[lovejoy91]

I'm starting to question if I have bipolar disorder. I have an appointment with my pdoc this coming week to discuss why he thinks I have it. I see posts on here about everyone's struggle and I simply can't relate. Maybe I do have it and just very stable. Who knows? Either way, my life is great. What questions should I ask?

Originally Posted by lovejoy91

I'm starting to question if I have bipolar disorder. I have an appointment with my pdoc this coming week to discuss why he thinks I have it. I see posts on here about everyone's struggle and I simply can't relate. Maybe I do have it and just very stable. Who knows? Either way, my life is great. What questions should I ask?

"What makes you think I'm bipolar doc? I don't recognize any of the symptoms of bipolar in myself, so why am I dx'd that? Are you a quack or something?"

Leave out the quack part. Obviously he's not a duck.

[lovejoy91]

Originally Posted by AlwaysChanging2

"What makes you think I'm bipolar doc? I don't recognize any of the symptoms of bipolar in myself, so why am I dx'd that? Are you a quack or something?"

Leave out the quack part. Obviously he's not a duck.

Lol, you're silly. Thank you.

[wiretwister]

I think we all have asked that question before,, and it is a good one when you consider you maybe on meds for the rest of your life,, need to be certain,, so ask your pdoc why he feels that dx is correct,, it's your life after all,, and you can always get a second opinion,, .. by the way, he maybe a duck ...

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I'd go with what Always Changing says and if he gives reasons you don't feel are adequate you can also ask "is there any other disorder that explains my symptoms?".

Are you newly diagnosed? Because if you are I would think stability would be a little unusual unless you went from not doing well to stable on the first med and it doesn't sound like you feel that's what happened (you aren't saying "I was like that before meds" is why I'm saying that, I'm not trying to put words into your mouth).

[raspberrytorte]

Yeah, just ask him why he thinks you have it.

[elevatedsoul]

sometimes i wonder if i have it
but i think back... it explains alot of behavior that i had

maybe its just not clear to you yet, i still wonder if i maybe am just weird and not bipolar sometimes

do ask your pdoc and let us know

I said that a few months ago when I quit meds cold turkey and had a manic episode. I didn't think I was bipolar either.

Bipolar is a spectrum. It goes from mild to extreme. A lot of the stories you read on here are extreme based. You can be bipolar, but not to the extent that others are at.

Types of bipolar:
Bipolar 1- psychosis, mania, hallucinations, deep depression
Bipolar 2- hypomania, depression, rapid thoughts,
Cyclothymia- slight downs and highs, more than a "normal" mood
NOS- bipolar but not quite another type

This is just a impromptu list. Just because you aren't 1 or 2 doesn't mean you are not bipolar with one or the other. You may have mood swings that you can't see, but a trained professional may recognize.

There's nothing wrong in asking about it, but you don't need to be bouncing off the walls to be "bipolar".

I hope this helps.

[tipper1492]

I read 69% of bipolar people are misdiagnosed,

True^ I am according to my psychiatrist, "high functioning." I think because I was undiagnosed for so long, it is a big part of my personality?

[mattjstead]

Originally Posted by tipper1492

I read 69% of bipolar people are misdiagnosed,

In which way? As in people WITH Bi-Polar are diagnosed as something else, or people diagnosed as Bi-Polar really aren't? What are your sources if you wouldn't mind providing.

[raspberrytorte]

What do the misdiagnosed as bipolar people have instead? I just wonder that. Other than borderline personality disorder. I know sometimes those are confused.

[BlackSheep79]

For me personally, I have had episodes and not even realized it. When I met my new pdoc just over a year ago I was in the beginning stages of a mixed episode and had no clue. I didn't even know what mixed was. I have also questioned my diagnosis on here because first I have never experienced psychosis, and second I don't really go thru the crippling depressions like so many do on here. I just realized how sick I really am when I recently read some paperwork that my pdoc had to fill out for work. What I'm saying is we do question from time to time when we are doing good, or think we are. I personally would ask your pdoc his or her reasoning for the diagnosis, and if you are not satisfied get a second opinion.

