[Shamrockkid88]

So I'm new here and was hesitant to come on a site to talk about my issues. I've recently been diagnosed as bipolar 2. I know no one person expirences symptoms or walks the same paths and roads to find out what their diagnosis is. So I just want to preface this by saying it could be long. I've had issues with moods and racing thoughts since I was in high school. But until recently looking back on the past I just chalked it up to hormones and just being Irish lol. I'm 2008 I decided to seek psychiatric help. I went and described to my doctor what I thought was wrong which I told him was a panic attack I wanted meds to make me feel better to stop this feeling of a huge horsepower engine running through my mind. So he prescribed me Xanax which I very quickly became addicted to spiraled out of control ended up in a psych ward where I was put on I believe 365 or 375 mg's of lithium. I was shocked because the first thing I thought was...I'm not bipolar my psychiatrist took me off it soon after because,"I didn't need it, it's not doing anything." When in reality I felt balanced but me thinking who knows better me or the doc I just went with it. Here we are 9 years later and I'm diagnosed as bipolar 2! Come to find out from my new therapist who worked at the same practice before he started his own my old doctor was never given bipolar patients because he didn't know how to deal with patients and diagnose it good. Needless to say when I found out I was bipolar it was like a weight had been lifted off me because finally after countless med changes my illness has a face and a name. It's just in a way sad looking back at the money blown the drugs the booze the women thrown away because some doctor couldn't get it right! But I'm back on the lithium just over a week now! 👍🏻💪🏻I hope everyone has a great day!

PS I'm also shocked at how many celebrities have it namely two of my favorite singers Axl Rose from Guns N' Roses and Scott Weiland from Stone Temple Pilots!

[Naynay99]

Hey. Welcome. Sorry it took so long for you to get the correct dx. I hope the lithium helps.
I'm pretty new here myself but everybody here seems cool and helpful and it's nice to hear from other people who actually get it. Take it easy

[Shamrockkid88]

Thank you very much the lithium worked before so I'm sure it'll do the trick but it's funny how once it was correctly diagnosed I keep a journal and have on and off for about the past 5-6 years it's crazy now that I know I'm bipolar going back and reading it and just saying wow! I should've switched doctors sooner! Take care and thank you for the encouraging words

[bizi]

welcome to the forums! It is a very busy forum so just to let you know. post often and give/ get support so people get to know you.
welcome again!
bizi

[Travelinglady]

Hello, Shamrockkid88, and welcome to Psych Central! I'm also glad "they" and you are now on track. I am bipolar II, and it took years for docs to find the right med combo for me. On my current regimen, six years and counting without any episodes! So, there's hope if we stay the course.

Again, welcome aboard!

[wiretwister]

Welcome ... Tigger.

Welcome aboard ....I hope you find this place supportive and helpful. I'm glad the lithium helps and you have more wellness in your life now.

Welcome! You wrote something I can sort relate to, years ago. "Xanax which I very quickly ... spiraled out of control. " I didn't become addicted to it. Looking back 40 years or more, I realize now that it made me hypomanic. I'd never felt so "high" before, and after 3 days, I knew something was wrong, so quit taking Xanax. Unbelievale that they are still prescribing it -- or I guess it may be that some docs don't know anything about this med, or about bipolar. I had gone to the particular doctor who gave me the Xanax because I had sinusitis and bronchitis. I thought she gave me a med for those conditions -- she gave me Xanax instead. I guess she must've thoght I was a weird or crazy person! What a nerve!!! Geez. One has to totally know what to look for in a doctor. Here's my present example, about a special surgery I will have in April. It is a very delicate surgery, and takes a totally expert surgeon to do it right, without the possibility of doing a lot of serious damage! So I did some online research! Found an actual forum for the exact condition I have!! Amazing! The advice my peers there gave is this: "Find a doctor who does this particular surgery at least 50 times a year," they said. "Lots of doctors do this surgery -- because they make a whole lot of money doing it! But most of them do very few of this kind of surgery" So the first specialist I went to said he was going to send me to the surgeon in the particular clinic/hospital where he worked. I said I needed someone who did 50 of the surgeries a year -- see how informed I was - very proud of myself! So -- that doc referred me to a different surgeon!!! I love her. Before I made my first appointment with her, I asked her front desk person if she did 50 of those surgeries a year. The phone receptionist said, "She does a lot more than THAT! She does three or four A WEEK.!

[Shamrockkid88]

Honestly thank you everyone for the kind words! I know don't feel weird coming on here and spilling my guts!

[Shamrockkid88]

Originally Posted by flowerbells

Welcome! You wrote something I can sort relate to, years ago. "Xanax which I very quickly ... spiraled out of control. " I didn't become addicted to it. Looking back 40 years or more, I realize now that it made me hypomanic. I'd never felt so "high" before, and after 3 days, I knew something was wrong, so quit taking Xanax. Unbelievale that they are still prescribing it -- or I guess it may be that some docs don't know anything about this med, or about bipolar. I had gone to the particular doctor who gave me the Xanax because I had sinusitis and bronchitis. I thought she gave me a med for those conditions -- she gave me Xanax instead. I guess she must've thoght I was a weird or crazy person! What a nerve!!! Geez. One has to totally know what to look for in a doctor. Here's my present example, about a special surgery I will have in April. It is a very delicate surgery, and takes a totally expert surgeon to do it right, without the possibility of doing a lot of serious damage! So I did some online research! Found an actual forum for the exact condition I have!! Amazing! The advice my peers there gave is this: "Find a doctor who does this particular surgery at least 50 times a year," they said. "Lots of doctors do this surgery -- because they make a whole lot of money doing it! But most of them do very few of this kind of surgery" So the first specialist I went to said he was going to send me to the surgeon in the particular clinic/hospital where he worked. I said I needed someone who did 50 of the surgeries a year -- see how informed I was - very proud of myself! So -- that doc referred me to a different surgeon!!! I love her. Before I made my first appointment with her, I asked her front desk person if she did 50 of those surgeries a year. The phone receptionist said, "She does a lot more than THAT! She does three or four A WEEK.!

Flowerbells I hope your surgery goes well my mother has had around probably ten back surgerys and three spinal fusions. So I don't know what it's like speaking for me but all those surgerys and continud pain find a good doctor. But about the Xanax I wanted something to act quick to push those feelings down and while it worked for the period the drug was in my system the. It wore off and I was back to square one with the moods and rushing thoughts. A short time later I ended up in a psych ward/rehab of my own doing. I tell friends joe who are on Xanax don't do it or if your prescribed it be very very careful and don't be a idiot like I was try to get rid of these bipolar symptoms and drink with it!

[bioChE]

Welcome to the forums. It's good to have an anonymous place to share thoughts, feelings, and experience with others who walk the same path. You're welcome to spill your guts, we do it all the time.