[Theresa1991]

Hey guys,
I was feeling pretty good for quite some days and still am. Felt back to being myself, which I hadn't in a while. Anyway, keep doing stupid stuff and sleeping irregularly. Today I went to see my pdoc for the first time. He said it was hard to get me diagnosed because my history was complex. Therefore he refused to give me any constant medication, understandable. I told him I was mostly afraid to crash again or to get so high that I get myself in danger. He gave me Promethazine as symptomatic medication until having a diagnoses because antidepressants are dangerous if I am bipolar. Any experiences? I also got into a study of the Charité (famous uniclinic in Berlin) for diagnosing bipolar. I think I will join. Any experiences with studies?

[Skeezyks]

Hello Theresa1991: Hopefully things have been going well for you since you wrote this post. The only thing I can share, related to what you wrote, is that both of my major suicide attempts occurred while I was on one particular antidepressant. I've never actually been offered a formal diagnosis by any of the mental health professionals I've seen over the years. However, one did suggest that there might be a Bipolar aspect to my condition. I don't know... Good luck with the clinic. It sounds like an exciting possibility!

[luvyrself]

Originally Posted by Theresa1991

Hey guys,
I was feeling pretty good for quite some days and still am. Felt back to being myself, which I hadn't in a while. Anyway, keep doing stupid stuff and sleeping irregularly. Today I went to see my pdoc for the first time. He said it was hard to get me diagnosed because my history was complex. Therefore he refused to give me any constant medication, understandable. I told him I was mostly afraid to crash again or to get so high that I get myself in danger. He gave me Promethazine as symptomatic medication until having a diagnoses because antidepressants are dangerous if I am bipolar. Any experiences? I also got into a study of the Charité (famous uniclinic in Berlin) for diagnosing bipolar. I think I will join. Any experiences with studies?

----the study sounds good. You need a diagnosis. Apparently the pdoc wants to observe you for awhile before diagnosing. For many years they didn't realize that antidepressants can kick bipolars up too high. That doesnt mean they can never be proscribed but only under close supervision or not at all. Most bipolars need a stabilizer like lithium, tegretol, etc etc. over time, these lessen the ups and downs of bipolars.

[luvyrself]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Hello Theresa1991: Hopefully things have been going well for you since you wrote this post. The only thing I can share, related to what you wrote, is that both of my major suicide attempts occurred while I was on one particular antidepressant. I've never actually been offered a formal diagnosis by any of the mental health professionals I've seen over the years. However, one did suggest that there might be a Bipolar aspect to my condition. I don't know... Good luck with the clinic. It sounds like an exciting possibility!

----Skeecyks--i have really admired your posts. You seem very wise. But i am astonished to see you saying no one gives you a diagnosis. What medicatioN is proscribed depends on that, especially now that they know that antidepressants have to be watched so closely for bipolars. Some of us are very suggestible, but especially if you might change docs, you need to be able to tell them what the diagnosis was. They have to list it for the insurance. You can insist that they tell you, and you sound like you can handle it, so i think you should. Hugs!