misdiagnosis

My world got turned upside down because of several big life changes that happened at once. In hindsight, my mental health was crap anyway, and the impact of the big life changes on top of it made me completely tank into a crisis.

Let me take you down my mental memory lane.

You see, 20 years ago I landed in the psych ward of a hospital where I was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder and PTSD. At that time, I was merely given medication and sent on my way with no idea how to manage. Let's fast forward past all the poor choices and risky behavior I exhibited as a result, and we are now in 2020. After a series of traumatic events and big life changes, I experienced another mental health crisis. This time I was admitted into a behavioral health center. I was in their in-patient unit for a week and, immediately after, I was admitted into their partial hospitalization program for three months.

Here is where I need to credit my husband because he is the reason I am alive today. He knew in his gut that I had a plan, that I was done, and that he had to act quick. He asked me to go for a quick drive with him, promised we would be back home in just a few minutes, and I reluctantly agreed. 20 minutes later, reality crawled into the pit of my stomach when we pulled up to the emergency room and he refused to leave unless I went in. That, my friends, is true love. I often consider the amount of courage it took for him to make that move. He made it seem effortless, like there was no way he would have made any other decision. Now that, folks, is the essence of true bravery.

This hospitalization was different though. I wasn’t just kept on suicide watch and fed pills. I was educated and I was equipped with techniques to manage my mental health. Here’s the thing, all the tools in the world are useless if you don’t make it a continuous, long-term practice to utilize them. I’ve learned…the hard way.

As soon as I was released from the program and started working, life got in the way and my safety plan became a dust collector in a desk drawer. Or so I thought.

It turns out that my husband always had my safety plan at his disposal over the last 4 years. So, in June of this year, he knew I was in crisis and that he needed to act again. It was the gentle nudge from him that opened my eyes to the dire state my mental health was in. I also had to take accountability for the fact that I was not being completely honest with my care team. Together, my husband and I made a list of all my symptoms and behaviors, then made a plan for me to present the list to my doctor and counselor, no holds barred. Later that week I made myself totally and unequivocally vulnerable as I unpacked a lot of baggage with my care team. I’ve been seeing this doctor/counselor duo for two years and this was the first time I was completely transparent with them.

At the end of that appointment with the doctor, I heard a word that didn’t existed in my world…Misdiagnosis.

He explains my symptoms, compares them to bipolar 2 symptoms, and then tells me that my correct diagnosis is Complex-PTSD. That I am also exhibiting some symptoms of borderline personality disorder. Come again, doc? I’m pretty sure you just spoke Greek. As he was speaking, the past 20 years flashed before my eyes. Friends, this was effing brilliant! Bipolar was my identity. I was tied to that diagnosis and my doctor cut the rope. For the first time since 2004, I had hope! Fellow Mighties I am here to tell you that hope is a powerful thing! Suddenly, a future of promise and wellness came into focus – a life where I manage my diagnosis like a pro, I am thriving, and I master the art of self-love. I can totally do this! my upside-down house was turned right-side up and, boy, is it bright up here.

#Misdiagnosis #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Hope

You’ve done the best you could

It felt as if my life had literally been turned upside down when I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis two years ago. Not such a big deal you may think but I was told to stop running which was truly my sanity.

My BPD and MDD need as much help as they can get and running was it for me. My BPD had become a lot worse over the years and running had restored some stability and enjoyment in my life.

A radiologist and neurosurgeon confirmed the diagnosis as did a spinal surgeon a year later. I was told that it would get worse, that surgery may be an option in the future, told to do lots of stretching, take a pile of pills every day and get on with my life. As advised, I stopped running and felt as if my world had collapsed. BPD on overdrive.

Fast forward to a month ago. The neurosurgeon requested a follow up MRI and told me last week that there is now no sign of spinal stenosis! What??? As I understand it, it isn't curable so what is going on?

I did the fish mouth thing when he casually mentioned this and eventually asked him what had happened to the spinal stenosis diagnosis. He dismissively mumbled something about 'looking at that' and changed the subject. I could not concentrate on anything he said after that. Duly dismissed. By the end of the consultation he had still not offered a possible explanation and considering his dismissive attitude, I was reluctant to ask again.

For the past two years the possibility of this progressing and impacting my mobility have made me extremely anxious. I have a son who has many mental health challenges and requires a certain degree of care. I have worried myself sick about the possibility of not being able to do this in the future. Now it is not even or was even a thing??

Has anyone had a similar experience with a spinal stenosis diagnosis or know whether it can heal? #stenosis #stenosisspine #confused #Misdiagnosis

So I think I may have eds as it explains a lot of my unexplained symptoms and even some things that I've noticed my whole life but didn't know were indicators of eds.
I'm worried my Dr will dismiss my concerns because I have other health conditions triggered (at least that's how it seems) by a car accident--how do I get them to take me seriously?
Here's the things I've noticed:
1. Based on the information I can find I definitely have hypermobile joints.
2. I have always bruised easily and have so many bruises constantly that I never know where they're all from.
3. I have soft skin and have often been told I look a lot younger than I am.
4. I have multiple times where I have been told I have micro tears in muscles or tendons (in my shoulder and foot most recently).
5. And finally, I feel like this is what's missing and why I have felt unsatisfied with the other diagnoses that I have because they haven't ever explained all my symptoms the way I think eds would.

#EhlersDanlosSyndrome #Misdiagnosis #ChronicPain

I was recently diagnosed with POTS, after a lot of appointments, but something doesn’t feel right to me. My main symptom is pain in my legs and arms, a lot of the dizziness and lightheadedness doesn’t seem to apply to me. I also feel like my previous history with anorexia shadowed my doctors diagnosis… I trust her, and I know she is very educated. However, my gut is saying it’s something else. Does anyone have any advice? I’m also willing to talk more about my symptoms if anyone has an idea that might not be POTS…