[Misssy2]

I asked my therapist this question...and it seems that different therapist have different prespectives on Bipolar.

I was with one therapist for a year...that said...to have Bipolar..you must cycle with moods for at least 1 week...so either depressed or hyper for at least a week.

They diagnosed me with Borderline Personality.

Then this new psychaitrist...right away..says no one has diagnosed you Bipolar. I tell her nope..Borderline.
She insisted Bipolar.

Now I have another therapist...who I asked last week...I said..I'm not on board with this Bipolar diagnosis...yes, I"m moody, yes my moods change..no I don't sleep....yes, I have plenty of energy even if I don't sleep...yes, I talk fast...but why does that mean I'm Bipolar!?

HER opinion is you only have to have ONE DAY of acting like I act the 3x I have been in her office. I say..just how is that? She says....you can't stop talking..your extremely fidgety..you say you haven't slept but you seem very awake..your angry...you discuss rumiating thoughts...

So, for some reason I backed down from my high perch of "I am NOT BIPOLAR". To..well, ok...what's next?

I need medication so badly right now...to control my snappyness...its not even funny.

[Shazerac]

Sweety I'm no expert but it does sound like you're bipolar. You could be a rapid cycle type. I can bounce up and down from hypo manic to depressed in the same day.

[Victoria'smom]

3 sessions in a row isn't 1 day. Next is medication when do you see a pdoc/pnurse? Are you currently on any medication?

[Misssy2]

Shaz...yea, she convinced me I guess..and it explains reasons why my life is the way it is.

MiquelsMom...no medication at all...they keep giving me new meds that make me too sick...I'm calling again tommorow to ask to come in AGAIN.

[Shazerac]

Sometimes the side effects of meds are difficult at first but usually get less or go away.

[wiretwister]

I think (just my experience) there have been times when I fought my medical team with both feet ... but after asking my wife I have always found it was my perception that was wrong ... when I show symptoms my frame of mind is usually not in it's finest or clearest form ... JMO ....

[Misssy2]

Shaz...I usually can only give it 3 days ...I know not enough...and I lie and tell them I gave it a week.

writewrister...yea, when I told my mother that I was given this title...she said she has known that forever. She's a Nurse.

[Victoria'smom]

Hopefully they can give you something that doesn't cause side effects.

[Shazerac]

Originally Posted by Misssy2

Shaz...I usually can only give it 3 days ...I know not enough...and I lie and tell them I gave it a week

3 days? There is no way you can tell if it's helping. Also you're lying to your pdoc. Not good.

[CarriB]

Originally Posted by Shazerac

3 days? There is no way you can tell if it's helping. Also you're lying to your pdoc. Not good.

Shazerac is right... and they can't help you if they don't know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Give the meds a a chance. I know it sucks... trust me I'm in that same mess right now. But you have to be truthful with the doctor.

[~Christina]

What coping skills are you using ?

Sure meds can help but as already mentioned it takes at least 3-4 weeks to see if they are going to be a good fit for you.

Keep flinging coping skills at it until one sticks.

Labels ?? Doesn't matter at this point, just treat the symptoms, then you and your Pdoc and T can have a better idea of what label(s) you might have,

Look up DBT some might really catch your eye.

I do hope your feeling better soon.

[Misssy2]

carri B and Christina...your right...I know I shouldn't lie...but I want a medication with "little" side effect and I haven't found one...I'm going to ask for Lamitcal I see many people listing that as a drug they take that is working for them.

[Misssy2]

Whew my appt is tommorow...so do I tell them that i have been smoking pot for my anxiety? Since I have not had medication? I have not smoked pot in 15 years..but it seemed like a good alternative...it just makes me tired...doesn't really help the anxiety at all.

You need to be completely honest about everything, from your alcohol use, to pot, to problems with benzos, etc. They can't make a clear assessment of your diagnosis or treatment if they aren't working with all the information. When it comes to meds, it all matters, and you will need to give meds a month or so minimum if very consistent use to really know if they work.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Misssy2

Whew my appt is tommorow...so do I tell them that i have been smoking pot for my anxiety? Since I have not had medication? I have not smoked pot in 15 years..but it seemed like a good alternative...it just makes me tired...doesn't really help the anxiety at all.

Only you can decide if you are going to be honest with the people trying to help you. Don't expect much from them if you choose to not tell the truth openly.

I hope you find relief.


WC

[Misssy2]

lolagrace and coyot...well the Therapist in the same office TOLD me to smoke pot last week...and she was going to talk to my Dr. about some things prior to my appointment.

Its not really that I have lied to them...they know I have an alcohol problem the pdocs first comment to me on first visit was whoa..alcohol is mentioned a lot here (i talked about my hospitializations from it in my intake..which were recent)...and the only thing I really have lied about is said that I tried scripts they gave me for at least a week....I didn't try any more than 3 days.

