Hi everybody,
Well, I saw my therapist today and discussed my episode that started last spring. I have been thinking for awhile that what I went through was not straight depression (which is how I described it at the time) but mixed mania. So I mentioned that to her and she said, "Oh, yes, you're bipolar I mixed with psychotic features." I was like, "Hm!" So now I've gone from bipolar NOS (during my hospitalization) to bipolar II (during outpatient treatment) to bipolar I. Good thing I didn't base my entire self-image on my diagnosis, huh?
I'm OK with being bipolar I. I mean, BP I's are the ones that lithium is supposed to really help and it's been helping me. I'm just glad there are no other categories and I'm staying put with this diagnosis!
Who else has had their diagnosis changed?

Hi everybody,
Well, I saw my therapist today and discussed my episode that started last spring. I have been thinking for awhile that what I went through was not straight depression (which is how I described it at the time) but mixed mania. So I mentioned that to her and she said, "Oh, yes, you're bipolar I mixed." I was like, "Hm!" So now I've gone from bipolar NOS (during my hospitalization) to bipolar II (during outpatient treatment) to bipolar I. Good thing I didn't base my entire self-image on my diagnosis, huh?
I'm OK with being bipolar I. I mean, BP I's are the ones that lithium is supposed to really help and it's been helping me. I'm just glad there are no other categories and I'm staying put with this diagnosis!
Who else has had their diagnosis changed?

I went from straight Clinical Depression to Clinical Depression w/ Bi-Polar Tendancies.

I am only being medicated for depression.

The PDOC downtown wrote a 5 page report recommending I go on Lithium and sent the document to my family doctor.

My family doctor said he will NOT EVER prescribe me Lithium or any other phyciatric medicines unless a pdoc puts me on them first, then he will rx them from there...

So now I had to find a closer pdoc (downtown = 30/45min drive plus gas, plus parking)... I got one...

But he doesn't know if I am BP yet, cause he only seen me once...

He doesn't even know what to do with me yet... he just said I sound like I have depression...

Either way, if I was MEDICATED PROPERLY would they KNOW I HAVE DEPRESSION??? or shouldn't it be like "you aren't depressed so your meds are working fine"...

I am so confused.

sorry hi-jacking the thread...

just very confused...

:bouncing:

I was bipolar 1 for 8 years (also told schizoaffective for one year) and now simply epilepsy.

I was bipolar 1 for 7 years and then schizoaffective for one year and now simply epilepsy.

wats epilepsy?

I have partial seizures (temporal lobe epilepsy)

That strikes a very important question to me. I was recently diagnosed with BP1. I have not yet seen my doc about it and the therypist who diagnosed me can not prescribe my meds and said that my doc would have to do so. She also warned me that a lot of doc's are reluctant to prescribe them. So now I am wondering if it is going to be hard to get my meds started and will I be diagnosed again or differently? Has anyone had any experience with that? What should I do? Please help.
Jenn

That strikes a very important question to me. I was recently diagnosed with BP1. I have not yet seen my doc about it and the therypist who diagnosed me can not prescribe my meds and said that my doc would have to do so. She also warned me that a lot of doc's are reluctant to prescribe them. So now I am wondering if it is going to be hard to get my meds started and will I be diagnosed again or differently? Has anyone had any experience with that? What should I do? Please help.
Jenn
I had the same questions as you right before xmas i went to see a therapist.I couldnt get in to see the phys doc until jan 2...Therapist said i have bp tendencies...I went to see the other doc that prescribes meds and he didnt even mention bp to me!!!!! I was put on zoloft 25mg to start then up to 50 mg and ambien 10 mg to help me sleep...The zoloft is doing good but the ambien only worked for a week.I called yesterday for a new med and was given trazodone 50 mg it worked very well!!!!..I am figuring the phys doc looked at the other docs notes on me and went with the middle ground since i have the tendencies.I was not diagnosed with BP 1 or BP2..just tendencies...So thats my story..What should you do?I would say go to the library read up on the internet be prepared with info .KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
Good luck
SP68

Hi and welcome to the club, over the last 18 years I have had the following diagnoses (depending on the doctor):
Acute schizophrenic episode, schizophreniform disorder, atypical psychosis, major depression, bipolar, disthymic disorder, OCD, anxiety disorder, schizoaffective disorder, depression with elements of psychosis, hypomanic episode, paranoia, ideation, ideas of reference, grandiose thinking, rumination, racing thoughts and probably a few others I can't remember.
But getting back to your issue, one thing you might want to do is look at DSM-IV. Not that you can necessarily diagnose yourself, but you may get some ideas.
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"Always remember: the name's the thing."
--Anonymous

Thank you guys for all your advice. I think and hope that I have learned all I can about BP. Hopefully that will help with the doc's. So far, on everything that I have learned, I am even convinced that I DO have it. So thank you guys very much. Your always a big help. And what is DSM IV??????

DSM-IV is the manual containing all psychiatric diagnoses and descriptions of each diagnosis. It's the book psychiatrists go by when assigning someone a diagnosis. We have one at work and it's actually pretty interesting.

Yes wobbly is correct. It's official name is "The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 4".
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"Gentlemen, nothing is too good for Secretariat"
---Willie Shoemaker

Yes wobbly is correct. It's official name is "The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 4".
-----------------------
"Gentlemen, nothing is too good for Secretariat"
---Willie Shoemaker
Love your signature! LOL