About to be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

fluffy24

Wow what a thred I am exhausted, anyone without BP should not in my opinion give 'pidgeon advice' when you have been in services for 5 years plus you will know it all like some others on this thred.

I was diagnosed with Rapid-cycling BP in Jan this year after 6 years of appointments! Since my diagnosis I have seen 5 SHO's! had 7 different meds taking 60mg prozac, 200mg quetiepine and 2000mg or depakote so to rikochet all I would say mate is lets hope you are not *about* to be diagnosed with BP cos I is a F*****g knightmare, I get high rate care DLA and low rate mobility £350 per month, quiet alot of working tax credit! council tax benefit, nursery fees paid £700 per month and my wife gets £55 per week carers allowance. not bad eh! Well i would give it all back and more to not have BP.

Take care all ian x

Rikochet

Hi everyone!!

I've been seeing a therapist for the last few weeks along with my GP and I've now finally managed to get an appointment to see an NHS psychologist near the end of this month!!

I do hope they say I don't have Bipolar as it does sound quite nasty but unfortunately it seems to be heading either that way or down the personality disorder route. I am of course glad of whatever help I can get and I just wish I'd asked for it earlier.

I've suffered for years and until recently I was too proud/paranoid to go to the doctors for fear of being ridiculed or told that I was suffering from something more serious than a mental illness.

I'm now receiving contribution based ESA as it seems that I did make enough contributions over the last few years and I am awaiting my decision from DLA.

I've been updating them on my progress and am hopeful that I'll get something from them too.

Ames

A psychologist wont say anything about what illness you've got, it's not their job to diagnose. It's a psychiatrist who does that, and decides on any treatment.

I'm curious to think what you could have that would be 'more serious than a mental illness' though? Surely all serious illness are as serious as each other, with the exeption of terminal illnesses.

dane-katie

I know how everyone feels with NHS and mental health problems, i am back to see the psychiatrist this week only my 2nd appointment but she wants to discuss medications and treatment, im keeping a mood diary and BP was discussed slightly but she wanted to check my bloods etc to look at other things too, she did say BP symptoms are similar to other illnesses but tbh i dont know, i am hoping on thursday when i see her i will get a diagnosis but the wait is killing me, its all thats on my mind and it races through, grrr cant sleep getting hyper again

msmoose

Rikochet wrote: »

Hi everyone!!

I've been seeing a therapist for the last few weeks along with my GP and I've now finally managed to get an appointment to see an NHS psychologist near the end of this month!!

I do hope they say I don't have Bipolar as it does sound quite nasty but unfortunately it seems to be heading either that way or down the personality disorder route. I am of course glad of whatever help I can get and I just wish I'd asked for it earlier.

I've suffered for years and until recently I was too proud/paranoid to go to the doctors for fear of being ridiculed or told that I was suffering from something more serious than a mental illness.

I'm now receiving contribution based ESA as it seems that I did make enough contributions over the last few years and I am awaiting my decision from DLA.

I've been updating them on my progress and am hopeful that I'll get something from them too.

Have you got a referral for an NHS Psychiatrist yet? If not chase one up!

dane-katie

Well i was diagnosed with bi-polar on thursday and started on some medication, helping me sleep slightly but they take forever to kick in, i was told i have to take them in the evening but i have been taking them at tea time.

OH keeps telling me he cant cope, and taking it out on me, family dont seem bothered only to ring to find out the latest gossip on me, im so alone and dont know what to do or where to turn

Ames

Oh dane, I'm so sorry. When I was diagnosed I was living with dad, his response was that there was no such thing as bipolar, as no one had it when he was growing up in the 50's (oh really? So they were giving electric shock therapy to healthy people?), that it was all just a con to keep drug companies and doctors in jobs, and he used to hide my meds.

Maybe your OH just needs time and info? Maybe take him to your next appointment so that the doctor can explain it to him, and he can ask any questions?

Try asking your GP what help's out there. I've just (6 years after diagnosis!) been given a booklet that has all the self help group and emergency numbers in it for my area. It's a bloomin' thick booklet! I think if I'd had that when I moved here 5 years ago I could have avoided at least one of my suicide attempts. I got it from a health trainer though, not even my mental health team thought to mention it to me! I've also just been referred to a mental health outreach team, who are brilliant, they're so understanding. After all this time, after my first meeting with them I actually came away thinking that with help I might be able to live a 'normal' life, maybe even work. Which is a huuuuuuuuge step forward for me.

Sorry if I've overloaded you with info, if you want any more just pm me.

Oh and I love your sig, 'is a bi-polar bear', would you mind if I nicked it? You can say no, that's ok!

skipsmum

Dane Katie, I started on meds 4 weeks ago, and this weekend is the first time ive felt stable, neither high nor suicidal. It feels good - stick at it!
PM me if you want to compare notes!

Ames

Oh one other thing, if these meds don't suit you then tell the doctor, there's loads to try and it might take a while to find the right ones, that's perfectly normal. Don't put up with side effects, even if the doctor tries to tell you they know best, it's your body and you shouldn't feel worse because of meds.

dane-katie

I dont mind you nicking the bipolar bear one, i "borrowed" it off a mental health site, was the nicest way to put it

These meds seem to have brought me out of my mania and brought me down to depressed, i am having horrible thoughts but i know the meds need time to work, so i will keep on them and see what happens, they get increased on wednesday and i am looking forward to it as i want them to start working.

Thanks for all the messages on here its nice to not be on my own, we could do with a bipolar sticky or something??