Posted by ramsea on March 22, 2004, at 4:17:37
In reply to Re: Bi Polar disorder » Pandabear, posted by waterfall on March 21, 2004, at 19:40:52
Regarding sleep, of course it's true that everyone can have disrupted sleep. The problem for true bipolars is that disrupted sleep patterns are part of the illness--and many a manicky type person will tell you how delicious they found their burning the candle at both ends was--until they fell off the cliff. Bipolar is a very serious illness and yet many do want to deny that they have this---who wants to have a very serious lifelong disorder to worry about? You don't necessarily stay on meds the whole time--some may, many take med vacations. It is only important if you ARE actually bipolar. For that, are you up for some self-education? Like read up on Medscape, do a Google search, check dr.bob for links in the past, and the library for tons of books on the subject. If you fail to see yourself in any of these places, and a 2 and maybe 3 opinion doesn't offer more info that you find useful, maybe you are not bipolar. Frankly, I think your pdoc should be offering more to you by way of explnanation. In general, more people are NOT dx bipolar when they neeed to be, than arepeople falsely dx.
But of course mistakes are always possible. That is why being a bit self-educated on the subject will help you to guard your health. And that is more your responsibility than it is the doctors. One more thing---have you read the list of criteria for dx bipolar? It might be useful to see if you think any of that applies to you. I believe About.com under Bipolar has a site with the pdoc criteria. Good luck.
poster:ramsea
thread:326548
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040319/msgs/326912.html