Newly diagnosed as bipolar

[Pool Hall Ace]

Last month, I had a grade 1 meningioma removed that was pressing on my brain. At the time I was discharged, I was not prepared for the emotional recovery involved, so I committed myself.

At the follow-up appointment with a psychiatrist, I found out that the doc I saw in the hospital diagnosed me as bipolar. I didn't get the whole diagnosis, I just heard the word bipolar and was shocked; almost offended. How could that nice doctor have diagnosed me as bipolar? I don't really know much about it. For me, it is know comfort when someone says, "Oh, VanGough, Hemingway, and Kurt Cobain were bipolar!"

Can anyone point me to some good websites, or share their own experiences, please? :-(

[tibbir]

1. Dr Ivan's Depression Central is a good place to start I think

www.psycom.net/depression.central.html

I was diagnosed bipolar in 1993 and am doing quite well on a drug cocktail now. Good luck!!

[Maraya1969]

26. Dr Ivan Goldberg was my doctor many years ago. He literally saved my

life. He likes to take on treatment resistant people. The best page on his website in my opinion is how to tell if your doctor is a specialist or just a regular psychiatrist.

[mopinko]

2. do you think this is accurate?

what did he have to go on for this diagnosis? are you sure this wasn't just something that he put on the forms to make sure your insurance would pay? (not unheard of)

you will find a lot of information if you spend some time going through old posts in this forum. you will also get a good look at what it is like for the families of people with mental illness. (hint- we love them fiercely, and sometimes have to fight like hell for them.)

[Pool Hall Ace]

3. Well, I'm checking out the NIMH page on Bipolar Disorder

and the first sentence simply states that "Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function."

Here is what they list as symptoms of mania:

# Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
# Excessively “high,” overly good, euphoric mood
# Extreme irritability
# Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
# Distractibility, can’t concentrate well
# Little sleep needed
# Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
# Poor judgment
# Spending sprees
# A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
# Increased sexual drive
# Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
# Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
# Denial that anything is wrong

The only ones that apply to me are distractability and poor judgment, but I thought those were caused by the mengioma that was pressing on my brain.

Then again, isn't there a Bipolar I and Bipolar II? I need to do some more research.

[mopinko]

4. there is a 1 and 2

but even 1 is a pretty serious disorder. they could have been looking more at the depressive side, if you were committed for that sort of symptoms. and with 1, sometimes that side predominates a little more.
i would definitely wonder what was the result of something growing in my head and what was a neurochemical imbalance.

[Forkboy]

5. Most of those fit me at some time or another.

The only ones that doen't is "unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers", because I know I'm pretty useless, and the drug abuse one.

I don't really have serious mood swings either., though I do have massive swings in energy levels, where I'll sleep maybe 2 or 3 hours a night for weeks, then for a week I'll sleep about 14 hours a night.

If you don't feel like those really apply to you (and the ones that do could be explained by the added pressure of dealing with the mengioma) then you should get a second opinion. I would have a follow up with a second psychiatrist (though the waiting to see one can be a long one) and see what they say. You don't want to start on any medications for it if you don't have to, so I'd want to be positive first.

Bipolar disorder gets thrown out there very quickly these days (it's the diagnosis dujour right now), so be sure about it before worrying too much about it. If it turns out you are there are treatments and meds that help most people, especially if it's not a serious case.

Good luck.

[Pool Hall Ace]

6. Oh, you are not useless! I hope you're kidding with that one.

:pals:

I agree that it's a good idea to get a second opinion. In addition to the meningioma, I'm dealing with a husband who is a heavy drinker (and denies it) who has tried to kick me out of the house even though I'm not fully recovered. I think I'm doing pretty well, despite the circumstances.

Oh, and I didn't know that bipolar is the diagnosis du jour. Good to know!

[elleng]

7. First of all, GOOD LUCK!

NEXT! DON'T WORRY! (oh sure!)

You said the doc who saw you in hospital diagnosed you as bipolar? CERTAINLY get a second opinion.

DO get out of the house of an alcoholic! (Part joke, but but but. I left my house when 'recovering' alcoh husband assulted me, and haven't returned. about to get separation agreement.) Living with such can result in SUCH emotional situations; I may (or may not) recover from the depression I think I incurred during the years we lived together.

