Bipolar Disorder

[Guest]

i'm very frustrated. i have been diagnosed as bipolar II since I was hospitalized for depression (voluntarily) at age 18. I'm now 29 and feel my "manic" episodes were all insomnia-caffeine induced. I'm trying to keep this brief...but my general concern is that my depression usually hits hardest as the fall approaches. I go see a doctor each year...not normally the same ones due to location or insurance. They look at my history, talk to me for 5 minutes and assume the diagnosis. Is it unreasonable of me to want a better visit than that? I've seen a couple social workers who have told me they were surprised by my diagnosis. They felt depression and anxiety were more likely, etc. I'm confused and scared to see any more psychiatrists. I know (believe) that talk therapy about my painful childhood may do the trick...but is it 'safe' to assume this? I also have only seen male doctors who dont consider hormonal things in women. I tend to get very bad PMS ..crying, raging, etc. I have taken myself completely off meds, and for the last 6 months feel I'm doing "alright", except for serious anxiety about finishing college and getting married. I have not had any manic periods at all. My lack of sleep is due to worry...and at my age, I no longer enjoy wild sprees of acting crazy. Without meds, I feel like I'm feeling things and seeing clearly. Major problem without meds: BOREDOM. I'm bored...I'm trying to face life not being a victim or needing protection, and I'm so incredibly bored. I've gained weight, dont care how I look anymore...depression, sure...bipolar??? I dont see it...AND, does SAD or PMS type depression warrant a bipolar diagnosis? Do I go to an internest? Ugh...I almost feel stupid looking for this kind of help again...because it hasnt helped in the past...but I thought I'd give it a shot. Thank you for your time.

[Guest]

I wish I could help you more than will be possible. Misdiagnosis is always possible. An initial exam usually takes the better part of an hour. People may well over rely on past diagnosis.

It is unusual to have wild sprees or periods of mania as a result of caffeine or PMS, so to the extent that you used to have them, that would indicate a correct diagnosis.

The effective treatment of Bipolar 2 conditions with medication is by no means established. Some psychiatrists treat symptoms as they occur with antidepressents or benzodiazepines. Some psychiatrists use mood stabilizers. Many people use both. Any time there are three approaches, one has to suspect that the best approach has not been definitively established and this is true.


I hope this has been a little useful.

[quote] i'm very frustrated. i have been diagnosed as bipolar II since I was hospitalized for depression (voluntarily) at age 18... [/quote]

[Guest]

I have SAD and it has always started in the fall. Light therapy helps alot and some doctors can prescribe this and some ins. companies will cover the cost of these special lights for you to use at home/office. If you live in MN. I see the most incredible Doc. anyone could ask for. He spends at least an hour with me and I really feel like "he hears me"and he is so accomidating!!! If you want more info you can Email me at [moderator note: e-mail address has been removed] You are going through alot of stress right now-I hope things get better very soon!!!

I wish I could help you more than will be possible. Misdiagnosis is always possible...

[tearsofpain]

WOW WOW WOW... you are the reason I joined this forum and I realize that you are a guest but I really hope that you log back on to read this reply! The same thing happened to me!!! I am 23 now. I was diagnosed with bipolar when I was 22. Your story seems to match mine exactly. I was hospitalized and put on all these meds that made me feel horrible!! like Lithium and geodone!! they made me feel crazy!! and it was soooooo hard to get off of them... they treated me horrible in the hospital and there were a lot of people there that had serious issues and really scared me. At the time I was not depressed nor had never been depressed! Apparently according to them I was manic. .. and I too feel that those episodes of mania were triggered by not sleeping... I honestly feel like they just want the whole world to be on medication. After the hospital I had to move out of the state to get myself off the meds because my family would not leave me alone about trying to keep me on them... and I knew that I would act abnormally at first by going off of them. Anyways... I have been off of them now too for a bout 1 year and I feel fine. no more mania... like you said Im getting older and can no longer stay up all night and be crazy... although I dont feel that I was clinically crazy... I would just go out and have fun and stay up all night. and i did get upset about a guy and thats why I was having trouble sleeping for a really long time.. I would also drink alot of alcohol and caffine. any way... now I feel that I am depressed too.. and I thought.. oh my gosh what if they were right? what if I am manic depressive.. but its BS and I dont believe it!!! The reason I am down is because I was hospitalized, sexually harrassed in there, rumors about me flew around in my town.. I moved back and its weird to be around everyone again! I gained weight as well.. I wonder if it had something to do with the meds. I do care what I look like still but I am so so depressed because I gained 20 pounds and Ive developed this binge eating problem. I do work out but I cant seem to stop binge eating... I dont know what the problem is. But yeah Im depressed because I gained weight and every single friendship/relationship with every person in my life has changed... and I feel like I cant be myself anymore and I cant be a kid anymore who laughs and sings and dances and partys! I cant wear cute lil clothes anymore because Im not me anymore... Im not the 100 lb girl full of life and laughter anymore. :****( so yes I think that it sounds like you were misdiagnosed and I think that I was too....

[BamaLori]

Your story sounds just like mine. PMS x10 after diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 1998. The test came back negative for Lyme, but doctor said test very very unreliable. Even the genetic test are unreliable due to the strict false guidelines set by the CDC. Your doctor will tell you probably these things. You need a hysterectomy, they did one on me in 1999. All organs normal, unnecessary. Surgical Menopause, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, multiple prescription allergies, joint pain, there are over 100 symptoms for Lyme Disease. The most common label they like to put on Lyme positive people is Bipolar Disorder. I have been seen by 5 different psychiatrists, all different diagnosis. Insurance companies do not pay for Lyme Disease treatment in most cases. It is the fastest growing Disease in this world. I have had severe allergic reactions requiring ER visits on every, "the pain is all in your head" medication. I just found out that my Lyme was never cured in 1998. I became allergic to the tetracycline. There was not much info on it then, I recommend you see a Lyme Literate MD, called an LLMD. My own doctor of 13 years nor the VA will give any credence to the IgeneX Western Blot test. If you would like to see what happens to people post Lyme infection that goes untreated, go to U Tube and search for Under Our Skin, watch the trailer first. Then you will see videos of young women, as well as those from all walks of life. They will tell you all of the diagnoses they have been given, and their struggle to get a doctor to diagnose them. No other type of doctor will do. There are checklist available online for symptoms. Look for LymeNet.com or .org. Also watch U tube video that was made by a young man who was diagnosed bi-polar. He is now a psychology student and is trying to bring this to light.
http://lymemd.blogspot.com/ check this out too. http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org
and here is the Utube link. [moderator note: website address has been removed] and here is the one the student misdiagnosed with bipolar made for class. [moderator note: website addresses have been removed]

Good luck and if you have ever had a tick attached to you please get tested through the Igenex lab. Don't bother going to any more psychiatrist or doctors of any other kind. They are not Lyme Literate and there is a huge conspiracy surrounding the diagnosis. It is all about money and health care coverage. Please investigate. Did you ever feel flu like in the weeks following a tick? Ever had a hard red bump or rash where you removed it, even weeks later?

Post me back! If this is the case it will only get worse, take it from me. What state do you live in?
The CDC only has information up to the year 2005 on actual reported cases. There are now over 200,000 cases every year, in every state, some worse than others. Congress is trying to get a bill passed to address this issue. Please email your congressman and speak up!

Sincerely,
BamaLori