How can i tell my doctor i want re evaluation on my diagnoses?

Question

I really want to have a re diagnoses. I believe that i am just bipolar, and not schizo-affective. I've had 1 major episode in the past, but it was in a very stressful time of my life. Im handleing it great now though. i just really want a re evaluation, how do i go about telling him this?

Answer 1

Don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion.  I think it is merited because of your circumstances when you first visited the doctor.  Was it a regular MD or a Psychiatrist?  I've found that, most of the time, they look like they are daydreaming while we try to talk to them.  Then, because we said we feel somewhat depressed and need something to help us, the automatically assume the worst.

I don't believe there is a person on this planet who doesn't have depression at some point.  It's such a joy to finally break out of that shell of depression and we have every right to be happy; it's not manic to be happy.  In my opinion, I believe that doctors are too quick to slap a "mental illness" label on us for the slightest problems.

I don't know if they ever remove the label or not and, as far as my case, I don't really give it much thought.  Within 5 months I had a brother killed in Iraq, my husband had emergency open heart surgery (a week later); my mother died suddenly, and exactly 30 days later my other brother died in an auto accident.  I was so traumatized that I couldn't remember what day of the week it was, where I put things, and couldn't stop crying.  I went to my regular physician and he told my husband he didn't see how I was even able to withstand so much trauma.  He ordered anti-anxiety medications for the morning and tranquilizers at night and told me not to even think about stopping the medication for at least a year.  My diagnosis is post traumatic stress disorder with anxiety and depression.  I am truly grateful for every little moment of happiness that I have and do my best to hold onto it for as long as possible.  I don't care what label they put on it; by the help and grace of God, I am pulling through and am determined to make it.  I am much better now than 3 months ago.

I agree with you that your problems were probably stress induced because you were making some serious decisions at the time.  I really don't believe you are even bipolar.  That word is used too freely so doctors can keep the patients coming back and they can get an easy $200 for each visit.  If I were you and wanted my diagnosis changed, I simply would tell the doctor that I've never had but one episode and believe that I was misdiagnosed.

Go for it!  You deserve an accurate diagnosis.

Answer 2

hugggsss to ya!!

if you want another opinion then see another dr..and get one. but you cant just go to the dr.'s once an get diagnosed. you need a record of your visits with the dr. to get evaluated usually. especially for what youve been diagnosed with.

and maybe you had only 1 episode. but 1 episode does not make a schizo or bi-polar or manic depressive. it takes a series. apparently youve talked to your dr. long enough that he or she sees it.

but at the other end. i feel dr.s like to diagnose alot of people as those 3 and sometimes their not right. so unless we know your total history we cant say .

keep a journal of your days. keep one an after a week of writting in it...look back through it and read how your days have been..

yes we all have good periods an bad periods but theres a bit more to it than that sweetie. good luck an GOD BLESS

Answer 3

If the doctor thinks you have the symptoms of a particular diagnosis, you get a diagnosis.

The span of time doesn't make any difference.

It's not unusual for the diagnosis to change, especially if you have had multiple hospital admissions and have seen different doctors. Different doctors might have different opinions, or one doctor might have a change of opinion based on the symptoms you have at a particular time.

Answer 4

Why does it matter?  When I was in 4th grade, I wanted attention. I did things that caused my teacher to believe I was disturbed. Like turning around and making faces at the other kids, writing dirty words in my math book cuz I hated it. They brought in a psychiatrist and tested me. They eventually considered  me retarded. I found this out by searching the files in my teacher's desk after everyone was gone. It was devastating at the time but over the years, I realized I was just a bad seed. I am fine now and I never worry about what my school records say. If this means not getting a job, go get another job. Life happens but it still goes on..Just take things day by day and enjoy life.. Try to ignore the negatives.