remission for 20 years possible?

I was diagnosed as Bipolar 2 in my early 20s and had numerous hospitalizations and medications. However, I went off all meds in my late 20s, and did lifestyle adjustments successfully. Natural supplements, lots of exercise, low stress, etc. And life was good.
Now I'm 45, and the last 7 months have been mostly depression, but I also recognized about 2 weeks of a hypo-manic state. Since that hypo-manic state 6 weeks ago, I feel like I have been cycling all over the place. Suicidal and depressed for a few days, then completely normal for a few days.
I am peri-menopausal. Has anyone experienced mental illness returning with per-menopause? For the last 18 years I thought I had been misdiagnosed as bipolar because I was fine for so long. Now I am wondering if it's possible to be in a remission for almost 20 years? Or is it just extreme mood swings of peri-menopause? Of note, is that exercise was my main tool to keep my moods stable. I had to do about 15 hours a week to feel right. The last two years I have been cutting back my exericse as I am wearing out my body! But still at 7-8 hours per week. My understanding was that if the bipolar diagnosis 20+ years ago was correct, I wouldn't have been able to be off meds successfully for so long.

I think it's possible to have 20 years of remission. I had a manic episode and then depressive episode following that, went up and down several times at age 18, then I got well and after age 20, other than depression, I was well up until I turned 31. I was even in the military for 8 years. So, just explaining that I was undiagnosed, but I did experience the clear symptoms of bipolar, then they seemed to not return for a long time.

my remission lasted from age 18 to 32. def possible. no meds during that time. no real mood issues.

I think the bottom line here is that you have insight based on your experience 20 years ago. That's a good thing. Benefit from it.

And, the real issue is that you seem to be concerned about and need to deal with your current situation. Your history is good information and may influence your decisions today.

You have to do the best thing for yourself today,

If you need help, get it. If you are getting help, work with it.

If you try to solve your situation yourself, good for you... but it may be more difficult than if you seek help.

I hope that isn't too blunt.
Look after yourself. Know that I care, but ultimately it is up to you.
Horrible thing to hear isn't it. I've learned that it is up to me to look after myself. Good lesson.

Take care,
David

Thanks for the responses. I started Lithium a couple days after my posting, one month now, and wow - what a difference! I feel like a new, calm, happy, stable person. It actually makes me think that while I thought I had been stable for the last 20 years, really, only now do I see what stability actually is! I'm looking forward to life now!
After starting lithium at 600 mg I increased it every week, up to 1200mg, but then had to cut back to 900. The shaking/weakness in my legs was so bad, and I'm an avid cyclist so need my leg muscles to function. I hope 900 mg is enough. blood work last week was fine.

I'm glad lithium is working for you.
Also that your dose went up, and then has been reduced to minimize side effects.
Medication is a balance.

I know Lithium is the gold standard for bipolar illness. I've never had it. I was on Zyprexa for years and it was bad in the long run. Stay in touch with your doctor.

Take care,
Skilsaw

I don’t know if it’s called remission but my case is very similar. I had postpartum depression with when my son was born, at the time I was put on medication but was not sure for what didn’t know my diagnosis. I did loose touch with reality big time where I was hospitalized. Never did drugs or alcohol at all. Then after a few months I was off all meds. Always had moods up and down but normal not crazy thought it was all normal. 21 years later I got so scared that I could have breast cancer that I again went psychotic and lost touch with reality and then the empty depression feeling came

It’s now been 3 years after the second episode and I don’t want to accept that I’m Bipolar or the meds
Is are you still doing with lithium? Are you able to do all the normal stuff, work full time etc? Any side affects? Do you take other medication for bipolar or just lithium and lastly are you bipolar 1 or 2

Yeah it's very possible and not unusual. The individual course of bipolar disorders is extremely variable and it's not known why. I remember one psychologist saying "I know people who got to a good place in their lives and were able to get off lithium," but I don't even think that is true. There are probably people in very good places in life who still have a lot of problems, and I know there are people out there who break all the rules and still go forever or for very long periods without further episodes.