Am I really Schizoaffective?

I was diagnosed Bipolar type 1 back in 2008 after a manic episode. Which subsequently landed me in the psych ward. In 2012, my girlfriend at the time came back from a trip to Mexico and told me that she cheated on me. We broke up and a few days later, I attempted to end my life while laying in bed. I laid there for a couple days before my father found me. Back to the the psych ward I went.
The thing was, that I thought I was dead and living like a ghost. I was catatonic. Numerous ECT Electroshock therapy sessions I began responding to people and realized I am alive.
I've never had hallucinations, auditory or visual. I was then diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder and put in a group home, with disability benefits (I'm in Canada). I'm on Lithium and Olanzapine and it's working, minus daily digestive issues. So my question is, without hallucinations of any kind, just the delusion of thinking I was dead 5 years ago qualify me for the Schizoaffective diagnosis? Or am I just Bipolar 1, that had a psychotic episode brought on by stress? I don't expect experts to diagnose me, I'm just looking for opinions from others with this condition.

I now live in a upper floor of a house with a roommate, life is okay.

Hi Lucidity

For those who feel alone, or simply wanting to reach out for a chat without judgement......Psych Central is the place. There are many good listeners here... we're a pretty good bunch.

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Please be kind & generous to yourself Lucidity, and welcome to P.C

I don’t know, but feel free to come over and post in the bipolar forum if you want to. We’re pretty active over there.

Welcome to PC!

Jeepers. I’m not sure that we who have been diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder can really diagnose someone else based upon three paragraphs of experiences!

Some folks have a diagnosis of Schizoaffective disorder Bipolar Type. Others (including me) are diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Schizoaffective Disorder separately. I have continuous schizophrenic symptoms — maybe you’re the same?

If I were you, I wouldn’t expect anyone here to be able to offer an informed opinion that could help you — you should ask the professionals.

Good luck

***I love the way you lie***

Can you seek a second opinion? I have schizoaffective but I don't hallucinate very much. Only very occasionally. So it's possible to be schizoaffective with just delusions.

I was recently diagnosed, about 3 months ago, with Schizoaffective disorder-depressive type. I was hospitalized after experiencing a severe episode of psychosis. I am also on Olanzapine and it works wonders for me. I say this to say that my hallucinations are very mild, and that's when I do hallucinate, which is rarely. I have more delusional thinking than hallucinations. I definitely can't diagnose you, but I can say that having Schizoaffective disorder seems to not be as severe as Schizophrenia (I don't know if that makes sense), even though you have the symptoms. If you mix mood symptoms with hallucinations or delusions, no matter how mild or severe, you get Schizoaffective disorder.

Basic diffences are these....bipolar with psychosis means you have all your psychosis as part of a mood episode, sza means you get psychosis like your living dead thing outside of a mood episode. If your mood was stable and you still thought you were dead, sza is likely.

Finally, after 6 months I was able to get in to see pdoc. My primary doc already diagnosed me with Bipolar affective disorder. After the pdoc finished talking with me, I asked her what my diagnosis was. She said, "Have you ever heard of Shizoaffective disorder? That's what I am thinking. I am still not sure, though. I will study it further." Then after seeing my online chart it says 'psychosis'. So I still don't understand if I have schizoaffective or bipolar with psychosis. Will ask her next visit. I have many delusions and a few auditory hallucinations. I also have bipolar disorder. I am nearly 60 and it seems like every forum is filled with younger people. I feel like an outcast. Why are there so few older people that have schizoaffective?

I was given Risperidone to add to my other meds: lamotrigine, tegretol, and lorazepam. I am kind of leery of the Risperidone. Do people really have rapid weight gain with that? I sometimes get delusions that my pdoc is trying to kill me. I think she works with the CIA.

Hi midnightwriter77. Welcome to Psych Central. Sorry you are uncertain of your diagnosis yet but your pdoc seems to be on the case. They are the ones to confirm a diagnosis,

A friend that had bipolar went into a psychotic episode and their diagnosis was changed to schizoaffective disorder so your suspicions may be right. Only the pdoc knows for sure.

It is not unusual with psychotic episodes to imagine people are working against you but if the meds do have severely adverse side affects definitely tell the pdoc. You have a caring pdoc from the sounds of it. Keep them updated on how the meds are working in a week or two if you notice changes.

Every time i get into discussions like this with my therapist, she says don't worry about diagnoses--- they are for insurance purposes only. If you have diagnosis X whatever X is then insurance company will pay for services Y (whatever services are included in Y). In the past 2 weeks my doctor wrote in one letter that i have bipolar affective disorder, and on my blood test which i got done today he wrote diagnosis code F25.9 which is schizoaffective disorder, unspecified. I guess i have both.

Is there a blood test for schizoaffective?

Hi Midnight,

I haven’t heard of blood tests being used.

I do know there are some of us over 50 posting (me included) in the bipolar forum, and we have a senior forum here too. It takes a while to figure it out who is older, but you will if you hang out long enough.

Welcome to PC!!

Thank you for your warm welcome to the community. And your answer, too.

Thank you!

What if you have psychosis whether you're depressed or not?