I'm seeing my Uni pdoc again (after a year and a half break whilst I was at home) on Monday and I'm really nervous. Basically I feel that I have a degree of bipolar, but I don't know how to bring it up with him. It wasn't until Christmas last year that I suddenly noticed this pattern of me feeling really, really good for a few days (I'm depressed at the moment), then feeling really agitated/mixed and intensely suicidal for a few weeks, then crashing into a deep depression. This cycle had happened 6 times that I remember/can prove from diary entries whilst on different meds, and twice off meds.

It's unlikely that I will be diagnosed with Bipolar disorder as you have to have full-blown mania in the UK to get that diagnosis (they don't recognise BP2) and I'm pretty sure I haven't been manic, more likely hypomanic. But it's important to me for these mood swings to be taken into account as it might open up new avenues of treatment for me (I'm running out of options) and I want to know what kind of prognosis I'm looking at i.e. is this a lifelong thing or a one off? I've been depressed 5 years now and I don't know what else to do.

Anyway, I'm not asking for anyone to diagnose me over the internet as I know it doesn't work like that. Basically I want to know if anyone has any tips on how to bring this up with pdoc. I know that doctors in general hate it when people diagnose themselves with things they've found on the internet, but I think it's important to mention. I just don't know how. Any ideas?

*Willow*

[Clinte89]

I would just tell him/her that youve had some mood swings your concerned about and try to explain them to him/her to see what they say. There are several mood disorders out there and some of them act like BP. Like BPD, cyclothymia, etc. is similar in some ways so that could explain it to. I would just be up front about it mention the swings and see what they say it may take some time for them to sort it out but if your up front from the get go they should be able to help you either way.

Thanks Clinte for your response. I guess I just feel weird about blurting it out as straight forward as that. I've drawn a graph charting my mood vs my energy levels and jotted down symptoms at each point of the cycle just to get it clear in my head. Do you think I should show it to him or would I just seem neurotic?

The reason I'm so nervous is because I've tried to bring up the mood swings before with my pdoc at home, because the 'mixed' episodes are so dangerous as my mood is so low and I'm suicidal but I have all this energy to do something about it. Anyway she just completely blew me off, saying that she was a "purist" so only diagnosed bipolar with a manic episode, and didn't even let me finish what I was saying! I'm worried it might go the same way with Uni pdoc...

*Willow*

[faerie_moon_x]

I think telling the pdoc that you've been keeping a journal and you've noticed a pattern in your mood is a great way to bring it up. And that you've made your own mood chart, that's great! Definatley bring that as well as the journal to your appointment. I know it's annoying but with things like bipolar sometimes having that 'proof' helps me feel like I'm saying "look, I really have concerns about this and you really need to listen."

I didn't know they didn't recognize BPII in the UK. I wonder why? It's probably good you're switching to a new pdoc if the other was rude to you.

[Clinte89]

Hmm I would bring the chart for sure that's brilliant! But maybe you need a new pdoc unless your just attached to that one just a thought. Edit: oh so your seeing a new one that's great maybe they will be more open to listen to you if not time to move on. But it sounds like your doing all the right things and it sounds like it could be bp or some mood disorder so if she says that maybe ask if it could be some mood disorder not necessarily being bp but something that fits your symptoms I'm sure there is it it's not bp. But defiantly bring the chart docs often like that sort I thig my doc keep asking me to but I have yet to do it lol

Ok, thanks guys!

I'll take the graph; I think it illustrates the mood swings clearly. And I think when I do go back home after I graduate that I will change pdocs. Thanks for giving me the push I need!

*Willow*

[Clinte89]

Anytime that's why we are strong in numbers but alone we can get lost and confused but If we stay banned together we can figure out anything!

[Eliza Jane]

http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/doctalk.htm

This might help. It is from my fav BP II website. Lots of good info on that site.

Good luck!
EJ

[hamster-bamster]

I think you have been given terrific tips. If you do not want to sound as if you self-diagnosed diagnosed using the internet, do not drop names of various conditions. Say "this is my mood graph and these are my symptoms"; do not say "I think I am bipolar".

EJ - thanks for the link. I've used that website a lot to inform me about bipolar spectrum disorders, but I hadn't noticed that section before.

Hamster-bamster - I think that's a good idea and it was also recommended in the link EJ gave. It said to ask them what their opinion was to show that you value their judgement, rather than tell them what you think you have, so I'm definitely going to try that. I didn't want to say "I think I have bipolar disorder" because I'm not sure I have enough of a swing to qualify for that diagnosis, especially in the UK where my pdoc at home said they only diagnosed manic episodes as bipolar. What I'm wondering is if there is enough of a swing in my moods that some other treatment options might open up e.g. mood stabilisers etc, as I've pretty much exhausted all the antidepressants out there.

Anyway, thanks for the help guys

*Willow*