![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by nauscopy on May 14, 2010, at 22:51:53
My psychiatrist has told me I am diagnosed as Bipolar I. I am on 450mg lithium 2x a day, 300 mg Lamictal 2x daily and take Zyprexa as needed for voices and fears.
I recently saw my PCP and she stated that the paper work she had received said I was diagnosed as schizo-affective disorder.
Is there a reason my psychiatrist would not be fully honest about my diagnosis? Can I tell from what drugs she has me take what she thinks I might really have?
Posted by SLS on May 15, 2010, at 6:27:36
In reply to Doctors Hiding Information, posted by nauscopy on May 14, 2010, at 22:51:53
> My psychiatrist has told me I am diagnosed as Bipolar I. I am on 450mg lithium 2x a day, 300 mg Lamictal 2x daily and take Zyprexa as needed for voices and fears.
How often do you experience hearing voices and having fears? Paranoia? How long do these episodes last if left untreated? When these symptoms are present, are you either depressed or manic? What are the symptoms of the mood component?
These are some diagnostic questions that you can find on the Internet. Perhaps this site would be helpful:
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on May 15, 2010, at 7:39:08
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information » nauscopy, posted by SLS on May 15, 2010, at 6:27:36
Well its quite possible that the diagosis was made with a degree of uncertaintly.
There is a lot of overlap between the two disorders and they are often treated with the same medications. Perhaps he was divided between the two diagnosis?
Linkadge
Posted by Zyprexa on May 15, 2010, at 10:04:42
In reply to Doctors Hiding Information, posted by nauscopy on May 14, 2010, at 22:51:53
They start out as more simple diagnosis, like bi-polar and schitzoprenia, or psychosis, and the list goes on. Schitzoaffective takes a long time to diagnos. Maybe your doctor hasent told you yet.
Posted by nauscopy on May 15, 2010, at 15:23:01
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information » nauscopy, posted by SLS on May 15, 2010, at 6:27:36
How often do you experience hearing voices and having fears?
When it happens, they are more or less constant for weeks at a time, almost always when I am depressed or highly manic. They aren't really there when I am middle of the road.Paranoia?
Same, really. I tend to feel under observation and like people are going to report me to the doctors. But usually only when depressed.How long do these episodes last if left untreated?
I'm not really sure. I have been in and out of the hospital a few times and each time they went away with the anti-psychotics. I have not been the best at staying with the program and taking these regularly because of the side effects.When these symptoms are present, are you either depressed or manic? What are the symptoms of the mood component?
Usually when depressed for the voices and paranoia. But when I'm really manic I see colors and can zoom my vision into other realms and levels of being. I really miss that when I'm not manic.
Posted by SLS on May 15, 2010, at 16:47:39
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information, posted by nauscopy on May 15, 2010, at 15:23:01
> How often do you experience hearing voices and having fears?
> When it happens, they are more or less constant for weeks at a time, almost always when I am depressed or highly manic. They aren't really there when I am middle of the road.
>
> Paranoia?
> Same, really. I tend to feel under observation and like people are going to report me to the doctors. But usually only when depressed.
>
> How long do these episodes last if left untreated?
> I'm not really sure. I have been in and out of the hospital a few times and each time they went away with the anti-psychotics. I have not been the best at staying with the program and taking these regularly because of the side effects.
>
> When these symptoms are present, are you either depressed or manic? What are the symptoms of the mood component?
> Usually when depressed for the voices and paranoia. But when I'm really manic I see colors and can zoom my vision into other realms and levels of being. I really miss that when I'm not manic.
I am no doctor, but as a layman, I would say that your symptoms resemble those of schizoaffective disorder.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on May 15, 2010, at 17:08:00
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information » nauscopy, posted by SLS on May 15, 2010, at 16:47:39
Maybe google schizoaffective disorder see what you feel? Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on May 15, 2010, at 18:03:02
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information, posted by nauscopy on May 15, 2010, at 15:23:01
>But when I'm really manic I see colors and can >zoom my vision into other realms and levels of >being.
Did you mean to say (?)
"When I'm really manic I *think* I can zoom my vision into other realms and levels of being." Or, are you still under the impression that you actually *can* do this.
This is an important distinction. A bipolar patient will typically lose their distorted thought patterns when in a euthemic state. A person with schizophrenia will often maintain certain misperceptions often even when not in the active phase.
The real issue is whether the distorted thought patterns (ie schizophrenia) is the core illness and the mood syptoms are secondary or vice versa.
Schizoaffective is basically schizophrenia with secondary comorbid mood instability.
What are your first accounts of your illness?
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on May 15, 2010, at 18:10:28
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information » nauscopy, posted by SLS on May 15, 2010, at 16:47:39
This might be helpful:
http://www.health.am/psy/schizoaffective-disorder/
- Scott
Posted by nauscopy on May 15, 2010, at 21:41:13
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information, posted by linkadge on May 15, 2010, at 18:03:02
By zooming I mean I can fly across a field and be with people on the other side, hearing their conversation, and sometimes I feel this great sense of connection and that I can see into other people's souls on a one-to-one basis, not through the mediation of the physical body.
I was not aware that it was not normal to have these feelings, either the voices and special abilities, or the manic highs and lows until I ended up in the hospital--I thought everyone felt this way.
