Schizoaffective disorder; what does it mean??

I was diagnosed with schizoaffective some years ago. Nobody in the seems to be able to give me a straight answer to this. I have seen many pdoc and they all don't agree with this diagnosis. Which confuses me even more.

What I find odd, is the fact that I don't always experience voices etc on a regular basis. I find with this eating disorder, there are constant voices that battle in my head. But that doesn't have to mean that I am schizoaffective. I am impatiently waiting for a call from my old pdoc. I had him where I lived before. We had a great relationship but we both moved away. He is not far from me and my family doctor sent in a referal to him for me to see him again. He is the one who diagnosed me with this disorder.

I hope so much that he will see me again. I have so many questions for him. He knew me more then I knew myself. lolol, that may sound silly but its true. It was like he could read my mind. He had such a way of pulling stuff out of me that I didn't even realize was bothering me. I just can't wait for his office to phone. I don't care if I have to drive an hour and a half, one way to see him. It's worth it!!

Anyway, my point to this was, Does anyone know much about this disorder?? I know you are not doctors, but sometimes living it is more helpful then just reading it in books. Really, I know what's wrong with my kids when they are sick before the doctors even do; lolol. True though. Not knocking down doctors or anything. Without them, we would be helpless.

Sorry for the babbling. I am nervous about going for IV's today. Just watching the fluids go in makes me panic.

Justy

schizoaffective disorder is like when you have schizophrenic symptoms and manic depressive disorder simultaneously. The symptoms often swich on and off on some people meaning one day you'll be schizophrenic and the other day you'll be manic-depressive. Some people are just both at the same time. it's strange, but i understand it.

That is pretty much what they told me about the disorder the schizophrenia characteristics along with the bipolar characteristics.

I had that diagnosis after they got rid of the Chronic Paranoid Schifrenia diagnosis.

Then they got rid of the Schizoaffective and replaced it with Bipolar type 1.

I think maybe they change them so much for funding or insurance moneys for certain diagnosis' I dont know seems like maybe they have to have a balance of different kinds of people or diagnosis to get their money? Just a thought that came into my head.

Sorry don't know much else other than they said I had it at one time.

((((Justy))))

I don't have any information stored in my head on Schizoaffective disorder. I have looked on the internet though and found a site started by a person with the disorder. I will try to find it again for you.

Hope you're not too nervous today!

Take Care,
Kimberly.

Schizoaffective disorder is defined as a combination of:

A. one of these three mood disorders; Major Depression, Mania or a Mixed Episode (which is a both together)

AND

B. Schizophrenia

There are two subtypes, Bipolar and Depressive. Bipolar would be assigned to someone who is manic or has mixed episodes and also has schizophrenia.

There are a lot of very specific details in the DSM about how long the symptoms need to be present, etc., but it's too much to type. I'm sure it's online here somewhere! The DSM code is 295.70 if it comes in handy! (hey I bought the book, I might as well use it!!)

emmy

A couple other things I found here:

Resource List

Yahoo Support Group

emmy

I find this very interesting, thanks for the information. I will check on these sites this weekend.

I still find it hard to understand, even with these explanations. I was very ill when I was diagnosed. And like I say, not all of the doctors agree with this.

I was experiencing hearing voices, seeing things that were actually not there (I thought so), things like this. My doctor put me on Riseridol. (please pardon the spelling). Plus like 7 others. I can't remember all of them. I was like a zombie. I don't recall everything at this time, but have a lot of memories. I would get better, get sick, get better..... all over a course of 2 yrs. I was hospitalized several times (usually against my will, certified). But in all honesty, if they didn't do this, I would be dead.

I had periods of extreme depression for a few months, then go on this total energy high, then back down again. This is when the delusions started and SI came into play a great deal.

I just don't see why that would justify a diagnosis of schizoaffective. But I am not the doc. Thats why its so important for me to see my old pdoc. I find it so confusing, and it does not help the fact of the severity of my up and downers. (is that a word). I think you catch the drift of what I am trying to say, I hope; lolol.

Justy