What is going on!!!

Over the years I have been diagnosed with several things, but always went back to BP.  BP can be close in symptoms to other things, like BPD.  I would guess that anxiety certainly could be part of BP; like I am on 4mg klonopin for anxiety, but the primary DX remains BP. It was my first full blown Manic attack that cinched the BP DX for me.  However, primarily I stay on the depressed side of the spectrum.  Anyway, hang in there.  Finding the right meds can be tricky.  In fact after being on a regime of meds (that have worked, but no longer do) for past 5 years, I am now seeking a consultation to see if I need a different med.  I don't know...my opinion is that it just plain sucks to be BP.

Hey slz.....aw.....I feel for you....

It's soooo important to get the right treatment. I think you really need to tell them/he/she how confused you are #1....

I would really write out your symptoms and make sure everything is being considered in all of the diagnosis. From this point on if you aren't doing so already, document (mood chart) what you go through each day. Physical symptoms, side effects to meds, do you think the meds are working, thoughts during the day, panic attacks vs. generalized anxiety....Keep track of it all so that you can be specific and then maybe there won't be confusion.

My apologies if you have already been specific and you're still in this predicament.

Our professional supports need to be, well professional! Pls keep us posted.....

SLZ...

When I was younger. I had several diagnoses depending on different docs.  I was diagnosed BPD (which can act a bit like BP), schizophrenic (that was way off...but was loaded up on a ton of antipsychotics). ADD (that was sweet...the ritalin launched me into a huge manic attack); plain old depression, and finally BP (which has stuck tried and true with me forever it seems).  My mistake has been thinking some combo of drugs would pretty much "cure" me and that has never been true.  I am a difficult BP patient as in getting moods regulated.  BP pretty much changes the person you thought you were.  Keep at it in getting the right diagnosis and drugs.  I have found pdocs tend to diagnose according to their pet speciality and you need to find one that goes straight across the board when doing the work-up and diagnosis.  Good luck...it will become clear somewhere along the line.  And you need acceptance that possibly no medication will be the total answer.

If you are a normal person - i.e. NOT me - and medication is not a perfect solution, self-care is even more important!

I'm pretty early into my experiment here, but it is looking like with strict self-care I could be stable at a much lower dose of medication than previously.

Have you ever been really strict about diet, exercise, a "toolbox", scheduling, sleep/wake cycle, etc?

Do you know what I mean by a toolbox?