About to be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

starnight_2

The first thing they asked me before putting me on lithium was, 'do you plan on having any more children?'.

I hope everything goes well with your new meds
xx

Rikochet

I've been to my GP today and after receiving my medical notes from my previous physician he has doubled my dose of Sertraline (which I was quite worried about but he assured me it's for the best) and arranged for me to see a Psychiatrist shortly. This is the most progress I have had in recent weeks and I must thank (almost) everyone for their kind help and advice.

My doctor ran through a questionnaire with me today and has agreed that I show signs of Bipolar disorder and severe depression. I think today was the right day to go as I was feeling particularly low and hadn't had much sleep last night.

I'm seeing a community therapist on Wednesday at Mindspace and I've now applied for ESA and DLA. I've got the number for the Tax Credits Helpline and forms for Council Tax Benefit. If you have a low household income it turns out that you can also apply for Housing Benefit for some or all of your rent/mortgage interest. He signed me off for 4 weeks at the moment and when I contacted my work to enquire about my final wage today they told me I would be welcome back once I am better as when I am there I am very good at my job.

A very positive day for me. :T

clairew37

DLA is awarded based on the actual mobility or care needs that you have, not your actual condition, diagnosed or not.

Rikochet

clairew37 wrote: »

DLA is awarded based on the actual mobility or care needs that you have, not your actual condition, diagnosed or not.

Hi there Clairew,

I realise this now and that is why I have applied for DLA today.

I was just keeping others updated on my progress as there seemed to be a few people interested.

Although I came on here looking for advice on Benefits etc the posts that followed highlighted the fact that people were unsure about the entire process which includes diagnosis. It's been a good sounding post for me and a lot of others and I have gained so much help from people replying to my original query that I have managed to get things done in the last 2 days which would normally have taken weeks!!!

Your post is an important one for anyone who thinks they might be entitled to apply for DLA. You are right of course and this has been one of the most important things I have found out since embarking on this journey.

The forms were quite straightforward but they did ask for a lot of information so I would advise anyone to seek help from someone in the know before filling them in.

xxx

lellie

tr3mor wrote: »

Very good dear.

People can go through months or years of anguish before getting a diagnosis of bipolar. Psychiatrists go through many years of training to confidently diagnose it. If you had any experience of bipolar then you really wouldn't want it. The drugs used to treat it are bloody horrible and lifelong. Nothing like your probable baby-dose of sertraline.

Bipolar is not something you look up on wikipedia and claim that it fits. The fact is that you are being a prat and are causing offence and dismay to people who have experience of this illness.

There are some really valid points here.

Diagnosis is a very long, slow process. As I said before, I went through multiple hospitalisations, doctors, drugs etc before I got a firm diagnosis. Bipolar was suspected for much of this time, but there needed to be enough evidence before I was given an official diagnosis. My original psychiatrist despite all of her experience (and she's a very well respected psych!) did not feel confident making the diagnosis so referred me to the Bipolar specialist at the hospital.

Bipolar Disorder is a horrible and lifelong condition. There are serious consequences resulting from a diagnosis. You will have to take medication, probably for the rest of your life. The medication can have horrendous side effects, making life even more difficult than the condition already does. Depakote gave me a terrible rash, made my hair fall out and worsened my depression. Lithium can make you tremor and requires regular blood tests. Antipsychotics can be numbing, make you drowsy and a walking zombie. They are all horrible.

You will likely have to give up driving at least for a period until you can prove your condition is stable.

Although the DDA in theory protects you, you can still find it difficult to obtain employment and can face stigma. If you are really unlucky you may never find real stability again and may never be well enough to work.

Perhaps more importantly, Bipolar disorder kills. There is a high suicide rate. I should know. I have attempted suicide, ending up in intensive care. I survived, but I could easily have not. If I had not spent so long in hospital and am not under constant supervision it could easily happen again. Bipolar disorder also shortens your life expectancy, even if you do not commit suicide.

I really think the OP should not be taking this lightly. I have been a little dismayed at your keenness to receive this diagnosis. Bipolar is not something you wish for. I know there has been a bit of a thing lately about Bipolar disorder being a glamourous condition, but it is far from it.

I also agree with the others that suggest you will be unlikely to see a psychiatrist any time soon, unless you go privately. Despite being under the care of the local CMHT for a few months and awaiting an urgent referral, I am still waiting to meet my NHS psychiatrist. I see one privately in the interim.

