Psych Referral

Seems like the major part of my doc visits the last few years have been psych centered. Several years ago I told my long-time physician I thought I was bipolar. I have a bipolar son, he's exactly like me, and the doc knows my boy is bipolar. In fact he did the initial diagnosis. Doc asked me a few questions, something like did I spend all my money (yes, but not all at once), could I hold down a job (for the last 15 years, but questionable before that), and so forth. In about 2 minutes he declared me not bipolar.

A few years later, I went in for depression. The first time I've ever consulted anyone about depression. I told him I thought I was bipolar, and he asked me the exact same questions. 2 minutes later he told me I wasn't bipolar, and wrote me a prescription for Zoloft.

Several other visits, same scenario.

This last time, it was about discontinuing Cymbalta. I told him the same thing, he asked the same questions, and I stopped him. I went down a list of things, him clucking and writing. He checked out a few more things, consulted his Palm Pilot, and told me not to be concerned, but he was thinking I might have bipolar disorder.

Ya think?

He told me he wanted me to see a psychiatrist. Oh, wonderful, more time away from work, and more deductibles to pay. OK, I'd put this question to bed one way or the other.

I make the appointment, and in the mail get a questionaire from the psychiatrist. You may know the type, several pages about medical history, family history, substance abuse, then the questions:

Check all that apply in the last 6 months.

Change of appetite. I just finished a bout of stomach flu - does that count?
Worried about weight. Doc told me to lose 20 pounds, who wouldn't worry?
High energy. Let's see - several hypomanic episodes a month for 6 months...
Low energy. The time between hypomanic episodes...
Sexual issues. Due to medication, virtually no activity for 4 months, then 5 times in 3 days...
Difficuly Concentrating. Not during those few days a month when I'm not hypomanic and not depressed

Virtually every one of these questions applies, and not just once but sometimes daily or weekly. But I think this is probably the case with most of us.

Oh well, he'll earn his fee on this evaluation.