correct diagnosis ??, unipolar or bipolar, are you sure ??

Treatment and medication
1

hiya folks,

well after 40+ years of recurent major depressive episodes and being treated for unipolar depression (its genetic :? ), my new trickcyclist tells me im bipolar :shock: :huh:

as i have said in earlier posts, im just coming out of a really nasty depressive episode :? i couldnt get to see my usual trickcyclist as i was an emergency (i was very very close to turning the lights out permanantly :cry: ) i wouldnt care but my usual is the consultant head of the psychiatric team in my area :roll: she sure as hell seemed to know what she was talking about :shock:

i saw the new guy for only the third time on monday, i was expecting him to raise my meds to 40 mg from 20 mg as i felt i had reached a plateau, ive been on fluoxetine this time for about 15 weeks or so, but no !! he tells me he has read my notes from the begining (jeeeeez he must be keen, they are as thick as a volume of the Encyclopedia - Britannica lol :wink: ) and that i am bipolar :shock: i wouldnt care, ive even asked previous head docs if i was bipolar cos i seemed to tick most of the boxes for the profile :roll: and the answer was allways no !! :?

well, better late than never as they say eh ?? lol :shock: :wink: the end result is hes put me on lamotrogine, a mood stabiliser and im to come off the fluoxetine as soon as my depression has fully cleared up as it detrimental to take anti depressants long term with bipolar disorder, they can agrevate and worsen any episodes of mania amongst other things :shock: :?

further info on bipolar depression can be had here :- http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-symptoms-types it's definitely worth a read :ok: :mrgreen:

cheers,

Ken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :cheers: :rainbow:

2

hey psychochief hows it goin?

i red the link about bipolar disorders. i could tick some boxes for some of the symptoms. but all in all it doesnt really explain what it is like for peeps who suffer with it.

im just curious, how would you explain bipolar disorder?

cheers

m

3

smile Hey Psychochief.I am interested to know how they decide if you are Bipolar or not?I find it quite distressing that you have only just been diagnosed after all this time.I too find that I have alot of the symptoms as I am sure you will agree that most of them can be signs of the dreaded depression.I would be interested in chatting more if you dont mind.Hope you are ok.Love P xxx smile

4

hiya folks :mrgreen:

well i dont start my mood swing meds till tomorow when im seeing the doc again, ill keep you peeps posted, ill let you know how i get on with them :roll: :wink:

for those intereste heres a list of symptons used to diagnose bipolar disorder quoted from the link i posted :-

\"In bipolar disorder, the dramatic and rapidly changing mood swings from highs to lows do not follow a set pattern, and depression does not always follow manic phases. A person may also experience the same mood state several times before suddenly experiencing the opposite mood. Mood swings can happen over a period of weeks, months, and sometimes even years.

The severity of the depressive and manic phases can differ from person to person and in the same person at different times.

Symptoms of mania (\"the highs\&quotwink:

*Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement

*Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable, angry, and hostile

*Restlessness

*Rapid speech and poor concentration

*Increased energy and less need for sleep

*High sex drive

*Tendency to make grand and unattainable plans

*Tendency to show poor judgment, such as deciding to quit a job

*Drug and alcohol abuse

*Increased impulsivity

Some people with bipolar disorder can become psychotic, seeing and hearing things that aren't there and holding false beliefs from which they cannot be swayed. In some instances they see themselves as having superhuman skills and powers, or think they are God-like.

During depressive periods (\"the lows\&quotwink, a person with bipolar disorder may experience:

*Sadness

*Loss of energy

*Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness

*Loss of enjoyment from things that once were pleasurable

*Difficulty concentrating

*Uncontrollable crying

*Difficulty making decisions

*Irritability

*Increased need for sleep

*Insomnia

*A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain

*Thoughts of death or suicide

*Attempting suicide\"

theres also thought to be a strong genetic link, so family history is taken into account also :wink:

hiya pinky, go ahead and chat then, you can PM me if you would prefer to :ok: :mrgreen:

hi miscellaneous, its very hard to describe the bipolar experience, but when Alice talks to the caterpilar in Alice in wonderland she describes the effect of mood changes quite well :shock: :wink:

\"`Who are YOU?' said the Caterpillar.

Alice replied, rather shyly,

`I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'

`What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly. `Explain yourself!'

`I can't explain MYSELF, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, `because I'm not myself, you see.'

`I don't see,' said the Caterpillar.

`I'm afraid I can't put it more clearly,' Alice replied very politely,

`for I can't understand it myself to begin with; and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.'

i hope that makes sense to you :huh: :wink:

cheers,

Ken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :cheers: :rainbow:

5

hi there psychochief

I was diagnosed with clinical depression and dysthymic mood disorder a few years ago. But most of my symptoms fit in with your list for bipolar, except that I haven't got any interest for sex forget about high sex drive! lol! I also don't have much energy.

I'll be looking out for your posts on how you're getting on. All the best. :winkeye:

6

hey chief

thanks 4 the reply.

i almost have all the symptoms u mentioned including the \"god like\" one :lol:

im wondering if i maybe have that disorder now 2 :shock:

flu is doing its job 4 me tho. i still get bad days tho. especially when i had 2 miss my dosage 4 a couple of days, was awful :x

i think i know what u mean with alice. i find it much easier to explain what its like to be depressed when i feel down. :roll:

cheers

m

7

hiya folks :mrgreen:

well i've been on the mood stabilizers (lamotrigine) for about 3 weeks now, luckily there's been no discernable side effects :ok: nor has there been any difference in my mood swings either :? :huh: still its early days yet, the dosage has to be built up over several weeks tho, i started on 25 mg for two weeks and am on 50 mg now, i see the trickcyclist again in early june, when the meds go up again :roll: :wink:

on the fluoxetine front i seem to have hit a 'plateau' :huh: i don't get many bad 'down' days now but the chronic fatigue is still there with a vengeance at times, i can sleep for queen and country at times :shock: :roll: it's a 'catch 22', no win situation, i feel motivated and happy, i go out to shop, for exercise, go to the pub for a couple of pints (i mean a couple too :cheers: ) to get back into socialising and the next day, BANG, i'm completely knackered for two or three days again grrrrrrrrrr :? :zzz:

anyhooooooooos, onward and upward as they say, it's a long haul folks, hang on in there :ok: tomorows another day and most of all, BE KIND TO YOURSELVES !! :wink: :mrgreen:

cheers,

Ken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :cheers: :rainbow: :mrgreen:

8

Hi Psychochief,

sorry to read yr having a tough time. But you've always been there fore the rest of us so now it is your turn to get the support.

It is very scary getting a diagnosis like that. But, as i tell my family, it is better to know what you are dealing with.

I am sure that as the meds build up you will start to feel more in control. An old friend has also just been diagnosed bipolar and I have to say, it is not a surprise. She would go from manic to rock bottom almost in the blink of an eye (and she had the mad sex drive as well - lucky cow!)

Hey mate, we are all here for you in the bad times. If you do find yr self thinking anything silly or self destructive feel free to PM me. I can't guarantee I will pick it up quickly but I do check the site regularly.

You've helped me loads. it is my turn to return the complement!

lelly xx

9

Hi How are you doing?

Just wanted like lelly to say you will be okay remember you always say one step forward and two back? I have just come out of a bad weekend and I thought I was going to saty like that! felt better yesterday and today but I find its important to remember that when I 'overdo' it it does set me back a few days - more sleepy and anxious and stressed etc. Do you think maybe you could be over doing it when you do start to feel better. Subsequently you are then needing to recover for a couple of days??

I think maybe when you feel better dont do as much jsut do a list of maybe three liitle things and get through them over a couple of days. domnt know what to say really as I aways read your posts and they make me feel better. So I just hope you read this and feel a little better you are definatley just having a little blip meds can defo take a while to settle and you will be up and down for a while before they level out?

How are you doing with your eating? As when I dont eat well for a day or two this defo has n effect on my moods for a few days? And I have had o cut out the alcohol altogether. Just for now mind but it was defo making me anxious next day even one glass of wine so although i luuurve my wine I am knocking it on the head till I am better and its killing me by the way!! Hope your feeling a bit better by teh tiem you read this and dont forget that you are inspirational to so many of us on here and proof that people can get through bad periods in their life. tHinking of you and it sound like lelly is to so chin up - stiff upper lip and remember were British! he he Maddymoo xx

