Incorrect Diagnosis?

Howdy all, this is my first visit to this forum and I need some help. Not sure where to post this, but this seems like the most appropriate area. I was dx'd bipolar 6 years ago. Underwent conventional treatment consuming a smorgasbord of various psych. meds. Now I do not see a doctor of anykind and weened myself off all the drugs (1 year free now). I feel better than ever and have come to believe that I did not receive the correct dx initially. Here is where I need help. Has anyone here encountered this same dilemna or know of any resources about this exact predicament. Furthermore, does anyone know if a psych evaluation can be done to disprove the original dx.

Thanks for anyone's assistance.
Sincerely, I am
pobserver

Hey,

Considering that you were diagnosed 6 years ago, received subsequent treatment for the diagnosis, and are now getting on well in life, why have you come here? It makes no sense to me. The treatment you received worked and you have refocused your life and are living just fine. I really don't understand why you are worrying about this.

Take care,
Kevin

Kevin, please bear withme while I try to explain this in a clear concise manner. I am currently going through a divorce (child involved) wherein my wife is petitioning the court to give her access to my personal and private mental health records. Records which reflect treatment I underwent for being diagnosed bipolar.

I initially went to a psychologist for depression I recognized I was suffering. Received consequent treatment but did not improve entirely. Engaged in certain behavior born from depression (not any kind of mania). Was then ushered in to the psychiatrist, thoroughly interviewed, diagnosed, and the meds were then prescribed.

Based on the criteria for diagnosing bipolar I understand how such a dx was a no-brainer conclusion. Current mental state and family history being examples.

I believe the doctor continued to treat me for bipolar when in fact he was treating the results of the side effects of the meds (and the few brief times I abrutly ceased taking meds-think about withdrawal effects) that he mistakenly chalked up to characteristics of bipolar disorder.

I just want to clarify in case you misunderstood my initial post. I am not well now because of any med treatment I received. I hope this all makes some kind of sense. Please feel free to ask any questions or would like additional info about my situation if you are genuinely interested.

Be well, do good,

Sincerely I am
pob

Hi,

Thank you for replying. I had actually been thinking about you in the past few days and wondering if there was a particular reason why you wanted to have the diagnosis 'removed'. I understand why now, however. I have never heard of it occuring but I'm thinking that all it would take would be to get assessed by a psychiatrist again. They would then be able to declare officially your current state of health.

I don't think you could actually have the bipolar diagnosis removed, but you could certainly get re-evaluated as I have mentioned.


Kevin.

Being bipolar does not give anyone the right to remove your kids.

Stopping the meds is a risky move, cuz now you're an unmedicated bipolar. You've helped her to make her case.

Well, Hello sono. Please do not take this at all the wrong way. I have been med free for 1 yr this month. I have done nothing but thrive. I eat right, I exercise, I have a faith again. I take care of my responsibilities (first and foremost my daughter). I am not afflicted with or by Bipolar Disorder. Hence the reason for my visit to this forum.

I am going through a divorce, I only get to see my daughter once a week (supervised of course), due to my circumstances I am now in debt, I have to live with my folks for the time being. I could go on and on. Yet, despite all these hardships I am happy, health, ALIVE again.

Seems to me a situation like this would surely drive any person with Bipolar over the edge.

And how have I helped to make her case. If that were the case and I were actually mentally ill I would be manic or depressed, running for the hills. But I am not running. Tell me what about my situation is making her case.

Sincerely, I am
pob

I have been bipolar since 27 years of age and I am 46 years old now, so in terms of raw seething experience, I've accumulated a lot of years.

I enjoyed 2 years of medication-free living. But it can backfire. You're never going to believe me, but I'll say it anyway "Bipolar disorder is not predictable. If you go off your meds and you are truly bipolar you may experience mania or depression way out of your control"

Please do not take this at all the wrong way. I have been med free for 1 yr this month. I have done nothing but thrive. I eat right, I exercise, I have a faith again. I take care of my responsibilities (first and foremost my daughter). I am not afflicted with or by Bipolar Disorder. Hence the reason for my visit to this forum.

Good. So what qualifies you to determine that you are not bipolar?

I am going through a divorce, I only get to see my daughter once a week (supervised of course), due to my circumstances I am now in debt, I have to live with my folks for the time being. I could go on and on. Yet, despite all these hardships I am happy, health, ALIVE again.

Happiness is always good.

Seems to me a situation like this would surely drive any person with Bipolar over the edge.

No you suffer from bigotry. You believe the myths people create around bipolar disorder, drugs and medications. These myths are baseless.

And how have I helped to make her case. If that were the case and I were actually mentally ill I would be manic or depressed, running for the hills. But I am not running. Tell me what about my situation is making her case.

Being bipolar does not cause one to 'run for the hills' - that's another bigotry - it's a stereotype and it's unpleasant.

If you get into trouble now, you're unmedicated. You chose to be unmedicated. If I were a judge I'd question your judgment in second guessing medical doctors when you have no training in the subject and a poor rationale for abandoning the medications:

- You didn't give a reason for going off the meds.
- You didn't give any untoward side effects of the meds.
- You didn't outline how your meds ruined your life.

So since you gave no reasons, I presume you've got a basic dislike of anything that smacks of medication, probably because of the stigma of mental illness. I can't help you on that. Respectfully, do you think you're the first person to do this feat? I am guessing you're the 4 millionth person to go off their bipolar medications.

To any judge, you are just going off the meds without reason and without medical assistance, when you're a bipolar person is going to be seen as irresponsible.