Get physically recovered, and keep in touch with us.

[Pool Hall Ace]

9. Yeah, my alky husband doesn't think he has a problem

So this marriage definitely cannot be saved. But is it weird that I still care about him? Not in the "I want to stay with him" way, but I'm thinking maybe once the marriage is over he will drink less, and his brain and liver will be less likely to float away.

And I'll definitely keep in touch with the group. :pals:

[elleng]

11. My alky husband has KNOWN he has a problem for years;

went into a program (before we married) and pretended thenceforth that he was 'dry.' Too much b.s. to mention here.

It is NOT AT ALL weird that you still care about him; whatever it was that got your attention at first is still there. Depending on your relationship, the threat that you'll leave him might spur him to AA/stop drinking. 'Drink less' is NOT the solution, tho; he has to recognize he is an alcoholic, and has to commit to stop drinking entirely.

Read about alcoholism here: http://www.lakesidemilam.com/

Good luck.

[Forkboy]

15. Half joking.

And in the regard it really is the truth. But that's ok, it doesn't really bum me out. I just focus on the few things I'm good for. Comedy, music, sex and hockey...in any order or combination. :D

[amyrose2712]

13. Definitely NOT useless,

you have provided me with quite a perplexing plethora of interesting music. :silly: :silly: :hi:

[Forkboy]

14. Ok, I am good for that.

:)

:hi:

+1 for using "plethora" as well. :D

[amyrose2712]

16. By the way...

I had a revelation regarding your namesake whilst listening to "Natural Born Killers" soundtrack. :think: :think:

[Forkboy]

17. Hmmmm

Could be. ;)

It was originally on the Lard CD, The Last Temptation Of Reid. One of my favorite cds, and my favorite song on it. :)

[no name no slogan]

21. That CD kicks ass

My favorites on there are "Forkboy", "Pineapple Face" and of course "Drug Raid at 4 a.m.". Well, pretty much the whole CD rocks, for that matter. :)

[no name no slogan]

8. Welcome to the club. Look for your membership packet in the mail

No, seriously, there's no membership packet, but you are in very good company. About 2% of the population is bipolar in one way, shape or form. And that diagnosis is growing, partially because psychiatry is recognizing that the bipolar spectrum is more inclusive than before.

I was diagnosed with bipolar II a few years ago after being treated for recurrent unipolar depression for over 15 years. Even now, almost all of my episodes are depressive in nature, and I can only think of a handful of times where I would be considered manic or in a mixed state-- and some of those may have been brought on by mis-prescribed anti-depressants (due to the mis-diagnosis of major depression).

McMan's Depression and Bipolar web (http://www.mcmanweb.com/) has been useful for me as far as general information and updates on treatment. Also, the Depression and Bipolar Alliance (http://www.dbsalliance.org/) has also been quite good as well.

There are lot of resources out there for bipolar disorder, as it's finally getting attention from the mainstream. If you are unsure of your diagnosis, by all means get a second opinion, because doctors do make mistakes (after all, I had three of them treating me for the wrong disease before it got corrected).

Good luck.

[Pool Hall Ace]

10. Thanks for the websites!

That really stinks about your mis-diagnosis. I do plan to get a second opinion. Perhaps I do fall somewhere on the bipolar spectrum; I want to take the correct meds and feel better! :-)

[amyrose2712]

12. Glad you found some help here...

There are a lot of very good people willing offer helpful advice here. Good luck. My bf is Bipolar 1 and he was misdiagnosed as unipolar for years and the wrong meds(and self medication) made his mania worse. The correct meds and a good relationship with a dr you can trust can make all the difference. Good luck!

[no name no slogan]

23. Your bf sounds like me.

Our situations are almost identical. :)

[amyrose2712]

24. Yeah I got that idea...

from reading your post. It sounded very much like him. It took him 2 DUIs and an arrest for CDS poss(2mg xanax bars) and about $20K to get the proper DX. Now, on Depakote Lexapro and Serequel, I can still tell when he cycles but they are WAY WAY less severe and manageable. Its unfortunate that some have to hit rock bottom to find help. My sister, well that is a whole "nother" hellified path to help. The mental heath system is a sham. It is sad. Glad to see you finally got the help you needed.