10

hiya folks :mrgreen:

thanks for your concern but there's no sweat, i've been here lots of times before :? but every time is a bit different to an extent :roll:

the trouble with me is i have a personality where i don't tend to 'practice what i preach' :wink: i get impatient, frustrated and angry with myself, when i'm feeling 'energised' i want to make up for lost time and do the stuff i haven't been physically able to do previously, it's part of the bi-polar i think :shock: :huh:

still, what it does mean is i'm on the mend again :ok: :mrgreen: the only trouble is, having been here before i know it's a long roller coaster ride to a full recovery and start to wonder how long it will be before i experience an episode as bad as this one has been in the futer :roll: :cry: i would like to be able to say never hopefully :ok: but i know deep down, realistically that there will be a next time, it's just a matter of when, this illness has a big genetic element with me, in fact my mother was plagued by this illness for many years, she eventually commited suicide, this was way back in the 70s tho :? all they did then was basically turn you into a junky with heavy duty tranqus and sleepers sprinkled with liberal doses of electro convulsive therapy :? today is different, there are some brilliant meds on the scene, it's just a matter of finding the right one/s for the individual :ok:

as i get older, i'm pretty sure that this nast indiscriminate illness WILL get me in the end, i genuinely thought this was it, thank you and good night, the 'big one' i was wrong, but heh when i was 18 i was in rock bands and me and a mate didn't reckon we'd make 21 lol :shock: :wink: sex, drugs and rock n roll etc wooooooot :cheers: :mrgreen:

once again thanks folks, it's good to know that other folks understand and empathise out there :wink:

i have a theory that if it was compulsory for everyone on the planet to experience just a few seconds of deep depression, there would be less stigma and more understanding and more research done to eradicate this awfull, nasty, evil illness that is depression, here endeth the sermon lol :wink: :whistle:

anyhooooos byeeeeee for nooooo, keep trucking :rainbow: :ok:

cheers,

Ken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :cheers: :cheerup:

11

Hello, This is my first time on the forum, and I am Bi-Polar, and aged 57 years old.

My story starts at the age of 5 years old, when my Mother physically and mentally abused me, leaving me blind in one eye, and a large coal fire burn covering my right leg.

They say you block things out due to trauma, and I don't remember anything before the age of 10 years old, only very vague flashbacks like orange curtains in the dining room.

I don't remember my Mother and she left my Dad and I shortly after. My wonderful Grandma brought me up from 5 years old while my Dad continued working..

I have always felt alienated and in a sort of bubble, and found it difficult to relate to people.

My Grandma was a very strong and independant lady, and she brought me up to be the same, and instilled in me Morals, Respect and Values.

I emigrated to Australia with my husband who was a very caring and understanding man at the age of 19 years old, and found it very difficult to adjust.

I would unbeknown to me, be cleaning the kitchen floor whilst having friends round for dinner. Dr Cook who was British diagnosed depression and medication. My condition grew worse and I had a nervous breakdown.

My husband decided that we would take 6 months off work ( both employers kept our jobs until we returned ). We travelled Europe and came back to England, and then returned to Australia.

My husband thought this would cure my depression.

Needless to say it did'nt and I alone returned to England.

Once back home, I became promiscuous and out drinking every day, spending money like water, and had no plans for the future.

My Dad encouraged me to do my nurse training in London and became a RMN in the old institution, padded cells, lock up wards, and straight jackets.

Funnily enough I felt an affinity with the Mental patients, but again could'nt cope and had my second nervous breakdown.

I have been prescribed over the years with, Librium, Valiam, Proxac, Seroxac, Lithiam, Citolapram, Lamotrogine, Sertraline, Venlafaxine, Quetiapine and Zopiclone.

Bi-Polar sufferers are normally highly intelligent, articulate, and think they are right about almost anything.

When on a high you are centre of attraction, bubbly, very sociable, never shut up talking, not afraid of anyone or anything, and as I say: would fight a lion or a tank. People become quite nervous and afraid to be in your company, even your friends and family. Even more so when drinking.

Lows: You just want to curl up and die, or try suicide, which I have also done. You don't want to mix or go out anywhere, just can't be bothered to do anything, irritable, aggressive, no one understands,

cannot see any point in being on this earth. But I am still here !!

12

I don't wish to upset anyone by my experience, there is always some light at the end of the tunnel. For most people suffering with deppression I think there is always a reason for this, and therefore when you accept it and work through it, with someone who knows you well and you can use them as a sound board, sometimes you can realise things that you did'nt know or understand, its a bit like self analysis.

I wish everyone all the best and perseverance with reducing their medication, and becoming medication free.