wanting diagnosis, need answers please!

[Isabella5991]

Hello everyone,

I had ppp 3 years ago, I also suffered with extreme OCD, anxiety, mania, anger issues when younger, an eating disorder, then deep depression, I have developed motor and vocal tics over the years after serious illness that started when I began to get better. I also have been diagnosed with PMDD. But non of my conditions are severe anymore or even there anymore because of the meds I’m on.

I am generally really stable, well and happy now just with a few quirks I suppose.

I recently had a psychiatrist appointment because I’ve been desperate to get a diagnosis. I’ve had lots of individual diagnosis, but since I have suffered so many mental health conditions over the years I feel it has to be under an umbrella of a condition.

has anyone else experienced the same amount of disorders and had a diagnosis?

My psychiatrist didn’t seem to think I have bipolar, but I’m not convinced. I know I’m not the expert, but I think there’s got to be something explaining my health! I didn’t get to ask as much as I wanted or give as much of an insight as I wanted.

I’m not sure if I’m on the spectrum of something, but I don’t know what. I don’t feel the same as the ordinary person and at the same time I do feel the same, just with differences.

any help greatly appreciated,

thank you xx

[hgallo Volunteer]

Hi isabella5991, I'm hannah one of the volunteers at app. I had pp in 2016, second episode in 2018 non pregnancy related. And recently I've been diagnosed with bi polar.It sounds like you've had a lot going on. But it's good to know you're feeling more stable. Are you happy with the meds your on?

You can ask for a second opinion on diagnosis. When I got diagnosed they told me bi polar is difficult to diagnose, not sure why. And I guess there are a multitude of things people can be diagnosed with.

It's an option to go back to your gp and say you'd like a second opinion though. I hope you get somewhere with it. Take care x

[Isabella5991 in reply to hgallo]

thanks so much for your reply.

I’m sorry to hear you suffered so much too. Bless you.

We are strong survivors! I hope the diagnosis has brought you some closure maybe? More understanding at least I hope.

I am really happy with meds. They saved my life, obvs side affects like needing a lot of sleep and gaining quite a bit of weight, but pros and cons like anything I guess xx

[Rachel_at_APP Partner APP]

Hello Isabella5991,

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I’m really sorry you had PP, I did too back in 2016 after the birth of my first child. I’m glad that you’re ok. Although sorry to hear about some of your recent symptoms.

I’m glad that you’ve had a lovely reply from one of our Action on Postpartum Psychosis volunteers Hgallo. She is right you could ask for a second opinion, in the first instance it’s great that you’re recognising and able to describe your feelings and what you’re experiencing. I’m glad that you describe the medication as being able to save your life. The medication I was on did for me too. I was very grateful to access help quickly, I hope you did too.

I haven’t gone on to receive a subsequent diagnosis so I don’t have specific experience to draw on and share I’m afraid. But I did just want to say that you’re doing exactly the right thing, in acknowledging how you’re feeling, and talking to the professionals around you.

If you haven’t already, it might be helpful to have a look at the information and guidance on the APP website here: app-network.org/

Do keep writing here too if it helps. Take care, Rachel x

[Maria_at_APP Moderator]

Hi Isabella5991,

Welcome to the forum. You will find many mums here happy to share their own experiences, and I hope from this exchange of stories you get some answers.

I had pp in 2018 after the birth of my daughter, I had a history of 2 previous depressive episodes and looking back I have also experienced delusions triggered from stress at particular times in my life. Since then I have had a mixed episode of mania and depression outside of the postpartum period.

A year ago I received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. I think receiving the diagnosis was a relief for me and not hugely surprising. I looked at my diagnosis as a sort of short hand for a series of symptoms I was already experiencing, but it did make it simpler and easier to reach to professionals when I needed help.

As hgallo says it is possible to look for a second opinion and I hope you find a receptive professional that can listen to your story with empathy and kindness.

I am glad that you are stable and happy now, I echo your comment on medication being life saving, I also don't like the side effects, but I prefer them to the symptoms.

Take really good care

[Isabella5991]

Thank you ladies!! Really helpful. I can imagine the diagnosis being relieving for sure! Im just waiting for this relief as well and more understanding. Although the symptoms awful at the time. Im really sorry you have all suffered as well.

I think I will ask for a second opinion, thank you xx

[Kat_at_APP Volunteer]

Dear Isabella5991

Thank you for sharing some of your story here. What a lot you have had to contend with over the years! I’m so sorry you also experienced PP.

It sounds like you’re doing brilliantly, being so well and stable and having found the medications that work for you. Although I’m sorry you found your recent psychiatrist appointment a bit frustrating. It’s natural to want a definitive answer, have some overarching reason for all the stuff that has happened to you. But I guess many psychiatrists these days are reluctant to diagnose - they might prefer a more trauma informed approach, for example, asking a person “What happened to you?” Rather than “What is wrong with you?”. Even a very distinct condition like postpartum psychosis is still not in their diagnostic manuals - it gets put down as things like “mania, postpartum onset”.

I’m sorry I’m not being particularly helpful!

I hope that whatever your diagnostic journey that you continue to enjoy good mental health. Thanks again for sharing, it is always really interesting and helpful to hear about others’ mental health histories.

Best wishes

Kat x