Please read re diagnosis

I just wanted to briefly relate an experience regarding our familie's difficulties regarding getting a correct diagnosis for our teen daughters medical health problems.It began when she was 14 and appeared to have anger issues as well as manic behaviour and extreme depression. She was eventually diagnosed with adolescent bipolar as she seemed to have all the signs of a bipolar person. She was put on lithium as well as a small dose of sleep med.

At the same time she also had a complete stop of her monthly cycle. The pscyh doctor as well as her general practicioner felt this might be med related even though this issue was happening at the same time as beginnings of bp signs.

My dtr continued to have bp signs despite being on meds although they were tamed somewhat. We were constantly told that this diagnosis was correct. She had a thyroid blood test as well as other blood tests and everything seemed to be fine.

At the time she graduated from high school, 4 years later, she still did not have a monthly cycle, had gained about 50 pounds and was still anxious and somewhat depressed. We decided since she was finished school we could play with the meds and explore the diagnosis. We insisted on seeing a endocronoligist specialist (hormones) re her cycle and because I felt that alot of hormonal problems mimic bipolar symptoms. Guess what!

First he did a thyroid uptake test in the hospital. An all day test. Involves radiation and iodine. Her thyroid was completely shot. He put her on thyroid med.

Next he did a hormone blood work up and found that her prolactin was extremely high indicating a pituitary tumor. After an MRI it was determined that she had a non cancerous tumor. She was put on a med for this. Dostinex. She was also found to have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and put on metformin. Insulin hormone. Her monthly cycle started almost immediatly and she proceeded to lose all the weight she had gained...50 pounds.

Her specialist then declared there was no way she was bp and took her off of lithium. She has been off of all psych meds for more than a year now and is a college student. She is doing fantastic.

I shudder to think how many others may have suffered like my dtr did losing her teen years to misdiagnosis so my purpose in posting this is to alert other women who may be having hormonal issues that mimic a mental disorder ie bp. I am not saying this happens to everyone. But please, if your meds are not working or you are having other physical symptoms, please insist on seeing an endocronologist. We had to fight to see one. The doctors thought they had it right. But we are all human and everyone makes mistakes.