[EmmaActual]

Okay due to the haters on here, I am going to use mental health jargon in the hope that the ill-informed, negative ones do not wade in here. and I get some helpful, informed DS'ers who post frequently on here.

I was diagnosed with BPD for definite since 2000 but had first symptoms actually since 1993.

In Aug I was actually told I am Bi-P Type II Ultra

So...........

If I had, had the correct diagnosis all along - would my life have turned out differently?? I suspect that it would have.

I have written to the ConsPsych asking for clarification and to see my notes, but I am dreading seeing them as it will make painfull, painfull reading.

So am wondering what to do about it and if I should anything do it.

Thanks for reading.

[April1970]

Hi Emma

Now its my turn to advise you. I have had BPD since i was 14 years old after a very traumatic time. Alot of people say that you are given the label of BPD because they dont know what is actually wrong with you so they say you have BPD. I am not a mental health specialist or anything but do believe that once you have suffered from mental health you can be stabilised but you can always have it. I have actually been well now since February 2007, nearly 3 years and i hope that that is it for me and i wont be ill again but when i have ever had psychiatric reports written regarding my mental health it always says that it can reoccur,although i am out to prove them wrong. I have been through some traumatic times in the last 3 years but have coped (just about) some people may see it differently to me but, i would say that if there is a medication that can treat the latter diagnosis you have been given then yes you could have may be been better than what you have (if you have been quite unwell). I hope this makes sense. If it never reoccurs in me i would like to work in the mental health area in the future as i believe no one understands it unless you have been there yourself. PM me anytime if you want to.

Not sure if what i have said helps or is just a load of jargon x

[sp2782]

All I would say is that you can't go back in time and change things, so saying to yourself "what if" is a waste of time (believe me, I know).

If they have diagnosed you correctly this time then I guess the best thing for you to do is try to put the past behind you and focus on moving forward. Maybe reading you're psych notes would just be like dwelling on the past, and it might be better for you to wait until you feel absolutely sure you can deal with reading them, before you start to analyse things.

When you say you are thinking of doing something about it, do you mean like reporting the original dr's who diagnosed you incorrectly for some sort of compensation? I guess you'd have to get legal advice for that.

[wiggis]

Originally Posted by EmmaActual

Okay due to the haters on here, I am going to use mental health jargon in the hope that the ill-informed, negative ones do not wade in here. and I get some helpful, informed DS'ers who post frequently on here.

I was diagnosed with BPD for definite since 2000 but had first symptoms actually since 1993.

In Aug I was actually told I am Bi-P Type II Ultra

So...........

If I had, had the correct diagnosis all along - would my life have turned out differently?? I suspect that it would have.

I have written to the ConsPsych asking for clarification and to see my notes, but I am dreading seeing them as it will make painfull, painfull reading.

So am wondering what to do about it and if I should anything do it.

Thanks for reading.

Firstly, I'm not a medic, and you should obviously consult a qualified medical practitioner before you take any actions.

Logically speaking, the only way an earlier more accurate diagnosis could have led to a different outcome today would be if the treatment you received would have been different because of the more accurate diagnosis. It is therefore possible to say that if your treatment changed as a result of your more accurate diagnosis, then is is also possible that your life would have worked out differently if that different treatment had started sooner on.

Personally, I would not ask for the medical notes, nor would I do anything about their contents. I would concentrate on the treatment and getting better / coping better with the diagnosis.

[ValLambert]

Hi Emma

I'm not that clued up on you diagnosis but I did want to wish you well in pursuing your quest for answers to your misdiagnosis. And it might be a quest...doctors are notorious for flim flam if they think there has been mistakes.

I spent years diagnosed as "manic depressive" which I think is what people now call bi polar?l. I lost track of the number of anti depressants tried that didn't work only made me physically sicker. Turns out I have thyroid problems. Years wasted dismissed as it all being in my head, being vain (apparently I was depressed because I gained weight), the other days I was so full of energy I felt frantic, like on speed. It wore me down and stole years of my life I felt.

All the indicators were there...rapid weight gain, feeling cold all the time, depressed, flaky skin and nails and yet when I ask for an explanation all I get is "Ah well you see..." I only felt really better when I realised I couldn't change things.

[Hypnodisc]

Originally Posted by EmmaActual

Okay due to the haters on here, I am going to use mental health jargon in the hope that the ill-informed, negative ones do not wade in here. and I get some helpful, informed DS'ers who post frequently on here.

I was diagnosed with BPD for definite since 2000 but had first symptoms actually since 1993.

In Aug I was actually told I am Bi-P Type II Ultra

So...........

