[fluffycat]

Hi everyone

I am glad I have found this forum. Four years ago approximately my family doctor suspected I may have Bipolar. He promptly referred me to a psychiatrist locally, I am in the UK. I had an assessment and she said that I had a very stressful life and that I didnt have BP.

I am 40 next month. My 10 year old son has autism and I have a 12 year old daughter and have been happily married for 17 years. My son has many difficulties and goes to special school and yes life has been very stressful for us all in caring for him.

But, I have a very dysfunctional family background. My own mother had a severe breakdown at age 21 and was hospitalised, my maternal grandmother also suffered from depression. My eldest brother has severe depression and has just been put on a low dose schizophrenic drug for acute anxiety. I have also suspected my autistic son has symptoms of bipolar and he is currently being reviewed under a child psychiatrist.

I feel I was misdiagnosed and need another assessment with a psychiatrist so my son's social worker has asked our family doc to refer me. From what I have read over the years about bipolar and answering the questionnaire on here, I have many of the symptoms of the disorder. At times I have felt absolutely crippled with mania lasting for several days to several weeks and then go down extremely low for some days. I have been on Effexor for several years for depression and I don't think it is helping at all with the manic side of things. I have spent reckless amounts of money when "high", had racing thoughts about wanting justice for my son with education, writing furious letters to his school and the authorities (this has been my latest episode) and then feeling so foolish and embarressed in depressed phrase that I have done these things. I don't sleep at all well and wake several times and get up in the night and have done for several years, I have been taking nurofen over the counter meds continuously to try and help me sleep better for well over a year now.

I know and can see the stress triggers that mount up and then go into manic mode.

Am I right to seek a diagnosis bearing in mind that 4 years ago I was told I didnt have BP?

with thanks

[bipolar_bear]

Welcome fluffycat. As with any medical condition should you question your dx I think it wise to get a second opinion. I hope you find some relief soon.

[DaveyJones]

Sorry to hear of your troubles...it's no fun at all when you try and try and things don't get any better.

Since you are not getting any better, you should definitely seek another opinion. It is very common for bipolar to be misdiagnosed. If I were in your shoes I would start keeping a mood chart (you can find them around on the net) to show your pdoc when you see him, to document your cycles.

I hope you get the help you need...things can get better!

DJ

[darkeyes]

I agree with the others, get a 2nd opinion.
One usually needs a mood stabilizer, Effexor is an AD not mood stabilizer, perhaps you are only being partially treated, I had, and it wasn't AD's I needed, just the proper doc who knew his stuff. Try for a 2nd opinion.
Sef-DX or questionarries, cannot replace a true evaluation from a pdoc. Such things, can give ideas to people,but then some people may read into things, and creating more stress for themselves. Bipolar is not just a "black and white" sort of disorder, there are variants, even other disorders can mimic some behaviours of Bipolar. And it is possible for people to have more than one disorder at the same time, where the most severe one needs to be addressed first.
Just my 2 cents.

[fluffycat]

Thanks everyone for your kind messages and helpful advice. I am just waiting now to get an appointment with the pdoc and will keep you posted. best wishes

Ali

[Rhapsody]

[fluffycat]

Hi everyone, well last Friday I received a diagnosis - I have Bipolar II, hypomania with mixed states. I have been put on Depokate 250mg 3 times daily and cut down on the Effexor to 37.5mg once a day. Already feeling a little better but very very tired.

I had a whole week of hypomania and some psychosis too, I was really wild and started drinking. I have another appointment this Friday with the psychiatrist to review the meds, but so far feeling pretty balanced, up and down a bit and today I could feel the "crashing" depression but it seemed cos I am on the meds my mind was kind of stopping getting the blackness, if you know what I mean. Wanted to cry and found it hard to do.

Anyway, husband has been brilliant, my 12 yr old daughter is asking lots of questions too. I am keeping my extended family out of the way, they are totally dysfunctional.

Anyway I am relieved that I finally have the correct diagnosis and can start to rebuild my life from here, I know it isnt going to be easy - I have a lot of childhood demons to get through as well.