[no name no slogan]

25. Ain't that the truth. We all end up hitting our own rock bottom, I think

Mine was in May 2005, when my wife left me, and I made my first trip to the psych ward. Even then, they still thought it was just a depressive episode, got me stabilized, and out.

Eventually in late 2006, I put the pieces together (multiple, recurring depressive episodes, interspersed with episodes where I went $20k into debt and lost my drivers license for the six tickets in a year, not to mention the heavy, continual problem drinking) and went back to my new doc and got the bipolar diagnosis. And even since then, I've been through a dozen different meds and two more trips to the psych ward, and it's still not 100% figured out. I'm still playing medication roulette and probably will for a while.

The system is very screwed up when a guy like me with no medical background can make a better diagnosis than several shrinks. Unfortunately, I have no idea on how to fix it.

[Odin2005]

18. I have Cyclothyma, a mild form of Bipolar.

I'm depressed most of the time, but about once a month I'll be hypomanic for anywhere between a day to a week and then I'll crash. Not a good feeling.

[Pool Hall Ace]

19. Oh my. Bipolar truly is a spectrum, then.

:hug:

[Odin2005]

20. Thanx for the hugs!

:hug:

[ConcernedCanuk]

22. I had a girlfriend that was bipolar - she had been on meds for over 10 years when we started dating

.
.
.

Early in her med therapy they had her on lithium fucked up her liver or something

so she - at the time was on a cocktail of about 8 different meds a day, no lithium, but now "water pills" for the damage of the lithium and other stuff

she took different pills at different times from the time she woke up until she went to bed

she slept like a stone after 30 minutes straight through the night

She was pretty normal, functioning and happy - "content" was her word for it

but even with all the meds

All I had to do was just say a wee little wrong thing, and she would burst into tears

not anger - sorrow

I learned to edit my speech

worked pretty good that way

Other issues ended up in our parting

But I do have a good "personal" experience in dealing with a bipolar

AND

by the way - she is still one of my favorite people

so do not equate bipolar as being a bad person

there ya go . .

[Maraya1969]

27. They have come up with a whole library of ways to treat bipolar.

You're going to be ok. :hug:

Just remember that if a doctor is not working for you get another doctor.

[Quantess]

28. Aren't you so lucky to be diagnosed by a real psychiatrist?

Most of the people on this thread are self-diagnosing.

[no name no slogan]

29. Um, not quite.

Maybe you need to re-read the thread.

Most of us suspected something was wrong, and then went to a psychiatrist and got a diagnosis.

Or, in the case of some of us, our initial diagnosis by a psychiatrist was wrong (which is quite common with bipolar disorder), and we later had our diagnosis changed.

You fail at reading comprehension.

[Pool Hall Ace]

32. How do you know they are self-diagnosing?

[no name no slogan]

34. ^ THIS x a brazillion ^

I don't know anybody who has self-diagnosed themselves as bipolar. If they think they are, they go to the doc and get a professional opinion.

The poster obviously seeks to trivialize bipolar disorder and the people who have it. Nice. :eyes:

[Odin2005]

30. Welcome to the club.

:hi:

I was just diagnosed with Bipolar II not too long ago.

[Forkboy]

31. How have you been doing since then?

I found that being diagnosed actually helped. Just knowing that I was crazy, but not crazy was a relief.

So far, the only med I've had any real success with is Lamictal. They started me on Seroquel, but that stuff is just evil, and way too heavy when I wasn't manic. I've been on the Lamictal for about two years now, and this last year I really noticed a marked difference in me overall. A few months back I had to go 3 weeks without due to a screw up, and I was zinging big time the whole three weeks. If I had any doubts that the Lamictal made a difference that little stretch took care of them. :)

[Odin2005]

33. I'm on Lamictal as well and have been doing OK.

[EFerrari]

35. Do you have an update, Pool Hall Ace?

:hi:

[Pool Hall Ace]

36. Well, the psychiatrist backpedaled

and is now saying, "Nooo, you're not bipolar! You have major depression!" Well, that's nothing new, so I'm thinking that mopinko is right, because that particular hospitalization was covered by insurance.

Of course, I have good reason to be depressed, so all I can do is take things one moment at a time to get out of it. I don't really know of any other way! :hi: :hug:

[EFerrari]

37. Sounds like a sensible plan to me!

:hug:

:hi: