I've had two different doctors tell me I have Bi Polar disease, could it be possible?

cetiya · 11-23-2003, 10:34 AM

I've had severe sleep disorders and my lastest sleep disorder doc threw out the term Bi Polar but didnt really tell me why he thought that and I blew him off because I never have the Manic part, just depression. then I saw a new psychiatrist who said the same thing and she explained that it was because I dont react normally to drugs. Ones that make other people sleepy, either do nothing, make me agiatated or I need a boat load of them to get to sleep. Just for examples, I cant take demerol, librium, benedryl, trazadone, and to get to sleep I have to take anywhere up to 4*6 mg of Ativan, 30*50 mg of Ambein and 1.25 mg of Halcion (5 pills) to get to sleep. This isnt a matter of tolerance, it's just the way my body works. also she said some bipolar people dont have episodes of mania. am I bipolar? can you really be bipolar without the engergtic waves and euphoria and extremem happiness part? I just figured I suffered from clinical depression all my life. who knows???? well, thanks for any help you can offer.

Steve_the_elf · 11-23-2003, 02:07 PM

Well, you certainly can be bipolar, but if what you really want to know is whether you are or not, I can only tell you that the doctors who examined you would know better than us.

I was diagnosed bipolar ten years ago by a psych, but refused to be treated for it, because it sounded nothing like me. I did not have euphoric highs either, so, I thought, "how could I be bipolar?"

The symptoms are a little different in everyone. I learned I don't have good highs and that is fairly common; also, some manic symptoms I have nearly all the time, such as racing thoughts, rapid speech and, like you, poor sleep. I wish I was experiencing the high end of the scale, but for me, when I have "ups", they only manifest as irritability, short temper, anxiety, panic attacks, and so on. I'd rather have the depression.

If you look back, you may think of things you have said and done many times that just didn't seem like you, or that you have done so frequently, that they have become you, even though you know better. That is hypomania (or possibly mixed state hypomania) as well. It is like the little devil on the shoulder of cartoon characters, and we are too willing to give in. When we are depressed, however, we have none of those compulsions.

So, yes, you very well could be bipolar without elation, euphoria, grandiose plans, etc., and because of that, it can be even more miserable, if less serious, forn now.

cetiya · 11-23-2003, 02:23 PM

hmmm I am irriatable at work, but i Just thought it was because I was burnt to a crisp and hated my job. Unfortunately I am so broke I have to work more hours and that worries me. Cant any of these feelings just be normal? I'm sure everyone has them. Oh well, I guess now I have to trust these doctors because I sure dont know exactly what's wrong with me and Im sick of being depressed. It's getting old, not only to my friiend and family but to me too! now if I had a majic wand and make everything better. I hate my life but dont know how to change it. it was easy when you were young, things changed all the time, and boys (men) came around so easlily. Now I'm such a freaken loner, nothing changes and no one comes over. The older I get the more I can forget anything good happening. o wah me, poor poor me. I'm sick of being depressed.

*music23* · 11-23-2003, 06:56 PM

I'm no doctor, but how can that doctor say that you can be bipolar without a mania?! By definition then one isn't bipolar if that person never gets a mania. It just doesn't make sense. I'll ask my doctor but in my opinion that doctor is nuts. Because then how would one differentiate between bipolar disorder and major depression if there's no heightened state?
Kristina

cetiya · 11-23-2003, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *music23*

I'm no doctor, but how can that doctor say that you can be bipolar without a mania?! By definition then one isn't bipolar if that person never gets a mania. It just doesn't make sense. I'll ask my doctor but in my opinion that doctor is nuts. Because then how would one differentiate between bipolar disorder and major depression if there's no heightened state?
Kristina

I dont know either, it doesnt make sense to me but when I asked her, she said one of the symptoms was the way I react to drugs. completely opposite than most people., there has to be an explanation to that, that is really weird and inconveneint, so again who knows. I think I'm just depressed with a really weird drug disorder, but I'm not a doc so maybe they know more than me!!! I'll just take my drugs, the ones I can take that dont make me sick and go from here.