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Default Mar 17, 2019 at 11:57 PM
  #1
I am just curious, if those who have been diagnosed with bipolar, if they ever went and received more than the one opinion on their diagnosis.

And if so, did you disclose that another or others, had diagnosed you?

Just wondering...

I wonder due to -- If just the label being on a chart, and it weighs more weight with initial impressions... It's almost like I want to go in fresh to someone and explain what is going on-- get their true opinion with no previous information on me, of what they think... is that so wrong?

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Default Mar 18, 2019 at 12:01 AM
  #2
I was first only diagnosed with anxiety. After that doctor was fired, and I transferred to a new doc, they diagnosed me with both anxiety and bipolar disorder. And given the circumstances they already knew about my previous diagnosis.

The thing about mental illness is that it’s not a straight science. And even when trying to categorize someone into these diagnoses it’s not easy. There is too much overlap between illnesses. Which is why docs can come up with different answers for the same patient. However, I would suggest looking up your symptoms yourself and trying out a few different meds to discover what things you should be targeting specifically and to find out what helps you most
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Default Mar 18, 2019 at 05:36 AM
  #3
I've seen various doctors both inpatient and outpatient and my dx has stayed the same, schizoaffective bipolar type. I've argued against it, generally when I'm not doing well but the dx definitely makes sense and the meds I'm on are extremely helpful and I feel that's important.

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Default Mar 18, 2019 at 08:20 AM
  #4
Before I was diagnosed, I only went to doctors (mostly gps) when anxious or depressed. They spent little time asking questions. I was always prescribed an antidepressant, or buspirone. I'd take it for a few days to a week usually and then had a mood switch. There were never follow up visits scheduled.

Eventually when I did see my current gp (of 22 years) a few times for anxiety/depression, he referred me to a psychiatrist. I saw that psychiatrist a few times aline and about four times in a group therapy he led. He saw me growing manic. That was when I was officially diagnosed manic depressive/bipolar. I didn't even know what it was then, 15 years ago. I quit him on that day. I then saw him one last time a year later when in a severe mixed episode after hell broke loose. I was hospitalized the next day.

The psychiatrist at the hospital during my first hospitalization actually called the psychiatrist that referred/diagnosed me originally. My clear manic with mixed features behavior and confirmation from the private psychiatrist further solidified my bipolar diagnosis. IOP psychiatrists did, too. Psychologists also did. Another private psychiatrist did. That's at least 15 people, excluding social workers. Bipolar disorder type 1 is what I have.

Some psychologists and psychiatrists gave me very detailed and long psych evaluations. A couple even included physical exams and lots of blood work. I even had a CT, EKG, and PET scan when some of my symptoms were very extreme (catatonia). Others just saw my behavior during hospitalizations, or a combination of everything.
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Default Mar 18, 2019 at 08:32 AM
  #5
I had a few doctors and therapists weigh in. All of them said bipolar I due to the extreme nature of the mania. I suffered heavy psychosis, so I thought maybe it was schizophrenia at first. I didn't tell the doctors what the others had said. I just presented the symptoms and gave them my medical history.

I have a bipolar parent, so I'm fairly sure the diagnosis was correct. The meds are working. I don't really have any doubt now. I seem to have suffered a mixed episode with psychosis.

I don't see anything wrong with telling a new doctor you'd like to start fresh and present your symptoms without the history of your previous diagnosis. I think that is warranted especially if you doubt the outcome from your last doc. I don't see why that request would be a problem if you're honest about it.
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Default Mar 18, 2019 at 09:58 AM
  #6
My first dx was psychosis NOS, then psychotic depression, then bipolar NOS, now bipolar 1 with psychotic features, but right now the hospital I'm getting ECT done at has me diagnosed as schizoaffective bipolar type as do the hospital I go to for IP. Each time I change pdocs I do disclose what the previous dx was.
I don't care too much as long as the treatment is all the same.

Last edited by Anonymous43918; Mar 18, 2019 at 11:42 AM..
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Default Mar 18, 2019 at 04:31 PM
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bipolar 10 plus years ago ( older dr) ... then 7 years ago ( by present pdoc) ... noted by almost every T , I have had ... nothing else was ever mentioned ... neither dr had any connection ...