I don't think it was prudent of you. What if you're wrong? What if you go into a manic state and decide your child is the AntiChrist? Such things are impossible because you're different? Because you're so good?

So you tell me: If you get into any kind of disagreement, trouble, words on the phone with the ex wife, how are you expecting a judge to rule on your ability to be a responsible caregiver when you just whimsically gave up medications that would help you function properly as a caregiver and co partner in the child's care?

Thanks for writing sono. You pose valid questions. I agree that going med free could backfire if indeed I am bipolar and I am no more qualified to give a diagnosis of bipolar than you for instance.

You keep incenuating that I am Bipolar and maybe in denial and I now engage in bigotry. Wow. Harsh words coming from anyone who does not know me. I would have to be stubborn and ignorant to be a bigot. What qualifies you to attack me in such a manner? What have I been stubborn or ignorant about?

And please tell me what myths I have perpetuated about bipolar and the drugs prescribed for it. That if i was bipolar a potentially stressful situation might be a trigger for a manic episode or depression. Is that false thinking-please explain why. If that is false then maybe I am a bigot. I merely used the term "running for the hills" as a figure of speech-not literal.

As to bullet #1-seee bullet #2
side effects
weight gain
drug induced mania
skin problems
suicidal thoughts
more depression
involuntary physical movements(see tdk)
skin problems
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
insomnia
sleeping too much
would you like more?

Looking at Bullet #3
Are you a bigot or just plain incompetent?

I believe there is plenty of stigma surrounding mental illness. You do not have to imply that i am ignorant of that fact. In all candidness you only compound the stigma by incenuating that I am now just "an unmedicated bipolar". That I should just accept that dx and get on about my daily routine,drugged as a good bipolar person should. I wish I could dispell everyones misguided notions about it. I do not advocate anyone to stop taking their meds. Meds are not all bad and there are many people who need and benefit from them. I do advocate people educating themselves however about each of their meds.

I did not intend to toot my own horn (another figure of speech in case you were wondering). I did not come to this forum to do that-no I came here for help in finding out if and how there is some sort of evaluation to disprove my original diagnosis which I know in my heart to be false (and maybe you think you are pushing me in a direction to think of those aspects you seemingly presume I had not already thought of).

As to my wife-we do have disagreements and I handle each of them with exacting diplomacy and fairness in thought to our situation together.

Finally, what about any of my posts (only 3 in all) would lead you to believe that this was a whimsical decision(quitting meds). My life did not just spiral out of control overnight and I know they will not be rectified overnight. It will take time. So now I take my time and exercise patience and do things the right and honest way.

Thank you if you are just trying to prepare me for what you think I might be facing in court other wise take your arrogant bs elsewhere. I don't have time for it.

Sincerely, I am
pob

Who's Qualified?
I do not have to be qualified. I questioned your qualifications because you seem to know better than your doctor, so I thought you must be an M.D. and Ph.D. You were diagnosed by someone qualified to give a diagnosis. What do you need me for anyway? You need me because you came to this forum asking if you can reverse your diagnosis because you aren't happy with it. The short answer is, sure, go get whatever diagnosis pleases you! I'm sure if you paid enough money you can get a clean bill of health. Go for it. You can go to Uganda and have someone diagnose you as having gunshot wounds.

If you want the truth, ask the doctor that gave you the diagnosis for a rationale. Then follow up with a psychiatrist and see if the diagnoses jive.

Your understanding needs work
Yes you exhibit poor understanding of the disorder, the medications and the effects. You say "if i was bipolar a potentially stressful situation might be a trigger for a manic episode or depression." If you are medicated, no, I don't see why a stressful situation should be any more episode inducing than drinking milk. If you are unmedicated, sure, stressors can be a problem.

Yeah I think your choice to go off the meds was 'whimsical' based on the data you provided to this thread. You gave no reasons. Action without reasons is 'whim'. That's pretty much how you define 'whim'.

Symptoms
Now, as for the symptoms you describe - you give symptoms without any medications. You could get high cholesterol from too much crab and butter. You could get drug induced mania from LSD. You could get skin problems from fungus. You could get suicidal thoughts from a damaged Porsche. What medications 'caused' these symptoms? Zyprexa can cause weight gain, but only in the non-zydis form; Lithium can account for some tremors the first quarter, but they subside therafter. What meds were you on?

Critique
You're choosing not to take your meds and I think it's not a decision rooted in care and concern for others around you. And regarding my arrogance, please remember that I'm the one taking my medications and not presuming to know more than the psychiatrist. I also don't mind being called arrogant. It's no skin off my ass. I'm happy with my medications and with the competence of my psychiatrist, so call me any name you choose pal - I've earned my stripes and I don't waste my time writing unless I know I'm on firm ground.

Just remember, you, Sir are the one that

(a) knows more than your own psychiatrist and
(b) independent of your psychiatrist decided that you didn't need medications because you've become an expert despite the fact that you need to be in pristine shape while your divorce goes through.

So you can call me arrogant all you like, pal, but from where I sit, it's you that needs a dose of humility.

Court
If you piss off your wife, and if she wants custody without your input, she can file a motion to have reduced time with the kids, or supervised time, based on erratic behavior, verbal abuse, and possibly her own knowledge of the fact that you're unmedicated yet diagnosed as bipolar.

Question
So why do you want the diagnosis reversed? Is it because you're concerned it can be used against you?

Done with you-bye. Thanks for your objectivity.