Bipolar, OCD and neurology

[gmphoto]

In 1991 I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after living with this disorder for 14 years. During this time period, my appetite for sex was far beyond the norm, as were my moods. I've been on antipressants, as well as lithium and OCD related meds such as Paxil. Today some 18 years later, I'm off all my meds. I was overmedicated, and felt very weak.
I could not walk 10-15 steps without having to stop. At one point I was on 3 different meds. Nothing seemed to work for me medicinally, at least not long term. Antidepressants work well for 3-4 weeks and then I feel severely depressed and suicidal. No more!  My best drug was Paxil to date. My symtoms go far beyond what's listed. I also had a massive outbreak of psoriasis, which was treated with UVB lights, only to the dismay of my Dr's was very stubborn to treat. Chronic obsessive masterbation and the excessive need for a sexual partner was my main focal point since my late teens,  and my biggest distraction in life. My physical symptoms include, lightheadedness, inability to concentrate, blurred vision, mild headaches, chronic fatique that is to some extent disabling, and physical exercise leads to me being very disoriented. Here's the clincher! Since my late teens, my pupils (wrap around the pituitary gland, hyper sexual...) have been very hyperactive. They are in constant motion under a fixed light source, such as lights in bathroom. I had a visit with an optomology specialist and he confirmed my diagnosis. I get extreme pressure on my optic nerve, which causes extreme physical fatigue, and continues to haunt me. Is this caused by my tendency to perhaps have OCD, which is a subcatagory of bipolar. Is OCD a nuerolocally based disorder? My question lies within this. Did I actually have bipolar or OCD or perhaps a combination of both. I'm now 52 and yes, my sex drive has diminished, due in part to aging and drugs, but the symtoms still reside. I'm tired of being drugged! I'm tired of feeling sick. I'd beg for anyone to please help me. The psychiatrists that I have seen are in limbo as to what is going on with me. They have no idea. I've never had, nor will any Dr.'s comply to my request of a PET SCAN or any other nuerologic research on the brain to see what caused, or is causing my condition. My symtoms feel very nuerologically based, with lightheadedness, short term memory loss, confusion, and fatigue. I'm frustrated, not to mention scared.

[monkeyc]

The biggest problem from what I see is it could be neuro but you are also diagnosed with a mental illness and not medicated which is likely why the doctors won't take a request for a PET scan seriously (not to mention the massive cost factors)

Sexual obession can be a Bipolar or OCD symptom BTW and its not unusual.

Oh and OCD is a not a sub category of Bipolar BTW its a seperate DSM classification and criteria - not all OCD's are BP (most are not) and not all BP's are OCD though there are obsessive aspects to Bipolar which leads to misdiagnosis and clouding of the diagnosis in a significant number of cases.

The major problem you face is this - Doctors are not interested in treating patients who won't follow treatments - Most psychiatrists will give up trying with patients who won't take meds or follow instructions no matter how well meaning their reasons - the big issue patients suffer from is doctors who over medicate and do not listen to the patient.  In the middle is the happy medium.

Yes a neurologist is a smart idea.  But so is a psychiatrist who is reputable and trying the right drugs to manage the other symptoms - From where I sit I doubt you will find a neuro wiling to do much unless he is certain the symptoms are not from the OCD and BP which is unmedicated - Paxil btw is an SSRI Anti Depressant and bad for Bipolars who are not on a mood stabiliser leading to mania and other symptoms.

Meds work but unless you work with your doctors you wont get there - If you are taking meds that make you exhausted, numb or tired or have other side effects you need to speak to your doctor and work with them - trusting a doctor to know the right meds is a crapshoot and if its a family doctor then youre taking a risk - ive seen too many GP's diagnosing everything from schizophrenia and BP as ADHD and giving ritalin to patients and ive seen (and this is my local GP here) one who has over 75% of his female patients on an Anti Depressant and is being investigated for prescribing them to toddlers.

Psychiatric diseases need specialists for medication who will work with the patient.

As for med free - i convinced myself for 15 years I didnt need meds and now looking back I can see the episodes, losts jobs, destroyed relationships and damage done to myself and others from my "stable and med free days"

[ILADVOCATE]

Ocd and bipolar are psychiatric. What you are describing could be neurological in origin or perhaps something else entirely such as a thyroid disorder. A neurological disability is physical however (I know because I live with tardive dyskinesia and am under study for tardive psychosis, those are treated by a neurologist, that is no manner what you are experiencing, I am just saying I know how to get a referral to a quality neurologist) and since it could be many things having a psychiatrist do the examination doesn't make sense. Ask for a referral to a neurologist and if your psychiatrist won't give one, go to a general physician, get a blood test for general health (including thyroid, liver function, white blood cell count, etc.) and then they will if warranted refer you to a neurologist. But do have any physical or neurological criteria ruled out and I didn't check your posts but you could also describe your physical issues (apart from ocd and bipolar which are psychiatric) in the "ask a doctor" forum under neurology because that would be a seperate issue from anything treatable by a psychiatrist.