![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by EmilyAnn on July 26, 2002, at 13:51:02
Hi all...how much should I worry about what diagnosis I have?? Two or three docs have said I have bipolar 2..my new doc says adhd...I think it's a big deal b/c I need to know what I have in order to treat it. also, I am trying to get onto disability (something I have struggled with for the past two years, but I now know I need) and a clear dx is needed. Should I push it w/ my doc
Posted by Compucat on July 26, 2002, at 19:55:59
In reply to DX, posted by EmilyAnn on July 26, 2002, at 13:51:02
hi Emily... I am BPII and recently, my psychologist suggested that I may also have an ADD/ADHD diagnosis (we did a very quick verbal question/answer type test). However, in speaking with my psychiatrist, he reminded me that there are a lot of symptoms that come with being Bipolar II that mirror those of ADD/ADHD, especially when you are experiencing severe depression or a hypomanic state.
There are a number of tests that can be given regarding ADD/ADHD, but as I have witnessed for myself, depending on where I am depression-wise, the test results can either strongly point to an additional ADD/ADHD diagnosis or not point to that at all.
IMHO, gather all the information you can on the two illnesses so that you can discuss both of them from a knowledgeable place. Right now, I am trying to get the meds worked out to deal with my current state of depression. If after that I still show some possible ADD/ADHD symptoms, I'll try to attack those.
Good luck to you.
Posted by cybercafe on July 27, 2002, at 3:05:28
In reply to Re: DX, posted by Compucat on July 26, 2002, at 19:55:59
is it possible to first go for remission of bipolar symptoms and then see if the attention problems are still there?that is what i am considering doing in my case... not sure if it's a good idea or not, though
Posted by Compucat on July 27, 2002, at 3:21:26
In reply to Re: DX, posted by cybercafe on July 27, 2002, at 3:05:28
I kind of think that was where my psychiatrist was leading me (suggesting to me). As there is a lot of overlap of symptoms, and I am currently experiencing a real treatment resistent depression, it makes more sense to put meds and energies towards that right now.You might want to try that too.
Posted by cybercafe on July 27, 2002, at 11:26:58
In reply to Re: DX, posted by Compucat on July 27, 2002, at 3:21:26
> I kind of think that was where my psychiatrist was leading me (suggesting to me). As there is a lot of overlap of symptoms, and I am currently experiencing a real treatment resistent depression, it makes more sense to put meds and energies towards that right now.You might want to try that too.
hey compucat... i think i remember you from ASDM ...yeah i think if you are depressed, your concentration will definately suffer ... so until you remove the depression, how can you tell how much concentration is effected by it?
... also... depression is a lot less fun than ADHD, so it's probably a good idea to treat it first :)
Posted by EmilyAnn on July 28, 2002, at 1:15:12
In reply to DX, posted by EmilyAnn on July 26, 2002, at 13:51:02
THANK YOU :) :) :)
I think I need to focus on my symptoms too (i.e. depression)
Posted by Shawn. T. on July 28, 2002, at 6:08:52
In reply to DX, posted by EmilyAnn on July 26, 2002, at 13:51:02
Do you feel that sometimes you are better able to concentrate than others? Does your ability to concentrate seem to correlate with your mood? When you are not depressed, are you able to concentrate and accomplish tasks more easily? I'm not a psychiatrist by the way; I just think that it might be easier for someone on this board to give you advice if you added just a small bit of detail. Do you know what the DSM-IV guidelines for each disorder are? I'll provide them if you do not.
Shawn
Posted by LostBoyinNC1 on July 28, 2002, at 10:44:08
In reply to DX, posted by EmilyAnn on July 26, 2002, at 13:51:02
> Hi all...how much should I worry about what diagnosis I have?? Two or three docs have said I have bipolar 2..my new doc says adhd...I think it's a big deal b/c I need to know what I have in order to treat it. also, I am trying to get onto disability (something I have struggled with for the past two years, but I now know I need) and a clear dx is needed. Should I push it w/ my doc
Id say two or three Pdocs saying you are bipolar type 2 is probably pointing in the direction of bipolar spectrum disorder. If just one had said it and you disagreed and got a second opinion and the second didnt think you had bipolar type 2 that would be another thing.
Are you on meds? Do the meds work? If your meds work at all, I should warn you that you almost for sure will not be approved for social security disability. Or if you refuse to take meds...you wont get disability. Social Security disability is a hard nut to crack when it comes to mental illness. There is stigma in the social security disability department against the mentally ill, just like there is everywhere. Generally they only approve people who have the most severe and obvious forms of mental illness (schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, manic depression, etc.) who have failed drugs.
With a dx like bipolar type 2 or adhd, I wouldnt count on getting disability. Even if you hire an attorney to help you. You might be better off just staying on your drugs and maybe going in for vocational rehab which is also offered in all states thru social security disability. It might not be perfect, but it might be all that you can get. Its kind of like the Rolling Stones song says "you might not get what you want, but you usually get what you need."
Posted by Compucat on July 28, 2002, at 21:39:28
In reply to Re: DX, posted by cybercafe on July 27, 2002, at 11:26:58
hey there... yup, that was me on ASDM... I'm now here to try and make some sense out of all of this. : > )
Posted by LostBoyinNC1 on July 28, 2002, at 21:48:44
In reply to Re: DX, posted by Compucat on July 28, 2002, at 21:39:28
> hey there... yup, that was me on ASDM... I'm now here to try and make some sense out of all of this. : > )
Hey, yeah I remember you. Yeah ASDM totally deteriorated into troll hell. It will never recover I gave up on it.
Posted by Compucat on July 29, 2002, at 13:30:34
In reply to Re: DX, posted by LostBoyinNC1 on July 28, 2002, at 21:48:44
hey LostBoy, good to see you back here instead. I always found your comments interesting and thought provoking. Hope you are hanging in there as best as you/we can.
Posted by Compucat on July 29, 2002, at 13:32:58
In reply to Re: DX, posted by EmilyAnn on July 28, 2002, at 1:15:12
hi there - so good to see you here. I'm finding this place pretty informative and there seems to be a good group of folks circulating here.Hopefully, this 'place' will be another ingredient in our recipe for recovery. Take good care, k?
Posted by EmilyAnn on July 29, 2002, at 22:49:56
In reply to Re: DX, posted by LostBoyinNC1 on July 28, 2002, at 10:44:08
Thanks for your support and advice. I really do appreciate it hon :)
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.