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Question regarding length of time to reevaluate DX

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Posted 10/5/2007 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings all..

I'm sure you have seen me once or twice scurrying around here and there adding my two cents in on one thread or another.

I wanted to first say that I truly appreciate HW as well as all the members here that take the time out to help out with answering questions, trying to alleviate worry as much as possible and also to always be around to listen when someone just needs you to.

I can't tell you how much this site has really calmed my anxiety about my own situation with my partner and also how much I have learned through all the threads on here. 

The end of this month will mark around 4 months my partner has been experiencing a depressive episode.  Like many on here, I am new to BP and its symptoms.  I can now say that I am very much informed on what I am getting into as a partner with this disorder.  Along with this forum, I attend weekly support groups for BP and Depression, read many books on the subject and also see a therapist so I can take care of myself while this is happening to us.  I don't live with my partner and actually live in another state so right now is extra difficult as I don't have the luxury of even being a sound board to him.  We have only spoke 3 times in the last 3 months as he completely withdraws when in a low mania.  I also think it has to do with "out of sight, out of mind".  With us having a long distance relationship, it may be a good thing while he is going through this, or it may be a bad thing..I think the debate is still out on that one.

I wanted to know what you have experienced in terms of having your pdoc rule out a current dx and have you chart your moods to give you another dx.  My partner has been doing this since middle of July and it just seems like such a long time for him to be doing the mood charting without a new mix of meds and no new dx either.  He currently takes Lexapro and Xanax but of course the AD doesn't have an affect on him any longer so that is why his pdoc is re-evaluating his dx.  I think it's really great his doc is being so careful not to just throw another dx or mix of meds at him, but jeeezz...2.5 months! confused   Really?

Thanks all for reading and contributing :-)

Posted 10/6/2007 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
WCC,

It's good to have you on the Bipolar Forum, I hope you are finding the spport you are looking for.

From what I understand your partners is suffering a low point in his life, and this can hapen with BP. My depression doesn't last that long anymore, but when I was younger it lasted up to 2 years. What your partner is exoeriencing is nothing out of the prdinary for some people with BP. While some get really manic for a wjile, others drop into depression. What your partner is sowing is signs of depression, to calling/visiting, withdrawn.

Is your partner on any mood stabilizers? What you describe is that he is anly taking ADs and Benzos. If he really is BP, they can throw of his moods one way or another. Best wishes, and please let us know how things are going.
Posted 10/7/2007 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi WCC:

The length of time for the depression doesn't surprise me, but the length of time between pdoc appointments does. I'm guessing he/she is having your partner chart moods for a month/two at a time to track patterns, but that does seem very long when someone is suffering so accutely. I'm surprised your partner isn't going every 2 weeks, say. What diagnosis is he/she reconsidering? Depression? GAD? Like Olivia, I notice he's not taking a mood stabilizer. I would guess (but obviously I'm no doctor) a doctor who even strongly suspected someone was bp would put them on a mood stabilizer right away and then track the moods.

On the other hand, is there anything he might not be telling you? Given your infrequent communication, are there elements of his treatment he might not be sharing?
Posted 10/7/2007 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
WCC-
The amount of time that he has been depressed is not uncommon. I remember when my doctor had me do a similar test when I was depressed. I guess he got tired of reading that I didn't care about anything and switched my diagnosis to major depressive disorder, that is until my next manic episode. Needless to say I switched docs after that. It actually took me eight different Psych docs before I found one that I was comfortable with and that I really felt was doing things in my best long term interest.
Bottom line the reason it is taking so long for the doc to give new meds is that he just isn't sure what to do right now. He probably has experience with bipolar patients and doesn't consider you partner to be a big risk. Having said that, would you like the doctor to prescribe medication tht treats the symptoms? If your partner is depressed it could send him into a manic state(my most destructive(but enjoyable) state) and then the doctor would prescribe another set of meds to take him down off the mania. It's kind of like a seesaw effect. The trick is to find the right dose for continued use and hope for the best.

BEM
Posted 10/7/2007 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Big Ears Mango,

Welcome to the forum. We're glad you're here. Why not take a moment to start a new thread on the main bipolar thread to introduce yourself. We love new members. I hope you find the support you're looking for.
Posted 10/8/2007 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
Big Ears Mango,

I too would like to welcome you to the HW family and to the Bipolar Forum.
Posted 10/8/2007 6:16 AM (GMT 0)

Thank you so very much for everyones's responses/input :-)

I think my partner isn't telling me everything, but I don't think it's on purpose.  Right now he is slow to respond in communication when we talk and he has shown his memory isn't that great as well.  I don't think his pdoc sees him as a risk since he is not suicidal and has been working m-f for long hours.  I do know his sleep has been affected.  I do not know a whole lot about the meds for BP and depression but am slowly learning.  His current dx is manic depressive (which i assume is the same as BP) but his pdoc is reevaluating him for possibly changing his dx.  One thing I don't understand is that he is taking an AD and not any mood stabalizers.  I have read and been told that ADs may bring on manic moods in someone that is BP. especially when not accompanied with MS meds.  He started charting his moods toward the end of July.  So I guess the timeline seems pretty reasonable if his Pdoc wants to compare a few months of moods. By not giving my partner any other meds while he is charting his moods must be the best way the doc can see how his moods not affected by the meds. Yes.no?  His high manias are not extreme;not a noticiable change but his low manias are very obvious; first by others around him then by him, in terms of early symptoms.  I'm going to be staying with him for about 4 days toward the end of tis month.  I am not sure what to expect.  I am hoping he will let me and not make up an excuse for me not to visit.  Please let me know what your thoughts are...I really do appreciate the feedback.

WCC

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