Help - new diagnosis - bipolar?

[How to communicate after a contentious divorce...]

She saw another dr today, who diagnosed her this time as bipolar type II.

I'm so lost with all of this.  Can one be both bipolar and BPD?  The BPD description fits her to a T, and now reading the description of Bipolar II, I don't know - She says she was diagnosed as that before.

I'm just so confused.  I've been dating her since January, and this is slowly sucking everything from me.  And if I tell her to leave my house, I think either suicide or homelessness is almost guaranteed. 

[maxsterling]

She saw another dr today, who diagnosed her this time as bipolar type II.

I'm so lost with all of this.  Can one be both bipolar and BPD?  The BPD description fits her to a T, and now reading the description of Bipolar II, I don't know - She says she was diagnosed as that before.

I'm just so confused.  I've been dating her since January, and this is slowly sucking everything from me.  And if I tell her to leave my house, I think either suicide or homelessness is almost guaranteed. 

[Cipher13]

Do some mor eresearch as I was runing across a few things today that more often than not people with PD's can have a little bit of NPD, with BPD, with Bipolar. Its not as cut and dry. Some symptoms are similar in the PD's.

Still it is common for misdiagnosis between Bipolar and BPD as then tend to have several similarities.

[maxsterling]

That's what I am thinking - with mental illness, there are overlaps, and the diagnosis probably has more to do with what medication to use to treat it more than anything.  Bipolar is treatable with the right medicines, and BPD it seems only some symptoms are treatable with medicine.

[GreenMango]

It's possible for a dual diagnosis.  It's also possible it's a misdiagnosis because of how the symptoms were conveyed to the Dr.   Diagnosis ain't easy.

Here's some data on Comorbid (two or more co-occuring illnesses associated with BPD).




DIFFERENCES|COMORBIDITY: Borderline PD and BiPolar Disorder

[Clearmind]

GreenMango is right - co-mobidity is common.

My BPDaunt was diagnosed Bi-polar and years before schizophrenia.

When diagnosed with Bi-polar she went onto medication however it did very little to help. If she was in fact Bi-Polar the meds would have worked given its caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Granted she is still not well because refuses help - BPD is now the new diagnosis.

Bi-polar - Mayo Clinic.

Max, has the doctor perscribed meds?

[maxsterling]

She was prescribed a mood stabilizer - Abilify.  The diagnosis was based upon her telling the doctor what medications she has taken in the past, and which ones actually worked.  The ones that gave her some relief were mood stabilizers - namely Valium.

Granted, from what she has told me, she has never really felt stable - ever - but only had brief periods where she was able to function.  As she describes it, the other times she was just faking herself until she fell apart again. 

She is willing to try the medications, but even she questions the diagnosis.  She was diagnosed with Bipolar in the past, and says she never really felt better even with intensive therapy and medicine.  But she was also diagnosed PTSD, and BPD at times in her past, has gone through DBT or CBT (can't remember which one she told me).  She also questions the diagnosis because she feels she never has manic episodes.  The doctor said the "manic" episodes can manifest themselves as periods irritability, which she definitely has.  But I see her irritable periods as completely dependent on outside stimuli, and she will go from completely happy to completely irritable and angry in a matter of seconds.  That doesn't sound like a chemical imbalance to me.

[Surnia]

I can relate to your confusion, maxsterling.

Dealing with all this is very difficult. 

I think the good thing is that she is now in medical hands. This morning I read through your other post recently and I thought this is far to much for you alone to handle.

I would say the first goal could be a good treatment for her and this means establishing trust between your wife and the doctor.

About stimuli: My Bipolar mother reacted very strong to outside stimuli like changes or my father traveling for work.

[Clearmind]

Max, what sort of practitioner is she going to?

[maxsterling]

She has been diagnosed PTSD, Bipolar, and BPD, but I am not sure in which order.  When I met her, she thought all the previous diagnoses were wrong and that she was suffering from PTSD, and needed PTSD specific treatment.  So, she sought out and was accepted to some kind of therapy for people with PTSD, that included EMDR therapy (I think) and a group therapy.  She was not on any medication at that time.  She got kicked out of that because she could not make the appointments because of work conflicts, and got kicked out of group because of an argument with the therapist.

She eventually decided she was depressed and had anxiety issues and got medication from a general physician, and started seeing a master's level therapist/social worker.  After going to the hospital on Tuesday, she saw a psychiatrist who diagnosed her as Bipolar.  Today, she went to the lab for blood tests, and then went back to either the psychiatrist or the therapist, who then suggested she re-admit herself to the hospital. 

I'm really scared for her.  It's got to be bad to admit yourself to a mental hospital.  I hope she finds relief - she has been in hospitals several times before.  And as much as I am worried, I am glad she is there right now because it takes some of the burden away from me.  The past few weeks I have drained myself trying to cheer her up and was in constant worry about leaving her alone for fear she would harm herself. 

[Clearmind]

It's got to be bad to admit yourself to a mental hospital.  I hope she finds relief - she has been in hospitals several times before.  And as much as I am worried, I am glad she is there right now because it takes some of the burden away from me.  The past few weeks I have drained myself trying to cheer her up and was in constant worry about leaving her alone for fear she would harm herself. 

Its a great thing! Max, she is taking some responsibility and thats admirable. She may get a diagnosis which is clearer.

For now, how are you taking care of yourself? Its hard however we need to think about us too.

[maxsterling]

Yeah, it is a good thing!  They want to keep her a week.  I'll visit her every day.  I told her tonight I think this is what has to happen for her to get better.  The reality - this will be a lifetime struggle.  She's 37, and has been a struggle for 37 years.  The logical side of me says another week in the hospital wont change anything.  She's had three extended stays that have lasted months, and none of them solved her problems.  But I am still hopeful.

As for me - I'm just going to work on some artwork, catch up on a few things, and enjoy being myself for the next few days.  The past few months have been 95% me dealing with her needs that I feel so far behind on what I need to do for myself. 

[Clearmind]

Thats awesome you are doing some things for you. To help her you first you need to help and take care of you to be the strongest you can be.