[widgets]

They're taken away my diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder and given me the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. It feels so weird.

[mgran]

It's a very weird feeling, when you've been getting used to one diagnoses, to have another one slapped on. I remember when I was getting used to having bipolar, then I get told it's schizoaffective.

But I imagine that you're somewhere in the hinterland between the two conditions. You've been both a support to others with the condition, and I'm sure you've received support yourself. Who's to say the doctor's won't change their minds again?

It must be really odd though... I felt at a complete loss when it happened to me.

[tattoogirl33]

Welcome to our world!! You're welcomed with open arms!!

[Miss Laura]

Hey Widgets,

I know it must be hard for you but just think this is your diagnosis now.... rather than trying to treat the Bipolar they can try to treat the Borderline. I know it's no constaltion. Hope your coping ok with your new diagnosis!

[roads]

Sheez. Hope they've got it right, hope they treat it right, hope you get LOTZ better real fast!

They've put you thru it, widgets. WoW. How's the job going? Your own place?

Roadrunner

[Beebizzy]

Wow. That must be a seriously disconcerting feeling. I'm finding it hard to get used to being bipolar - after 20 years and multiple diagnoses - BP each time.

But... wasn't there someone on your care team (your T?) who fully believed you had BPD the whole time? And I think at one point you suspected as much yourself, if I remember rightly. Looks like they were right.

In any case, the diagnosis doesn't change how you feel, right, and the cool thing is that now you will get the appropriate treatment.

A lot to get your head around though Widgets, good luck.

[widgets]

I totally believe I was bipolar, because for a long time that was the only illness I thought fitted.
When I first heard/read about BPD I already had a bipolar diagnosis, so I trusted I had bipolar and thought i just had BPD traits.

What gets me is the Pdoc didn't even tell me, he just put it on my record
Without talking to me about it, my T is the one who has written a letter to my gp and and to me detailing the reasons why I have this diagnosis, and my care co ordinator was the one who told me I had BPD and not bipolar and who is sorting out DBT and CBT for me.

It's not that I WANT to be bipolar but I feel that to just wake up one day and be told you're not that and that it was decided by a doc 2 months ago is a bit of a shock. I'm glad they're not going to keep making me try Meds though.

[Tosspot]

This might be an idiot question, but can't you have both bipolar and borderline personality disorder? Also, what do YOU think? Do you think your new dx fits better?

When my pdoc slapped borderline on with my bipolar, i was in shock. My T says i'm absolutely NOT borderline and other pdoc has not agreed with the dx either.

So if you feel unsure don't hesitate on a second opinion.

[AniManiac]

Originally Posted by Tosspot

This might be an idiot question, but can't you have both bipolar and borderline personality disorder? Also, what do YOU think? Do you think your new dx fits better?

When my pdoc slapped borderline on with my bipolar, i was in shock. My T says i'm absolutely NOT borderline and other pdoc has not agreed with the dx either.

So if you feel unsure don't hesitate on a second opinion.

Yep, you can have both. That makes diagnosis extra-complicated!

My first pdoc was leaning toward borderline rather than bipolar at first. I was pretty shocked by that too. Once I read up, I found I couldn't relate to borderline very well. When I asked about borderline in later psych evaluations, everyone agrees that I'm not.

So a second opinion might help - or it might confuse things further. But if you find you can do well enough without meds, that's really great!

[dirt69juggalo]

it could be both ive been dx with both by the last two docs ive seen after the first said bipolar only

[bluemountains]

It has become "politically-correct" where I am for the pdocs to avoid the labels and and just describe all of us as having mood disorders. The funny thing about it is that the way my pdoc talks to me now is to preface the conversation with, "I am not saying that you are bipolar, but...
Meanwhile, my clinical psych., whose main focus is testing and diagnosing, has given me a bipolar dx with ocd.
If you follow the philosophy of my pdoc, it is all about the treatment , not the dx.

Bluemountains

[Tsunamisurfer]

Diagnoses are just intellectual constructs intended to help clinicians get a handle on how to treat their clients. They are ever evolving, and shouldn't be taken as factual - they are merely descriptive in terms of current nomenclature. Unfortunately, the labels have real world ramifications for how others treat us, and the expectations we ourselves have of our limitations or hope for recovery.

I agree with Tsunami. Especially since the term "diagnosis" is usually used very loosely in order to treat someone, when in fact, "diagnosis" is not only supposed to explain symptoms & treatments & preventative care -- But it's also supposed to explain some sort of causation. Which is why over a course of time, your dx may change, because different docs have different philosophies about what develops mental illness. And sometimes, when you've been seeing someone for so long & they see a pattern of development, they may think a different title can further personalize your experience.

I could be rambling, but that's at least how I see it. Regardless. You're not "borderline" or "bipolar". You're just widgets.