Not sure if this helps. I'm pretty certain my doctors and family members are not being truthful with me about my illness, but I don't know why.
Posted by linkadge on May 16, 2010, at 14:22:46
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information, posted by nauscopy on May 15, 2010, at 21:41:13
>By zooming I mean I can fly across a field and >be with people on the other side, hearing their >conversation, and sometimes I feel this great >sense of connection and that I can see into >other people's souls on a one-to-one basis, not >through the mediation of the physical body.
I would say this is definately not a normal way of feeling. Most people will feel connected with others, but the "out of body" part is not typical. Also, by "looking into sombody's soul" I don't really know what that means. You mean you can tell whether they are good or evil or something? Most people also do not hear voices. Even in people with schizophrenia, perhaps only 10% actually hear voices.
The feeling of having special powers can be common in bipolar mania, but usually when the mania ends the patient realizes that the feelings were not normal or logical. In mania, perceptions can be heightened (such as more sensitive hearing) but there is still a physical limit to this.
>I was not aware that it was not normal to have >these feelings, either the voices and special >abilities, or the manic highs and lows until I >ended up in the hospital--I thought everyone >felt this way.
>Not sure if this helps. I'm pretty certain my >doctors and family members are not being >truthful with me about my illness, but I don't >know why.
What do you think they are hiding? From what you say about your illness, it either sounds like bipolar or schizoaffective. To be blunt, it sounds like you are a little paranoid about your doctors :)
You could simply ask him: "before you said it was this and now you say this", why is that?
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on May 16, 2010, at 14:54:51
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information, posted by linkadge on May 16, 2010, at 14:22:46
> Even in people with schizophrenia, perhaps only 10% actually hear voices.
I thought the incidence was much higher than that.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on May 16, 2010, at 15:06:31
In reply to Doctors Hiding Information, posted by nauscopy on May 14, 2010, at 22:51:53
I think it is imperative that you find out from your doctor whether or not you have a schizoid disorder. That way, you will better understand yourself and the treatments that have the best chance of improving your quality of life. It does sound like you have schizoaffective disorder rather than schizophrenia. You would probably benefit from taking a mood stabilizer and an antipsychotic on a regular basis. I don't know if taking Zyprexa intermittently is the best thing to do.
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk2010 on May 16, 2010, at 15:07:36
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information, posted by SLS on May 16, 2010, at 14:54:51
>I thought the incidence was much higher than that.
As far as I know, the majority of people with schizophrenia experience auditory hallucinations (at least some of the time). Non-auditory hallucinations are usually much less prominent.
Posted by linkadge on May 16, 2010, at 17:17:14
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information, posted by SLS on May 16, 2010, at 14:54:51
I was under the impression that most schiophrenics just had a thought disorder, delusions, and/or paranoia - or that voices occured only rarely.
I could be way off. Do you have any data.
Linkadge
Posted by Zyprexa on May 16, 2010, at 17:51:05
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information » SLS, posted by linkadge on May 16, 2010, at 17:17:14
Well I can say for myself that the TV was talking to me in the beginning of all this, or so I've been told, my memory after ECT is not that good. I still get voices some times. And many years ago off the meds I thought I could do some crazy stuff and things would happen. Imagined that eagles would take messages to my sick friend.
Posted by SLS on May 16, 2010, at 18:34:06
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information » SLS, posted by linkadge on May 16, 2010, at 17:17:14
> I was under the impression that most schiophrenics just had a thought disorder, delusions, and/or paranoia - or that voices occured only rarely.
> I could be way off. Do you have any data.
I did a Google search and came up with a few things.http://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=3322
http://www.livestrong.com/article/95324-symptoms-paranoid-schizophrenic/
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/4014
I think visual hallucinations are less frequent.
- Scott
Posted by nauscopy on May 17, 2010, at 18:19:45
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information, posted by linkadge on May 16, 2010, at 14:22:46
I'm not paranoid about my doctor. She is a very nice woman and has helped me a lot. What I am concerned about is that I am not being told the truth out of some misguided effort to protect me. I am not currently hospitalized, nor does anyone have power of attorney over me.
Posted by linkadge on May 17, 2010, at 19:46:08
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information, posted by nauscopy on May 17, 2010, at 18:19:45
Thanks SLS. I learn something new every day.
Nauscopy, I don't think it matters much to the doctor which illness you have. Bipolar and Schizoaffective can be equally challenging for doctors, but there are effective treatments for both disorders. I don't think that having one is any worse than the other. I think (although I could be wrong) that the prognosis is similar with both.
Oftentimes, the treatments are very similar for both disorders. Namely, a mood stabilizer and/or (or antidepressant if depression is predomniant) and an antipychotic to controll distorted thinking.
I still suggest just asking the doctor outright, why she said one illness first and then another. I am thinking that because the two disorders are very similar (with a huge overalp in symtpoms) that the doctor may have just leaned more one way then the other later.
Linkadge
Posted by nauscopy on May 17, 2010, at 21:10:05
In reply to Re: Doctors Hiding Information, posted by linkadge on May 17, 2010, at 19:46:08
Thank you. I have an appointment next week to check blood levels of lithium, which she would like to be a couple of tenths higher. I do plan to ask her. Honestly, I wish I were manic so I could zoom in and understand what is going on in her head. I appreciate everybody's feedback.
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.