About to be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

purplecatlover

best thing to do is apply anyway via the job center, they or the likes of cab/dial etc will be able to advise what you are entitled to taking into account everything.

monsterface

Hi all,

I was disgnosed Bi polar last year, although I first saw a Dr 10 years ago, I am self employed and I work in sales, not good for those manic moments, I have started maybe 10-15 businesses in the past few years, bought property all over the country without thinking, amongst various other things, I have a wife and 2 kids, so they suufer me too. There is a lot of hel p out there you can access, my circumstances may be different as I twice tried to kill myself,( financial problems arising from 10-15 businesses not making any money, the reality of facing financial ruin, mixed with severe depression) I have since seen an employment advisor from the NHS who has gone through my work history, as you can imagine it is all high risk work in high risk industries, and on her advice and the chance for a fresh start, I am 40 this year, I am now starting university in September, doing psychology, I can be my own test subject , the support team with the CAB have been a tremendous help, I get DLA at the higher rate, with low rate mobility, so my wife gets carers allowance, social workers are in touch every week to make sure we're ok, and they have helped me with my studuent funding, and all the money troubles we have, likelihood of having to go to bankrupt. I take a lot of different medications if i jump up and down i sound like a rattle, but I am learning to live with it, whereas before I had very serious manic attacks and very long lows, I can now spot one coming and what triggers them and deal with them, or warn everyone anyway.
Anyway just wanted to share, thanks

Rikochet

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Are you on any other meds ? I am asking because Sertraline may cause activation of mania, the psych will know in more detail but my son has bipolar 2 and his psych said an SSRI anti dep is usually only prescribed in conjunction with other meds.
I look forward to reading how you get on at the psych visit, good luck.

Nothing else at the moment I'm still being treated for 'normal' depression. Sertraline seems to be ok at settling my moods but it's made the actual depression a lot worse.

I'm going to carry on taking it until I speak to a psych anyway because I don't fancy chopping and changing meds all the time until I know they are going to be of benefit to me.

Thanks, I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!!

lellie

I don't really know where to start on this post. A lot has been said but there are a few things I'm concerned about.

Firstly, please don't put too much faith in getting a diagnosis any time soon. I had suspicions I was bipolar well over a year ago and it took about a year, a very serious suicide attempt, ECT, 3 psychiatrists and about 20 different medications before I got the official diagnosis. GPs aren't qualified to diagnose bipolar disorder and even many psychiatrists struggle to make the diagnosis.

Like Blackpool_Saver I'm concerned about the Sertraline. SSRIs really are bad news for people who are bipolar. I was initially prescribed Fluoxetine, having presented with depression and it caused no end of problems. If your mood has settled down I am surprised. Often SSRIs can cause the mood to escalate and trigger rapid cycling or mania.

In terms of DLA, it is the symptoms, not the diagnosis that is important. You will need to prove that you need supervision or support. I get the higher rate care component and lower rate mobility DLA on the proviso that I need constant supervision to keep myself safe, but I needed the support of my GP for this. Talk to them and see if they agree that you should be receiving DLA.

Finally, please take the advice of your GP or psychiatrist when/if you eventually get to see one (it can take months on the NHS!). Don't self-diagnose from lists of symptoms on the internet.

damo24

I'm in a pretty similar position, I have an "interim diagnosis" of severe depression and anxiety though I have been told by my CPN that my symptoms may well be bi-polar and am seeing my psychiatrist next week.

I suffer extreme mood swings though quite unusually for bi-polar they are very rapid. Swings from depressed to manic and back to depressed cn take place within an hour. I found quite a lot of interesting information on this website http://www.depressioncanbefun.com/ and their description of bi-polar depression could of been written by me it was so accurate.

I took the test that Breast Cancer Survivor suggested and scored 37. I am dyslexic and have been told that there is a link between dyslexia and autism but was still shocked to get such a high score. I will definitely be mentioning it to the psychiatrist when I see him.

As for benefits, my problems got a LOT worse when my latest business failed. I now receive incapacity benefit, income support and DLA. I know IB and IS hae been replaced with ESA but getting DLA will make a BIG difference. I only get IS because I am classed as being disabled enough to get DLA so go for it all.

Thank you for all of the posts on here, it is nice to know I'm not the only one going through this.

Ames

I agree that urgent psych help can take ages.

I was diagnosed bipolar 8 years ago, but since moving here 3 years ago my new team keep changing the diagnosis.

I get higher rate DLA care for my mental health problems

Tashja

I had an urgent referal to and it took about 4 months but they think I have had it since 2000 as my medical records show clear periods of depression.

I have been put on Citilopram (sp?) along with Abilify - they wanted top avoid lithium due to my age.

I have found out today that, as long as my GP supports me, I don't have to pay Council Tax and will get any payments refunded since diagnosis (think this is right) I have spoken to the Council Tax people and they are sending me the forms to complete.

HTH

T xx

Fire_Fox

Is it possible to have mild Bipolar? I have been diagnosed with stress/ anxiety, chronic insomnia, depression and SAD at various times, and would definitely say I have an addictive/ obsessive personality. I am known for rushing everywhere and talking far too much and too loudly. I have taken a lot of recreational drugs in the past, self medicating but also very much for the buzz, the risk. I miss it!

When I had my medical for my current job (NHS) the doctor asked if I thought I was "a bit manic". My GPs always seem to want to label me as having depression, and I do take an anti-depressant (mirtazepine) long term. However I often don't feel that depression is what is wrong, although I accept that mirtazepine helps level my moods a great deal. I think this is largely to do with the sedative effect.

I can manage to hold down a job fine, tho I do get bored and restless very quickly. Bosses love or hate me. I am very sensible with money now (obsessive), but spent around £20K of my divorce settlement in a couple of years on top of my normal income. The flat I live in now is mine outright with the remaining money - bought after a decision made during a ketamine trip ....

Ames

There's somthing called cyclothymia which is a kind of 'mini' bipolar, it's one of my current diagnoses. It can be a precurser to bipolar too.

Rikochet

I don't self diagnose I just do my homework. I'm not some hypochondriac, I know I am Bipolar I just have to get this across to the people that matter which seems to be very difficult due to the amount of chancers out there.

There is a lot of information available on the internet and my ability to hyper focus means I can find out what I need to know quicker than going to a doctors at times.

Having a label might annoy some people but it gives me some comfort knowing that there are other people out there in the same boat going through the same emotions and having the same problems that I am having. I've been like this for years and have only recently started looking at what I can do to help myself.

I think the worst part of it all is the lack of support from my local jobcentre and also some of the doctors that I have seen in the past. They just don't seem to care and all seem to be just bullsh*&^ing their ways to retirement!

Thank god I put this post up eh? I'm off to my GP tomorrow and I've decided not to leave until I get some progress. I don't think theres a MIND here but we do have something called Mindspace which is like a local community therapist that I'm going to see on Wednesday so I'll see if they can help me with my forms. If not the CAB will probably help.