If I had, had the correct diagnosis all along - would my life have turned out differently?? I suspect that it would have.

I have written to the ConsPsych asking for clarification and to see my notes, but I am dreading seeing them as it will make painfull, painfull reading.

So am wondering what to do about it and if I should anything do it.

Thanks for reading.

I assume BPD means Borderline Personality Disorder, and Bi-P II is Bipolar Disorder.

I wouldn't worry too much. IMHO the primary difference is stigmatization from employers, benefits people, even friends.

My diagnosis is both Borderline PD and Bipolar, because the conditions are SO similar they are sometimes the same thing.

Bipolar disorder is more associated as a genetic pre-disposition (like Schizophrenia) and Borderline is associated with trauma as a child/post traumatic stress/abuse etc.

HOWEVER.. they honestly don't know everything.. there is some evidence that borderline is genetic, and bipolar can be triggered by conditional things.

The treatment regime is nearly the same:

Antidepressants and/or Antipsychotics and/or mood stabilisers like Lithium/Epilim.

Also both are recommended to have psychotherapy or CBT.

I don't know what treatment you have received - but it's likely it was useful and suitable - especially if you were misdiagnosed for so long.

Plus, some doctors even think they are the same condition, and you can't have one without the other.

The following quote about BPD is a little gem:

It has been noted that there is probably no other mental disorder about which so many articles and books have been written, yet about which so little is known based on empirical research.

In short, they don't really know anything

[CJ32]

Agree with Hypnodisc - there's a lot of overlap with the two and diagnosis is largely subjective.

[Xassy]

Originally Posted by CJ32

Agree with Hypnodisc - there's a lot of overlap with the two and diagnosis is largely subjective.

I agree too but bipolar disorder, like schizophrenia, needs medication to stabilise, at least to start off with. It's a biologically based illness. Most people with bipolar disorder do not rapid cycle, (I know the OP does) so it's slightly easier, in many cases, to make a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

[EmmaActual]

Guys everyone's kind posts have made me cry, so gonna respond properly tomorrow.

thanks so much.

Emx

[EmmaActual]

Hi everyone thanks for your wonderful replies, I am gonna try and respond to everyone so its gonna be a really long post (sorry) And I am putting it in bold coz of all the quotes!!

Originally Posted by ValLambert

Hi Emma

I'm not that clued up on you diagnosis but I did want to wish you well in pursuing your quest for answers to your misdiagnosis. And it might be a quest...doctors are notorious for flim flam if they think there has been mistakes.

This is absolutely true, and I suspect that the above is already what is happening as my new psych is going back on the BP II Ultra diagnosis.

All the indicators were there...rapid weight gain, feeling cold all the time, depressed, flaky skin and nails and yet when I ask for an explanation all I get is "Ah well you see..." I only felt really better when I realised I couldn't change things.

I am glad you are better Val, but dont you think you would feel even better if you at least got an apology out of them?

Originally Posted by April1970

Hi Emma

Now its my turn to advise you. I have had BPD since i was 14 years old after a very traumatic time. Alot of people say that you are given the label of BPD because they dont know what is actually wrong with you so they say you have BPD. I am not a mental health specialist or anything but do believe that once you have suffered from mental health you can be stabilised but you can always have it. I have actually been well now since February 2007, nearly 3 years and i hope that that is it for me and i wont be ill again but when i have ever had psychiatric reports written regarding my mental health it always says that it can reoccur,although i am out to prove them wrong. I have been through some traumatic times in the last 3 years but have coped (just about) some people may see it differently to me but, i would say that if there is a medication that can treat the latter diagnosis you have been given then yes you could have may be been better than what you have (if you have been quite unwell). I hope this makes sense. If it never reoccurs in me i would like to work in the mental health area in the future as i believe no one understands it unless you have been there yourself. PM me anytime if you want to.

Not sure if what i have said helps or is just a load of jargon x

Hi April thanks for posting and good luck with the CAB! the thing is though, since I was diganosed BP II Ultra the MH Profs, have treated me so much better, can I ask how do they treat you? are they good? do they listen? coz my exp has been far from that, bascially their attitude with me was just let her get on with it! if she kills herself she kills herself, she's only playacting anway (this was despite a drowning attempt, opening a vein and finally crashing my car (no other cars involved)

Originally Posted by sp2782

All I would say is that you can't go back in time and change things, so saying to yourself "what if" is a waste of time (believe me, I know).
.

This is so true SP and you are right, it will probably make me worse dwelling on the past... but I am thinking once I have faced it maybe then I will be able to move on?

