Twirls, I also had a doctor who was not monitoring my Lithium levels properly. In fact, he ended up completely abandoning me after not returning my phone calls, not calling when he said he would, and not mailing out my order for my blood tests.

I seriously doubt my bipolar diagnosis. I think that the doctors like to throw put that one down when the depression is anything but typical. I am still on Lithium (with a much better doctor now) because there is no doubt that I experiencing mood swings and cycles. My current doctor has me down as bipolar NOS. I get depressed in cycles, but I do not attribute my "high" behavior to hypomania. I hate being labeled bipolar because then when I do feel good I end up worrying if it's part of an illness. I don't really experience classic hypomanic-- I do impulsive spending and stuff, but I believe that to be attributed more to my personality stuff-- wanting to fill an empty spot. It is not so much a mood thing.

My Lithium levels have finally crawled up to a good number (we were going really slowly) and I don't mind being on it because it is the first med I have ever been on (I have been on 15) that is not giving me side effects and I am hoping it will help with the depression and irritable, impulsive stuff.

I am not big on diagnoses of any kind cause then you end up getting hung up on the labels. I say, you have symptoms-- then you deal with them. Not so important what they are called. There's not a whole lot that can fit so neatly into a category.