[Skitz13]

I need a little advice. For 20 some odd years I have had a few diagnoses. Bipolar II, Bipolar I, Severe Bipolar, Bipolar with PTSD and the latest being BPD

As you may have read in some of my replies I have a brief 6 months of wellness after my BPD diagnosis and was taken off Lithium. In February my symptoms started to come back gradually. Now, my moods are all over the place. Sometimes up to 6 times a day. I finally have a permanent pdoc that I first saw 2 weeks ago. She was going to hospitalize me because I was totally sleep deprived. Since March I've been getting 2 - 3 hours a night.
She increased the Seroquel and most nights it helps but there are nights that I can actually feel my mind battling the drug.

I saw her yesterday and asked her what she thought was going on. What was her diagnosis. She said she didn't have one because my symptoms are intertwined between BD, PTSD, and BPD. She asked why it was so important for me to have a diagnosis? Well...I want to know what's going on with me. I've never experienced mood shifts like this before and being a nurse I kinda go with diagnosis = treatment. Well she said your being treated for your symptoms. OF WHAT???

I'm so frustrated right now. I see her next week with my SW to come up with a treatment plan, again...FOR WHAT???

So my question is... do I need to be fixated on a diagnosis? Is it not weird that a pdoc wouldn't give a diagnosis? Should I just relax and go with it?

I'm totally confused and frustrated. I don't want all these labels, I just need to know fore sure what's going on. She won't even commit to all three. She's told me nothing, so iI don't know what to think.

Please help

[TheatreKid]

What is BD?

Depending on your individual situation, it might be more helpful to medicate the symptoms and not fixate on a diagnosis. Symptoms don't need an "of what" to need attention. You say you need to know what is going on with you? You don't need a label for that. It won't change the symptoms you're already experiencing.

[wing]

I understand your desire to have a "one-size -fits-all symptoms" diagnosis. Different Drs and therapists can have different interpretations of the same symptoms or you could have presented differently to each of them. Frustrating.

Seems like Bipolar is the thing they agree on and have medicated you for. If you want a label, I'd pick that one. You can also have all three of those diagnoses at once. Lucky us.

[Skitz13]

Originally Posted by wing

I understand your desire to have a "one-size -fits-all symptoms" diagnosis. Different Drs and therapists can have different interpretations of the same symptoms or you could have presented differently to each of them. Frustrating.

Seems like Bipolar is the thing they agree on and have medicated you for. If you want a label, I'd pick that one. You can also have all three of those diagnoses at once. Lucky us.

Thanks wing. Ya BD is or seems to be the dominating diagnosis from psychiatric assessments through the ER to independent pdocs. So I guess now that I have a permanent doc I thought it would be narrowed down and concentrate on leaning how to manage it. I've never learned how to manage it.

I hate labels but really all I'm doing is looking for another and yes maybe i in fact do have all three.

Thanks wing

[Skitz13]

Originally Posted by TheatreKid

What is BD?

Depending on your individual situation, it might be more helpful to medicate the symptoms and not fixate on a diagnosis. Symptoms don't need an "of what" to need attention. You say you need to know what is going on with you? You don't need a label for that. It won't change the symptoms you're already experiencing.

BD is Bipolar Disorder and you have a point. As long as my symptoms are being addressed than that's all that matters.

I guess this is my own thing. Diagnosis just always made sense to me.

Thanks TheatreKid

[gayleggg]

Yes, I agree. I like to have a diagnosis, but it does no good really because 6 months later they may change to something else. They've already downgraded me from Bipolar I to Bipolar II. Unfortunately, all they have to go on is symptoms, no blood tests, CT Scans, Ultrasounds or xrays to diagnosis us with. It's just their best guess according to the DSM and if you have read the DSM you can see how hard it is to decide which diagnosis to give.

Be satisfied if they can treat your symptoms and feel lucky, unlike so many of us that meds don't always work.

[Trippin2.0]

I don't think its a bad thing to want clarification on your dx at all. Sure treating symptoms is one way to go, and usually thee way when they can't yet put a finger on your label.

Buuut dxs like BPD and PTSD can and should ideally be treated with certain modes of therapy, meds can certainly help the symptoms but therapy is known to have long term benefits, while meds alleviate the present.

I've never been less borderline than now, and that's because I've picked up some DBT skills and although I have weekly therapy and its not DBT, emotional regulation is a huge goal.

So yes, having a label can be pertinent to treatment.

[Skitz13]

Originally Posted by gayleggg

Yes, I agree. I like to have a diagnosis, but it does no good really because 6 months later they may change to something else. They've already downgraded me from Bipolar I to Bipolar II. Unfortunately, all they have to go on is symptoms, no blood tests, CT Scans, Ultrasounds or xrays to diagnosis us with. It's just their best guess according to the DSM and if you have read the DSM you can see how hard it is to decide which diagnosis to give.

Be satisfied if they can treat your symptoms and feel lucky, unlike so many of us that meds don't always work.

Point taken, you're right.
Thanks

[Skitz13]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

I don't think its a bad thing to want clarification on your dx at all. Sure treating symptoms is one way to go, and usually thee way when they can't yet put a finger on your label.

Buuut dxs like BPD and PTSD can and should ideally be treated with certain modes of therapy, meds can certainly help the symptoms but therapy is known to have long term benefits, while meds alleviate the present.

I've never been less borderline than now, and that's because I've picked up some DBT skills and although I have weekly therapy and its not DBT, emotional regulation is a huge goal.

So yes, having a label can be pertinent to treatment.

Thanks for the support. I guess I'm just old school. I am starting regular 1-1 therapy and I will be doing some DBT and CBT plus the meds, so I'm well covered.

I need to let the labels go and yes be thankful that these symptoms are being treated.

Thanks so much Trippin

[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by Plzsti

Thanks for the support. I guess I'm just old school. I am starting regular 1-1 therapy and I will be doing some DBT and CBT plus the meds, so I'm well covered.

I need to let the labels go and yes be thankful that these symptoms are being treated.

Thanks so much Trippin

You're most welcome