EDUCATE ME,PLEASE

Well, need a little more info on that dx, are you depressed, not manic?  To have bipolar depression, you would first have to have had a manic/hypomanic episode.  Otherwise, it would be unipolar depression.  Does that make sense?   Basically, here's the cut and paste that saves me typing, lol.  (Not laughing at you at ALL).  BTW, what meds did your doc prescribe?

If you read this the minute you get the notificaton, read it again in another minute, can't copy/paste at the same time of the post. 

Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:

• Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
• Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
• Extreme irritability
• Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
• Distractibility, can't concentrate well
• Little sleep needed
• Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
• Poor judgment
• Spending sprees
• A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
• Increased sexual drive
• Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
• Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
• Denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present, so seven in all.

One big difference is that bipolar depression involves leaden paralysis, which is basically that it's hard to move, you feel like you're made of lead and basically bedridden.  Clinical depression doesn't have that.  Of course, that's when it's severe, but even in lighter forms, it is harder to move, you feel heavy and can no longer do things like your regular exercise, even a walk is very hard.  Is this happening to you?

It is extremely important that you not be quickly diagnosed BP, which it seems more docs are doing these days.  It's very hard to diagnose quickly.  Did you take any screening tests? 

LOL of course!  I've had 40 years of it to practice with lol.

Anxiety/panic often goes with BP, (me too) but how many symptoms on the list did you have besides pressured  speech and fast train of thought?  Manic episode needs to be a week or more.  Not sure about moods changing every few hours.     Did you see a pdoc?

no , he gave me no tests, but I have all of those S/S except, drug use, and incresed sex. I have a lot od other things going on for me that would include the leaden paralysis. i think we were typing at the same time as indicated in above post.

EEK!  You may be.  There was an MD on here last night named ckgMD and he mentioned the Hamilton depression scale and the mood disorder questionnaire.   These are to my knowledge the most effective screening tool to use in dx BP and other things, but it is very thorough in weeding out BP.   If you are BP, you sound like a rapid cycler, which Nickie, Sandra and myself are.  It's the hardest one to treat becuase it fluctuates too quickly and often.  But, there are times when it's tamer, thank god!

I'm sure your thyroid was checked.  Did he mention checking am and pm cortisols?   Also, thyroid disorders are prevalent in BPs, along with migraines and stomach disorders.

Also, you can google mood disorder questionnaire (I would give you the link, but can't here) and take the test.  It's pretty dead on and it may help you get a better understanding of where you are.

Have you ever been dx for depression before? What made you go in, and how long did it take for him/her to dx you? Sorry if I missed that, I was first dx with depression ( MD), then 1 year later dx with Bipolar. I always doubt this dx, however I think everyone around me knows it's a true dx. Shannon we talk all the time, have you ever actually seen( hehe) me manic? I don't recall in the last months if I have been besides med induced. I know STOP with the denial. Also Sandy, I will email ya when I have more time like tomorrow, about the dreams, wow now i am freakin out, I had similiar dreams, ohhhhhhh... that's creepy. Love ya chicks. Nickie

P.S. I dreamed that one of the instruments I am learning for surgery was trying to attack me. Oh my God..... I never want to touch that one...it's a frazier, a neurotip suction , how weird is that.

http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/MDQ.htm

Yes, I think this is pretty thorough, although of course you can't just diagnose yourself over the internet.   But I do wish  more docs (even pdocs dont all use this) would.

BP II is hypomania, a milder form of mania which is dangerous enough to cause a lot of problems with relationships, financial status, keeping jobs, etc.  The difference between type II and type I is full mania with psychotic episodes as well i.e. hearing voices, hearing your name being called all the time even when there is no one there, thinking you are something grand, the president, having special supernatural powers, special connections with God, smelling things burning or that just aren't there, extreme paranoia are some of the things type I experiences. 

BP II is no light matter.  If you are scoring high on the mood disorder questionnaire you need a pdoc in the worst way and to show it to him.  This is the first application of working WITH the pdoc.  You will always have to in order to be as successful as possible with your treatment.

Flopsie, did you ask the doc why Coreg instead of Lanoxin?  One possibility, and this is just an idea, is that you run the risk of dig toxicity, which I'm sure you already know, so dig levels are needed.  However, you may still need glucose levels done with a beta blocker.  Coreg works on both hypertension and CHF by stimulating the heart muscle, so not so necessary to take potent diuretic medications.  You still may possibly have to, but dig may not be necessary.  Just a thought.

Okay nurses, by the time you two are finished we're all going to need an education, and an asprin!!! LOL

ok, LOL, finished... take an aspirin and call us inthe morning..LMBO. Have a good day!

I am not jennifer, but here are the official rules on that subject


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Flopsie,

I haven't been around in a few days, but wanted to say hello and wish you well on your serach for the right treatment for you.

I was diagnosed BP II and most of my symptoms were very similar to the ones that you mentioned as having experienced. Before I knew much about BP, I always figured that the only manifestation of 'elevated' moods were full-blown manic episodes and didn't think that I was BP. It wasn't until I had done more reading and talked with the pdoc that I realized that hypomania was also a manifestation of BP and that in fact there was an explaination for my erratic behaviour. Although I don't think that I've ever experienced a truly manic episode, the hypomania alone was enough to throw my personal life into a shambles. I've managed to get most of my life in order and am living well with medication, but am thankful that I was finally able to put a name (and a treatment) to this thing that ran my life for so long.

It has been a challenge for me to accept and then articulate my diagnosis to my friends and family. Many of the effects of BP II are so subtle to the outside observer, that it is hard for people to understand the frustration/resentment/anger/etc. that comes with it - only further aggravating the situation.

This is an awesome forum with so many smart and knowledgeable people and hopefully you will find some useful info.

Best of luck,

Putter