Need honest feedback from mama's with BP1

[Satori]

I saw the pdoc today and it was a different one due to scheduling conflicts. We got to talking about dd (age 9) who has BP1 and she was adamant that I start her on birth control when she is 13 because she seemed positive dd will be sexually active by that point. I've read that having sex while manic is common but do I really need to worry about it so young? I mean yes I know she's only 9 and I have a few years yet but its got me wondering. Is sex at such a young age really something I do need to worry about when she's manic? (she is very very impulsive when manic and will often do stuff just to spite you)

[jane-t-mommy]

I just read your post and couldn't not respond. I don't have any experience with youngsters with BP, I'm looking for info about my BP mother. 4 years is a long way away. Maybe as you get closer to 13 you can include your daughter in this decision, as she will have to be ultimately responsible for managing her disease. I'm so sorry you are worrying about this and hope for peace for your daughter.

[elf]

sorry you are having to think about things like this.

I myself was put on BC at 14 yo b/c of endometriosis (it made my periods lighter and less painful). just by chance, I also became sexually active around that time. looking back, THANK GOD i was on BC. i absolutely know (b/c I have asked them) that my parents had NO IDEA i was sexually active at such a young age. being on BC didn't encourage me or "put the idea" in my head to have sex at all.

i guess, i would ask yourself, what would the negative consequences of being on BC at 13 years of age be. perhaps your daughter wouldn't even mind b/c her periods will be easier to deal with.

[Porcelain Interior]

I am BP II, but had childhood onset- I do think it is a smart idea. I hate saying that, but people just don't understand how out of control things get.

Depending on the child to control their impulsive behaviors just isn't going to work as I'm sure you know.

[crazydiamond]

I just recently got diagnosed with BPII, but I can see that I've been this way since at least my early teens. I've never even had a full manic episode before and I started having sex at 12. The hypersexuality has been a problem for me for as long as I can remember, and that's without any mania complicating things further. I can't say what I'd do if I was in your shoes but I think the idea is worth considering, particularly as the time gets nearer.

[Carley]

Originally Posted by Porcelain Interior

I am BP II, but had childhood onset- I do think it is a smart idea. I hate saying that, but people just don't understand how out of control things get.

Depending on the child to control their impulsive behaviors just isn't going to work as I'm sure you know.

Absolutely. I'm Bipolar 1 & started having sex at 9 & found a million and one ways to get it. No amount of parental supervision or inpatient hospitalisation prevented me from the symptoms of my illness.

I had 4 abortions before I was 16; 2 of those pregnancies occured while I was on birth control pills because I wasn't taking them correctly (at the same time every day, missing some pills & doubling up etc).

If you can get your daughter on a med schedule where she takes her birth control at the same time as all of her other pills you'll be doing her a HUGE favor.

Good luck - I think being a parent of a BP child is a million times more difficult than having BPD.

[Satori]

9? I can not imagine a sexually active 9 yr old As it is I have a hard time getting her to dress some what modest to leave the house, (she'd be happy to go out in a bathing suit), I dread whats going to happen over the next few years. She's already insisting on wearing make up and its becoming a battle since I think she is far to young. (she sneaks into mine)

Thank you for everyones honesty, this is something I am really worried about, especially since she spends more time manic then anything. Guess I have some serious thinking to do over the next couple of years.

[Carley]

Is she on medication? Is Pdoc a psychiatrist? Or Primary Care Provider?

[Satori]

Originally Posted by Carley

Is she on medication? Is Pdoc a psychiatrist? Or Primary Care Provider?

yes she is on meds, god yes! She would not be living at home otherwise to be honest. Puberty started and the mania kicked into high gear and things got bad, really really bad and she had to be removed from home for 3 months while meds were started. We still have mania issues but no where near the nightmare of before. Yes the pdoc is a child psychiatrist.

[Carley]

[yogachick79]

oh many many hugs. Yes, I was 12 when I first started having major issues with my BP including attempted suicide and many, yes MANY sexual partners. I was lucky enough not to get pregnant until I was 17 (DD #1) and stayed free of any health issues but I know that was was extremely lucky given my behavior. It's taken me a long time to realize that I may not have to worry about my DD as much given that she doesn't show any signs of BP. For a very long time I thought it was very normal behavior, sad right?

[VisionaryMom]

I just wanted to chime in to add to the yes group. Being hypersexual has been a symptom of my mania since my first episode. It actually was what led to me first being diagnosed (at 13), and despite knowing what bad decisions I'm making, it's still something I cannot control when I'm in full mania. So, yeah, if my DD were BP, I'd strongly suggest she use some type of hormonal birth control (I'm partial to the Nuva-Ring, but that's another thread). As it is, DS is more symptomatic, so condoms will be readily available. (Actually, they would be anyway, but I'll just make a bigger deal out of it.)