Is it possible for bipolar disorder to be misdiagnosed?

[mwooldri]

Or does medication have long term effects after you stop taking it?

Reason I ask this is because of changes to my work's health plan, I can no longer afford my medications, and when they ran out in mid March, I stopped taking them. I had depressive episodes around the birth of my son in 2003 - he was born with a cogenital birth defect - mentioned this (my depressive episodes) to my family physician who put me on Effexor for first (but couldn't stand the side effects after a week) so put me on Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin seemed to work OK for 6-8 months and then "stopped". I stopped taking it but about a year later I had another depressive episode - suicidal thoughts in mid 2006. Got referred to a pscyhiatrist in a mental health hospital by my family physician who diagnosed me with bipolar disorder and put me on Lamictal. Because this was a short term deal they found me another psychiatrist - upped the dosage of the lamictal and when I had another mini-episode in early 2007 they added Zyprexa to the mix. This combination of medicines seemed to work OK for me and somewhat "spaced" me out at times and left me tired.

But I've been off the medicine for about three months now. I'm not so spaced out and I'm not depressed. I feel rather good actually and not as tired as I once was. So I'm wondering: was I misdiagnosed, or did I just quit my medicines during a "good" part of my mental health cycle? I've had a change in job role that is not so stressful as it was, my son's doing well, my wifes working so there's not really any major money woes (though we could all do with more) ... life's just great! Or do I have to look forward to some crash and burn sometime this year?

Appreciate your thoughts, and thanks in advance.

Mark.

[mopinko]

1. well

i have a little skepticism about dx and treatment by a family physician. it's one thing to give someone a rx for an antidepressant when they are having a bad time. but something like bp really should be a more thorough examination. and should have a counseling component.
i am glad that you are feeling well, and maybe it is going to be all good. but-the kind of trouble that an untreated bp can get into will leave your family a lot more impoverished than the cost of your lamictal, etc. will. it is serious business.
i would really have to urge you to try to find a therapist, and do at least a couple of months of talk therapy. put it out there, talk it over with someone who knows what they are doing. family docs should not be doing this unless there is really no alternative. and unless they can really take the time to do it.
in the meantime, talk to and listen to your wife. you will not see your own changes. she will. believe her.

[tibbir]

2. Be very careful....

It may be that the lack of stress in you life right now is helping you stay "level" - or you may be mildly hypomanic and that's why things seem to be going so well. Definitely have your wife - and friends, if they know your situation - look for any signs that your mood is going up. If you crash, you'll definitely know but you may very well not know that your mood is getting too elevated.

I didn't have insurance for a few years and was able to continue to get treatment. My psychiatrist agreed to charge me the amount that my HMO had been paying her since I was already established with her. She also gave me samples of my medication because there was no way I could afford it.

Be sure you're not in denial about your mental health. Get evaluated by a psychiatrist, not your family doctor. Work with him/her to get treatments. At the very worst, go to a public health clinic to receive your treatment.

Good luck - I'm wishing the very best outcome for you.

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. It would be best to have a psychiatrist

Even if a diabetic had their condition under control, they would still have an endocrinologist that they would see two or three times a year. It would be good if you had a psychiatrist that you could count on the same way. You may be one of the lucky people whose depression was mostly situational (caused from stress) and because your stress level is less, you aren't depressed now. But just like a person whose blood pressure goes up when they are stressed, you will always be at risk for depression, so you should pay attention to how your feeling. You've been through it before and you will be able to recognize it if it happens again.

[fed-up]

4. I am doing w/out meds due to bad reactions-planting flowers/pulling weeds has done wonders for my MH

I am BP II (milder form of mania)

Lamictal gave me swollen lymph nodes and very, very severe mood swings-sent me to a very, very dark place mentally

I know that severe stress greatly affects my mood swings, so I am working on avoiding stress or finding ways to occupy my mind when thoughts take a downhill turn-when hypo mania kicks in I have a list of projects to work on-sometimes hypo-mania can be a good thing if energies can stay focused :)

learn your signs and symptoms for mood changes and have plan in place to deal with them-also ask family members/friends to let you know if you exhibit any signs

[no name no slogan]

5. It is very common for bipolar to be misdiagnosed (myself included)

Especially if you've only had one or two depressive episodes, and no noticeable manic episodes.

I spent nearly 20 years misdiagnosed and mistreated as having major depression, when it turns out I'm actually bipolar. The anti-depressants actually triggered hypomanic episodes, which I was not really aware of because I didn't think I was manic-depressive. After getting the correct diagnosis (AND treated with mood stabilizers instead of anti-depressants), my condition has stabilized dramatically, and I've got something resembling a normal life for the first time since I was a kid.