Misdiagnosed?
 

About 1 year ago my family physician diagnosed me with bipolar disorder. He based this on the fact that I often talk fast, jump from one thought to another, and tend to have a "risk-taking" attitude (i.e. some problems with drinking/promiscuity in college). I have also struggled with depression/anxiety since I was about 13 years old-- I'm 21 now.

I was hospitalized in Oct. 2006 for severe panic attacks. I also went through a rehab program in Jan. 2007.

Since my diagnosis last summer I have been on and off at least 10 different medications. (Fam. physician prescribed some, the hospital changed prescriptions and put me on FIVE different meds--can you say overmedicated!?--Rehab center changed scripts AGAIN--different M.D. changed them AGAIN.. etc etc). On none of these meds have I felt any change in mood, either up or down. I am currently on 300 mg Seroquel and want to get off as soon as I am able.

The problem is I feel that I have been misdiagnosed. My fam. physician is convinced that it is bipolar and will hear no disagreements. Same with my parents. I have done research on bipolar and it is my understanding that it is characterized by periods of extremely high moods (mania or hypomania) and periods of extremely low moods (depression), and periods of normal moods in between, or alternating between the three. The thing is, I don't experience this. I tend to talk fast & loud, jump from one thought to another, AND feel low and down at the same time. I have NEVER experienced a period with just one or the other. Also, I think that my alcohol problem influenced some of my actions that my fam. dr. is considering as bipolar symptoms.

I believe that my personality is just such that I tend to talk a lot and fast (I have done this since I was able to speak!) and that I am really suffering from depression and anxiety. I never feel an extremely uplifted or happy mood. I feel down and depressed all the time. I am tired of being a guinea pig trying tons of meds for a couple of weeks or months and then having them arbitrarily changed by some Dr. who has known me for an hour or a couple of days.

I don't have anyone to talk to about this because everyone assumes that "thinking I don't have a problem" is just a SYMPTOM of the problem! It is so maddening...

This whole issue is so disheartening to me, I don't even feel like I'm being treated like a real person, just some "mentally ill" person whose words and opinions you shouldn't trust. I am so depressed, I am crying right now. I cry at the drop of a hat... sad song, commercial, etc...

I know you guys are not medical professionals but I really need some advice/support...

Sorry for dumping all of this...

Sounds like you might be wise to request a referral to a specialist. Good Luck.

It's always good to get a second opinion, especially from a specialist.

However, one thing to know about bipolar disorder is that it can have many forms. The extremes do not have to cycle, or even when they do, have a predictable cycle. Some people cycle over months, others days, and some never really experience cycling at all, and are more like you describe yourself. Manic-depressive disorder is now called bipolar disorder, in part because of the fact that some people with bipolar disorder never cycle, may not ever experience extreme mania or extreme depression, or may experience both simultaneously.

I had a very good friend in college who was diagnosed bipolar in college. His father had been diagnosed many years before, and experienced cycles, but my friend was much more like you describe yourself. He absolutely hated taking medications, because he didn't feel like they did much besides make him less himself, but without the medications he couldn't function very well (he was a pre-med student). It took him a while to find a medication he could live with, but last I heard he was doing great.

A second opinion is definitely in order. I really hate the feeling that some doctors/specialists/professionals are patronizing. I wouldn't feel good about ANY diagnosis from a doctor I didn't trust or who rubbed me the wrong way. I'm assuming that part of the treatment for this is counseling. What does the counselor suggest?

Well thank you all for responding. I am so frustrated by this situation. I am not denying that I have emotional issues, rather it's the way that for a year I have not had any improvement with or without medication. What is so frustrating to me is that the several doctors I have seen over the past year just give me a questionnaire to answer... they don't seem to want to hear what I have to say, or even my own description of my moods! Check, check, check, here's your prescription, see ya in a month. Some of these medications have made me feel very physically ill or mentally--strange, I can't really explain it. But my depression does not seem to be lifting.

I have to make an appointment with a psychologist (court-ordered) tomorrow, and I'm just already wary that this appt will be just like the rest. I would not object to medication if it actually helped, but none of it seems to!

P.S. I have not have trouble functioning in life (except when I was very deep into alcohol abuse, which I am not anymore)-- my moods do not seem to impede on my ability to make friends, do homework, go to classes, etc.

