Bi-polar with ADD?? One or the other??

Hi there.. For years (since before I can remember...) I have been told if she'd only apply her self, if she'd only sit still, go to bed earlier (so that I would stop yawning and sleeping..) If only.. Then I joined the Military. I started sleeping from watch to watch (12 hours or more) and even most of my breaks (48 hours) with the urge to sleep at work too. Well at some point I developed an ability to sleep when not at work or doing something with my friends. Was constantly tired and even with my friends wasn't alway's in a "great" mood. No drinking (gads I hated that feeling of lost control..) fix, no drugs.. they finally sent me to a Dr. who said I was depressed and put me on prozac. I got pregnate about a year later with medium results from the medication. After the pregnacy things were semi normail. Not nearly as tired and feeling pretty decent for a change wow!! two years later boom. I feel like crap (actually after my second son) and am tired all the time and really cranky and moody. Now being Military I am at a totally different Dr. who thought maybe it was post partum blues, but couldn't expalin why every thing seemed confused and jumbled up. So. Now anotehr Dr in Hawaii now. We went to see him for my son's ADD. Now he wants to know why I am not being treated for Bi-Polar/ADD (DUH! Cause no one brought it up before maybe??) as well as him. Now, he put me on Depakote, Trileptal and carnitor. I for the first time ever went to sleep at a normal time, woke up after 8ish hours of sleep and didn't want to scoop sugar out of the bowl and eat it. Of course I couldn't make a decission, choose to do something and don't have any idea what I did all day. I got a bit of a hand shake too. So when we retired to WA I of course gentley weaned myself off the pills (which reads cold turkey) cause I was rather ignorant.. After a year I started feeling depressed again and angery at everyone. New Dr say's yeap bi-polar try something and then maybe this something. T hen this something that made me sleepall day every day and I made my kids late for school frequently because I couldn't wake up. Now. I read about ADD in nother book I found and to me I sit there going "WOW other people feel like this, act like this ,do stupid things going what one earth was I thinking..." I didn't know that ADD people could be depressed, angery or any of the above. I got on wellbutrin for awhile and it was really great. I liked sex, was getting things done around the house, thought it was great to be alive... THEN>>> I hated everyone for no reason suddenly in the middle of a great mood. So no more Wellbutrin. Does anyone else have "bi-polar and ADD" What exactly makes them different? How to do they treat one and the other considering supposedly ADD meds make the Bi-Polar swings faster and faster, but the Bi-Polar meds can aggrevate the ADD. Am I finding quacks? How do I find a Dr I feel comfortable with and that I think knows enough about these two problems to treat them? The one I found I really am not that comfortable with in some ways..
Arlene

WOO HOO I must have found a subject that's harder to ID than I though.. LOL Anyone else out there have this problem? Is it very common? Uncommon? Anyone have any tips besides find a Dr that can help better? I am wanting to find some information out too before I go search out another Dr. I want to feel like I think the person has a clue when I walk in. So far the people I find just don't inspire hope and safety in their prowness.

Arlene

Hi

I can relate to what you are going through. As a child around age 5 i knew i was differant. They tested me and not much was done back then.
I have bipolar. I was dignossed 11 years ago after many boats of depression and highs.
I'm doing fine these days but my problem is this!

My son is 14. He was dignossed ADHD in grade 2. Put on meds for 2 or more years with no inprovement.
I have been working hard all these years tring to get a proper dignosses for my son. I'm sure i know more about ADD, ADHD and BIPOLAR than the doctors do most times. All they want to look at my son and tell me he is ADHD.

When ever i talk about him posably showing early signs of child hood bipolar they dismise it as if i know knowthing. Let me tell you a know a great deal. I have studied this topic for years. I've read most books and first and formost , i have hands on expereance.

My son has consistantly shown signs of both ADD and bipolar sence he was young. Just like i did when i was young. The doctors do talk about ADD or ADHD coexisting with BIPOLAR at the same time but as they say and as i have studied, no one knows as of yet if the to realy do overlap each other in some people.

I mean lets be realistic here. It is a proven fact that a bipolar child exibits all or most of ADD or ADHD simtums, and an ADD or ADHD child shows only some of the simtums. So how would anyone be able to suggest the to coexist.

I beleave my son has bipolar disorder. Yes he does have ADHD simtums at times but many times he is just fine for long periods of time. How can he be ADHD and have long streaches of perfect behavior. I think the doctors need to open up ther eyes and ears and lesson to what i tell them, but no. I'm not a doctor so what do i know. LOTS but its like beating a dead horse. It gets me no where. Mean while my son started a new ADHD medication, even though his behavior, consentration ect. has been perfect these past fue months.

Ive read ADHD medication can cause havic in someone who is bipolar and that bipolar should be ruled out before a dignosses of things like ADHD is given. Expessialy when bipolar illness runs in the family.

WELL LETS JUST HOPE THE DOCTORS ARE RIGHT AND IM THE WRONG ONE. IF MY SON GETS ANY WORSE OVER THIS I WILL BE HOLDING SOMEONE ACOUNTABLE.

JACQUI

One question for you: Does your soon have depressive episodes, too?

Angela

Angela

In regards to your question.

