How is one "diagnosed" with bipolar? read my story?!
Question: I have been experiencing hyperactivity, racing thoughts, uncontrollable anger, and drastic mood swings that have been ruining my relationships. I have a history of depression in my family. My brother was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome.
So I got to a new psychiratrist and I didn't even get to talk to a doctor, but a physician assistant instead who can prescribe meds. I described my symptoms and she thinks I might be bipolar. She wrote me a prescription for Depakote ER.
Does this mean I have been "diagnosed" with bipolar disorder? I have had blood work from my regular doctor (who doesn't know about my condition). Does this rule out any other complications?
Answers: I have been experiencing hyperactivity, racing thoughts, uncontrollable anger, and drastic mood swings that have been ruining my relationships. I have a history of depression in my family. My brother was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome.
So I got to a new psychiratrist and I didn't even get to talk to a doctor, but a physician assistant instead who can prescribe meds. I described my symptoms and she thinks I might be bipolar. She wrote me a prescription for Depakote ER.
Does this mean I have been "diagnosed" with bipolar disorder? I have had blood work from my regular doctor (who doesn't know about my condition). Does this rule out any other complications?
trust me, you are bipolar. take your pills.
RUN LIKE THE WIND! You have to talk with a psychiatrist for quite a long time, for many sessions, before you can competently be correctly diagnosed.
Physicians these days are way too fast with tossing off those presciptions, and for a bi-polar person, it is WORSE to be misdiagnosed and be given incorrect meds than it is to not to be on meds at all. On average, it takes a person with a mental illness approximately 8 months to a year to "find a good doctor" and approximately 2 years to tweak your medications to the place where you are doing well. A bipolar ends up with an average of about 4-5 different medications. IF - and only if - you take these medicines EXACTLY AS THEY ARE PRESCRIBED a bipolar person can live a fairly normal life.
I would suggest you click on this link and browse around, there is really good information here:
http://www.nami.org/
Good luck.
you may want to get another opinion but it sounds like you are bi-polar.
well...you were diagnosed. if she thought you were bipolar and gave you meds...well then there ya go.
if your regular doc hasn't called about hypothyroidism, then there aren't any other complications. sometimes hypothyroidism can mimic bipolar disorder...and normally they check for thyroid diseases when they have a blood sample.
so my friend, you are bipolar and have been diagnosed with it.
From what I have experienced from a bipolar: Get diagnosed, take meds and keep doctor appointments...You may become a remarkable person...Prayers.
A psychiatrist should diagnose you, after a number of sessions. Don't settle for less.
To be diagnosed with bipolar you must have symptoms of major or minor depression with some sort of manic episodes (this could be the racing thoughts). I'm not a psychiatrist or a psychologist but if you feel like you have suffered depression and have had at least one, what you would consider, manic episode than you have reason to be concerned. I would talk to a different psychiatrist who will actually see you and explain things to you a little better. In any event deffinetely get a second opinion because you can live a normal life with bipolar if its treated correctly! Depakote ER is a bipolar treating medicine but you need to talk to your doctor or another doctor to get more information about your personal case!
A psychPA is licensed to do intake assessments and prescribe medication. It is SOP for you to have routine blood work to rule out any other obvious causes. Your regular doc doesn't have to know, but in the future you really should disclose the meds you are on, and they will pretty much give it away. It's no big deal since most doctors have some patients with bipolar.
From what you describe, you've got at least some symptoms. Educate yourself on the illness and the medications. A good site for med info is http://www.crazymeds.us
Welcome to the club.
PS - I agree that a second opinion is a good idea. I don't agree that there's anything less worthy about a licensed psych PA's diagnosis, and I most definitely *would not* recommend seeing a GP/PCP. Go to a psychiatrist that specializes specifically in mood disorders for a second opinion. There's no point going to the wrong type of doc if you're going to shell out the bucks. And........ a much better site to ask questions is http://www.crazyboards.org There are a lot of ppl who have bipolar and know about bipolar there. Here you are getting a little decent info and a lot of misinformation.
a bipolar person is either very angry or extremely happy never in the middle.mood swings can change rapidly.bipolar does not show up in a blood test.take the medication and see if it helps you.if not go back again.it took a few tries for them to get my meds right.i take : cymbalta,lamictal,klonopin,topamax,resto...
First of all Aspergers syndrome is a form of Autism.... You have been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder if thats what the PA told you but however I would insist on seeing the psychiatrist if that is an option. It helps if you take your meds regularly . Blood work is not going to show up any depression, but you could have thyriod problems or something else but that usually don't cause the mood swings unless you are a woman in your change of life.
Are the experiences that you recognize yourself or have these experiences been recognized about you from someone else's point of view.
First of all I would definately talk this over with a few good friends and co-workers; ask their opinion of how they see you.
AS far as relationships are concerned? What type of relationships...........All or just one or two. Like spouse, mother daugher, father son, sister brother, lover.
I think you should be seen by your regular doctor and tell him/her how "you" feel and what "you think" . Research bipolar symptoms and see if they fit your feelings .
Ask questions to your doctor. I'm not sure what you mean when you say "does this rule out any other complications"?