[TheGoatKing333]

I went to my new pdoc today and she said I'm not bipolar. She said I am depressed with psychotic features/symptoms. I've went 9 months of my life thinking I am bipolar type 1 and now I guess I am just depressed. My old pdoc said I was bipolar type 1. Idk what to believe now. One of my old doctors said I was bipolar. My new pdoc said since I never have not gone 4 days without sleep that I'm not bipolar and she asked me some other questions but I don't remember.

[Blue_Bird]

I wouldn't worry about the diagnosis too much, just focus on treating the symptoms.

[wildflowerchild25]

Why is going four days without sleep the criteria? In that case I'm not bipolar either. Have you ever had episodes of hypomania or mania? Then that's bipolar. Not sure why your new pdoc would change the dx like that.

But like the above poster said try to focus on treating the symptoms. Don't focus too much on the actual dx.

[Blue_Bird]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

Why is going four days without sleep the criteria?

I think they meant "going for days with little or no sleep" but they put the number 4 instead of the word, maybe?

[fishin fool]

Read up on the symptoms and see what you think.
You should know if they apply to you or not.

[Wanderlust90]

TheGoatKing333 I have also had this happen to me. First psychiatrist diagnosed "bipolar spectrum", so I figure he was going with bipolar NOS to begin with, then after 5 months a different psychiatrist said I was not bipolar just depressed with significant anxiety. I have had mild psychotic symptoms as well. I think I have bipolar disorder type 2. Never experienced a mania but so called "dysphoric hypomania." I was sleeping but only 3-4 hours a day. I'm also very confused. I know the DSM States that you must have hypomanic symptoms for 5 days for it to be classified as type 2, & 7 days of mania or mania severe enough to require hospitalisation to classify for type 1. But I think that there must be variations to this. I hope you find answers soon. Like blue bird said, focus on symptom management not the label. Hope this finds you well.

[wiretwister]

I have been dxed bp nos, bp2, bp1 and bp spectrum .... all by the same pdoc .... I think they really have no idea .... dx's are all for the insurance companies anyway ....

[raspberrytorte]

Yeah. I've been diagnosed different things by different doctors.

In all honesty, I have no idea how I even got dumped with the bp thing (or whatever the hell I have!).

[wildflowerchild25]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

I think they meant "going for days with little or no sleep" but they put the number 4 instead of the word, maybe?

That could be.

Half the people on this forum dont have bipolar but the skills and support helps all the same

[gina_re]

I was being treated for BP by two doctors, third one side I was depressed and tried to take me off the trileptal. Bad mistake, moods started going crazy! Very irritable to say the least...eventually found another doctor who kept the BP diagnosis and put me back on my regular dosage. It's hit or miss with most docs. Also many people with BP have an initial diagnosis of major depression anyway. As others have mentioned, treat the symptoms and don't focus too much on the diagnosis, but if you're still curious research about bipolar symptoms (and not just random articles on google).

[cakeladie]

We just had another member I think by the name lovejoy that was told she was bipolar and her new doc said she's not so she will not be coming on here anymore.

I had her has a friend and she posted a note to my page letting me know what was going on. I would have thought that there was a certain criteria that needed to be met for that diagnosis. But what do I know

[dillpickle1983]

Don't worry about the diagnosis. I have been also diagnosed multiple things by my same PDoc...

BP 2
BP 1
BPD
Major Depression w/psychosis
Schizoaffective

I don't let the labels affect me much anymore.

[TheGoatKing333]

She raised my trileptal from 600 mg to 1200 mg. I never have had mania or hypomania.

Originally Posted by cakeladie

We just had another member I think by the name lovejoy that was told she was bipolar and her new doc said she's not so she will not be coming on here anymore.

I had her has a friend and she posted a note to my page letting me know what was going on. I would have thought that there was a certain criteria that needed to be met for that diagnosis. But what do I know

Doctors throw out diagnosis' with no second thought at times.

ANYONE can get a depression diagnosis and if you happen to have a few hours of happy or rage its automatically BIPOLAR! Dont you just love their diagnostic skills. Then they put patients on life changing medication, which isnt always for the best.

Sure HEAPS of people have BIPOLAR but IMO more are misdiagnosed or just told bipolar for insurance and medication purposes.

[Curiosity77]

4 days is the minimum amount of days necessary for a hypomanic episode, or any length of days if hospitalization is required. Not needing much sleep is a hallmark symptom, but that is not needed for the episode. The necessary components are elevated or irritable mood, plus at least 3 (or at least 4 if mood is irritable) of the other symptoms. Lack of sleep is one of about 7 diagnostic criteria. It's the usual screening question, but not enough to diagnose or rule out bipolar. Having said all that a depression diagnosis is not necessarily "just depression." It's a more common illness, but can be just as severe and deadly for some people. But like others have said, diagnosis is less important than finding the right treatment.

[fingers1]

Originally Posted by Supanova

Half the people on this forum dont have bipolar but the skills and support helps all the same

Supernova

You said it !

Fingers1

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by TheGoatKing333

She raised my trileptal from 600 mg to 1200 mg. I never have had mania or hypomania.

I couldn't recall having hypomania either, sometimes I'm just really happy. Over time you begin to look back and reflect, and think...hmmm maybe that was hypomania. At least that's what happened to me, because I couldn't remember having it either when I was first diagnosed.

[ozzy1313]

Originally Posted by gina_re

I couldn't recall having hypomania either, sometimes I'm just really happy. Over time you begin to look back and reflect, and think...hmmm maybe that was hypomania. At least that's what happened to me, because I couldn't remember having it either when I was first diagnosed.

I never had really happy times, mine was dx because of all my ups and downs (but not really happy ups). I would have lots of rage and impulsive/risky/negative behaviors. My moods were uncontrollable. The only positive hypo was when I was super productive and did things like paint the house house in a week.

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by ozzy1313

I never had really happy times, mine was dx because of all my ups and downs (but not really happy ups). I would have lots of rage and impulsive/risky/negative behaviors. My moods were uncontrollable. The only positive hypo was when I was super productive and did things like paint the house house in a week.

Oh I definitely had some risky moments as well. I spent so much money I eventually had to file for bankruptcy among other crazy things I did in my early twenties. And my moods were bad!! I would be so irritable and angry sometimes. I've ruined many friendships because of it. The happiness is what I've noticed since I've been on the mood stabilizer. And when I was reckless and drank regularly when I was on previous cocktails, again in my early twenties.

[QuirkyGirl99]

Psychiatry is such an inexact science. It mostly boils down to treating and managing your symptoms. It's common for ones Dx it to chance several times throughout their lifetime, since different doctors see you differently. It's really difficult for a new Dr to get an accurate diagnosis when you are medicated. As long as your symptoms are stable, most Drs will not mess with your meds for the sake of an accurate diagnosis. My new Dr thinks I probably suffer from bipolar II, but he can't say for sure due to my current meds. However, he doesn't believe diagnosing me is worth screwing with my current meds and making me unstable in the process.
Anyway, like everyone else says, focus on your symptoms and not diagnosis. Feeling ok is all that truly matters.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BadWolfC]

Odd that they would jump to diagnosing as bipolar rather than depression. I was diagnosed as servery depressed years before it even crossed anyone's minds that I might be bipolar. I wasn't diagnosed as bipolar until I had a manic episode, but it wasn't nearly as severe as what I've heard of others experiencing (I just had racing thoughts, was still able to sleep about 4-5 hours a night) and I've only had about 4 of those incidents since then. They never last more than a couple days either.

[Wanderlust90]

Originally Posted by Supanova

Doctors throw out diagnosis' with no second thought at times.

ANYONE can get a depression diagnosis and if you happen to have a few hours of happy or rage its automatically BIPOLAR! Dont you just love their diagnostic skills. Then they put patients on life changing medication, which isnt always for the best.

Sure HEAPS of people have BIPOLAR but IMO more are misdiagnosed or just told bipolar for insurance and medication purposes.

Supernova this is what I fear

If you are concerned that you are misdiagnosed, it may be helpful to start mood tracking and symptom tracking. Check out what triggers you.

Back when I was diagnosed over a decade ago, they wouldnt label until they had observed both extremes for a period of time (ie mania for 4 or more days, depression for over 2 weeks although my states last a lot longer than that).

GPs have a lot to answer for in regards to diagnosis, they are NOT qualified to make a severe mental health diagnosis and if your pdoc says BIPOLAR on the first visit - well you've been labeled and they wont see you any other way, and if you have half a brain you know they cannot correctly diagnose bipolar in a 20 minute consult.

Good doctors take a lot longer to label, and some wont even label because of the damage it does.