Posted by Krazy Kat on June 6, 2002, at 12:52:26
In reply to Yes I did » shar, posted by judy1 on June 5, 2002, at 0:57:16
this is a really good question. I think Shar's observation about different "types" of Dr.'s handing out diagnoses now was Extrememly Insightful. I hadn't even thought about that. It's not their expertise, so that must be making a difference in numbers. Would an obgyn diagnosis give you an eye exam and presribe your glasses?
re: the increase in BP as a diagnosis... it does seem that way. Of course, with BPII and BPIII coming along, the criteria opened up, so more people fit into the "Bipolar Spectrum". I like that term best because it fits my family perfectly. Four of us could fit into different Bipolar diagnoses, myself and Brother as BPI, my Dad and sister as Cyclothymic(sp?).
I think a good pdoc will use a diagnosis to help with the treatment. If mine had started me on a stabilizer, instead of Ad's, I would have been much better off. That was a bad decision on his part. But then, I'm a bad patient, and do not express myself well. Also, I lied for a good year and a half about the psychotic side of my manias - I was embarrassed.
re: IsoM's statement:
"It makes it seem real to them & helps them feel that they're simply not hypochondriacs when someone asks them what's the matter. The symptoms are real - whether the diagnosis is, is another matter. "This is absolutely true for me. I pushed my pdoc for a diagnosis - he was reluctant to give me one. But after about a year, he stated (agreed perhaps) that it was BP. Also, it helps one do research when one has a diagnosis. Reading a book on OCD doesn't help me - reading one on Manic Depression does. And it helps one keep up with treatments.
Until we can look directly at our brains and say "Look, this person obviously does not produce enough Dopamine - she is Manic Depressive." I guess we'll all be guessing and reassuring ourselves that we aren't just "crazy" but have a legitimate illness.
poster:Krazy Kat
thread:25020
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020531/msgs/25104.html