[jesusplay]

My pdoc is a like 64 year old lady who has been practicing for over 32 years.

I've seen her twice and I am just more and more confused.

1st meeting:

She asks me questions, I draw here a mood chart for the past year, yadadada..She takes me off paxil and says I could possibly be bipolar? Then she puts me on wellbutrin SR twice a day..and says see her again in 2 weeks.

2nd meeting: 2 weeks later...

I tell her I'm still in the same ****** condition, wellbutrin hasn't done anything, she ask hardly any questions..oh waut "anythoughts of suicide" that's it. I sat their for 30 minutes in a irritable mood, and all she did was type a bunch of stuff? WHAT WAS SHE TYPING SHE WASN'T EVEN TALKING TO ME!

3rd meeting: 3 weeks later after 2nd meeting

This meeting is this friday.

Should I ask for a diagnosis? Should I give her print outs of all the online test I've taken? Hell last meeting she told me not to google anything and leave that up to her? I googled and I'm like 100% sure I'm bipolar. I can't change my pdoc as I'm in the military and that would require jumping through hoops and I', not in the condition to deal with that. I've been manic all week, hell for the last 3 weeks.

[cool09]

I would get another Doctor. I never heard of a PDOC using a mood chart and typing. Maybe they used mood charts in the 60's or something.

For one thing if you're BP Wellbutrin is not a good anti-depressant to be on because it might cause a manic episode or agitation. (ADs can cause manic episodes in some BP patients which is why some PDOCs avoid using them.)

Bipolar can cover a lot of symptoms to different degrees and it varies from person to person. What are your symptoms? Easily irritable, severe agitation, easily distractable, feel "speeded-up", racing thoughts, depressed, fast swings in mood, fluctuations in energy, difficulty functioning at work, etc.?

Also, it's hard to diagnose BP because symptoms (and their degrees) vary from person to person (or the patient does not have good insight into what he's feeling). I had very little insight into my symptoms for years. I just knew something wasn't working right and I was burning rubber and going no where.

Getting a good diagnosis is the first step to getting the proper meds and getting some relief. Easier said than done.

[jesusplay]

Originally Posted by cool09

I would get another Doctor. I never heard of a PDOC using a mood chart and typing. Maybe they used mood charts in the 60's or something.

For one thing if you're BP Wellbutrin is not a good anti-depressant to be on because it might cause a manic episode or agitation. (ADs can cause manic episodes in some BP patients which is why some PDOCs avoid using them.)

Bipolar can cover a lot of symptoms to different degrees and it varies from person to person. What are your symptoms? Easily irritable, severe agitation, easily distractable, feel "speeded-up", racing thoughts, depressed, fast swings in mood, fluctuations in energy, difficulty functioning at work, etc.?

Also, it's hard to diagnose BP because symptoms (and their degrees) vary from person to person (or the patient does not have good insight into what he's feeling). I had very little insight into my symptoms for years. I just knew something wasn't working right and I was burning rubber and going no where.

Getting a good diagnosis is the first step to getting the proper meds and getting some relief. Easier said than done.

all what you listed, Plus I get an orgasmic like euphoria when I'm manic/hypomanic.

[~Christina]

Being in the service ... If you have a diagnosis of Bipolar they will not want you, and will discharge you.

Your in a tricky situation , that is unless you want out of the service of course.

Good luck

[ultramar]

I see a psychiatrist at an outpatient hospital clinic where they use electronic medical records --so he types. A lot of clinicians use electronic records of some sort, it's often the new taking notes.

Unless she's a total quack, the fact that she put you on only Wellbutrin suggests to me that she does not think you have bipolar.

Sounds like she has not done a thorough evaluation. I think the best thing you can do is look for another psychiatrist. Good luck!

[BipolaRNurse]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Being in the service ... If you have a diagnosis of Bipolar they will not want you, and will discharge you.

Your in a tricky situation , that is unless you want out of the service of course.

Good luck

My older son received a medical discharge from the Army last year due to both back and knee problems, plus a provisional diagnosis of depression only because they didn't want to dx him with bipolar disorder.

Six months later, he's on partial disability because of PTSD and depression, but the VA psychiatrist still won't diagnose BP, even though there is every evidence that he has it. I ought to know, I raised the kid, and he's always had clear-cut episodes of black depression and dysphoric mania.

Now he's on some blood-pressure med that's supposed to help with mood disorders, plus a handful of vitamins and supplements.......and two days ago when I last talked to him, he was bouncing off the walls and talking so fast he was literally tripping over his words. That VA shrink doesn't know his butt from a hole in the ground, and it's a shame my son can't get the meds that will help him because of a misdiagnosis.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by jesusplay

Should I give her print outs of all the online test I've taken? Hell last meeting she told me not to google anything and leave that up to her?

No, you should not bring a printout of an online screen test to her, because she very clearly told you not to do that. She would not appreciate that. You would waste your time. I am not saying that her ways are right, but she was very clear about her expectations.