What Lead To Showing Symptoms Of Bipolar Mania?

Brief Answer: Yes, it is possible. Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome back! There are two possibilities here. Firstly, it is common for people with electroly imbalance to show abnormal behavior which may clinically mimic signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder, psychosis etc. In such conditions, the symptoms remit when the electrolyte imbalance is corrected. Long term treatment is not needed. The second possibility, which must not be ignored, is that the symptoms of mania had started before you became unconscious and the over-exercising was also due to mania. You will have to look back and try to recollect if there had been any change in your behavior prior to falling sick. If so, then bipolar disorder is a possibility. Hope this clears up things for you. Please feel free to ask in case you need any clarifications. Best wishes. Dr Preeti Parakh MD Psychiatry

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Brief Answer: As below. Detailed Answer: Hi, Hypochondria is not a common symptom in mania but may be seen when people are depressed. I shall be able to answer you better if you could let me know what exactly was happening which you have referred as hypochondria. Being moody and irritable can be a symptom of many psychiatric disorders, as well as just a manifestation of stress in people who are otherwise normal. Again occasional outbursts of anger are seen in every person and sometimes are just due to one's personality. It is possible for one to have one's first episode of mania at the age of 34 years, but usually it starts at a younger age. It is possible to distinguish between a primary mood disorder and one that is secondary to any medical illness on the basis of points I mentioned in the previous post. If your symptoms vanished after the electrolyte imbalance was corrected, the disorder is most probably a secondary one. But if the symptoms worsened or persisted for quite a few days even after you were physically normal, then primary mania is indeed a possibility. Regarding what should be done now, the decision would depend on how much chance your disorder has of being a primary one. I guess the electrolyte imbalance would have been corrected in a day or two. If the psychiatric symptoms lasted for more than a week and were severe enough to make it difficult for your family to manage you at home, then I think your doctor has taken the right decision in starting a mood stabilizer (Depakene) and an antipsychotic (Zyprexa). I would suggest that you discuss whatever side effects you are having with your doctor and ask for a change of medicine. Many alternative choices are available and I am sure there will be some that suit you better. You have not mentioned what made you exercise so much that you fell ill. I guess that your doctor has taken that as well as a symptom of mania. Best wishes. Dr Preeti Parakh MD Psychiatry

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