Episodes between meds/ meds longevity

My question is about medication longevity between episodes. My Pdoc has switched around, changed, upped, and taken away meds countless times in 4years. I'm curious to know if anyone else out there has had to do med changes every 2-6months or so in order to stay stable/functioning. I'm diagnosed rapid cycling Bipolar2. My therapist is now questioning my diagnosis because of the reasons that my meds aren't working long term. So I'm looking for some outside validation and experiences of others that may help me to understand.

I've had long periods of relative stability without med changes. I've read on here of people with no luck with meds. I think it depends a lot on lifestyle and the individual. Don't get frustrated. You may want a 2nd opinion from someone else too.

kellygurl1711,
I was diagnosed bipolar, PTSD, severe manic depressive disorders. I’m taking Lamotragine, Lithium, and Zoloft for this, but meds aren’t figured out yet. I have been taking these meds a good 4+ months and now my lymph nodes are swollen slightly.First, my right throat and as I type this the back of my left knee is swollen. I’m so glad I looked here for answers, thank you. I will go to my doctor still and be checked out.

For me, it took a long time to get my meds just right. First I seemed fine, then I became unstable some months after that, so they upped the dose. That helped, then I became depressed and they added meds. All in all, it took me a really long time to get to where I'm at. I know it's hard to wake up to feeling depressed or manic, when you are taking meds, but in my own experience, it sometimes can take a while, sometimes even a long while to get completely stable. At least that's how it was for me. I've gotten unstable for a short time before they increased one of my meds, early this year. I know it was not an easy thing to accept, that bipolar can be such a rollercoaster of a mood disorder. Not everyone experiences the same effects from the disorder, but at least for me, my road to stability was very much like yours for a long time. I stayed with it and had support from the pdoc, therapist and my family. Now I am stable again, and I hope that things remain that way for a long while. I express this in this manner because I know how things can be. You are not alone in how you experience the symptoms. I did too.

z7z wrote:I've had long periods of relative stability without med changes. I've read on here of people with no luck with meds. I think it depends a lot on lifestyle and the individual. Don't get frustrated. You may want a 2nd opinion from someone else too.

Hi z7z,
I'm curious what lifestyle things you've seen help people have long periods of stability without med changes?
Thanks in advance,
SCINS

SCINS
Definitely routine is important; sleeping, avoiding shift work for me, regular medication times. Support people are necessary. Willingness to persist, unless it becomes dangerous (I certainly didn't persist when I had psychotic episodes). Mindfulness. All those things that are advised by doctors and therapists, etc. You can't simply think medications are a quick fix.

I know I went through countless changes, just like most. Don't give up, find yourself.