Originally Posted by wiggis

Logically speaking, the only way an earlier more accurate diagnosis could have led to a different outcome today would be if the treatment you received would have been different because of the more accurate diagnosis. It is therefore possible to say that if your treatment changed as a result of your more accurate diagnosis, then is is also possible that your life would have worked out differently if that different treatment had started sooner on.

Personally, I would not ask for the medical notes, nor would I do anything about their contents. I would concentrate on the treatment and getting better / coping better with the diagnosis.

That's the problem Wiggis, I haven't had any treatment except pills and short stays in Mental Wards. I agee with you about the Medical notes tho, not sure if its a good idea at all.

Originally Posted by Hypnodisc

I wouldn't worry too much. IMHO the primary difference is stigmatization from employers, benefits people, even friends.

My diagnosis is both Borderline PD and Bipolar, because the conditions are SO similar they are sometimes the same thing.

Bipolar disorder is more associated as a genetic pre-disposition (like Schizophrenia) and Borderline is associated with trauma as a child/post traumatic stress/abuse etc.

HOWEVER.. they honestly don't know everything.. there is some evidence that borderline is genetic, and bipolar can be triggered by conditional things.

The treatment regime is nearly the same:

Antidepressants and/or Antipsychotics and/or mood stabilisers like Lithium/Epilim.

Also both are recommended to have psychotherapy or CBT.

I don't know what treatment you have received - but it's likely it was useful and suitable - especially if you were misdiagnosed for so long.


The following quote about BPD is a little gem:



In short, they don't really know anything

Agree with you 100% Hypno they dont know anything The only thing is I have never had any real treatment as I stated above.

Originally Posted by Xassy

I agree too but bipolar disorder, like schizophrenia, needs medication to stabilise, at least to start off with. It's a biologically based illness. Most people with bipolar disorder do not rapid cycle, (I know the OP does) so it's slightly easier, in many cases, to make a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

This is quite correct Xassy - hence my post really, I don't know what I want really - maybe an apology I guess, but will I have to put myself through hell to get that?

Thanks so much for everyone's posts they have really helped.

[EmmaActual]

Sorry if some of the bold and some quoted text is missing or in the wrong place!! It took me two goes to post it as I am rubbish at multi-quoting!!

[yorkiegal]

Hi Emma,
I'm on my way out for the day so will post properly when I get back, but just wanted to say don't expect too much from the medical notes. I read mine after being diagnosed BPD after 20 years of other diagnosis. They weren't too upsetting but you could really see how the professionals decide very quickly on a diagnosis then write down only the evidence which supports this. I was more shocked at what was missing /hadn't been picked up on. Add to that multiple mistakes about my name/age/family history etc.

I'm bpd and was only ever on anti depressants which didn't work. But I kept on and on at the doc until I was put on anti psychotics and they have helped my mood swings immensely. I have symptoms of bi-polar too, mixed episodes, days where I go out and spend a fortune etc. The pills have helped with that.
You'll probably get a better service now that you have the bipolar diagnosis.

[ValLambert]

Hi Emma

For a long time I thought I would feel better if someone just said "You know what we made a mistake" We should have done a simple blood test at the start but it didn't cross our minds. I'm sorry." I wrote letters, I had meetings with consultants who couldn't answer as mine had retired and the notes were cack. Eventually I realised that the whole thing was eating up my life as much as the mistake. Once I realised that I felt a lot more positive. I hope you get your answers but more than that I hope you get a brand new life to start where you feel better.

x

[susie-4964]

One of Margaret Thatcher's favourite sayings was "Don't look back, you're not going there". Not that I was a particular fan of hers, but she did talk a lot of sense sometimes!

[India_Rain]

I understand how frustrating it is. I was originally diagnosed with depression, then ADHD, then Borderline Personality Disorder, and now Bipolar.
I'm now 42 but have had medication since early twenties.
It makes you feel like screaming.
I found my Borderline diagnosis hard to cope with and found a lot of people didn't look at this as a "proper" mental health illness. It was just kind of something I was doing for attention, apparently.
Now, diagnosed with Bipolar..the psychs seem to be more comfortable with it and more sympathetic.

Coming to your question...initially I did want some sort of apology, or someone to take notice of how hard it had been. But, as the years have gone on, I realise that doctors are only human and ..unless they live with you 24/7...a diagnosis can be really hard. Borderline has a lot of similarities with Bipolar.

Personally, I didn't let it bother me any more. I didn't want to waste my time going over my past and not fiinding out how my future could be better. It was something I accepted and didn't blame anyone for. It took a while for me to feel that way though.
Best of luck whatever you decide.

[EmmaActual]

Thanks guys you have given me a lot to think about and thanks for sharing.

I am still undecided what to do, but will deliberate further.

Thanks again.