But, the alcohol and the pot they are aware of...but I'm not 100% sure he knows about the pot yet or if the therapist got to talk to him...she said they normally don't talk to the Drs but she wanted to talk to him about my brain MRIs and let him know that I had signed releases for them to get copies of them.

I did also sign records for release of treatment from the last facility which in that facility I was drug tested weekly and passed every test...didn't smoke pot back then...only 3 months ago...so yea..I know I have to be honest.

Its just that the honesty keeps getting the benzos removed...when like I said..I can also die from drinking with other medication so why take the benzos that help me the most?

Well, the symptoms she rattled off and your irritability certainly point in that direction.

Do you have a problem with such a diagnosis?

Getting meds will not immediately change anything. That could take 6-12 weeks before they fully affect you.

[Misssy2]

justafriend..I have been in consistent therapy for over 11 years.

I know that some medication does not work right away but that is not true for all medication. Actually, Celexa has been proven in research to reduce anxiety quickly upon taking it...within an hour.

So, I like to keep the mindset that whatever I take MAY start helping me.

Yes, I definitely have a problem with the diagnosis....i just think my brain is so messed up from being beaten, car accidents and alcohol abuse that I have behaviorial problems...I hate how they want to put a label on everything.

And if I am so clearly bipolar to these new people...why at the place I was at for the previous year was I diagnosed Borderline? Shouldn't they all come up with the same diagnosis? They are all quacks just making bucks off us...

No disrespect to anyone that has complete respect for the medical profession or their diagnosis..this is just my opinion about my own diagnosis.

And I do think I need medication to balance my brain..but for the reasons I mentioned...

[Victoria'smom]

BPD doesn't really have medication as it's a personality disorder and requires therapy. Bipolar on the other hand is treated with meds first and therapy after stabilization. Honestly detox would be best before medication or even a psych evaluation.

[Misssy2]

miguelsmom...they have mentioned its hard to treat me with the continued drinking episodes..but they have documentation from a previous therapist (had to leave due to medical coverage change).

She wrote to them and said that with 8 years of sobriety and continous therapy (seeing me 1x every week to 1x every 2 weeks) there has been little improvement in anxiety, depression and mood...with various medications.

So yes, typically if they just met me and didn't have any substantial records..yea it would be hard to treat me..but they have records from 2005 - June of this year.

[Misssy2]

additionally, do you ever see on the news or those tv shows...when some tragedy happens...and they say....the person was mentally ill...and was not being treated...and how something wouldn't have happened if something had been done to help that person?

I have told them that...and I have told them that I do not trust myself to go out of this house...until I have something to look forward to that is going to stabilize my moods..because i have NEVER been arrested and I feel so out of control sometimes and have made some significant scenes in the past month at stores when I run into people like my X...Medication has been called in for me...but it has made me sick or more anxious...so I need something else to try.

My own mother told me not to contact her until I was on some sort of medication. I truly DO belong in the hospital...but I am staying in until this appt tommorow.

I got myself SO intoxicated last week because i couldn't stand it anymore...and I will tell this guy that tomorrow.

[Victoria'smom]

Are you sure your records are complete and that they're looking at them? I had my files transferred and all they sent was my Dx and current medication. 2 pages for 6 years of work. So they're starting all over with me.

[Misssy2]

Yes I am sure they have complete records because I gave them the copies...I always ask for copies..actually after this visit...when I start feeling better on Dec 28th...I will ask for copies of what THEY have so far (my intake, etc).

I also wrote a long summary letter before my first visit and dropped it off...when I entered the room I asked her if she read it and told her that I did not want to talk to her if she didn't because I am ANGRY and tired of repeating myself.

I'm angry because I got comfortable in a new place for 2 years (then medical changed AGAIN) and I had to switch AGAIN. They put up with this behavior from me and I don't know why...my b/f asked me if I have given them all their instructions yet...lol.

I am VERY hard to deal with as a patient...but i am so generally BROKEN right now (left a career after 19 years making 100k (on a whim), now on SSDI, may lose my house, lost my boys, my grandchildren, now lost another therapist, I just cant cope and I'm such a mess..that they are really trying to deal with me and help me.

[Misssy2]

And not that this is about me (its about my sister and her child)..but I may have to travel to another state Wed to visit my niece who just had major surgery she was transferred there this a.m. and I can not handle it....she is in 8 hour surgery...I'm getting 90 minute updates and can't stop balling.

Its not my fault I am not medicated..its not my fault that my medical changed AGAIN...I have complied with treatment for YEARS...and have been in a rut for the last couple months without any treatment..waiting for cards...tried another Dr. who I hated...and the feeling was mutual.

If I were still with old Drs I would be fine

[Misssy2]

Thanks for listening miguelsmom...