[lovejoy91]

Here's my story: I was diagnosed on Nov 2014. Prior to that, I was working full-time and going to school full-time. I was stressed out with the load of work and I was abusing Adderall so I had the side effects (weight loss, lack of sleep, etc. ) Now, I'm working full time and going to school part time with no use of Adderall. I'm fine. I feel like I had a nervous breakdown versus anything to do with bipolar disorder. I was depressed for a short time around my diagnosed.

I may have a mild case of bipolar disorder but I just don't see how. I am in control of my mood. I've never been manic nor do I want to be.

[~Christina]

As Always said... Just ask, if your Pdoc is worth a shyt he will explain why he feels that is the right fit.

Hang in there

Someone told me this recently, "There is nothing wrong with being bipolar unless it's the wrong diagnosis." So I think it is good you are asking your doctor why you've been given that dx. I also think it is good to go in with a list of questions so you utilize the time well. I would add to the list, "What is the exact title of my diagnosis?" so you can see where you're at on the spectrum. Good luck!

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

What do the misdiagnosed as bipolar people have instead? I just wonder that. Other than borderline personality disorder. I know sometimes those are confused.

Bipolar can sometimes be the go to DX. One can have depression, anxiety, skitzophrenia, BPD, or whatever else they can dream up. Pumped full of meds, cross fingers that they work, pay me.

[wiretwister]

mine said nos, then a few months later when I wanted off my ap he said bipolar 1, when I said tell me when I had mania he said ip,, fair enough few memories especially first 2 days, but nothing between the nos and bp1,,when I pushed real hard he said your on the "spectrum",, huh ..

It really seems I get the Dx based on the questions I ask or the pills I want off of ...

[Crazy Hitch]

lovejoy it's actually quite good that you're reflecting on all of this.

And (as crazy as this may sound on a surface level) - I'm glad, for you personally, that you've never had a manic episode because for those of us who have well it can cause absolute havoc in our personal lives.

I think that you have pretty good insight into what is going on with you.

[lovejoy91]

Thank you, guys. I'm going to see my pdoc today. Wish me good luck.

Good luck sweety. Remember he works for you.

[lovejoy91]

My pdoc said I was "manic" by being irritable, suspicious, and angry at the hospital. That, I never was. I did tell a nurse how I felt about her but that was it. My dad said he was concerned about me when he came to see me at the hospital but he feels it's best to get a second opinion. The pdoc thinks I'm on the right combination of meds so I'm stable. I honestly feel like this is a joke. I don't have bipolar disorder.

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by lovejoy91

My pdoc said I was "manic" by being irritable, suspicious, and angry at the hospital. That, I never was. I did tell a nurse how I felt about her but that was it. My dad said he was concerned about me when he came to see me at the hospital but he feels it's best to get a second opinion. The pdoc thinks I'm on the right combination of meds so I'm stable. I honestly feel like this is a joke. I don't have bipolar disorder.

"irritable, suspicious, angry - yeah that would be me if I'm in an elevated mood state if it's not euphoric.

Interesting that you don't aliken your symptoms to that, because honestly, if you never felt it then I wonder what on earth they made their judgment based upon? Dunno. Because I mean look the reality is both you and I will FEEL angry when we are angry, if that makes sense - so if you didn't feel angry, what were their clinical observations based on?

Good that you got secondary input from your dad, that helps.

And it's good that you're more stable.

Let us know when you have a bit more info.

Sounds like ppl are "telling you" what you felt when you say you didn't feel it. Sounds confusing to me bet you are just as confused too.

[lovejoy91]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

"irritable, suspicious, angry - yeah that would be me if I'm in an elevated mood state if it's not euphoric.

Interesting that you don't aliken your symptoms to that, because honestly, if you never felt it then I wonder what on earth they made their judgment based upon? Dunno. Because I mean look the reality is both you and I will FEEL angry when we are angry, if that makes sense - so if you didn't feel angry, what were their clinical observations based on?

Good that you got secondary input from your dad, that helps.

And it's good that you're more stable.

Let us know when you have a bit more info.

Sounds like ppl are "telling you" what you felt when you say you didn't feel it. Sounds confusing to me bet you are just as confused too.

Thank you. I going to get a second opinion from another pdoc while taking my medicine.