GP can't decide if Im bipolar or not ......

[donny]

Hi, ths is my first post in this forum.

I finaly went to see GP a few weeks ago and he gave me fluoxitine 20mg for the major lows I have been having. As well as the lows I have periods when I feel so great that I feel I can do anything. I make lots of plans to do stuff (in the past ive joined the police, ST johns ambulance, gyms and lots of courses). The problem is that when I come down I stop all of it because I cant face doing them anymore. I also get really obsessed with buying things and with people to the point where Im texting and calling constantly. I have thoughts that go through my head and I cant sleep. on the flip side when im low I can hardly bring myself to talk to anyone or get out of bed.

sorry for the rambling but my head is all over the place at the moment.

[warriorprincess]

hey there, try not to worry about it all at the mo but your gp needs to refer you to someone who specialises in mental health for you to get any sort of proper diagnosis. It sounds like this is interfering with your life to the extent that you do need to see someone. And it's all too easy for doctors to prescribe antidepressants, but in my opinion, anyone who presents with your symptoms should be referred before being treated. how are you feeling since taking the fluoxetine? definitely see your gp, as there's a chance if you had bipolar that anti-d's would bring on a manic episode - i don't know if this is the case for all of them, but it's happened to me with 2 in the past. Definitely not the help you need if that is the case. But please don't worry about it all for now, like I say, just ask your gp to refer you as you think there's more to it than 'just' depression. Did you tell him all of your symptoms at the time?it's just very hard for them because it's more likely that you complain about your health when it's down, and not up, so it makes sense that a lot of us get misdiagnosed with depression, sometimes for a long time if no manic episodes are witnessed, as can bloody well happen just when you want your diagnosis! haha.... welcome to the club anyway hope you get the right help soon xx

[donny]

thanks warrior princess. Im feeling pretty low at the moment. its good to know that there are people who understand what I am going through

[BORTU]

Hi donny,

Yes, we can offer sympathy, but I wish we could do more. As you have been to the GP things will have started. It takes time, the NHS is like a snail, slow but it gets there.
If you feel the urge to talk things over there are several excellent web sites. Try RETHINK http://www.rethink.org/

[Mayfair]

Hi, ths is my first post in this forum.

I finaly went to see GP a few weeks ago and he gave me fluoxitine 20mg for the major lows I have been having. As well as the lows I have periods when I feel so great that I feel I can do anything. I make lots of plans to do stuff (in the past ive joined the police, ST johns ambulance, gyms and lots of courses). The problem is that when I come down I stop all of it because I cant face doing them anymore. I also get really obsessed with buying things and with people to the point where Im texting and calling constantly. I have thoughts that go through my head and I cant sleep. on the flip side when im low I can hardly bring myself to talk to anyone or get out of bed.

sorry for the rambling but my head is all over the place at the moment.

You've summed up my last 10-15 (maybe even 20) years in one post. Let us know how you get on. I took flux for 2 weeks in 2000 or 2001 and it completely numbed my brain. I had horrendous panic attacks, so stopped taking them, and never taken any legal meds since.

Head all over the place is me right now, and has been for the last few months. It's a mixture of feeling like a genius, then can't get out bed, thinking everyone hates me and I'm wrong, and that I'm not a genius, and that no one understands because they are stupid! It's very exhausting if you are the same.

As for spending money, I think that is what is causing mine now, I'm blowing my wages as soon as I get it, and struggling with my rent as such. The worst I've done is raking up 15,000 debt in 2001 when I bought 3 new cars in one year, all the same car, but I decided I didn't like the colour. Sadly credit was so easy then, that it only took a signature.

I'm not sure what a diagnosis will do for you donny, but I hope you find peace. That is my goal, and I think a lot of peoples.

ash

[within]

Donny, you are truly suffering, I think a referral to a psychiatrist needs to be addressed urgently. Hope all goes well and evens out.