[Crook32]

Has anyone seen a neurologist for bipolar or depression? Anyone actually ever have a brain scan done? What was the outcome? They took one girl when I was in the hospital for a scan but I wasn’t sure why.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by Crook32

Has anyone seen a neurologist for bipolar or depression? Anyone actually ever have a brain scan done? What was the outcome? They took one girl when I was in the hospital for a scan but I wasn’t sure why.

I have had an MRI before. There are telltale changes in bp1, but most radiologists do not go by any of this.

My experience has been that most neurologists treat us like we are crazy. I have received uniformly shi**ty care from the ones I have seen, personally.

[Crook32]

I saw one years ago when my hand tremors were bad and she had me draw a couple of shapes and immediately said it was drug induced and kicked me out the door. No discussion of possible alternatives or anything. The second I mentioned depression (before I was diagnosed as bipolar) her demeanor changed and she couldn’t get me out fast enough. But I have never had a scan and I kind of want one even if it is just to rule out anything else. But you are right many drs treat mental health patients like ****.

[Sometimes psychotic]

I had a CT when I first went to the hospital and then later saw a neurologist and got an EEG where they put the wires your head. Basically he said if I had hallucinations due to seizures they’d be repetitive like the same thing exactly every time....I was hearing knocking noises at that point but they were a little different every time so not seizures.

Frankly the guy was rude and questioned why I was even there...

Originally Posted by Crook32

Has anyone seen a neurologist for bipolar or depression? Anyone actually ever have a brain scan done? What was the outcome? They took one girl when I was in the hospital for a scan but I wasn’t sure why.

Hi Crook. I wouldn't say I saw a neurologist for bipolar disorder, specifically, but I saw some for symptoms that may or may not have been related to my bipolar disorder. That was part of the question from the beginning. Atypical bipolar symptoms? Seizure activity? Something else?

The complications answering the questions were that my "atypical symptoms" did happen more often during episodes that included manic symptoms. A couple, maybe not.

Once during a mania, I experienced a brief catatonic state (the more well-known type without movement and including mutism). That's not usual for bipolar disorder, but not unheard of, either. The hospital decided to give me a CT scan and typical EEG. The results were negative for seizure activity, so it was let go.

Some time later, I had other strange atypical symptoms. My psychiatrist ordered a PET scan. [Note: I had had a couple MRIs before that that showed nothing of interest beyond a totally unrelated pituitary tumor (antipsychotic related).] My psychiatrist referred me to a neurologist to interpret the PET scan. She said there was nothing of concern, but after hearing my story of some odd symptoms, ordered additional EEGs. I had a 2-day video EEG and the results were normal. Then I had a sleep deprivation (aka sleep deprived) EEG. That yielded a result that she suspected might be Simple Partial seizures (psychic and sensory, not convulsive, and ones had while conscious). She recommended I take Tegretol (carbamazepine), which coincidentally my psychiatrist had just started me on for my bipolar disorder. I was still on a low non-therapeutic dose, titrating up.

Some months later, I went to an epileptologist for a second opinion, who said the sleep deprivation EEG results were actually NOT definitive. He wanted me to have a 6-day in hospital EEG. My husband disliked that idea, and that I would have to stop my Tegretol before and during the stay, since it was an anti-epileptic (in addition to moodstabilizer). He discouraged the idea, so I didn't do it. Tegretol had stopped many of my abnormal symptoms already by then (at therapeutic dose), including distressing musical hallucinations. My bipolar was also more under control than for a long time. Destabilization was a major fear.

I have not had any significant "abnormal/atypical" symptoms in a very long time. I have had plenty of occasional breakthrough typical manic episodes, though. My Seroquel XR works fairly well at squashing them. So, maybe the Tegretol handles the weird stuff and antipsychotic the more normal, for me?

Once I went to a consulting psychiatrist, for three 60-minute sessions, who also focused on neurology. She reconfirmed my bipolar 1 diagnosis, which had already been reconfirmed several times over. However, in regards to my "atypical" symptoms, she said that it is highly possible that "bipolar disorder episodes, themselves, may be forms of seizures". She also reconfirmed something my long-time psychiatrist has always said, that we all have our own "flavor" of the disorder and that presentations and symptoms are not all the same in all people with the disorder. Also, that they can change in various ways over time. That's clearly true.

