[mfwic]

It's been about four years since I was diagnosed Bipolar 1. I've been taking my meds since then with no major issues. I'm wondering now if the diagnosis is right. I respect my doctor but now I'm wondering if a second opinion is a good idea. Has anyone else been through this? Any thoughts?

[violet66]

I've had several diagnoses. First dysthymia, then Bipolar 2, then Bipolar 1. It's not uncommon for your diagnosis to change. Getting a 2nd opinion couldn't hurt.

[Standup2me]

Oh course I do. When I am manic, I think that I am the all knowing and I don't need to take these stupid pills. I am invincible and pills are for sissies
Good thing hubby is the voice of reason!

[Barreja]

I do. I don't have real manic. From what I have read, I seldom have those episodes. Tend towards depression and was given that diagnosis 20 years ago. Mostly I hang in the medium to mixed ***** mode. Was taking panic taking and latuda and my new insurance won't cover it. Med free ( well legal ones anyhow and am actually doing well . Yes, I do question it. I now have memory and add type symptoms from either BP itself which causes cognitive decline or it's my self medicating in and off through life (in my 50'). Been around the block s few times and sometimes get irritated when people say you haven't found the right combo yet, its been close to 20 years of trying, still not mentally healthy and accept his is my permanent burden. Some find their combo that works but not all. I wish you good luck truly

[Barreja]

Sorry hit send by mistake.. panic s/b Lamictal... I also neglected to say that I was diagnosed almost two years ago with BP II

[BipolaRNurse]

I have been diagnosed bipolar by five different mental health professionals, so you'd think I wouldn't question it. But I do...I haven't had a (major) mood episode in 2 1/2 years and I want to think I'm cured. I know intellectually that it doesn't work that way, but in my heart I have trouble believing I have a lifelong illness. Weird, I know.

[Wander]

I had many diagnosis's before the BP1 one. When I got the BP diagnosis about 4 years ago it was a shock at first but now I totally accept the diagnosis. Especially since i had my first manic psychotic break. When stable or manic i can wonder if it is real and want to go off my meds but that is rare now. Maybe writing down all the symptoms you have had since getting unwell will help you see a pattern. Talking to your pdoc about that would help too.

[12AM]

I was diagnosed with Schizophrenia before until my Psychiatrist witnessed my mania that came years after he made that diagnosis. Turned out I have Bipolar 1 with Psychosis. Misdiagnosis happens quite often I think, due to the nature of mental illnesses that often mimic each other. There is nothing to lose in getting a second opinion.

I think I have the right diagnosis now though sometimes I tell my partner "I don’t have Bipolar/Psychosis, I am perfectly healthy!" but this just means that I need to take my meds, ASAP

[Sunflower123]

While I question my diagnosis.....something that requires treatment IS going on. You might want to get a second or even a third opinion.

[scatterbrained04]

I may be the odd ball, but I've never really questioned my BP2 diagnosis. I started having problems at 13/14 and was diagnosed at 26 on my first visit to a psychiatrist. Symptoms fit. I felt relieved to know what was wrong with me. I do get mixed though. So maybe BP1.5? I just view BP as a spectrum and don't worry too much about the 1/2 thing.

[Wild Coyote]

I believe my diagnoses are correct.
However, I did just spend an hour with my pdoc, asking him to tell me more about my diagnoses from his viewpoint. I was trying to get a more clear picture in my own head about how these diagnoses manifest from his viewpoint.


WC

[franz kafka]

I question the schizoaffective diagnosis, but this could be because my meds are working and I'm not really having symptoms.

[wildflowerchild25]

I denied for years. I was stable for six years treatment-free so obviously I thought it was all ********. Then symptoms came back but I still thought it was just me and I wasn't trying hard enough to beat it on my own. It wasn't until I had a psychotic episode all on my own - no meds to blame it on - that I finally accepted it. Now I've found a good med combo and I am trying desperately to stay on it despite losing my insurance on June 30. I don't want to go back to where I was. I accept that I will be on meds for the rest of my life. I really don't care. I'm a nonfunctional wreck without them.

[hahayeahtotallylol]

I was diagnosed Dysthymic before BP 2, then BP1. This was all within 3 years of each other. I don't really question it, because i remember how i felt while manic and depressed and it just is unexplainable without saying it is Bipolar. I felt like i was on coke all day for a month, followed by wanted to kill myself for a couple months. It's pretty clear in my mind.

I guess i have not been on meds long enough to think that everything is okay and i'm not BP.

[Miss Laura]

All the time!!! Be it on meds or not. I'm currently thinking this however I'm starting to get manic so I guess I'm bipolar.... I just don't know

[Unrigged64072835]

I do because I was misdiagnosed with MDD/dysthymia for so long. I don't recall my manic episodes as well but I know I did have them. I've been stable for a while except for some anxiety. It's hard when I'm stable to see others going through cycles and think I still have bipolar. It's like I don't have it that bad, so do I really have it?