Yes my son is now showing signs of depressive episodes. He has been for about the past year or so.
Unfortunately prier to these depressive episodes he had your classic simptoms of which do not fall into the DSM-IV criteria which was not created to dignoss children but only adults. Children are mentioned, but they are to be diagnosed basically according to the adult criteria.
Bipolar disorder in children presents its self in a very differant pattern. This pattern often bears little resemblance to classical cycles of mania and depression as they are expressed in adulthood. Most children with bipolar do not show signs of depression until late adolescence.
Unfortunately this has been the case with my son as well as myself when i was a child . Now that he is showing signs of depression, already having a dignosses of ADHD, the doctors continue to look for strong signs of mania and sever depression, there for the dignosses stays the same .
Unfortunately i will have to sit and watch him struggle and suffer as i did untill someone decides to open up ther brain and look at the pattern in which he poses.
By no means do i wish the dignosses of bipolar on my son, but i can not egnor the behavior he has shown over the past 7 years or so. ADHD whould be easier to except but i live with my son 24/7 and can not egnor what is right in front of my face.

Jacqui

(((Jacqui)))

I'm not very familiar with bipolar in general, particularly not as it pertains to children. So thanks for teaching me!

I'm sorry for your frustration. Wish there was something I could do to help.

Angela

Thanks Angela

Your right, it is very frustrating but i take it day by day. Unfortunately all the the experance and knowledge in the world won't speed the process up any. So many doctors, expecially in the mental health department need to be more open minded so advancement and research can help people get well, expesially the children.

Jacqui :-))

I apologize not reading your post more fully (my ADD besides BP-II (mild), just want to tell you having both DX's are possible, I pray for you or whoever you know that has both gets treated for both, my doc being too conservstive hasn't allowed me meds for the ADD and that depresses me, I am giving him a little more time then telling him to help or get lost.
In PA I was told first address the BP-II and then go to meds for ADD. I know from past self medicating the stimulants helped more than the stabilizers, but no pdoc will listen and treat me that way
But yes, we can have both DX's.
Got to run, take care


DE

I hope you find a way to get treated properly DE. Thanks for your input, but just one comment.

Thats the problem with doctors. They all say something differant. You say your dignossed with both bipolar and ADD.
Well ive been to many doctors for myself as well as my son and they can't seem to agree on this subject. Most doctors i speek with say its possible but not proven yet that the 2 can co-exist together. They say that its just similar simtums.

The doctors don't really know where they stand on that topic. I've read up on it as well and the books say the same thing. BIPOLAR and ADD or ADHD my co-exist but its not yet proven. But i do find that most doctors will treat as is they do so who know, not me.

anyway i hope all is well
Jacqui

I am currently diagnosed with both Bipolar 1 and ADHD as well as a couple others.

For me the Diagnosis was never given to me as a child no childhood dianosis of any type. Though did have many ADHD symptons as a child.

Have only been diagnosed with the two (ADHD and Bipolar 1) as an adult. And am being treated and have been for about 3 years. So far am doing ok as can be on my current ADHD and Bipolar meds.

Best wishes-

So have any of you felt you have gotten treated with something that helped both symptoms? What were you put on? I am curiouse becaus of coure there's not just me, but my son who could very well have the same thing. It was put in his last Dr transfer sheets to watch him for signs of it. So far no I don't see any depression. Just the self directed anger at his inablilities to do what you want him to do off meds and the frusteration anger that seems to build up and pop after the day doesn't go like you want.. That's what I am wondering if my anger's not coming from, but it doesn't explain the days I want to sleep all day and never get out of bed. I never hit high's where I am "doing" something all the time, but there's days where I feel unable to sleep. Those days I am too "tired" to do anything but read or watch t.v. or maybe play on the computer (no games that require thought)... It's not like I feel the need to go run miles or clean the whole house or anything that way. I get the urge to talk and talk and talk, but sometimes I think it's more out of nerves than anything else. Trying to find the right thing to say to make whom ever I am talking to "sway" to what I am thinking or saying at the time (if that makes sense..) ANY HOW. If anyone can say they are the same or have more ideas about the difference between ADD/Bipolar (notice that the "hypers" not in that ADHD, it's been CENTURIES since I felt hyper..)

Hi BooHooHoo,

I am sorry you are having such a difficult time with this as well as your son.

I am being treated with Adderal, for the ADHD, which I had the same questions for my therapist as how I could be ADHD and not one bit hyper and having no energy to say the least. She said that it was my mind and insides that were hyper and that as an adult although not physically hyper, that I had the hyper mind thinking of one subject to the next and never staying on track.

The Bipolar I am taking Lithium, Effexor, and Risperdal. As you expressed I am having no 'highs' as far as doing cleaning of the whole house. I at times want to talk and talk sometimes for me it is more of being exited to have someone to talk to and I feel better for the time, then the depression returns and the excitement of the previous conversation is short lived and once again am back to feeling depressed or drained.

I often become angry, even though there is no reason, and I am by myself. Do hope to find help for this someday with hoping of the creations of new medications.

I hope you can get to feeling better and find the answers to help you and your son. Sorry I didn't have much to suggest only wanted to share some of my meds and experiences for the two.

Take care, Chris

Thanks for your input KRIS

It made me realize a key point i failed to add on my last post.
What i ment about dignossing bipolar and ADD together and the fact that is not yep a proven thing, i ment in children. This is only because the simptums for ADD, ADHD and Bipolar illness in children are the same. Its a proven fact that 94% of children already dignossed bipolar meet the DSM-IIIR criteria for attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity.
If only it were as easy to treat or dignoss in children as it sometimes can be in adults.

My son was on a waiting list to be seen once again for over a year and a half. Finally when he finally got in the system again his simtums had ended and it was as if he was like any other child. With no simpums in sight he once again is on ADHD meds, and to serve what perpuse, who knows.