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Default Mar 18, 2019 at 04:36 PM
  #8
I was first diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (recurrent) and dysthymia. My therapist (LCSW) of 5 years noticed a cycling pattern with me and told me to start tracking my moods. He diagnosed me as Bipolar and my psychiatrist started treating me with bipolar meds. So yes, I started with a different diagnosis.

As everyone has pointed out-- there is a lot of overlap in diagnoses and it makes it kind of tricky to filter out certain ones, especially mood disorders. They commonly co-occur with anxiety disorder and personality disorders. You really need a professional who is well trained to help differentiate.


People can make errors-- they can miss certain aspects of our lives or even events that are critically important. I also see nothing wrong with starting again fresh.
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Default Mar 19, 2019 at 12:53 AM
  #9
Many thanks to all of you for sharing, it is appreciated.

PC in their archives and some past posts have my predicament.

If any are interested - to me it makes sense of why I question it.
In short-
Yes, have been aware that many diagnosis overlap with one another.
I am also very aware that what one treatment plan helps one, may not another.
I have seen 4 Pdocs already.
And I am a trip, i have already done what I asked- silly me.

Possible trigger:


Breaking this down, i am not sure if it assists me or not... after breaking this down, why don't I take a treattment- how can I still question this... idk why, ...because - I don't feel I fit in with most on this, I also worry if it is all a misunderstanding at times... I also get confused why can't I get a grip of this, and keep wondering what is it that I am missing.

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Default Mar 19, 2019 at 01:54 AM
  #10
My first mental health diagnosis was depression. In 2012 I was diagnosed with bipolar NOS and it stayed that way for a couple of years, until a hospitalization got me labeled bipolar 1. I have since been diagnosed with type 1 four times by different providers, all of whom took a detailed history instead of relying on my previous providers. So I guess I should start believing it, right?

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Default Mar 19, 2019 at 06:26 PM
  #11
Interesting question, I have only received one opinion so far from a psychiatrist. Well I saw someone previously, but just complained about attention and memory, and mood changes with my hormones. This was a much different situation.
I am considering if I should get another opinion, too. I do trust the pdoc I saw, it's more that I do not quite think I get hypomania/mania and that it was more an unusual med reaction that I had. I do not know if I could really leave out the diagnosis since it is wrapped up in my relevant history, but could explain why I wanted another opinion. My therapist is probably the next person I should ask, really. We are going to start having weekly sessions and maybe she can tell me if she picks up on something I am missing.
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Default Dec 24, 2019 at 02:58 AM
  #12
An update: I'll post it here rather than the check in thread-
I have been seeing a new therapist since early October this year. I let her know of past opinions, even though I questioned if I should. she mentioned that she understood why I was telling her but that personally she didn't like to go off of other's opinions due to - she was blunt with me- it's an opinion on what that professional sees & interrupts during the encounter with a patient at the time.

This t unfortunately has met me during a little bit of a depression phase, and a lot of "PTSD " can come up for me at these times.
At any rate, this t, while we haven't seen each other a full year, and I still need to ask some questions too and provide info. but her opinion is- may have seasonal affective disorder, but she sees Complex Ptsd with Dysthymia depression .. she disagrees that I have BPD(borderline) traits and she herself questions why bipolar was labeled on me... but this all could change, as I type this I have a thought of this being a tactic, but perhaps it not... I realized the other day we haven't talked on any elated moods I've had, because we just havent ...and I've been trying to get by a bit and having at least since fair days lately.

Though
I saw my primary care doctor today, she has seen me for a year, and shementioned that I should see another psychiatrist for a diagnosis; even though she values my therapist's opinion and is happy I found someone I can talk with for right now.

So I don't know, I just know I agreed to send a referral and see how it goes

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Default Dec 25, 2019 at 04:01 AM
  #13
Pdoc #1: Major depression, 1998
Pdoc #2: Bp 1, 2005
Pdoc #3: bp 1, 2005
Pdoc #4: bp 1, 2007
Pdoc #5: bp 1, 2007
Pdoc # 6: bp1, 2007
Pdoc #7: bp1, 2008
Pdoc #8: NOT bp1, June, 2012
Pdoc #9: bp1, Dec., 2012
Pdoc #8: Revised--bp1, Dec., 2012
Pdoc #10: bp 1, 2016

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