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Bipolar Forums › General & Support › # of days/weeks of hypomania before mania?
10/29/2011 03:22 AM
Cthebird
Cthebird
 
Posts: 2609
Senior Member
I'm just wondering (for those of you that experience full blown mania) how many days or weeks of various levels of hypomania you have experienced before full blown mania? I always see the U curve charts in books showing a transition, but it isn't clear what the average timing is.

During rapid cycling I have become manic within 2 days of being depressed or stable. Other times I can be hypomanic for more than month before it rises to full blown manic. Usually it is a bad stressor that takes me over the edge.

Also, with medications do you find that you now reach only hypomanic levels at time and then go back to stable or depressed?

Bipolar 1, Simple Partial Seizures, and migraines

Psychiatric meds:

Lithium ER (900 mg)*Tegretol XR (1400 mg)*Lamictal (100 mg)*Geodon (160 mg)*Navane (5 mg)*Seroquel XR (100 mg)*Klonopin (.5 mg)

Ativan 1 mg "as needed" (I rarely take it.)*Seroquel regular 50 mg "as needed" (Only if I'm getting elevated.)

Other meds:

Propranolol (40 mg)*Levothyroxine (150 mcg)

My mix is side effect friendly for me.
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10/29/2011 04:15 AM  Top
Dit
Dit
 
Posts: 12069
Group Leader
I'm an Advocate
Re-iterating your last sentence, with meds i 'reach only hypomania and then go stable again'. If hypomania lasts too long and where i cannot take it anymore (this varies timewise and hasne't happened too too often) i contact my pdoc and he adjusts my meds, usually ups my Lithium dosage. I also have Klonopin to take so hypomania doesn't usually get too too bad. I don't rapid cycle much, did this past Jan. til April when i was going thru med changes, i was borderlining mania was a rough time i was sleep deprived too up all night roaming. I try hard to keep hypomania in check i do fear it turning into mania but so far i've lived with bp for over 25 yrs and never has it turned to mania, i've been fortunate. I had a psycosis once, during my first breakdown when i was 18 yr young many many yrs ago, and had full blown mania then too...never got that sick again thank God.

Post edited by: Dit, at: 10/29/2011 04:25 AM

Post edited by: Dit, at: 10/29/2011 05:50 AM

Be Still and Know That I Am - Scripture
12-Step Slogans - One Day/Moment at a Time/Just for Today/Let Go & Let God/But By the Grace of God
Live and Let Live/Easy Does It/This Too Shall Pass

"Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts." - Hopi tribe

Bipolar I

Lithium 300 mgs, Lamotrigine 200 mgs, Klonopon (Clonazepam) .05mg more if needed, Clomipramine (Anafranil) 25 mgs, Abilify 5 mgs, Seroquel 25 mgs

Please note that I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist. My opinions are personal only. This site is not intended to be a substitution for professional care, nor is anyone here qualified to make diagnoses.

10/29/2011 08:50 AM  Top
bfly
bfly
 
Posts: 4061
VIP Member
I mirror much of what both of you have experienced. I would love to know, however, if there actually was a "magic formula"... but I think it's very individualized- and like you said- major stressors are usually the driving force behind a full blown manic or even depressive episode (for me)... I've been experiencing a LOT of hypomania lately--- so dig it, and am guilty of trying to boost my hypomania with five hour energy drinks!

My husband, myself and our kitties are moving to Vegas at the end of November... I'm scared s**tless! Not only the drive from South FL to Vegas in a UHaul with two kitties scares me... but every vice I have is in Vegas... such easy access and I'm not quite far enough on my "healing" journey to trust myself not to fail... K, enough about me- I think I may have to google info regarding average times between hypo and actual mania... interesting post. Take care of yourself whatever pole you are on at any given time!

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Kahlil Gibran

"The sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." Carl Jung

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Leo F. Buscaglia

"Always fall in with what you're asked to accept. Take what is given, and make it over your way. My aim in life has always been to hold my own with whatever's going. Not against: with."
Robert Frost

"God doesn't give us more than we can handle, I just think He overestimates my strength!" lol- me

Bipolar I, PTSD, Bulimia, Anxiety, Fibromyalgia

Lithium 1500 mg; Lamictal 400mg; Busparone 60 mg; Armour Thyroid 30; Visteril as needed

10/29/2011 09:11 AM  Top
Cthebird
Cthebird
 
Posts: 2609
Senior Member
I'm glad my experience is not that uncommon. Thank you for the posts.

bfly, after you google the information on average times between hypo and mania, please let me know. I did one search and didn't come up with much. I might have used bad search words.

Bipolar 1, Simple Partial Seizures, and migraines

Psychiatric meds:

Lithium ER (900 mg)*Tegretol XR (1400 mg)*Lamictal (100 mg)*Geodon (160 mg)*Navane (5 mg)*Seroquel XR (100 mg)*Klonopin (.5 mg)

Ativan 1 mg "as needed" (I rarely take it.)*Seroquel regular 50 mg "as needed" (Only if I'm getting elevated.)

Other meds:

Propranolol (40 mg)*Levothyroxine (150 mcg)

My mix is side effect friendly for me.

02/14/2012 11:36 AM  Top
NostalgicMom
NostalgicMom
 
Posts: 126
Member
Do not know what average timing between mania and hypomania is. I had hypomania for about 2 months before I exploded into mania. I posted about my first manic episode today.

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/bipolar-support-forums/ general-support/3472410-first-manic-episode

Post edited by: NostalgicMom, at: 02/14/2012 11:38 AM

Bipolar I, diagnosed August 2011 by forensic evaluator and November 2011 by psychiatrist

Valproic Acid 250 mg
Trazodone 50 mg
Fluoxetine (Prozac) 20 mg

The journey of 1000 miles begins with one step.
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