Quote:
Originally Posted by cln1812
If you are unsure of your diagnosis, it never hurts to get a 2nd opinion. I found once I was diagnosed with major depression, the next pdoc never seemed to question it until on and on until my last (really good) pdoc. Also, I had a huge manic episode with in her office & waiting room. She'd had me down as bipolar II after seeing her roughly 1 year, but the big manic thing changed me to bipolar I. So if you've been carrying around a diagnosis of bipolar from the start, many pdocs will not re-diagnose. You have to ask for it. If you doubt you have bipolar, you really should get another opinion. Do you have other traits of bipolar - hypomania, spending problems, hypersexuality (even just excessive masturbation) and then of course the depressed episodes? I don't understand though...are you having those impulses to do risky things like drive recklessy, etc. now or was it just when taking the Lexapro or are you just saying that's how you feel the convo with your pdoc went? Are you still on Lexapro? If you've been cycling off Lexapro though and it's out of your system (say a good 6 weeks), odds are it's bipolar.
And if you don't like your pdoc or feel that he listens well, at least get on a waiting list for a highly rated pdoc that takes your insurance. Bad pdocs are a dime a dozen out there, in my experience. The good ones can be hard to find.
|
Okay, I realize now how confusing my post probably was, sorry and thanks for reading.

Basically on the Lexapro I was in a mixed episode for about 4 months before stopping it, and my pdoc said I responded like I was on the bipolar spectrum. My moods felt like they were all over the place after stopping (over 10+weeks), so it seemed to match but he didn't formally say if I had bipolar I or II. I started Lamictal almost immediately after the Lexapro, so it is also possible my moods are side effects of the Lamictal, though. I felt like my moods were cycling and I sometimes think I met criteria for hypomania, plus had intense irritability, as well as had more suicidal thoughts and impulses. I stopped the medication on Saturday and can't tell yet what is going on. The goal is to see after a month what is me vs the meds. I am also unsure about past episodes--I have had many episodes of depression over the years but am less clear on if I have had hypomania/mixed episodes. I do remember being in a similar mental state before, but less extreme, and kind of think I could have had mixed episodes without realizing what they were. I am seeing a mood disorder specialist who I trust overall, but if it doesn't go anywhere I will consider a second opinion. Thanks for the response.