Seeking info on bi-polar symptoms

[misslilly]

Hi, I would greatly appreciate some feedback from those managing bi-polar. I have taken meds for anxiety for about seven yrs. I have tried to go off using holistic practices/methods but I have now accepted that I do need the meds. They make me gain weight despite the fact that I have always eaten a very healthy, low fat diet and really enjoy at least two hours of exercise on a daily basis. In fact I was considering a marathon with my daughter but she would beat me royally. Due to the weight gain and despite taking nearly every med  I decided to try Wellbutrin. It made me edgy and put pounds on me so after 8 months the doctor added Effexor. That also made me gain weight(lovely hey?? esp. since the hubby dropped 40 pounds on it) I recently went to see a new doctor who I thought had a good handle on mental health issues. He said from reading my chart that he suspects I may be bi-polar. I asked why and he said because I have been on so many different meds. He also shared that I now take the Wellbutrin and Effexor. Of course I tried to explain the weight gain and that the two I take now seem to help the most for my anxiety. He told me to go home and write about my teen yrs and through adulthood to identify signs of bi-polar behaviors. Well this is where I need some help. I have worked with women in recovery for many, many yrs. and I have seen how they are challenged with the mood swings, impulsive behaviors,  major highs, relapse triggers and very low times etc... I have never dealt with those type of symptoms ever. My mood stays pretty stable other than the things in life that can challenge our emotions. I am wanting to know if there are very minor symptoms that I could be missing. I told several good friends about his concern and they could not believe what he thought. My one friend has a masters in mental health ed and she laughed. I seriously thought I had a good handle on knowing the symptoms and being very understanding and empathetic with my ladies in treatment. Feedback please. Oh one other thing. I can now fully understand why the women struggled so with meds as 85% of the ladies gained weight. We had to due a great amount of safety planning to stop them from going off prescription drugs and relapsing. Many still stopped them as they were putting so much effort towards losing weight that they became more anxious and depressed. I went through that experience to help me be even more sensitive to the challenges of mental health and recovery. Lilly FYI- I was kind of impulsive as a teen. I thought that was pretty common for teens.

[misslilly]

Thanks for your comments and support. I take mental health issues very seriously but how can a professional make such a serious diagnosis after 20 minutes of talking with me??? One thing that I did do was follow up with this diagnosis by speaking with my regular physician. He did say that he does not believe I am bi-polar. It was very important to me that he correct this in my chart. I plan to go to the hospital and sign the release forms to view my records. I know first hand from my work that one does not want this diagnosis in their file if it is not accurate. Insurance companies(all types) eat this up. It is not a condition you want on your permanent records if it is not accurate. I would never read the initial info that I would get for my addictive/criminal clients until after I met them. I wanted them to tell me the deal instead of reading how another person had defined them.  lilly

[shortcircuited]

ditto

Bipolar has been the flavor of the month for quite some time--you know best how you feel, so don't let anyone pressure you into a diagnosis that may be wrong.

[Magdalorne]

Hi, I have to agree with you that it doesn't sound like you are bipolar, and I question the use of Effexor anyway.  Effexor is extremely hard to get off of, so I wouldn't recommend it if you don't need it.  It's

I highly suggest seeing another psychiatrist asap.  If you haven't had any bipolar symptoms, and haven't had extreme highs and lows, I don't understand why he is trying to convince you that you're bipolar.

I can relate to the weight gain.  It *****!  Fortunately or unfortunately, I know that I can't stop my medication.