Posted by JohnX2 on March 10, 2002, at 4:02:31
In reply to Re: add vs. bipolar » Elizabeth, posted by JohnX2 on March 10, 2002, at 2:34:49
Hi Elizabeth,
Sorry I'm ranting (feel like Dennis Miller tonight)...
Here's what's funny, I always get the atypical experience.
My 1st pdoc hated meds (atypical) and was huge into therapy.
So when I was in group therapy he complained sarcastically
"everyone is bipolar these days".
(complaining about his philosophy about bipolar
overdiagnosis).I felt bad when I left his practice knowing
that people's lifes were in his hands. He wouldn't
even precribe a benzo to a girl who kept complaining
of panic attacks and was becoming agorophobic.Later found out he was notorious for under dx'ing
bipolar.I did read your post by Blue Cheer and agree with your
thoughts. I had some other good thoughts (ok,rants) about
good pdocs, mostly my thoughts about getting a good
starting dx and how important it is
to take the right class of medicines and *continually* look
at the trends of medicine responses and to be
flexible on changing the dx/classes of medicines.
Maybe you bumped into those posts and gasped. ;)Best wishes. Hope you are feeling better.
-John
>
> >I agree with John that doctors may be inclined to misinterpret ADD symptoms (especially in adults) as hypomania.
>
> Hi Elizabeth,
>
> I had the opposite thing happen to me.
>
> My 1st psychiatrist gave me 4 anti depressants.
> 2 of them didn't work. 2 of them made me manic
> and pooped out. One of them made me nearly psychotic(wellbutrin).
> I made it clear to the psychiatrist what happened.
>
> I also described to the physician symptoms similar to ADD.
> Inability to sit still, addiction to caffeine, like to drive
> car fast, like loud music, etc.
>
> He gives me an ADD test:
> -asks me to name months backwards ( which I do).
> -lists some fruits, changes subjects, comes back to the fruits.
> I tell him what fruits he mentions.
>
> He asks me about my schooling. I was an honor roll student
> all my life.
>
> I walk out of his office with Adderall. I do manic
> things on Adderall that ruin my life, I won't list them
> here.
>
> 3 doctors later I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
>
> 1 other doctor thinks I should be prescribed Adderall also.
>
> Do you think my case is atypical?
>
> Thanks for your insight.
>
> -John
poster:JohnX2
thread:97093
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97293.html