Thanks for your input, My mum went to the docs yest and hes finally agreed not to try any more antidepressants and send her to see a phycologist! So hopefully she will have an appointment and a diagnosis soon!
Thanks Again I really apreciate it!
Oh and PS...anti-depressants can be disastrous for people with BPD. In my case, even St. John's Wort.
1. GPs shouldn't be diagnosing psych disorders.
2. Since BP II, especially mixed states, aren't as obvious, I think it goes under reported and under diagnosed.
3. It's a thin line between BP I & BP II. The kindling theory says episodes will progressively intensify over time, most especially if untreated. This is important.
I think your mom may fall into 1 & 2, and in time possibly 3.
I fell into 2 & 3. Even though I was being treated with Depakote, they never diagnosed me BP...until my last big episode. It's hard to say if I was psychotic or not, but I was certainly on the line...super powers and all.
I went in for a routine blood test, and if it weren't for my smart GP insisting on my getting evaluated again.....who knows how I'd be.
Thanks for your wellwishes, Im really going to persue this and hopefully we will get somehwere!!
Anyone elses imput will also be apreciated :-)
Hi Linda,
Thanks soo much for taking the time to give me ur input, I really apreciate it, I feel like a dog with a bone at the minute!
Answer to your questions-
She cant go to see a phyciatrist without the GP referring her ( we dont have a self referral service)- Completely off topic here but could be linked- I know she saw a phyciatrist maybe 8years ago she had a addiction to buying washing powder- Say if she saw someone in the supermarket and there coloured washing was brighter than hers shed ask what they used and buy it, She was mad on the stuff but used it once and put it away until my dad found her 'stash' Literally every cupboard was full!
I did want to go to the GP with her but i had an ear infection in both ears so had to see my own GP literally at the same time :-( She says she wants me to go with her then always makes an excuse at the time or cancels the appt, I think shes scared ill be brutally honest with him,
She only has 1 GP in her practise so im not too sure about a second opinion, And no i dont think shes honest with him but then i think shes in denial about the moods ect?Maybe she just doesnt realise how vile she is sometimes?
I know she has an appointment on tuesday and i think im going to insist on going in with her, I really feel at this moment in time this is worth pushing!
Thanks again Linda!
Amy.
Unless you can convince her to go to a psychiatrist I don't see things getting any better. Antidepressants make bipolar 2 worse. They could be contributing to the behavior issues.
What the doctor is describing is bipolar 1. What your mom has sounds like bipolar 2. Would she let you go to the doctor's with her? or go to a different doctor for a second opinion? The average time it takes to get a bipolar diagnosis is 8 years. So your experience is not unusual. It is also possible she is not being 100% honest with the doctor. If she goes in with a written sheet of symptoms it will be easier than trying to recount verbally.
Good luck.