no-on has diagnosed his bi polar yet, how can we get it diagnosed?

By abacus Friday, November 30, 2007

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I have written before on this web site my husband has bipolar and all the doctor is treating him for is depression, I have spoke toher and told her exactly my husbands symptoms and my husband agrees that he 100% has bipolar, is theresome kind of brain scan thatwill prove he has it.

We have been married for 19 years and Alan myhusband has had BP since the day I met him but we only realised this 5 years ago, he has takenvarous medications and at times hasn't taken any medication, saying that he didn't need medication. Now well this year he finally realises that he can't survive without medication, we are still not sureif he is on the right medication, his symptoms are still persisting but not as often and not as major. Can anyone advise us please, we really do need his medical problem BP confirming.

Comments (7) | Add comment

jdk2293

11/30/07 1:53pm

I will only suggest this:if he is willing to sit down with you and have aheart to heart discussion abt your concerns;maybe somebody else shld be there who has went throught the same thing tht both you and him can trust.

Ice Queen

11/30/07 3:47pm

abacus

I read your last posting i like you and your husband live in the uk. Also i had a 6 year battle with my doctor. My doctor told me that i was depressed and i needed some counciling. I attend counciling and found it to be no help. The doctor then tryed to put me on antidepressants but i refused point blank to take them saying that there was nothing wrong with me. When i said to my doctor about bipolar disorder he told me it was impossible for me to have it. Then he said that he wasn't sure that he belived that bipolar excisted. I got dignosed as depressed, attention seeking, adhd. I finally had enough of my doctor so i started looking for a second opioion. I then went private it's cost me may me broke but it's been worth every penny. I got dignosed with bp on 13th of august 2007. i am on medication and it's working well. All i can say is don't give up and keep on at your doctor. Keep pushing and keep shouting till some 1 listens. After all you and your husband know what's right.

I wish you the best of luck. Big Smile

tabby

11/30/07 6:03pm

You may have answered this already and I'm sorry to ask this if you have but, is your husband seeing a Family Practice/General Medicine Doctor or is he seeing a Psychiatrist?

A Psychiatrist, after careful study of his current and past symptoms, and preferably a study of his medical history as well - needs to diagnose him. If the Dr. he is seeing is indeed a Psychiatrist then perhaps you should look for a 2nd opinion.

Most folks with Bipolar "knew" the moment they were diagnosed that the diagnosis was absolutely correct. It's like an inner beacon that finally "lights" up inside that this is it.

However, most folks with Bipolar are misdiagnosed sometimes for many many years. In that there has been Bipolar I for quite sometime, Bipolar II, Bipolar NOS, and Cyclothymia have kind of cropped up in the last 10 years or so and not many professionals in the psychiatric profession want to look in that direction. This then leads to the misdiagnosis of Severe Depression, Major Depression Recurring, etc.

Hopeful mom

11/30/07 6:46pm

Yeah I'd get another doctor. One who takes the time to go through his history and figure out what's going on. It's not in our nature to question doctors. To us, they're all knowing. Family doctors always try to put people on antidepressants, I don't know why. A good psychiatrist should ask alot of questions and get a detailed history. You won't feel comfortable until you sit down with someone who's as thorough as he or she needs to be.

Eric

12/ 1/07 5:59pm

Why in the world would anyone go to a psychiatrist and proceed to tell the doctor what illness he or she has? Why is the label so important (bp confirming)? Your husband should be doing all the speaking and take control of his illness. It’s important that he conveys to her exactly what is going on. You can always get a second opinion.

abacus

12/ 2/07 4:20am

It isn't only a label,for instance if someone you knew had something like say asthma and they weren't treated for asthma they were treated for having a bad cough and breathing problems - do you think they would be treated correctly - NO, they would need labelling for the exact condition that they had. BP is quite a serious condition and as such must be treated with the right medication etc for the condition. So no it isn't only a label.

hollyz

12/ 2/07 3:06pm

Dear Abacus,

I wanted to let you know that our expert patient has responded to your question in his weekly post. You can find his response here.

Best of Luck,

Holly

no-on has diagnosed his bi polar yet, how can we get it diagnosed?

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