[blackdragon]

Ok i saw my T today and the last time he saw me he said i was bipolar 2. Ok kewl. Today he said the more he read my chart the more it came to him that i have had a manic epidsode so now im bipolar 1. Cant none of them tell me whats wrong. Im so confuzzled. Well i guess im bipolar 1 now. Wonder if im schitzophrenic on dec 8th when i see my T again. I doubt it

[TgrsPurr]

Hi BG.
I understand how frusterating and confusing this must be for you. I think most BP's and ppl with other dx have experienced the same thing.

What I want to tell you is this, BP is very difficult to diagnose. Without keeping a log and tracking your moods, ups and downs on a daily basis can they get a broad picture of what the swings, highs and lows and how they present themselves can you be truly dx as BP. It's a process and like I said above, it can be very frusterating. But being dx properly is of the upmost importance. Continue to see your T and try to get a psychiatrist involved too. Besides, a p-doc is the only one who can prescribe the meds you will need to tx the illness. It may take some trial and error to find what works for you. Just try to be patient...make sure you trust the professionals involved in this process. Ultimately it's up to them on how you'll move forward. I don't know enough about you and your symptoms to offer any more advice than this, but being BP myself, I muddled through this same process and have been on the appropriate meds that work to stablize me. Highs and lows still exist, but not to the same self-destruction degree.

Hope this has been somewhat helpful and encouraging for you.

Hang in there.
TgrsPurr, xo.

[darkeyes]

Manic episodes can occur even in Bipolar-II, just less severe than Bipolar-I's. Plus, there are so many variations and time lapse(s)/intervals between episodes.
Some people can go on episode free if one follows a treatment plan including taking mood stabilizers, and of course keeping in touch with the prescribing pdoc of any changes in mood, doing so can help stave off an oncoming episode. Good, strong, communication with pdoc and/or therapist is so very important to achieve progress.
More than one disorder (DX) can happen in a person, whilst some are mistaken for one or an other by symptoms that often mimick various disorders, so unfortunately some pdocs can mis-diagnose a person, thorough evaluation(s) are most necessary. As changes become apparent, a re-evaluation should be done or an evaluation from a different pdoc.
I wish I had some info. that may be of help to you, but please allow me to stress, Bipolar disorder is NOT a "life sentence", with treatment,communications,consistancy, and co-operation by you besides your pdoc, things can work just fine.
Please take care now,
DE

my lows are so much worst than my "mania"...i'm bipolarII. i agree with what everyone wrote above. it took me YEARS to get the correct diagnosis. what a relief that has been!

[Dolfin]

I went for 9 years being treated for severe depression (I didn't know what mania was), then PTSD leading into panic disorder, and was FINALLY properly diagnosed in 2003 as BP2, until I had a major manic episode, so now I'm BP1 as of March 2005.

I have lost all faith in the psychiatric realm of medicine, and have been relying solely on my GP for med adjustments and such. In fact, he's the one who gave me my Xanax back, took me off the Valium, and put me on Lunesta for when I can't sleep. Why should I (or my medical insurance) pay someone $75 for barely 15 minutes when they're going to be WRONG because they don't hear AND listen to what you are saying, especially when you TELL them you can tell the meds aren’t working. Aren't we the best experts on our own moods/bodies? It was my last shrink's fault I had a manic episode anyways because he had me over-medicated on the wrong med altogether, so why trust them? I've seen 7 different ones in the last three years. And that's quality of care?

I'll stick with my family doc, who I've been with for over 16 years, and when he gets stumped, let him ask his colleagues at the hospital where he serves as president of medical services. I've felt great the past nine months under his sole care, getting better each day, gotten back into the work force full time, and have had no fluctuations of mood that are out of the "normal" boundaries (so to speak). Plus, he actually LISTENS.

And here's a side note: as long as the doctor has an MD or DO, the can prescribe ANY medication, even for mental conditions. That's how I started on my anti-depressants in the first place 12 years ago. My GP writes my scripts for my Klonopin, Xanax, Lithium, Seroquel AND Lunesta. You don't have to be a shrink to prescribe the meds. Shrinks just have a better knowledge of the newer drugs available to treat different mental conditions. You wouldn't expect a shrink to know the best new antibiotic for tonsillitis, so why expect a GP to know the best mood stabilizer?

They may not get it straight, but at least my family doctor listens to me and knows I know what I'm talking about when I describe any issues(if any) with him. He knows I use the internet as an integral tool in my treatment, such as self educating myself on my condition and my medications, and possible alternatives that are out there. Like I said, why pay another doctor that doesn't care who spent two extra years on a specialty when I can stick with someone I trust won't screw me up again, and will listen to me and my suggestions? It's great knowing I have total say and control in my treatment, whereas I didn't have that with a shrink. Sorry if I sound irritated, but the psychiatric community has screwed me up for too long to go back.

OK, I'm off my soapbox now.

Dolfin

[DaveyJones]

Some GPs have done the extra homework it takes to prescribe psychiatric meds effectively, and it's a great thing to have one!

Unfortunately, that's not the case for most of us. We have to find a pdoc we can trust and afford. My old one was good, I liked her OK, but she's $147.00 for a half hour vist!!!

As for your predicament blackdragon, you need to take a therapist's judgement about your diagnosis with a grain of salt. Most therapists ARE NOT trained diagnosticians. From what you were saying, though, BP I sounds like a pretty good guess. It's no better or worse than any of the other forms of BP, but the medications used are somewhat different...with BP I you'll probably not take antidepressants. They can set off manic episodes for BP I.

Anyway, good luck--this is scary stuff! I'm 49, and I'm scared to DEATH! Just remember we're here for you!

DJ

DJ,