I think I may have been misdiagnosed?

[Skyfire]

Hi guys, am new to this forum but wanted to see if other people have had a similar experience. Basically in late February I was hospitalized (not sectioned) after smashing up my bedroom in my parents house where my parents phoned the emergency services. I was on my way to buy alcohol when the police picked me up, they said because I had not been in trouble with the police before they could either arrest me or that they could take me to emergency mental health services which I chose to go to. I was advised based on an interview with the guy I met there (who was not a doctor I believe) to be admitted to the admissions of the psychiatric unit of the hospital. I basically spent 2 weeks there before I was released but during my time there I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. They kept asking me when I was there if I hear voices- which I do not. I was given Latuda during my stay in hospital and was on it for maybe a month afterwards until I could no longer tolerate the side effects- with those being akathisia and poor concentration, I was switched onto Abilify and told that the side effects would be less severe which they are but they are still barely tolerable and I've had enough of the extreme restlessness and poor concentration that comes with antipsychotics- I can barely read and I cant concentrate on much for long. The problem I have is that I have none of schizophrenia usually described nor did I have prior to my stay in hospital. I don't have any delusions nor do I hear voices which aren't there, the problem I had was that I experienced negative thoughts which I had no control of which would lead to outbursts in anger and me basically smashing up my room, this also happened in university which I dropped out of shortly before I was admitted to hospital. I was wondering if I possibly could have been misdiagnosed and if anybody else has any advice regarding the side effects from antipsychotics?

 

[linus]

I fail to see how could you be labeled as schizophrenic in such a short time. Do you have your papers from the inward? You should have a diagnosis code (icd-10 or 11 or dsm-5 based), look it up online to see if it’s really this.
In my country there was recently a public scandal with children and teenagers in foster public homes that were prescribed antipsychotics to keep them “cool” because they were too agitated (as I am writing this I guess it could trigger some paranoid thoughts, hopefully not).
What is the current dosage of your meds? Have you discussed about for how long will you take them? What is the mid term plan?

 

[Skyfire]

Hi Linus. I didn't receive any papers from the hospital so I wouldn't be able to see the diagnosis code, I have confirmed that it is schizophrenia when I went to see a doctor after the hospital stay. When I was initially in the hospital the doctor said that he didn't believe that there was anything wrong with me but that changed after he had had a chat with my parents (who I live with). He said he based my diagnosis on the fact that I was "socially withdrawn" and continued to ask me if I heard voices which like I said I do not. I am currently on 10mg of Abilify. The doctors said I would need to be on them for a year, I don't believe there was any discussion of a mid term plan. I have an appointment with a psychiatric specialist in several days time so I will ask about this.

 

[linus]

It seems you are on the lowest dose possible, so I guess you shouldn’t worry. It is true that the medical protocol states that one should take the meds for 1 year and then consider withdrawl, etc.
What do your parents tell you? Are there things that the others say about you that don’t make sense? (Like things you might not remember)

 

[jed]

I am a diagnosed schizophrenic and heard voices.I withdrew socially but do not think that is a good enough reason to diagnose you.You can ask for a second opinion.You might just need anger management.If you can afford it go private.

 

[Skyfire]

Well my parents ( my mother in particular) said that I use to leave notes around the house of things that I had written and that I was paranoid in social situations although I did not write notes around the house for my parents to find I use to write notes in my room of things I had been researching and my mother would come into my room and read them so I feel I have been portrayed unfairly to the doctor. In terms of being paranoid socially I believe I used to say that people were looking at me a lot whilst I was out but I don't think this necessarily correlates with being a paranoid schizophrenic? Like I said I wouldn't mind taking the medication but the side effects make it difficult to continue taking them. I've been prescribed an anti-cholinergic for the side effects but it doesn't seem to do much. Either way I suppose I only have to take the medication for a further 3 months but I am considering stopping taking my medication altogether

 

[Skyfire]

I am a diagnosed schizophrenic and heard voices.I withdrew socially but do not think that is a good enough reason to diagnose you.You can ask for a second opinion.You might just need anger management.If you can afford it go private.

Hi Jed I was supposed to go to anger management before I was taken by the police but I was then admitted to hospital were I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. I had considered this may be the problem but I was having extreme negative thoughts (which I no longer experience). Do you think I should bring up the fact that I may have been misdiagnosed to the psychiatrist?

 

[jed]

Yes.The label of schizophrenia stops you from working in Health,teaching and care.Also I cannot get life insurance because of the diagnosis.Any doubt get the diagnosis changed.

 

[Cybergen]

Hi Skyfire,

My story is very similar to yours. In February of this year, I was suffering from severe delusions. My family thought there was something wrong-- I made my way to my father's who drove me to the hospital. We got into a physical altercation, and I ended up in a room for 6+ hours with guards on the outside. In the morning, I was taken to be sectioned.

I must admit that whilst in there, I was hearing voices. I was put on a heavy dose of an anti-psychotic called Paliperidone & after five weeks I was released.

I stayed on the depot for a lil while, then in June of this year I stopped taking it. So far, I remain symptom free & I haven't heard voices since being in hospital.

It is now my opinion that I was misdiagnosed. I believe I was only suffering from a drug-induced psychosis.

If I were you, I'd seek advice from another medical professional, like a psychiatrist.

 

[linus]

And what was your diagnosis that you think it was wrong?

 

[Cybergen]

And what was your diagnosis that you think it was wrong?

I think my diagnos may be Bipolar or PTSD. At the time where I was sectioned, I believe I was experiencing a drug induced psychosis. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow so I will get his opinion on the matter.

How're you feeling since you last made the post?

 

[linus]

It’s good that you seek clarification for the medical assessment. I am fine, thank you! I only suffer as a carer for my son, nothing serious by default, but I can bring hell in my mind in case my world collapses

 

[thisisnotmylife]

To diagnose any mental illness the professionals use the DSM Manual in order to put us into a pigeon hole so they can plan their route through treatment-ie:what meds they put you on.

Schitsophrenia has to have been ongoing for 6 months and has to have so many symptoms from a list to be classed as such. A lot of conditions have overlapping symptoms so it can be hard for them to diagnose correctly and if you are not happy their diagnosis im sure you can tell them about this and ask what criteria you meet to have to diagnosis you have been given.

 

[Skyfire]

My next appointment is in January so I'll ask about it then. I'm still really skeptical of whether I'm actually ill, have cut my medication down by half for about 5 months now and have seen no effects. Don['t want to lower it any lower just in case though

 

[schizolanza]

Hi sky. Sorry mate but the fact that you have no symptoms they'll just say the meds are working.
Even if you have no schizophrenia reducing or stopping meds could send you nuts.
The more you say theres nowt wrong they'll increase the meds. Sorry mate.