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    MS and Bi-Polar Stories

    We've got a number of related threads going right now. So, I could add to one of those. But, I don't wish to detract from what the original posters' thoughts were to focus on me and my questions. So, I'm starting a new, related thread.

    Here's part of my story:
    After experiencing both a manic event and a depressive event, I was dx with "bipolar, secondary to MS" in 2004. I don't think the dx "fits" me, because that was the only depression I've ever experienced in my life. I don't believe it was related to bi-polar, but that it was just very "situational".

    However, I have had multiple manic episodes. They only occur during MS flares. They used to be fairly serious. But, since I switched from a different injectable MS med to Copaxone, I've had less frequent flares, and less severe flares. This has also resulted in my manic episodes being much more manageable. In the past, they required hospitalization in a mental health facility. They no longer progress to requiring that. I have not been hospitalized since 2010. It used to be once or twice a year.
    • I suspect a "mood disorder, secondary to MS" dx would be more accurate. But, I haven't had a need to see a psychiatrist for years, so I haven't had the opportunity to be re-diagnosed.


    In the years when my manic episodes were severe, we were often frustrated that doctors did not know how to "treat" them.
    • My neurologist wanted the psychiatrists to decide what to do because he wasn't familiar with mental health being a symptom of MS.
    • The psychiatrists were not successful at treating the manic episodes, because they attempted to treat them as a mental health issue, not as an MS issue. The mental health meds they gave me were not effective. The only thing that seemed to work was to treat the MS flare with steroids and wait for the flare to end. And, the psychiatrists were reluctant to support the use of steroids because, usually they are more likely to induce mania than to end it.

    Over time, they learned that steroids helped, not hurt my symptoms. They didn't ever learn that the mental health meds didn't seem to work. I switched from a neurologist to an MS Specialist in 2008, and I suspect that she knows a lot more about the combination of MS and mood disorders. But, I haven't had big problems for a lot of years, so I haven't really had the need to test that out.

    Here are some of my questions:
    • Are there any parts of my story that seem similar to your stories?
    • When do bipolar symptoms or manic symptoms occur? Just during an MS flare? Or anytime?
    • Who decides how to treat your bipolar symptoms? Your neurlolgist? Your psychiatrist? Other?
    Last edited by Mamabug; 01-18-2017, 01:00 PM.
    ~ Faith
    MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
    (now a Mimibug)

    Symptoms began in JAN02
    - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
    - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08
    .

    - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
    - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

    #2
    Hello mamabug - you've brought up some fascinating questions and issues. As soon as I finish my road trip I'll be chiming in and am interested to hear what others say. IMO there is not enough attention to looking at MS and bipolar and the relations. I had an mri decades ago during a psychotic episode and tried to track it down to no avail. Would be interesting to see if there had been any lesions they might have just chalked up to migraines or something.

    My mother has schizoaffective bipolar diagnosis but no ms so that convolutes (or settles) things in my case.

    I think in the future ms doctors will be addressing mood disorders more (as they are starting to with cognitive issues) but as it stands MS and bipolar are (with exceptions) seen and treated as separate disorders, not withstanding the acknowledgment that there can be an interplay between the two. Neurologists are on the whole scared to treat bipolar symptoms and are reluctant to prescribe adderall for ms bc its (inaccurate) risk of inducing mania. Total myth.

    Gotta pack the car. Wish me luck!

    Comment


      #3
      Ah, okay. Here's this forum. It was hiding from me.

      For my story, I was diagnosed as schizoaffective in '04 or '05 or so... coincidentally, about the same time I was having my first flare, but it was a good decade before I was diagnosed with RRMS. I'd had a "major depression" diagnosis since maybe '85, but my stops to psychologists came and went. My first psychotic break was probably in '99.

      Anyway, I think that there is something between MS and psych issues. Stress if nothing else. I was in the process of living through another "episode" when I first had trouble walking, but after my vision doubled up.

      As to MS being primary to mental illness or secondary to it, I kind of think they go together in one way or another, and either can get bad with a strong enough dose of stress. *shrug*

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Mamabug View Post
        Here are some of my questions:[*]Are there any parts of my story that seem similar to your stories?[*]When do bipolar symptoms or manic symptoms occur? Just during an MS flare? Or anytime?[*]Who decides how to treat your bipolar symptoms? Your neurlolgist? Your psychiatrist? Other?[/LIST]
        I don't think its always black and white. I suspect that there is likely to be an underlying propensity to a mood disorder and the damage to the brain caused by MS may bring forward any underlying propensity.

        In my case I was diagnosed with Bi Polar II after using anti depressants after living with MS for many years. The mania episode although quite damaging ceased after using anti depressants. The condition is treated separately to MS and has never required hospitalisation.

        Comment


          #5
          Thanks for your responses.I've been glad that, with my change a number of years ago from Betaseron to Copaxone, even though when I've had MS flares that include some manic symptoms, the Copaxone seems to give me time to get on steroids and treat the hypo-mania before becoming full-blown mania, like it used to in the past. And, I haven't had a flare for three years now. That's the longest I've ever gone with no flare, in my 15 years with MS.
          ~ Faith
          MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
          (now a Mimibug)

          Symptoms began in JAN02
          - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
          - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08
          .

          - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
          - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

          Comment


            #6
            MS AND Bi-Polar

            I, can't believe I ran across this page!I have been hi polar many yrs.i,thought it as from lSD,in my teens.in hospital many times haven't been in 7. If,you have read my other posts,I haven't​ been diagnosed me yet.may know next WK.right when iam coming out of mania,I have blue aura in vison.anyway,two conditions could be related to me.i told neuro about mania

            Comment

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