I was referred to a psychiatrist by my primary doctor about 15 years ago but but before they diagnosed bipolar, the primary said I had pmdd- premenstrual dysphoric disorder. I dont believe in this disorder anyway. But the psychiatrist eventually said I was "bipolar NOS"- "not otherwise specified". Over time, that was changed to "bipolar 1". And all of this was after 18 years of a diagnosis of plain depression.