I have one or two hypomanic episodes per year on average, I am mostly depressed with low energy.I don't do any form of drugs and drink only every once in a while.
I have checked my Thyroid, I sleep 8 hours a night just fine. I have had 4 blood works done which showed I am in excellent shape. I am 5'6 32 inch waist so no problems there. I work out every day with weights and walking.
My current Psychiatrist is not sure of my DX he thinks I might be Aspergers as I have poor social skills but I have don't agree since a lot of the diagnosis just doesn't fit. I have lot's of interests, I don't have strange obsessions, I have no problems recognising emotions. I get all the symptoms of hypomania when manic. I have had lots of sexual partners when hypomanic. I do have problems socialising but I think its because I grew up in an abusive household where I couldn't have friends over, my low energy levels meant I spent a lot of time in bed too and didn't get out much. I have been depressed for a long time. I think I have social phobia. When I meet people it takes me a while to open up and chat to them.
The psychiatrist who DXd me Bipolar 2 interviewed me over many years where as my current Psychiatrist interviewed me once. I know Bipolar 2 can look like Aspergers such as when a Bipolar person is feeling low they don't converse much. I have only met one other person with Bipolar and it was like looking in a mirror.
Medications
I have tried over 17 different medications. SSRI and SNRI medications as well as one mood Stabiliser Lamictal.
Sertraline worked the best for me but gave me sexual side effects and serious weight gain which made me and my girlfriend break up at one stage.
Topomax gave me serious amnesia and I couldn't think straight, the effect was so bad I was sent for an MRI as a doctor thought I had a mild stroke. I refused to take SSRI or SNRI medication after that.
The other anti depressants side effects varied such as the inability to enjoy things, nausea etc which I just couldn't stand.
Lamictal worked very well for my depression but I was allergic to it so I had to come off it.
I responded really well to Piracetam for about 6 months until it stopped working, even after giving it a break it never worked again.
Alternative Treatments
I am experimenting with alternative treatments at the moment but the experiments are expensive, in my home country prescription medication is free so I am reconsidering.
I am currently taking Magnesium Citrate which is the only thing keeping me alive, it isn't enough though.
I have tried NAC which worked really well but killed my sex drive and I didn't enjoy anything like music, movies etc on it.
I respond well to Vitamin B12
Zinc works also for my depression but increase my libido
Inositol worked but killed my sex drive
I am just afraid of Lithium tbh I have seen so many people get renal failure from it and I know exercise can increase its potency, it just seems so dangerous. I don't want to end up worse off.