I don't think the "flavor" matters as much as we think it does. In a way, the NOS label is good because, as my pdoc explained it to me, we have more treatment options. Insurance companies tend to deny payment for anything that's experimental, or a med or tx that's for BP II when the patient is BP I, and vice-versa.

At some point the label will change and a number will be assigned. I've been dx'd less than five months and we're still experimenting with different meds, although I think we're getting closer to a definitive dx because he took my old dx of depressive disorder out of my chart at this latest visit and left only BP-NOS in. Because I have a particular sensitivity to light and a history of winter depressions, he wants me to try light therapy this winter, which is probably not something my insurance would cover if I were dx'd BP I because it works better for BP II.

Ultimately, we are much more than our bipolar diagnosis, and I for one want to try everything my pdoc recommends in order to get to the bottom of this illness and live my best life with it.