Anyway, I think I've laboured my point enough. Bipolar disorder is not fun in any way shape or form. It has ruined my life and may well end it.

lellie

Tashja wrote: »

Thank you Lellie

I am back at the hospital in September to see how I am coping with the meds and if they need adjusting. I start them tomorrow and then increase weekly until the GP is happy with the dose and then to the hospital.

I am quite scared of these meds because even though I have been told they are the ones with the least side effects, they will most likely make me ill for a couple of weeks and again each time the increase :eek: no fun with 3 little ones on summer hols !!

I am really hoping these are the meds for me and that I don't need to plough through the full range !! They wouldn't put me on lithium as they really want that to be a last resort due to my age - apparently they don't like prescribing it to child bearing aged women due to a link with severe birth defects.

I hope everyone on here is ok and best wishes with diagnosis, appointments and medications.

T xx

I know how you feel about the meds. Almost all have had awful side effects. Sometimes they wear off. Sometimes they don't and a medication change is needed.

I've been through pretty much the whole range. Quetiapine (Seroquel), Aripiprazole (Abilify), Topiramate, Depakote, Lamotrigine (Lamictal) etc. etc.

The only one I've not yet been on is Lithium for the same reason you mention. If my current drug regime doesn't start to make a positive difference then Lithium may be reconsidered.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

By the way, having a short temper and becoming quite scathing in replies to other people (whether deserved or not) is very common at the manic stage of the illness. It is one of the problems which can be quoted in the DLA application. Until such time as the cycle pauses or medication works, it can be useful to take a step back and think 'Now, is that person really doing this to **** me off, or could I be overreacting?'. "Moreover, if they are really being a ****, why should I lower myself down to their level?"

The additional adrenalin of verbal attack and defence does little to improve the atmosphere at home for anyone.

I'm not taking sides with anyone here - so don't have a go at me - but it can be a quite useful coping strategy to avoid unnecessary upset/confrontation/quite possible physical injury in certain circumstances.

After the euphoria of hypomania/mania, it can start to feel like everything's going just that bit too fast, things make you angry, then, as everything gets faster, it gets a bit scary - things just aren't fun anymore. Lack of sleep, constant activity, dissatisfaction with everything and everyone can trip over into anxiety, disorientation, panic, exhaustion, thoughts of harm, being stretched so thin -

that something snaps.

Crash and Burn.


I would suggest to your GP that things seem to be progressing rather quicker than you would like. And you don't want to get to the crash without having seen someone first. Try to be nice. Make it clear that you are really having to make an effort, if need be.

Good luck.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Sorry - posted twice by accident! Oh yes, and well done on not stopping the meds suddenly. The body gets accustomed to them and the effects of stopping such things can be quite dangerous.

dmg24

lellie wrote: »

I know how you feel about the meds. Almost all have had awful side effects. Sometimes they wear off. Sometimes they don't and a medication change is needed.

I've been through pretty much the whole range. Quetiapine (Seroquel), Aripiprazole (Abilify), Topiramate, Depakote, Lamotrigine (Lamictal) etc. etc.

The only one I've not yet been on is Lithium for the same reason you mention. If my current drug regime doesn't start to make a positive difference then Lithium may be reconsidered.

Hi lellie, I am bipolar and like you have tried numerous meds. I now take Lithium. I have discussed the implications of taking it during pregnancy and my psych and I are both satisfied that for my situation, the benefit far outweighs the risk.

I have done a lot of research into the various drugs in pregnancy (it is a very prevalent issue in my life!), and think that there are much worse things you could be taking (including Lamotrigine). I can't go into details on here in case it is seen as giving advice, but if you do want some more definitive information on Lithium and pregnancy (links to medical information, not just my opinion! ), feel free to PM me.

Rikochet, I would echo what others have said regarding self diagnosis. Be it intentional or not, you do appear to be styling your symptoms towards a bipolar diagnosis. This is dangerous, in that giving tailored answers in your assessment could lead to an incorrect diagnosis and therefore ineffective treatment.

Ames

It's interesting what you say about lithium, they didn't mention prengancy problems to me when they put me on it, just that it could cause liver problems so I had to have regular blood tests. I was in my early 20s so definitely child bearing age!