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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by twinch42085 on March 23, 2008, at 0:41:39
Greetings everyone. I have an appt. with my pdoc on Monday. It is a routine checkup on my bipolar. I have been seeing him for the past 6 months. He is my second pdoc. I am wanting to know if my first pdoc misdiagnosed me as being bipolar (diagnosed bipolar in 06') when I could have had ADD. I have tried several neuroleptics and mood stabilizers, but still I seem to have difficulties in my studies at college. My grades have been going down hill since the Fall of 05' and I can't become motivated to wanna learn, but I really want to. I read some of the symptoms of ADD and they resemble some of my bipolar symptoms. I had trouble learning when I was younger. I didn't excel and I was rambunctious. I have a family history of bipolar and ADD.
Current Meds: Valproic Acid, Ambien
Current Symptoms: Constantly moving, short attention span, mood swings but not manic or depressed, procrastination, unorganized, daydreaming, weak social skills, racing thoughts, insomnia/too tired, no focus, quick uninterest on interesting topics ----- and more.
Question1? Has anyone ever been misdiagnosed as having bipolar instead of ADD or vice versa?
Thank You,
Twinch : )
Posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2008, at 12:20:48
In reply to Misdiagnosed.....ADD/Bipolar, posted by twinch42085 on March 23, 2008, at 0:41:39
Twinch may sound silly but this also ressembles my anxiety. As my thoughts race and tire me out hence tiredness. And if a topic is uninteresting to you can a med make you find it interesting? Just asking. So much overlap in diagnosis.Not just for you but these three diagnois seem to overlap a lot to me Love Phillipa
Posted by twinch42085 on March 23, 2008, at 15:57:13
In reply to Re: Misdiagnosed.....ADD/Bipolar » twinch42085, posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2008, at 12:20:48
Hey Phillipa. No, I honestly don't think that there is a med that can make a topic interesting, it would be nice if there was. I have been treated for anxiety in the past. Mainly with benzodiazepines, but they did nothing for me. I just don't understand why I went from making A's and B's to making D's and F's. I was on the Deans List every semester. Now that I am supposedly stable with my bipolar why can't I get back on track?
Posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2008, at 20:17:10
In reply to Re: Misdiagnosed.....ADD/Bipolar » Phillipa, posted by twinch42085 on March 23, 2008, at 15:57:13
Good question any acedemic problems in the past? If Dean's list would think not. But do you like the subject? I think that also means a lot. That's just me. Phillipa
Posted by twinch42085 on March 23, 2008, at 21:09:40
In reply to Re: Misdiagnosed.....ADD/Bipolar » twinch42085, posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2008, at 20:17:10
I had academic problems when I was younger. Elementary - Middle School. I had to have extra help. I excelled in high school. Took advanced placement classes was in honors society etc. I am interested in all of my subjects. Maybe my bipolar is rapid cycling. I don't feel depressed. I have been on academic probation twice and suspended once because of my GPA being too low. I do try with tutoring, group meetings etc. I change jobs randomly, overspend and I have this genious procrastination thing that I do which does not help at all.
Thanks : )
Twinch
Posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2008, at 22:29:11
In reply to Re: Misdiagnosed.....ADD/Bipolar » Phillipa, posted by twinch42085 on March 23, 2008, at 21:09:40
I think you got it. Phillipa so ADD meds now? Or mood stabalizer? Guess call to pdoc is in order.
Posted by twinch42085 on March 23, 2008, at 23:01:04
In reply to Re: Misdiagnosed.....ADD/Bipolar » twinch42085, posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2008, at 22:29:11
Currently taking a mood stabilizer (1000mg of Depakote). I have been on it for 6 months. Have an appt. with pdoc 3/24. I read an article on www.dr-bob.org that usually the bipolar is treated first and then ADD is treated last. Wish me Luck
Thanks : )
Twinch
Posted by Phillipa on March 24, 2008, at 18:26:20
In reply to Re: Misdiagnosed.....ADD/Bipolar » Phillipa, posted by twinch42085 on March 23, 2008, at 23:01:04
Twinch good luck I mean it. Phillipa
Posted by undopaminergic on March 27, 2008, at 9:50:30
In reply to Re: Misdiagnosed.....ADD/Bipolar » twinch42085, posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2008, at 12:20:48
> And if a topic is uninteresting to you can a med make you find it interesting?
Not quite, but you can get pretty close to it (under fortunate circumstances).A medication that boosts energy and improves focus and motivation (including tolerance for frustration) is enough to enhance capability of dealing with the seemingly boring. If the drug also brightens mood and self-confidence, your attitude to the normally boring topic typically becomes more positive and open-minded. Finally, the drug might enhance aspects of memory and cognition, making it easier to learn about new topics and to see the usefulness of new information.
Stimulants, at their best, can do most, if not all, of the above. However, they tend to produce tolerance, and excessive doses can result in effects that are the opposite. There seems to be no known solution.
twinch42085 wrote:
> I have been treated for anxiety in the past. Mainly with benzodiazepines, but they did nothing for me. I just don't understand why I went from making A's and B's to making D's and F's. I was on the Deans List every semester. Now that I am supposedly stable with my bipolar why can't I get back on track?
My story has similarities. While I was never diagnosed with bipolar and didn't have much anxiety, benzodiazepines seem to have little effect against the little anxiety I do have. Also, my performance at "boring" subjects at school started to degenerate already in high school, and I eventually dropped out of college very near graduation because my energy, focus and motivation were all drained, and even my mood and self-esteem were failing. In the approximate 8 years since, only the latter two (self-esteem and mood) have recovered, while motivation and energy have worsened.
Posted by B2chica on April 2, 2008, at 8:02:48
In reply to Misdiagnosed.....ADD/Bipolar, posted by twinch42085 on March 23, 2008, at 0:41:39
i've heard from several pdocs that ADD/ADHD and Bipolar go hand in hand. so if you have bipolar its very common that you will also have ADD/ADHD.
as for differentiating between the two i think primarily it has to do with the duration of symptoms.
ADD/ADHD short occurrances, minutes, hours maybe even a day; Bipolar duration lasts for days/weeks/months, etc.b2c.
This is the end of the thread.
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