Well, looks like my "Depression" is actually rapid-cycling Bipolar II.

[Odin2005]

My psych re-diagnosed me yesterday. Said that BiII is often misdiagnosed as Depression because the hypomanic episodes are missed since people with BiII usually get help during the depressive phase.

*SIGH*

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. oh dear. You are in for a roller coaster ride... Hang on and take

your meds.

[Odin2005]

6. Thank you, I was prescribed Lamictal.

I have already been taking Paxil as well.

[no name no slogan]

25. Lamictal is well-prescribed and effective. Just be careful going on/off it

the dosing can be a bit hairy, but you probably know that. And if you get ANY sign of a rash, CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY! Don't f*ck around with it, because it can be FATAL.

Good luck, and hope you feel better soon. :pals:

[BarenakedLady]

2. Wishing you the best.

:hug:

[Odin2005]

3. Thanks!

:hug:

[SoxFan]

4. Be strong

:pals:

[Odin2005]

7. Thanks!

:hug:

[NightWatcher]

5. been there, done that. PM me if you have any questions

or if I can give ya any advice

[crim son]

8. At least you have a diagnosis.

It's always just a bit easier when you understand WTF is going on. :hug:

[Odin2005]

9. Yep. the Psych started to suspect bipolar because the syptoms didn't match usual Depression.

I tend to over-eat and over-sleep when depressed and I feel more depressed in the evening, which is the opposite of what is typical of unipolar Depression, and I will go for periods of a week or two where I feel awesome and don't need much sleep and then crash spectacularly.

[crim son]

10. Sounds familiar.

A friend suggested I look at bipolarity. I'm waiting to get health insurance, and then I'll do it. Are you reluctant to give up the highs? I know I am.

[Odin2005]

12. No, the highs are often accompanies my periods of crippling anxiety.

one of the things distinguishing the highs of BiII from the classic Mania of BiI, or so my psych told me.

[applegrove]

11. Take care of you.

[fizzgig]

13. it's a very commonly misdiagnosed illness

it took years for any doc to figure out i was suffering from that and not depression. i have mixed episodes and can cycle very rapidly, so i know the relief of having a correct diagnosis.

i've been on lamictal for a few years now and it works pretty well for me, but, since it sounds like you're just starting out, pay close attention and stop if you develop a rash. i'm sure the doc already told you that, but i figure it didn't hurt to throw that in.

i'm glad they got it figured out and good luck.

[Odin2005]

20. Yep, the doc told me all the possible side effects.

Thanks! :hi:

[fizzgig]

21. i hope it works out for you

and can avoid the med roulette

[old mark]

14. Odin, if you notice ANY reaction to the meds, contact the doc

immediately. People have very different reactions to many psych meds, but Bipolar is treatable.
Good luck.

mark

[KitchenWitch]

15. One of my best friends has exactly that.

She has been fairly stable on medications for several years now.

I do remember when she was not on medication at all, and how tumultuous her life was.

:hug:

I am just a major depressive, with PTSD, a touch of generalized anxiety with a bit of agoraphobia for good measure. Sometimes I think if I could just hang out in my bedroom for the rest of my life, I would be just fine.

[no name no slogan]

16. Welcome to the club. Your membership packet is in the mail...

I was misdiagnosed with major depression for 16+ years until it was corrected to Bipolar II. Unfortunately, by that time, the use of anti-depressants pretty much screwed up everything, and I had several hypomanic episodes triggered in part by anti-depressant medication.

You are correct regarding the misdiagnosis, and IMHO it's much more common than we think. There are a lot of nominally depressed people out there who are actually bipolars. It sounds like they caught it at the right time, and you're young enough where you can get proper treatment and live a normal life.

My BPII wasn't diagnosed (by me, no less-- NOT a doctor) until I was 37 years old. By then, I'd been hosptalized once (and would be two more times within a year after my diagnosis), had lost one marriage and several jobs because of it.

If you don't post on the DU Mental Health group, definitely look into it. There's a number of us there and it's a very helpful group.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to bug the living shit out of your doctor, until you get the answers and treatment you need.

[Odin2005]

22. The hypo-manic episodes triggered by my Paxil is what ultimately lead to my re-diagnosis.

Fortunately my Psych is a wonderful Spanish guy I've had since I was 17 and since I am a pretty well-educated person he's not afraid dumping necessary jargon-filled info on me!

[no name no slogan]

26. God, that's familiar... Paxil was a trigger for me, too!

Unfortunately, at the time, my quack of psychiatrist didn't realize it. He later got a complaint filed against him by me and several other ex-patients, and subsequently "resigned", because of all the complaints against him.

Having a good Psych makes all the difference in the world. Glad you've got a good one. :thumbsup:

[Bertha Venation]

17. Mine is slow-cycling.

Got my diagnosis about nine months ago.

Let's form a club. :hug:

[no name no slogan]

18. You too?

Jeez, we should ask skinner if we can get a separate bipolar group. There's a whole bunch of us here!

[Bertha Venation]

19. Pretty surprising, I think.

:hug: for you, club member.

[Odin2005]

23. That would be good!

[mix]

24. me too

I was diagnosed several years ago. I was on SSRIs for awhile, but that was disastrous. I am now simply in therapy once a week, with a very good person, and doing EFT which I am still a bit ambivalent about. All and all, though, I am glad to be off the meds, but it still takes constant care to deal with, as you know. Be strong and good to yourself.

[elleng]

27. Love you guys!

From reading, have learned a lot! (Plain old depressed, with ssris!)

:grouphug:

[Odin2005]

28. *Hugs*

:grouphug:

[elleng]

29. Happy Belated Birthday, Odin!

:hug:

[Odin2005]

30. Thank you!

:hi: :hug: