolar and also suffer with anorexia. I was first put on Olanzapine and it caused me to gain so much weight that I went from possibly being sectioned because of my weight to weight restored. Since then I have been on Quetiapine and Aripiprizole and thankfully neither have caused weight gain.

My advice would be to make someone else aware of your diet plans so if they notice it spiralling out of control they can alert you to it before it gets too bad. Eating healthy and exercise is your best bet.

One thing I was warned about with Lithium ( I am not on it as my ED means and risk of toxicity would be high) is that it makes you thirsty. Are you drinking water or things like full sugar coke? That could be an area where you may be able to start with without the risk of it getting in the way of food itself.