[RisuNeko]

My new therapist told me my new diagnosis is Schizoaffective Depressive Type, but my old diagnosis was Bipolar I, y'know, because I get manic and whatnot. So why the depressive type? Shouldn't it be bipolar type? And I haven't even seen my PNP yet, so what business does he have making that diagnosis anyway? When he told me he just kind of read it off a piece of paper like he had nothing to do with it, but I haven't seen anyone else at the clinic, so where did this decision come from? I know it's not my old clinic because I expressly forbade them from sharing my records because of what an asshat my old psychiatrist was and how much he got things wrong in his notes (I read them).

I'll see my PNP on the 11th, so maybe it will get sorted out then. But for now, I'm at least officially in the schizoaffective club instead of just the bipolar club, which I'm not even sure is right because I don't think I hallucinate very often and I'm not terribly paranoid and I don't think I have delusions. But whatever. They're the professionals. I guess.

[insilence]

yeah my psych doc doesnt know much about clozapine. after the last conversation it seems i know more.
ive never had any confidence in my docs that they care or know anything.

[Atypical_Disaster]

Professionals don't always deserve the title of "professional". I've read some of your other posts, I think a second opinion is most definitely in order.

[RisuNeko]

I think I'm going to wait it out at least until I actually get to see my PNP on the 11th. They can actually diagnose at least. I just wonder where the heck they got the idea for my current diagnosis anyway.

schizoaffective club? wasn't aware there was a club.....

[CrazyLo]

People get misdiagnosed all of the time. It is extremely common.

[avlady]

are you on clanazapine? i am schitzophrenic and on it and it has helped greatly, but now i may have to go off of it as my white blood cell count has something wrong with it. i am being monitored with blood tests.

[RisuNeko]

Clozapine was pushed on me for like 6 months on my old clinic but I refused every time. I didn't want the side effects or the blood tests (It's a 3 hour round trip to get to the lab, and it's weekly). I don't think I really need clozapine right now though. I feel pretty okay and when I do have hallucinations they don't bother me.

I'm sorry you had the white blood cell count side effect. I hear that can be potentially really dangerous. I hope you get better and are still able to take an effective medication.

I've had my therapist tell me we should trade chairs because I know more about what I'm talking about than he does. "Professionals" definitely aren't always experts.

[(JD)]

Perhaps he only saw you once and that's where you were psychologically? The doctor has to have a DX to submit for payment...and for you to receive medications approved....

F25.1 Schizoaffective Disorder, Depressive Type

A disorder in which schizophrenic and depressive symptoms are both prominent in the same episode of illness. Depression of mood is usually accompanied by several characteristic depressive symptoms or behavioural abnormalities such as retardation, insomnia, loss of energy, appetite or weight, reduction of normal interests, impairment of concentration, guilt, feelings of hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. At the same time, or within the same episode, other more typically schizophrenic symptoms are present; patients may insist, for example, that their thoughts are being broadcast or interfered with, or that alien forces are trying to control them. They may be convinced that they are being spied upon or plotted against and this is not justified by their own behaviour. Voices may be heard that are not merely disparaging or condemnatory but that talk of killing the patient or discuss this behaviour between themselves. Schizoaffective episodes of the depressive type are usually less florid and alarming than schizoaffective episodes of the manic type, but they tend to last longer and the prognosis is less favourable. Although the majority of patients recover completely, some eventually develop a schizophrenic defect.
Diagnostic Guidelines

There must be prominent depression, accompanied by at least two characteristic depressive symptoms or associated behavioural abnormalities as listed for depressive episode; within the same episode, at least one and preferably two typically schizophrenic symptoms (as specified for schizophrenia), diagnostic guidelines (a)-(d) should be clearly present.
This category should be used both for a single schizoaffective episode, depressive type, and for a recurrent disorder in which the majority of episodes are schizoaffective, depressive type.

[RisuNeko]

But he was just a social worker, so he can't even diagnose. Plus, I'm not depressed. Maybe he was basing it off this stupid form I filled out, some kind of depression profile quiz thing, but my baseline includes things like social isolation, insomnia, not enjoying things I used to (because of the meds numbing me out). Right now I'd say I'm above baseline. Definitely not depressed. I probably scored pretty high on the anxiety portion, but that doesn't mean I'm depressed. I'm anxious even when I'm not depressed. I'm always anxious.

[RisuNeko]

I do have one question though based on the description you posted. Is schizoaffective depressive type something that you can overcome and get over, and bipolar type not so much? I thought they were both lifelong things, but your description makes it sound like the depressive type is something you can recover from. Bipolar is obviously a lifelong thing, and if half of the diagnosis is bipolar, then it seems like it wouldn't be something that would just go away. I always figured whatever I'm saddled with I'm going to be dealing with it for my whole life. Probably because of my prior bipolar I diagnosis.

I think they can be ongoing conditions.

I wonder if he diagnosed you as schizoaffective because insurance will cover your meds with that diagnosis?

[RisuNeko]

They were already covered with the bipolar I diagnosis. Same meds anyway.