I was misdiagnosed as bipolar myself. At one point I was on 8 different medications at the same time to treat the bipolarism, and had physical side effects to where I was embarassed to even leave my room in the apartment I lived at with my mom at the time. Losing my bladder function was the last straw especially after my psychiatrist refused to take me off the medication that was causing that. I should have reported him but didn't due to plain ignorance. The best thing I did was I got MAD and I took action and did a lot of research and I got a second opinion. I did not experience the high moods or the extreme lows but still was diagnosed to be bipolar for whatever reason. The best thing to do is get another opinion and also counseling really helps, in both alleviating stress just by having someone nonjudgmental and objective to talk to and also your counselor can also teach you life management skills in how to recognize that you're becoming depressed again and how to take steps to prevent from hitting rock bottom and all sorts of things.

I just now noticed you said you're going to a court ordered doctor and your description of your appointments. This is just me but I would find your own doctor and most likely they are going to be better than a court appointed one since those people are overloaded with so many cases and that may be why you're just getting a five minute appointment and just filling out a questionnaire. You may think you can't afford to go to one on your own but when there's a will there is a way and there is no price on being happy and at peace with yourself! Just something to think about! What worked for me is that I found a counselor that also has her own psychiatrist degree and can prescribe medication as well. But the bulk of her practice is counseling. Sorry this is so long but unfortunately in the mental health field you often have to learn things the hard way and that's why I'm telling you all of this since I certainly would have liked it if someone had told me all these things! :-)

bbb17, thanks for the response. I am not saying I definitely HAVE been misdiagnosed but I have a strong opinion that I may have been. My main concern is getting a proper diagnosis and getting on the right meds, or at least off the wrong ones!

I have researched the disorder, concentrating esp. on the DSM-IV, and I just don't fit the criteria...

I feel like just because I am a very outgoing and talkative person I have been labeled as "manic" by my doc... no one else seems to think it's odd, I actually have a lot of friends and do very well in my classes at college, and have never found my moods such that they interfered with my life or made me feel "abnormal" or "strange".

Anyways, it's good to know that misdiagnoses do happen, gives me a new hope seeing as I'm going to this new psychologist soon.

Interference with ability to function should be one of the first, not last components to a psychiatric diagnoses, particularly if medication is going to be prescribed. Really, a general practitioner should not be diagnosing mental health conditions. He should have referred you to a psychiatrist. That you report some substance abuse issues, makes it even more difficult for a trained psychiatrist (let alone a family doctor) to sort through the issues.

I have my master's degree in developmental psychology, not counseling psych, but I've done a little counseling (and had a little counseling in order to obtain disability, and as a result of needing counseling to cope with the disability), and the best advice I can give you is not to think of a counselor or psychiatrist any differently than any health care professional. If you didn't like or trust your dentist, you would find another dentist. Some people have had one (or even a lot more) bad experiences with different counselors, and believed that counseling wasn't for them, but they only hadn't found the right counselor. Don't be afraid to experiment with counselors. I would give any counselor at least a few sessions "benefit of the doubt," because it can take a while to feel comfortable and build a relationship with someone, but if after a few sessions, you're still not comfortable with the person, you might consider trying to find another counselor.

Isn't that part of some manic phases, though? You feel great, you think you're the life of the party.

What struck me from your first post was that your family physician and your parents seem to be calling the shots. Once you are past the age of 18 you have a legal right to privacy with regard to your medical treatment. Would it be helpful for you to take more control over your treatment options?

Good luck.

kaplods--thanks for the input. I, too, was a little put off by my fam. physician (a nice guy, regardless) diagnosing and prescribing meds.

MariaMaria--as a result of my alcohol abuse problems (which led to some legal/medical problems) I have been forced to live with my parents even though I am 21. I am working to get on my own two feet but I am just starting. For the time being they ARE calling the shots, both financially and otherwise. They have always been very strict, and my dad esp. is very controlling (lots of background there that I won't get into, including his active alcoholism/job as a prison guard/rough upbringing). I am under their insurance as a "dependent student", so basically they get to 'okay' or 'nay' all medical information, on the basis that they are paying for the treatment.

I could see my outgoing-ness, having lots of good friends, parcitipating a lot in class discussions, could be characteristic of hypomania, but that seems to be a static element of my personality, it never wavers, decreases, or increases over a period of time. I'm not trying to argue with you, in fact I am trying to be as objective as possible about this whole thing. It's really hard to be objective about yourself though!

It is very hard to be objective about yourself, I so completely agree. I know you said that what you feel as just your natural personality hasn't impacted on your ability to function or interfered with your life, but there are hints in your post that this might not be true. Alcohol problems that have resulted in legal AND medical problems before the age of 21 are huge red flags that you're not functioning at the level you believe you are. While you may consider the alcohol abuse to be the cause of the problems, it's just as likely that bipolar personality characteristics (like impulse control, lack of judgement...) contributed to your alcohol use, and either directly or indirectly the result of your legal and medical problems.

