Did you have any physical symptoms before that were still present while taking the medicine? Any family history of any diseases?

No bodily symptoms went on while taking Relacore except what my doctor says is IBS, which I developed a couple years before I started taking Relacore (and oddly enough, began after my gallbladder was removed) and migraines which I developed about five years before taking Relacore. I still had some manic symptoms, but they were mild, short lived and easily controlled (lasted an hour at the most). Almost no depression in that year.

But yes, huge family history. My dad had sarcoidosis, it almost killed him, he also had diverticulitis, which also almost killed him, but never any mental illness. Grave's disease and hyperthyroidism run in my family, and my thyroid levels tend to run high (but not extremely high). Also, I have a brain tumor, which hasn't grown since they first discovered it, but its there nonetheless. Lots of cancer in my family, some heart disease, things like that. Not a lot of mental illness, except one case of psychosis on my dad's side (his grandfather), and possibly depression or bipolar on my mom's side (my grandfather).

Doesn't sound like your truly bipolar and your symptoms are likely being caused only by physical problems. Ever tested for anything like blood sugar or metabolic issues? How severe are your lows and highs? If you haven't been hospitalized for either, you're not bipolar.

I've actually been hospitalized several times, mostly for mixed episodes. Once it was for six months. I've been suicidal and I have a cutting addiction. I used to overdose on my prescription drugs. Everything I've been through in the past 9 years seems pretty consistent with bipolar disorder. My highs are much less severe than my lows, more like hypomania, although who really knows what they would be like if I were unmedicated. But they still have the classic symptoms of racing thoughts, high energy levels, high creativity and some bad decisions.
I'll get tested for metabolic problems just in case.

In particular you may want to have a GTT done (glucose tolerance test). I myself have a blood sugar problem and was almost diagnosed as bipolar, but I kept pushing the doctors to test and they found it after they discovered my liver was enflamed (this was causing a lot of my mental problems).

From the many sites and books I have read, the one thing I know is that bipolar is very much a chemical imbalance. What I might do for my symptoms might not work for you because my diet and exercise routine might be very different from yours. You might take different supplements, well you get my meaning. I think what has helped me most is to journal my daily routine. From what I eat to how much water I drank that day. It has really worked. I take lithium three times a day. My husband got me a watch that I hooked onto my purse. I take it very regularly now. I drink the same amount of water every day. I stay on or off an exercise program because sweat secretes more lithium with exercise than without. When I exercise regularly my doctor gives me more lithium. When I can't exercise, I get blood work done and he usually reduces the lithium. I take regular vitamins that do not have chromium. I take fish oil daily and have felt that relicore has helped me. I don't take it every day but three times a week. I take vitamin c and b12 drops. I try very hard to eat a healthy diet but let's face it, ours is an era of excess. I sometimes have butter on my popcorn and fat on my steak. I think you need to find a good day and try very hard to repeat it as many times as you can. Write it down and do it again. It's hard to do but worth it. Good luck!

So, you have to be hospitalized to be dx with bipolar?? Don't get that statement?

Being hospitalized...has been known to be a contributing factor in diagnosing Bipolar-Disorder, but if there is sufficient symptoms, it is not necissarily a "pre-requisite"...

I know it does sound fairly odd...but that is a primary indicator in BP dx...

I have to put in my two cents worth and say that is BS to say you have to be diagnosed in a hospital as having BPD.

Also, has anyone been treated with Tegretol and had to discontinue it because of a high liver reading?
What alternative meds are there?