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[seagullukuk]

My 15 yr old daughter has been diagnosed as probably bi polar! She has been in a children's mantel health hospital since September with weekend leave most weekends recently. Her mum does not believe the diagnosis! Medication is very difficult as she is very sensitive to all they have tried, having to stop

Them all! I was wondering if anyone on the forum had experience of bipOlar particularly in adolescents. It is heart breaking to see her so down, and have the medics say that when she was so happy energetic and sociable that this was probably mania! I could ramble on for ages about it but I won't as I really want to hear from anyone with advice or who knows of a parent group. Thanks

[Snowy]

That must be so hard for you both xx

I don't have any experience of people in the early days of diagnosis, but I have met many who have had it for several years, who have it well controlled and they are living perfectly normal lives.

Definitely use the services of your local mental health team and find a good support group, the more you know about this condition, the easier it will be for you all to learn to live with it. Keep positive and think of the future xxx

[Alis girls]

Apolgoies for lack of link but if you google "daily strength" this is a teen self help group - dont know localities. I have 2 friends with it in their 40's - twins - had it since their 20's - one refuses to take meds and is difficult to OH and kids. Other is single, happy and working and having fulfilled life on meds. The meds do help BUT you have to take them - as I see with my friend who doesnt if you dont its hard for those arround you. Good luck.

[ClaireG]

Just wanted to send you a big hug. My 15 yr old son is in care. He has behavioural and mental health problems and is taking anti psychotics. He has been diagnosed with a conduct disorder and bipolar has also been mentioned.

[Space Chick]

My friends sister has it. I remember when we were teenagers it was a terrible challenge for her parents until she got help.

 

She is now in her 30s, married with a beautiful son, and her medication means she lives a completely normal life... She now has a fab job helping young adults with mental health problems

[sadietoo]

No advice but sending hugs as it must be such a worrying and horrid time for you. x

[The Dogmother]

A friend's OH is Bipolar; I understand that once they got his meds sorted he was fine.

[Looney]

Many of OH's extended family are bipolar. They range from those who live 'normal' lives to those that live in total chaos.

 

As others have said, finding the right medication - and taking it - is absolutely key as well as having a good support network.

 

It's tough as it is a condition that still isn't spoken about as openly as it should be. There is less of a stigma attached than there used to be but a general lack of understanding too. Probably partly due to the fact that people can be at totally different ends of the spectrum so there is no true standard bipolar behaviour, if you see what I mean.

 

I can imagine one of the challenges for your daughter, and perhaps you and her mum, will be coming to terms with the diagnosis and working out how to fit it in with her day to day life. She is still exactly the same person but now with a label attached. Hopefully you/she will find good advice about how to deal with this and find support from others either in the same situation or totally removed from it. Support from others in the same situation is important however choosing between those that will give true, positive support and those that may pull her in a different direction can be another challenge. This all mixed in with her being a teenager and learning about who she is, emotions etc...

 

I know of bipolar uk, that I think used to have a different name, but no experience of using it firsthand.

 

Sending you hugs xxx

[superkitty]

I have a close family member who has Bipolar I. Try to look on the early diagnosis as a good thing - it means your daughter can get the help she needs and find the right med combo (it can take a long time and a lot of tweaking) early, and then go on to live a normal and productive life.

 

I am a member of a really good support group for the SO's of people with BP. There are all sorts of people on there, including a good few who have teenage children with BP. I think there's a waiting list (it's a private list serve group rather than a public forum) but I have found it really helpful. It's www.bpso.org - might be helpful for you? Your local Mind charity will probably also have some help to offer. Good luck!

[kazmac]

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. That must be very worrying for you both.

 

Surely the mental health team looking after your daughter should be able to signpost you to a support service or run parent groups themselves? I would definitely ask them.

I hope you manage to find something and get some support which will help xx

[seagullukuk]

Thank you everyone for the advice kind words and encouragement. I will try the support groups. Yes the professionals should be able to point us in the direction of support but they have not. Maybe there are no groups in Northern Ireland where she lives? I also hope that as she is so young she will find her way of coping with it either with time or drugs or both. We are being offered a second opinion but the consultant is off sick so nothing can happen til he returns!! This is one of the worries the consultant appears all powerful!!!!

Any way thanks again will keep u all posted on progress.

[kazmac]

That's a shame - I would definitely ask them though.

It's also a shame that the consultant is so powerful and that "Ooops, word censored!"ody seems to be able to help or update you in his absence. That's not right. What do they do if there's an urgent matter requiring a decision?

Is there anyone you can ask for a meeting with? The charge nurse or the consultant's registrar?

[seagullukuk]

Hi all. Spoke with consultant tonight who is asking social services for advice if we do not agree to medication soon. Mean while DD has been out for a burger with her older adult cousin and appears brighter. I hope we can delay medication for another weekend Of leave.

[Willow]

I hope you get the support you need soon but a referral to SS because you're not agreeing to medication is probably not a good thing you said she reacted badly to everything they have tried so far, have they tried very low doses ? did she react in the same way each time.

 

Sorry no advice to offer, just sympathy. It must be very difficult for you being on the mainland when she is living in NI. Do you normally have a good relationship with your daughter's mother for her care ?

[Looney]

Hi, I'm afraid that finding yourself 'in the system' is sometimes takes a bit of getting your head around, a bit like being on a conveyor belt with no option to get off. Was your daughter having an unusually bad reaction to the medication - and by this I mean worse than expected as I think most people suffer some side effects to begin with?. Or did she not like the way it was making her feel? This is where talking to other parents or people that are bipolar could really help you.

 

Someone I know doesn't like taking their bipolar medication as it makes them feel like someone else i.e. not normal. But what feels normal to them is not acceptable to wider society. Not suggesting for a moment that this applies to your daughter, simply mentioning it as actually talking to people can give a great insight into initial reactions to medication both physical and emotional.

 

Sending you big hugs. Xx

[chickencam]

I suspect that the condition is much worse in adolescents, because their brain's are going through such major changes anyway. Hopefully through careful care and support she will find something to help her lead a fulfilling life.

 

((hugs))

[Old Speckled Hen]

I hope,seagullukuk, that your daughter gets the help she needs.

I have followed this thread with great interest.The more I read of this condition the more I suspect my late first husband may have had mild symptoms. Can you get degrees of Bipolar disease?

Did anybody see Stephen Fry's programme?

I consider myself well informed along with many people yet we know so little about mental disease.

My daughter is involved with mental health issues in schools and is trying to raise funds for an education package via theatre.

If you have time click on the link in my sig.

[seagullukuk]

Latest news is she has now started a new medicine! Mood lifted a little but having headaches. Consultant said they would go very slowly increasing med but that same night they doubled the dose!!! That was yesterday. Hopefully she will be home for weekend today A copy of notes is being made so I can get an opinion in London which will hopefully reassure the mum that they are not completely working in the dark where she is. I am going over next week for an update meeting.

[Looney]

Hi,

 

This sounds positive about the initial medication a bit of a shock to double it so quickly though I hope any medication side effects settle down quickly and she can get on with everyday life as soon as possible x