When bipolar disorder and hormones interact...

[MrJ]

this entire thread is sorta an insane cluster of coincidence of trans guys with bipolar disorder in the same age range going back to school

makes sense that this demographic exists, of course

I take lamictal, and I know that estrogen changes influence its effectiveness one way or the other - so I am worried, especially because it is really working for me right now

Did any of you have to change meds before starting T?  That doctor that prescribed me T was not really concerned about it, and I go in to my psychiatrist next week

I was on lamictal for a while, but my insurance didn't cover it and then I got that random rash that it's black box warned for, so I had to stop it cold turkey.

I didn't have to change any medications before T, but once we discovered my mood could indeed still swing when my T was messed with, I was put on lithium, because I hadn't been on a mood stabilizer for a few years.

I'd be interested to know what your psychiatrist says about lamictal and T. I hope you can stay on it, if it's working for you.

[Simon]

I take lamictal, and I know that estrogen changes influence its effectiveness one way or the other - so I am worried, especially because it is really working for me right now

Did any of you have to change meds before starting T?

I'm Bipolar (Type 2) and used to take a multitude of anti-psychotics as a teen/young adult. Be careful and aware of the side effects. They believe using Seroquel is one reason my pancreas hates me and now I take Metformin extended release pills (which are prescribed for glucose but also helps with bipolar apparently).

I am bad about not taking my "crazy pills" but it's not really noticeable to people who don't know me personally. I rarely get manic and when I do it's mainly just staying up for days at a time. I just get in deep depressions to where I withdraw from the world. My docs have noted that T has helped me greatly with depression. Never before would I have started College. I have really bad social anxiety to the point of agoraphobia (I can stay inside for months at a time) but T has greatly eased it.

[MrJ]

I have really bad social anxiety to the point of agoraphobia (I can stay inside for months at a time) but T has greatly eased it.

I have social anxiety too, and T has really helped it as well - I don't know if it's the balance of hormones in my body making me less anxious, or if it's the fact that I like myself a lot more and like the person and gender I am presenting to the world, so I feel less fearful of other's opinions. Transitioning is pretty much the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Thanks - I will try to remember to post an update. Lithium is the next stop for me on the medication train if so, and I hope I get to avoid it. I know it really works for some or it really doesn't depending on the person.

Lithium's been really good for me so far, but I had to recently increase the dose. I've been avoiding it for 5 years, ha ha, but they talked me into it.

sorta can't believe I just admitted all of that - oh well

During my last manic episode I believed that I'd discovered that the secret of music lay in the interval of the fifth, and that I was meant to figure out and harness this secret and once I did I'd have the power to end wars and heal the sick.

Yup, mania is interesting.

[AdamMLP]

If I can just chime in on the education thing, at the start of the last academic year I was at college (different thing here in the UK, post-16, non-residential, vocational education) and the majority of people were in the 16-18 range, with about two that were a little older at 22.  There was one guy there who was in his late thirties or early forties (he did tell me, but I forgot), and although he left six-weeks into the course I wish I'd stayed in touch with him more than I do when I think about the other two (17 & 21) that I used to hang around with.  For me to want to talk to someone off my own back takes a lot, I very, very rarely even consider it.

As long as you don't try and fit in with the younger guys by acting immature, because they'll just think you're weird and trying too hard, it shouldn't be a problem.  And for the record, he dropped out because he'd been out of education for two long and couldn't kick his brain back into it, so maybe consider the shock to the system it'll be.  I know my brain's dulled in regards to written work because of the year I spent at college because it was all mathematical and engineering.

[Adam (birkin)]

Is it strange I have no idea how to do this without seeming awkward and forced? Do most people have no problem with this type of interaction? I easily avoided people before because my former university was quite large with auditorium sized classes for the most part. Any group work I had to do was fine because that is sort of structured interaction, but still -

does anyone else have trouble with this in class? I sorta feel it will be even harder now that I am a decade older than some of the people who will be in the class.

Oh, most people do find it really difficult. I actually hand out surveys mid-term to see where we're at and how the class is going, and one of the questions I put is "if you don't feel comfortable speaking up in class, is there a reason why?" because I have to give a mark on participation. You wouldn't believe how many people say "I'm shy" or "I think that what I say is awkward." Those big lecture halls do make it difficult as well.

I usually get conversations with classmates going by making sort of a small off-handed comment. Like "I'm glad we got this room, in the other class I take everyone's crammed together and you can't spread out your stuff." And then they respond and I'll laugh or whatever is appropriate and say "I'm Caleb, by the way." They introduce themselves..."oh, what's your major?" You get the idea. It's nerve-wracking at first, and sometimes you get people who just aren't interested in making friends so you have to brush it off. but once you have done it with a few people it gets so easy.

[spacerace]

And for the record, he dropped out because he'd been out of education for two long and couldn't kick his brain back into it, so maybe consider the shock to the system it'll be.  I know my brain's dulled in regards to written work because of the year I spent at college because it was all mathematical and engineering.

This was a concern for me as well for several different reasons - I've been trying to get my brain back in action

Not sure if everyone would know about this already, but this site - https://www.khanacademy.org/ - is basically the first two years of a college education given to you through youtube videos and problem sets that increase in difficulty as you learn more material. Anyone taking a science or math class for the first time in awhile may benefit from checking out the relevant videos. The guy who made the site started it on his own, and then it was so awesome Google decided to sponsor him. It is run by a non-profit organization

You can choose where you start in the material, and the math goes up to at least differential equations. There are college-level biology, chemistry and physics videos.

[mikaelmackison]

My first day as a freshman begins in 10 days (& I'm 28 with 2 kids & a spouse, for what that's worth!).  Currently I'm enrolled for 15 credit hours (one class is an honors course) & semesters beyond the first will involve 18 credit hours each.  I am beyond excited. 

The adviser I was assigned steered me toward Khan Academy, as well.  I've been using it in my free time for the last 5 months & I recommend it, especially if you need to work on your math skills.   

I don't have much else to contribute so I'll simply say congrats & good luck to all the new (& returning) students. 

[spacerace]

I'd be interested to know what your psychiatrist says about lamictal and T. I hope you can stay on it, if it's working for you.

Just wanted to post an update to this -

He basically said, "I have no idea so I guess we will see" - on another note, I just had to double my lamictal dose to stabilize my mood after a sharp turn into mixed episode land, so yeah -I hope once I get used to the T I can knock it back down again.