doc says i'm bipolar

[joecool]

in all seriousness, i'm 41 and have struggled with depression my entire life. there is some history of mood disorders and possibly bi-polar issues in my family tree. i went to a psychiatrist and after an hour he decided i'm bipolar and put me on some meds. i've been on them about four weeks now and don't really see any improvement. anyway, i'm wondering how to tell if his diagnosis is correct. anyone have any experience with this? my symptoms are mild, not like the tv/movie stuff we see, so it's hard to know for sure.

symptoms:
- seemingly cyclical mood changes (full cycle seems to be about a month long, give or take);
- depression and be quite low; motivation shot, etc.
- ups less obvious, but there.
- depression usually in tandem with general moodiness, anger, paranoia. very emotional in general during these times. sometimes not so much obviously depressed but other symptoms more dominant - anger, etc.

your thoughts?

-joe

 

[AdamSnow]

How to tell if the Doctor is right ?

Second opinion...

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: AdamSnow
How to tell if the Doctor is right ?

Second opinion...

 

[Heisenberg]

Maybe it's just me, but I'd be suspicious of a doctor who diagnosed you and prescribed meds all within the space of an hour.

 

[NuclearNed]

I think everyone goes through what you described on a regular basis, and I think (without evidence) that doctors are quick to diagnose someone as bipolar. Heck, who doesn't feel like crap for several days in a row occassionally?

Get another doctor's opinion.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

you could get a second opinion.

you could ask your psychiatrist that question. in fact you should...

your dosage is probably low if you have mild symptoms....give it a little more time or ask your doc to play with the dosage or type of drug.

 

[BigJ]

Always get a 2nd and third opinion when it comes to mental illness.

 

[shilala]

It takes up to 6 weeks for some meds to take full effect.
Take a few minutes and look up the meds on webmd.com
See what they tell you to expect.
You may just need to be patient.
Good Luck!!!

 

[AdamSnow]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: AdamSnow
How to tell if the Doctor is right ?

Second opinion...

hahaha I like how you fixed my typo in your quote!

Sorry man

 

[DougK62]

Get more opinions, but in all honesty what you described sounds fairly common. Try to get more exercise, take up a new hobby, get rid of stress, etc. If it works it'd be much cheaper and better for you than meds.

 

[Juice Box]

Be careful, dont hurt yourself

 

[Nitemare]

Unless you stabbed him with a fork or a pencil, get another opinion.

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: shilala
It takes up to 6 weeks for some meds to take full effect.
Take a few minutes and look up the meds on webmd.com
See what they tell you to expect.
You may just need to be patient.
Good Luck!!!

very true. when you're on such medications, it takes up to 6 weeks for your brain to react to the newly introduced chemicals.

however, like all the others said, get a second opinion. the new doc may agree, but maybe he'll prescribe you on newer and more effective meds.

 

[KoolAidKid]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Maybe it's just me, but I'd be suspicious of a doctor who diagnosed you and prescribed meds all within the space of an hour.

This is pretty common with psychiatrists. I actually had one tell me that he wasn't there to offer counseling, he was there to figure out which drug would do the job.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: KoolAidKid

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Maybe it's just me, but I'd be suspicious of a doctor who diagnosed you and prescribed meds all within the space of an hour.

This is pretty common with psychiatrists. I actually had one tell me that he wasn't there to offer counseling, he was there to figure out which drug would do the job.

Psychiatrists are the Wal-Mart greeters of medicine.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Did he give you lithium and anti-depressants?

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Did he give you lithium and anti-depressants?

Alot of psychiatrists are starting to use Symbyax, which is a combo antipsychotic (olanzapine) and antidepressant (fluoxetine).

 

[Idex]

Second Opinion never hurts.

 

[Encryptic]

Two things:

- Get a second opinion if you don't trust this guy's opinion.

- Your meds can take up to 4-6 weeks before they get into your system and you notice an effect.

 

[Rogue]

It seems to me lately that a bipolar diagnosis is the "in" thing for people. It seems to be the popular affliction of late. I'm not trying to degrade any real medial or mental condition that may exist with the OP, but it seems to me that I know of way too many people in the last year who have been diagnosed bipolar.

 

[MX2]

I think all of us who have mood swings, ups and downs, moderate depression, etc. are normal. It those overly happy people we need to watch out for

 

[pyonir]

*note to self: don't piss joecool off.


Hope you get healthy man!

 

[acemcmac]

I was diagnosed bi-polar about four 8 ago. I flushed the meds down the toilet for months because they would have restrained me if I refused to "take" them. I don't know if I'm bi-polar or not, nor do I care. I accept the fact that without a "God" to fall back on every time things get shitty, that I'm gunna have my lonley/depressed moments and that I just have to avoid bathing in self-pitty and get over myself.

 

[joecool]

hmm, thanks for all the input folks. funny i didn't think of the obvious second opinion. excellent idea. thing with the meds is the doc said i should notice a difference within several weeks and now it's been 4. but maybe it is worth trying a little longer.

to the posters who suggest it's just normal life stuff believe me, i've considered that a lot, and i can believe that is part of it, but there is much more that it just doesn't seem right. as i said originally, i have struggled with depression my entire life, so while the bipolar diagnosis may be bunk, i do think i have depression problems. for several years i took zoloft and that really helped. if i finally decide this bipolar stuff is bunk i will probably go back to that.

thanks again everybody - i really appreciate the input.

 

[SagaLore]

I think you have food allergies and/or possibly an imbalance in your testosterone levels. PM if you want my advice...