Today was diagnosed with Bipolar II or Cyclothymic Disorder..?!
Question: I have done some research around the net to decipher the difference between the two conditions - Im not sure which pocket I fit into - I was diagnosed by a highly regarded Psychiatrist in my area but in todays session being the first he has seen me (and as it happened was also having a bit of a hypomanic episode in his office which was kind of handy as he got to see me the way I get - was talking fast and jumping from subject to subject and he was good he didnt stop me just wrote it all down and asked any relevent questions) at the end he said you have Bipolar type II or possibly Cyclothymic Disorder and is putting me on Valpro once I taper off the Endep (antidepressant I have been on for a few years and tried to just stop a week ago with bad withdrawl symptoms)
After spending a few hours reading up on websites Im just not sure how to fit myself in either pocket as I tend to have bits and pieces from each label or condition.
Where in Australia (Melbourne) is a good place to go..
Answers: I have done some research around the net to decipher the difference between the two conditions - Im not sure which pocket I fit into - I was diagnosed by a highly regarded Psychiatrist in my area but in todays session being the first he has seen me (and as it happened was also having a bit of a hypomanic episode in his office which was kind of handy as he got to see me the way I get - was talking fast and jumping from subject to subject and he was good he didnt stop me just wrote it all down and asked any relevent questions) at the end he said you have Bipolar type II or possibly Cyclothymic Disorder and is putting me on Valpro once I taper off the Endep (antidepressant I have been on for a few years and tried to just stop a week ago with bad withdrawl symptoms)
After spending a few hours reading up on websites Im just not sure how to fit myself in either pocket as I tend to have bits and pieces from each label or condition.
Where in Australia (Melbourne) is a good place to go..
There are a couple of different diagnostic codes used by doctors in the "Bipolar II" category, I'm Bipolar II NOS; which means "non-specific"
Informative term, huh? LOL. Really, by calling you Bipolar II he's ascertaining that you are only hypo manic, not wildly manic. 2nd, the term cyclothymic can be used to mean that you are "mildly manic", and not all the time. They use the term "dysthymic" for people who are depressed only moderately, not so severely that it's a major problem in their lives all the time.
Anyway, as you continue to get treated, every doc will label you somewhere with a specific code taken from the Diagnostic Code Manual in order for you to receive insurance coverage for your meds and therapy (well, that is how it works in USA). They'll look in the "BiPolar category and pick which one fits. I've been in a couple of the choices, every year they are always changing and expanding the sub-types. We are no longer just "manic-depressive' (very old term). Now they have a dozen subgroups because there are so many gradiations of it.
Either way, there are good drugs; I took Valproic Acid at first (Depakote), but did not fare well with side effects..it still worked ok, but after a year I began Lamictal (in conjunction with an antidepressant), and it works pretty great. Much fewer side effects.
Good luck!
Don't know the Melbourne, Australia, area, but want to remind you that the labels you're puzzling over are just handy, approximate descriptions of psychological conditions that ultimately are unique to individuals and not bound by the limitations of handy labels. Don't puzzle too hard over the differences you see in your own case; just work with your doctors to get in a good balance. Glad you're taking such good care of yourself, my friend!
The main thing is that you are educating yourself about this illness and you want to help as much as possible.
My daughter has Bipolar. She would tell you to make sure that you take your medication as directed and keep all your doctors appointments.
I'm sorry that I can't help you with a good place to go since I am not from Australia.
The main difference between the two is the severity of the depressive episodes. In Bipolar II there are hypomanic episodes along with full major depressive episodes. In Cyclothymia there are hypomanic episodes along with periods of depression. However the cyclothymic depression does not meet the full symptom criteria for a major depressive episode.