To a certain degree, especially with legal consequences, you're in a situation where you have to find a counselor and psychiatrist you trust, and then put your trust their judgement. Mental health conditions are no different than physical ones, sometimes it's hard to wrap your head around a diagnoses, or get outside yourself to see the effects that are obvious to others closest to you.

Before I was diagnosed with fibromayalgia, and even afterwards, and sometimes even now, I have a hard time realizing when I am in a flare with cognitive symptoms (symptoms of fibromyalgia include fatigue and short term memory and cognitive function problems - it's like feeling tipsy and sometimes even drunk without having had any alcohol to explain it).

I get easily confused and have a hard time thinking as quickly or as clearly as I normally would. But the strangest thing is, I rarely notice unless it's pointed out to me (and sometimes not even then), because I can only access the mind I have at the moment. When I'm not thinking clearly, I'm not thinking clearly enough to know that I'm not thinking clearly.

My situation obviously isn't the same as yours, and I'm not saying you're wrong about yourself. I don't know you well enough to say, but I think that's why it's important that you get the diagnosis from someone you trust who has been trained in making these diagnoses.

The best thing would be to see a psychiatrist, I personally would not just see one, i would probably see two or three and see what they say. You need to know what your issues are so that you can be properly treated and live your life fully and enjoy life.
*hugs*
*hugs*
don't give up

Just think if you had a heart condition you wouldn't go to a regular doctor, you'd go to a cardiologist. A specialist.
*hugs*

Many larger churces have certified mental health counselors that can talk with you -often for free....check it out.

God Bless

I am also bipolar and agree that you should be seen by a psychiatrist not a family doctor. With bipolar it is possible to have what is know as mixed periods where your both depressed and manic at the same time. Does this sound like you?

I would advise against reading the DSM its so tempting to self diagnose and be like hmmm which one do I want to be and it becomes harder to be more honest with your care team when you know what features they are looking for.

I was just about to say a similar thing to tasche13 - there are two main forms of bipolar disorder, bipolar 1 being the type most people are aware of - the highs and lows cycling. But there are variances within that too, like rapid cycling bipolar, where instead of cycle through years or months, you cycle within days, sometimes even hours.

Then there's bipolar 2 where you get lows, but never get as manic as type 1, so you get that hypomania. My boyfriend is bipolar 1, and he didn't even have textbook symptoms a lot of the time. He never drank, gambled, or behaved recklessly (aside from driving too fast), but he had a terrible temper, and would go into rages. It was pretty scary.

So when I read the books and stuff, I'd be thinking "well that isnt' quite him", but he's found his right mix of medications, and is a new man. It's worth noting that most bipolar people actually see several different doctors before they get the correct diagnosis/medication.

My point is, whoever is right, perhaps your journey isn't done yet until you feel better! Let that be your aim always. Good luck, love to you, I know it's so hard. :hug:

Thanks for the support. I know about rapid-cycling and mixed episodes. Just doesn't seem like me-- or at least how I feel. I mean mixed episodes yes, but that seems like a constant thing in my life, never changing.

I guess another part of the story, that I didn't really want to get into, is the problems with my home environment. I have not gotten along with my parents for at least 10 years. They are the ones who went to my family physician and said that I had "mood swings" and got irritated easily, which in part led to the diagnosis. My dad however has a very abusive tendency (mental & physical at times) and I live in a state of constant tension that I will set him off--it takes literally, nothing. A small mistake, one word said in the wrong tone. So am I easily irritable? Yes, but I imagine most people in my position would be. Do I act subdued and down around my parents? Yes, because I don't want to speak my mind and tell them how fed up I am. Do I occasionally scream and rage? Yes, but usually only after I've been hit, slapped, dumped out of my chair, or called a fat pig, slob, *******, or *****.

In front of the dr's my parents act like the perfect parents and say as if clueless, "She is just so irritable and argues with us so much! We don't know what to do?!" and I feel like screaming because I have been reprimanded, controlled, manipulated, called names, and been directed cruelty from at least one if not both parents for as long as I can remember. No one seems to care about that. I never am irritable or mean or full of rage around anyone else besides my parents. Doesn't that say something in and of itself?

I'm just so irritated, I am not trying to play the victim but this is REAL and no one seems to want to believe it. It's easier to say that I'm mentally ill than to admit that my parents are wrong and have been wrong for years in the way they raised me.