Change in bipolar type?

I was diagnosed with bipolar NOS about 12 years ago, but I was for the most part unmedicated. Looking back I had periods of depression lasting about 6 months and hypomania - maybe bordering on mania - lasting about 3-4 months. So basically I think I exhibited BPII symptoms.

Then this year changed everything. I had two psychotic manic episodes, and now my diagnosis is BPI with psychotic features. I also had several severe depressions with psychosis. I think I've probably had some tiny bits of psychosis before this year, but nothing so extreme as this!

Has anyone else experienced a change in bipolar type over time? I don't mean misdiagnosis; I mean changing symptoms.

Standard DSM guidelines is that only one Manic episode gets you the number 1. I'm guessing the Psychotic episode is also in the mix .. so BP I sounds logical.

Welcome to PC

Yea. I changed from not having Bipolar to having it. (oh, I don't think that was the point of this thread. Sorry, I'm a little bitter).

I started out with a diagnosis of Bipolar NOS. It changed to Bipolar 1 when I was in the hospital, and was recently re-confirmed by both my psych nurse practitioner and my therapist. I guess I should start believing it, lol.

I recently read an academic paper which examined the worsening of symptoms for bipolar patients as they aged. I didn't share it here because it was such depressing news.

I thought I had bipolar 2, but after checking my records, they listed me as BP1. I guess it's the manias that did it. It is what it is I guess. (((Hugs)))

I would think that it wouldn't be uncommon for someone previously diagnosed bipolar II or NOS to later be diagnosed bipolar I.

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I started off with Bipolar NOS. Then it was upgraded to Bipolar 1.

I technically get "mania", but I don't think my upswings should fall into the category of mania. I think they should fall under hypomania. But, it's mania because I get hallucinations.

Otherwise, I think all my behaviors etc. are more along the lines of Bipolar 2. I tend to be more depressed than hypo/manic -- and in Bipolar 2, you typically *are* more depressed than manic.

Maybe I'll call myself Bipolar 1.5

I like you was originally dxed as NOS or II. now I'm a I. had a drastic change in symptoms over that 12 year period.

Kindling, right? I wonder if that's what happened with me. I went unmedicated for more than a decade and had numerous episodes during that time.

I just hate this. I feel like I've given myself brain damage by waiting so long for medication. I don't want the mania and the psychosis. I want my life back.

I am fairly certain that the reason I had such as severe psychotic break is because I didn't believe I was bipolar and was off of meds for about 8 years. I think if I had been on meds it would have been less severe or perhaps not at all.

Oh...I was originally diagnosed with BP1 but now am diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. I'm not sure when my pdoc changed my diagnosis but he told me about it when he urged me to file for disability this last time.

I was did type two for many years until my manias got worse and since then it's changed but the last three years has been full of almost nonstop cycling. Now I've also had psychosis with mania so that seals the deal with my bipolar 1.

Doctor piri is going to change his diagnosis from category one to NOThing.