Am I Bipolar? Or did the Doctor screw up?

[Denya]

I have been on many many medications over the past 2 years.

I switched from Paxil, Prozac, Abilify, Seroquel, Zoloft, Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Effexor, Trazadone, Lamictal, Buspar,and many, many, others I just can't remember them all.  

Yeah, I'd have to say that maybe, just maybe, all these medications just may have screwed with my physiology at least a little,  but what do I know, I was just a mere LAB RAT!

I don't know if I'm really Bipolar  I have a therapist I've been seeing for 6 years and she thinks I just suffer from trauma.  Meanwhile I had another therapist I worked with for a year tell me I was bipolar one????  I'm living my life Medication free now, and I'm learning to live one day at a time all over again.  I guess my question is, if I answered all their questions and they tell me I'm Bipolar 1 with an anxiety disorder, but I get off all the Medications and feel completely normal, what is the deal?  Am I bipolar or did the doctor screw up?

[Jikan]

Namaste,

If you've seen a psychiatrist and you've been diagnoised with bipolar I disorder, it's probably fairly accurate if he/she(the psychiatrist) made the proper evaluation by taking your complete medical/family history as well as a detailed description of your symptoms.

That does not mean that you may also suffer from another or more than one other psychological disorder. Personally, I am bipolar I, but also suffer from GAD, SAD, PTSD among others.

For many years, I also felt like a "lab rat" trying various medications or combinations, thereof.

What I founf was that our current medical system is not infallible and it is more a matter of trial and erro to find the right medication or combination of medications to control your symptoms.

If you are in fact, bipolar I and are not currently taking any medication you are endangering your life. I stopped taking my medications at one point because I didn't feel they were providing any relief and I almost committed suicide.

Find yourself a good psychiatrist and therapist and follow their instructions, even though you may not feel as if you're getting any relief.  It takes time and the faster you treat the problem, the better your quality of life will be.

Michael(Jikan)

[Crystlas]

Well, now that you are medication free you will know within a few months if you are truly bipolar.  If you start swinging, there is your answer!  You know the ups and downs and the symptoms?  Just watch for them and look up beginning symptoms on bipolar sites so you are aware.  If you do start symptoms again, get back on meds or you could really harm yourself!  Take care.  

[Mamma23_01]

My physch. diagnosed me with bipolar.  I'm having a hard time believing her, because I never have the ups, only the downs.  I've only had ups after I gave birth.

Now I've tried all the atypicals, and couldn't tolerate them.  I'm working my up to 400 mg of lamictal, she wants me on Lithium for depression, I'm on 100 mg of Topamax, 3 grm or klonopin, and I can't remember what else.

I feel so depressed.  Not "I want to die" depressed.  Just "I want everyone to leave me alone" depressed.

I've gained ten pounds, and I'm so depressed about that. I just started the lithium, and its only 450 mg, so it can't be that.  Maybe the klonopin or lamictal.  I just don't want to ake any of them.  I hate them all.  Ugh.

[Denya]

hi, I know the feeling trust me.  I would guess the depression is coming from klonopin.  If you look under side effects it's usually depression for that med.  Lamictal helps stabalize mood.  I have never been on lithium I was so afraid of gaining weight.  

   Now, that I am off meds I can sense my anger feelings again, and it's hard to deal with but I go to the gym more which helps.  My moods are swinging but I'm trying to live medication free since my family put it in my head that I was a mess on the meds'.

[triedeverymed]

I know what you mean!!!! I've been there myself. I finally went and saw a new psychiatrist 2 years ago. He took me off all meds then brought me back in after 2 months to re-evaluate me and see what was going on.
It turns out he thought I had a mood disorder but not 100% certain it was bipolar but he treated me with Abilify which is a mood stabelizer. Within a month I felt better than I had in 20 years.
Sometimes you just need a fresh face to take a look at your condition and make a diagnosis. I would seek another opinion and make sure it's coming from a psychiatrist, they are the experts in this field.
Good Luck!!

[triedeverymed]

If you feel fine off meds don't take that to mean you don't have an illness. Be careful because if it is Bipolar and you aren't treating it, it will continue on until you can't function normally. To be on the safe side I would still seek a new doctor's opinion and wait and see how your mood remains while off the meds.

Why did you seek treatment in the first place if you don't mind me asking? Were you feeling depressed or did a doc say you were?

[Denya]

I sought out treatment because I was extremely depressed, and then a couple of months later my mania would start and I would be fine, I went in for depression, and the doc said I was bipolar.