Posted by garnet71 on March 15, 2009, at 13:52:27
In reply to Re: help-what's wrong w/ me? Is it mania? » desolationrower, posted by Larry Hoover on March 15, 2009, at 6:45:43
"I seldom make any comments in cases such as this, as diagnosis by lay people via the internet is not something I wish to promote, but this case seemed to be incongruent with bipolar as I understand it. That's why I suggested she "try on" the criteria for ADHD. Sometime a light bulb goes on. Or not."
I don't know if this will help Lisa or not, but to add to what you said...
When I was having a semi-meltdown less than 2 months ago, I started getting racing thoughts simulataneously with my panic attacks. It scared the hell out of me. I've been asked repeatedly over the years "have you ever experienced any racing thoughts", never knew exactly what that meant but I sure do now. I thought I was losing my mind with those racing thoughts and then when the distorted/wavy vision started to appear. Weirdly, after the panic attacks and racing thoughts and distorted vision were in its height--a few days of the racing thoughts coinciding with the panic attacks--symptoms suddenly quit after a dream I had.
A couple of people here suggested in the past I might have bipolar II or I. So after this, I went back to old PDoc who had a few years' of my records. I was afraid he was going to put me on a mood stabilizing drug as I could not go through a potential year of trials while trying to graduate college. I dreaded the risk or possibility while knowing this may not be the case. This is personal and not related to anyone else here. I have faith and hope my condition is temporary, and still do. Having that faith is a personal choice, but nevertheless, I felt myself losing that faith at the time.
So PDoc told me to forget about everything I ever heard about bipolar as well as everything I read on the internet. He said all those symptoms are from my anxiety and that I have inattentive ADD; also, anxiety and ADD or ADHD coexist quite often. His diagnosis and the treatment resulting from his conclusion is in complete contradiction with the last 2 PDocs and I am 75% better off because of it.
So I conclude (and most of us know this, but it might not be as apparent to some) that a. different doctors have different professional opinions resulting from training, aptitude, and experience with patients; b. personal experiences of symptoms and subsequent treatment reflects those different opinions, and the same goes for internet support sites; c. some doctors are not so good or don't spend as much time analyzing your history in relation to your symptoms--many do not take the time; therefore, you can easily be misdiagnosed.
Having a good doctor--in terms of attitude, experience, training, and dedication or time, makes all the difference in the world.
I can't say whether or not what you are experiencing is mania, but as you can see many will have different opinions whether antecdotal or professional. I hope everything works out for you, Lisa.
poster:garnet71
thread:885313
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090313/msgs/885484.html