Bp 2 after one session

[tanlee27]

so I was just diagnosed with BP II on my first vist to a psychiartist.  We only talked for an hour.  How is the doc so sure that is what i have. I thought it took awhile to diagnose.  She prescribed me a Lamictal tritation pack, but I'm hesitant to use it.  I just don't know how I could be diagnose after 1 visit. Any thoughts anyone?

[tanlee27]

How did the lamictal work for you?  That was what I was prescribed but yet I am reluctant to try it because I think I am still in denial about being diagnose so fast.  Also when is best time to take it?

[rogelio63]

The same thing happened to me.  I went into it a little different.  I had been on celexa for a while and wasn't doing very well.  So to keep track, I started using the mood tracker on here.  When I went in for my first visit, I had about a month of tracking in hand, and along with what I told her, she came to the same conclusion your's did.  I'm an RN and so I knew the symptoms of BP.  My wife accused me of going there digging for the diagnosis.  I started lamictal and klonopin (which the klonopin was not a good thing for me). Took myself off of it.  Had a real rough time. Then went back to see her and now am more sure of being BP II, as is my wife.  So I'm back on lamictal and ativan and seem to be doing better except for impulse control which I need to work on.  
Some of these practitioners can spot BP a mile away depending on their experience.  When they specialize in it, I guess it's like a regular doc seeing someone that's hypothyroid or something,,they do the tests but they know before the results come back what the diagnosis is, they've just done if for so long!

[paranoid_cataclysm]

There are clusters of symptoms which can be considered red flags for specific mental illnesses which if told to a doctor they can diagnose you that fast if they are experienced enough like hell1971 said.  I wrote out a 9 page document on my mental illness symptoms for example and gave it to them and they also got my MRIs and crap to rule out other disorders that can mimic mental illness and I got a diagnosis sometime between the initial visit which they told me it would take a while and being accepted into PACT.  I think also the antipsychotics I was put on alone having a drastic impact in improving my functioning and getting rid of symptoms also helped them come to the diagnosis.

[hell1971]

If your doc is competent and experienced then they are probably right, you must have given them information that lead them to dx you as BPII. Next time you see them get them to expain why they think you are BP, I went into denial when I was diagnosed even though I had 4 doctors tell me I was definately BPII. Exactly one year later and have learnt alot about Bipolar I can see how they were right, get a second opinion if you are still unsure, I had no choice to trust my doctors and take the meds they gave me as I was in no state not too.  

[Xila31]

Well, were you given any tests or anything? There is a question sheet you fill out and you have to answer honestly. The test they used to first diagnose me was only about 5 questions long, then later I took a much longer 500 questions test. Also, if your mood was very high or low perhaps it gave some clues.

When I was diagnosed it came about because I started crying when they told me I might need a mamorgram just to rule out some pain I was having as cancer. Crying is sort of the wrong word, here. I was on the floor curled up in a ball sobbing uncontrolably and shaking in terror. That prompted my doctor to test me for mood problems. This was my PCP who I had been seeing for about a year but never had any mood discussions with before that appointment.

But if you are worried I would not rule out going for a second opinion.