[mfwic]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I believe my diagnoses are correct.

However, I did just spend an hour with my pdoc, asking him to tell me more about my diagnoses from his viewpoint. I was trying to get a more clear picture in my own head about how these diagnoses manifest from his viewpoint.




WC

Maybe I should try that. So often it's a quick check up with a med discussion.

Thanks for sharing!

[mfwic]

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

While I question my diagnosis.....something that requires treatment IS going on. You might want to get a second or even a third opinion.

Think I will get a few more opinions. It's easy to just trust someone in tough times that offers a probable solution. Just hope that trust isn't misplaced.

Thanks for sharing!

[mfwic]

Originally Posted by Wander

I had many diagnosis's before the BP1 one. When I got the BP diagnosis about 4 years ago it was a shock at first but now I totally accept the diagnosis. Especially since i had my first manic psychotic break. When stable or manic i can wonder if it is real and want to go off my meds but that is rare now. Maybe writing down all the symptoms you have had since getting unwell will help you see a pattern. Talking to your pdoc about that would help too.

Great idea. I'll start keeping a journal.

Thanks for the idea!

[mfwic]

Originally Posted by Barreja

I do. I don't have real manic. From what I have read, I seldom have those episodes. Tend towards depression and was given that diagnosis 20 years ago. Mostly I hang in the medium to mixed ***** mode. Was taking panic taking and latuda and my new insurance won't cover it. Med free ( well legal ones anyhow and am actually doing well . Yes, I do question it. I now have memory and add type symptoms from either BP itself which causes cognitive decline or it's my self medicating in and off through life (in my 50'). Been around the block s few times and sometimes get irritated when people say you haven't found the right combo yet, its been close to 20 years of trying, still not mentally healthy and accept his is my permanent burden. Some find their combo that works but not all. I wish you good luck truly

Thanks for sharing a bit of your story. It's good to have some perspective from someone that has been through it all, wisdom. I've known something was not right for years. Even still, I'm just getting started trying to understand it all.

Thanks again.

[mfwic]

Originally Posted by violet66

I've had several diagnoses. First dysthymia, then Bipolar 2, then Bipolar 1. It's not uncommon for your diagnosis to change. Getting a 2nd opinion couldn't hurt.

I didn't really know that diagnosis' could change or might change. I'll get a second opinion for sure.

Thanks for the info!

[mfwic]

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

I have been diagnosed bipolar by five different mental health professionals, so you'd think I wouldn't question it. But I do...I haven't had a (major) mood episode in 2 1/2 years and I want to think I'm cured. I know intellectually that it doesn't work that way, but in my heart I have trouble believing I have a lifelong illness. Weird, I know.

Doesn't seem weird to me. I feel like I'm cured too but my doc says don't stop taking the meds. It seems like stable and cured are the same thing. I wonder how much of what we are told from our doctors is to cover themselves in case they are wrong. I don't want a lifelong illness or to take meds forever. It doesn't seem like you do either. No answers, just more questions.

Thanks for sharing. It's good to know I'm not alone.

[mfwic]

Originally Posted by 12AM

I was diagnosed with Schizophrenia before until my Psychiatrist witnessed my mania that came years after he made that diagnosis. Turned out I have Bipolar 1 with Psychosis. Misdiagnosis happens quite often I think, due to the nature of mental illnesses that often mimic each other. There is nothing to lose in getting a second opinion.

I think I have the right diagnosis now though sometimes I tell my partner "I don’t have Bipolar/Psychosis, I am perfectly healthy!" but this just means that I need to take my meds, ASAP

Gotcha! Second opinion is a good idea. The mimicing aspect is what I'm questioning right now.

Thanks for your point of view!

[mfwic]

Originally Posted by scatterbrained04

I may be the odd ball, but I've never really questioned my BP2 diagnosis. I started having problems at 13/14 and was diagnosed at 26 on my first visit to a psychiatrist. Symptoms fit. I felt relieved to know what was wrong with me. I do get mixed though. So maybe BP1.5? I just view BP as a spectrum and don't worry too much about the 1/2 thing.

That's what happened to me, diagnosed on the first visit. After that, the assumption is that Bipolar 1 is the issue and I'm treated as such without further discovery to affirm the diagnosis. Like you, the symptoms fit but it doesn't seem like they fit now. I've been taking the meds though so I might be questioning it to no end.

Thanks for sharing. It's good to get a fresh viewpoint.

[mfwic]

Originally Posted by franz kafka

I question the schizoaffective diagnosis, but this could be because my meds are working and I'm not really having symptoms.

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe my meds are working and that's why it seems to have gone away. Wish we new for sure but it seems like it's just more questions.