Am I Bi-polar or suffering from PTSD?

Question

I was 18 when I got robbed at a gas station then at a FF reserunt. I was fail in High School and I thought I would not graduate. I had delusions, I was having sexual problems, and stay awake for 3 days then sleep for 1 day my Mom and Dad took me to hospital where I spent 1 week. I responded well to the structure of hospital food, sleep and relaxation. Then a few moths later I was walking home (4 miles) then I saw an Asian lady playing tennis in her garage. I was in a state of Delusion and wanted to get to know her. She was very pretty. Then I ask he for some water and waited in her garage the neighbors called the cops and I could see a policeman coming I was acting weird and he wrestled me and took me down. The doctor took me off the medication or changed it. Then when I was 20 I stop smoking pot and changed dorm rooms to try to keep away from my roommate that was always smoking pot. I was not getting much money from my parents, having problems in college and got into this rut of taking naps in the afternoon and not sleeping well at night, and fell behind on my homework. I decided to try to stay in the barracks during spring break. The hose lady warned me I had to leave but for some reason I stayed. She called my Dad at work and he had to come over there and pick me up and it was like 90 miles. He took me to the hospital. I stayed about a week, doc said I had PDSD and got back OK. Then when I was about 23 I joined the Navy and I had days where I did do some crazy stuff but did OK till I was 42. 9 months left in the Navy my wife had a kid and I was having problems with a chief at work. I had another breakdown. I spent 10 days in an Army Hospital they diagnosed me as depression. Then 6 moths later I was at the airport and couldn’t find my Mom. I was speeding in my car and wrecked it. The security stung my with a teaser and I was OK put I refused to take a breath liser. They sent me to the ER and then transferred me to Madigan again. I spent 5 days in there and the diagnosed me syciso. Then another 6 months after that I was un-employed out of the service and I felt my life was over. That Friday my wife said I was acting strange and left. I remember getting very confused and having trouble dressing. Monday my wife came back and I told her to call poison control. So the cops came and hauled me off to the ER where I spent another week. I was on Geodon then they switched me to injections of rispedal. I did Ok but some times I felt very nervous. Then I came to Oklahoma where I switched doctors. She wanted to give me Lithium, but my liver or kidney weren’t working right. So she keeps me on Geodon. I have gone from 80mg a day to 60 then 40. She says I am Bi-polar

Answer 1

Sounds like life's put you through the wringer alright. Bipolar smells about right, so I think your doc's on the money. If Risperdal and Geodon don't cut it for you, there are plenty of other meds to try.

Answer 2

It would be good to listen to your doc. I know through experience, though that the diagnosis is often over-rated. Doctors just give the diagnosis to the patient so they have a name for what they are going through. When the doc treats you, the are usually treating the symptoms rather than the diagnosis.

Answer 3

My depressed section of bipolar demands to be handled with two antidepressants; Lexapro and Wellbutrin. He has used Lexapro with Effexor to "bump" me out of the despair. I additionally take Seroquel to hinder the mania related to the further antidepressant. Go again in your psychiatrist and ask if this could give you the results you want.

Answer 4

I don't know but I would listen to your doctor. It sounds like you have suffered enough for ten men. Follow her advice.

Answer 5

see a therapist!