Anyway, my situation may be different than yours. There may be different concerns about your illness and/or why you may or may not need a neurologist.

[bpcyclist]

Yesssssssss. ^^^^^^^^^^

[*Beth*]

A few years ago a pdoc sent me for a brain scan (CT). I experience derealization almost all of the time and she wanted to check on that. Scan was normal. She also referred me to a neurologist. The SOB was so rude, he snapped out at me, "I can't do anything when you are on psychiatric medication!" He left the room and that was that. It was a horrible experience.

Many years ago, seeking treatment for migraine headaches that were landing me in the hospital, I saw a neurologist. That doctor was very gentle and kind; he prescribed Depakote which, he said, would help relieve the migraines and also assist with stabilizing moods. It did both, but also caused major weight gain.

I have the feeling, though, that the mean neurologist is more the norm when it comes to mental illness. Weird, isn't it?

I have heard of neuro-psychiatrists, sounds intriguing. I firmly believe that bipolar disorder is a form of seizure.

[Wild Coyote]

Hi Crook,

If you are interested in a psychiatrist who uses brain scans for psych diagnosis, etc., just search Dr. Daniel Amen, M.D. and/or Amen Clinics..

His work, his books are interesting. My step sister brings her 2 daughters to Dr. Amen. The girls have very moody parents.

Much Love

Originally Posted by BethRags

A few years ago a pdoc sent me for a brain scan (CT). I experience derealization almost all of the time and she wanted to check on that. Scan was normal. She also referred me to a neurologist. The SOB was so rude, he snapped out at me, "I can't do anything when you are on psychiatric medication!" He left the room and that was that. It was a horrible experience.

Many years ago, seeking treatment for migraine headaches that were landing me in the hospital, I saw a neurologist. That doctor was very gentle and kind; he prescribed Depakote which, he said, would help relieve the migraines and also assist with stabilizing moods. It did both, but also caused major weight gain.

I have the feeling, though, that the mean neurologist is more the norm when it comes to mental illness. Weird, isn't it?

I have heard of neuro-psychiatrists, sounds intriguing. I firmly believe that bipolar disorder is a form of seizure.

I think you could be right about mean neurologists, BethRags. Two I went to were pretty cold and rough. Once during an appointed with one I started to cry, really hard, which is abnormal for me. She literally yelled at me to stop and even physically shook me a bit. She would also discount some symptoms in a harsh way saying something like "That's all psychiatric-based!" Even if they were, her tone was inappropriate.

Another neurologist I went to (as a switch from the one above) barely said anything. Nothing helpful. All I remember was him basically threatening to contact the DMV to suspend my driver's license, if I told him I experienced symptoms I thought might be seizure activity.

The epileptologist was the nicest of the lot, but I only saw him once.

[bpcyclist]

Jerks......

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I think you could be right about mean neurologists, BethRags. Two I went to were pretty cold and rough. Once during an appointed with one I started to cry, really hard, which is abnormal for me. She literally yelled at me to stop and even physically shook me a bit. She would also discount some symptoms in a harsh way saying something like "That's all psychiatric-based!" Even if they were, her tone was inappropriate.

Another neurologist I went to (as a switch from the one above) barely said anything. Nothing helpful. All I remember was him basically threatening to contact the DMV to suspend my driver's license, if I told him I experienced symptoms I thought might be seizure activity.

The epileptologist was the nicest of the lot, but I only saw him once.

Such behavior is appalling! From this thread I'm gathering that too many neurologists scorn mental illness. I wonder why...seems as though neurologists are in competition with psychiatrists. Foolish. Shouldn't they work together?

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by BethRags

Such behavior is appalling! From this thread I'm gathering that too many neurologists scorn mental illness. I wonder why...seems as though neurologists are in competition with psychiatrists. Foolish. Shouldn't they work together?

I think this is why we don’t have any advances in the science....th neurologists have most of the science but can’t see that MI is science based too.

[bpcyclist]

I have said it before--neurology and psychiatry are, in fact, the same specialty. They just haven't figured that out yet.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

I think this is why we don’t have any advances in the science....th neurologists have most of the science but can’t see that MI is science based too.

Good point!

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

I have said it before--neurology and psychiatry are, in fact, the same specialty. They just haven't figured that out yet.

I agree entirely. I wish more doctors (besides pdocs) believed it.