Bipolar Misdiagnosis 16 years lost

[myoung35]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?PA

When I was in my early 20's I was finally diagnosed with alleged bipolar disorder. I took handfuls of meds every day for years. There was always this unexplained "normalcy" during pregnancy that always made me wonder if the docs were calling my symptoms by the correct name. I begged many of the docs I had seen to check my hormone levels so we might rule out any of that being an issue. They would not because I was too young for that. That is exactly how it was told to me. I was complaining of hot flashes throughout my twenties, I had dry mouth, dry vaginal membranes, dry eyes, thinning hair, etc. Yet, each doctor dismissed my symptoms. One doctor even suggested that I didn't like the label of bipolar and that I was rationalizing. Well, by the age of 31, I was tired of being ill. I had just had my third child and was fine until about six months post delivery. Symptoms, once again, began to appear. I ended up with yet another suicide attempt and more meds via the hospital stay. After becoming quite ill from such heavy medicating, I decided to wean myself off and see an endocrinologist now that I was aware that my insurance would cover it. What she found was that mt thyroid was not behaving normally and that my estrogen levels were very low for my age. She suggested a regimen and I have been symptom free for more than 3 years now. I lost my very promising career as a chemist due to this misdiagnosis as well as many years with my, now teenage children. Recently, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. I am just about to turn 35. The years of low estrogen and no one catching it has contributed to that loss. I am so disgusted and I don't know what to do. No one can ever return all of those years of heartache and pain. My family was torn apart so many times...I am just blessed that they had the stamina to be here for me when everything turned around for me. What can I do? I've lost a career that was guaranteed to make my family a great deal of money. I ended up on social security disability and am still on it to this day. Do I do anything about it or should I just be thankful we have a correct diagnosis and move on?

 

[rmet4nzkx]

It would take a very careful analysis of all your medical records to determine if any one of your physicians was responsible for this, not just the physicians who treated you for bipolar, but also you pcp and OB/GYN. Thyroid disease is known as the great pretender and while treatment for thyroid disease is helping now may still have not been the actual cause of your problems.

You had three successful pregnancies, it would have been nearly impossible if you were consistantly deficient in hormones as you are now. Pregnancy hormone HCG affects Thyroid hormone differently during the early part of pregnancy as opposed to the last part of pregnancy, what were the results of your thyroid tests during pregnancy, what were the results of your tests while not pregnant?

The symptoms you describe may have several causes including the side effects of medication. Thyroid replacement therapy is used to treat some mental disorders, including one that resembles bipolar disorder and the medications for bipolar are used to treat other disorders as well, what were the medications? A number of lifestyle or genetic factors may contribute to the early onset of boneloss, have these been ruled out?

Unless your endocrinologist is willing to place blame on another physician's care, you will have a difficult time proving any case.

 

[ellencee]

Even if medical malpractice (failure to diagnose) is proven, no one is going to compensate you for a career as a chemist when you never were a chemist!

It is possible that you were treated for emotional problems because you are female; whereas, if a man had presented with the same symptoms, evaluating the cause of his symptoms would have begun with physical evaluation and not emotional evaluations. Sad, but true...even today.

I would just about bet, without asking for any further information, that you were never tested for thyroid dysfunction or any other physical cause. Your accounting of events suggests few conditions other than hyperthyroidism. Whoever heard of bipolar correcting itself during pregnancy? Few conditions other than endocrine related diseases correct during pregnancy...geez...

I suggest you make an appointment with a medmal attorney and discuss your case.

EC

 

[panzertanker]

Even if medical malpractice (failure to diagnose) is proven, no one is going to compensate you for a career as a chemist when you never were a chemist! EC

???

How do you know that? Send me the crystal ball (unless you are familiar with this OP) I damn sure need it!!!

The worst part about this is lost years, but how often did you seek care for this condition?

AL pts are responsible to take part in their medical care, so that a culpability exists too. You cannot expect to seek compensation if you went to a doc, was told you have bipolar~ manic depressive d/o took the pills and left it at that.
Give me a little more info please.

 

[FanofHal]

more info??

???

How do you know that? Send me the crystal ball (unless you are familiar with this OP) I damn sure need it!!!

The worst part about this is lost years, but how often did you seek care for this condition?

AL pts are responsible to take part in their medical care, so that a culpability exists too. You cannot expect to seek compensation if you went to a doc, was told you have bipolar~ manic depressive d/o took the pills and left it at that.
Give me a little more info please.

You are asking for too much , my dear.

 

[ellencee]

panzertanker

How do you know that? Send me the crystal ball (unless you are familiar with this OP) I damn sure need it!!!

I will send you my crystal ball; you must take great care of it. Consider it in the mail!

I inferred and expected the OP to correct me if I inferred incorrectly from the OP's diagnosis of bi-polar at least ten years ago (diagnosed in early 20's, current age of 35, on SS disability and continue on it now at age 35). If she was college-aged during diagnosis, chances are greater that college-degree attempt failed than are chances that she obtained her degree. A degree in chemistry does not a chemist make; there is either post-graduate education or post-gradute work/internship. Subtract from these required educational/internship years, three pregnancies and postpartum absences from work and school; further subtract time lost due to the physical/cognitive dysfunction. That leaves the possibility of a promise of a career as a chemist and does not leave much of a possibility of establishing a chemist's career with promise. Therefore, I issued the caution that one can not collect an award for the loss of job/career one never had. If one could, years ago when I negotiated a settlement (mine) against a hospital for medical malpractice claim, I would have collected for my future career as the developer/owner of Microsoft.

EC

 

[myoung35]

I was a chemist

I lost my position in graduate school as well as a chemist position in a very high profile firm (I will not disclose). So, as you see, my future was destroyed when it had just begun.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

I lost my position in graduate school as well as a chemist position in a very high profile firm (I will not disclose). So, as you see, my future was destroyed when it had just begun.

Do you have copies of all your labs from back then, most likely they are no longer available then they would have to be authenticated, your claim would be difficult to prove at this late date, if it could be proved. What Rx for bipolar? What other Rx? What happened? Any reactions? Do you smoke? Drink coffee? How much of each?.....You provide no facts upon which to advise only an unsupported claim.

 

[myoung35]

to all who replied

I made it through four years of college and managed to graduate 1st in my class in 1997. I then went on to graduate school while working a full time position in the chemical industry (R&D). Intellect was not the issue..that is something I don't have to work hard at...thank God...otherwise, I would not have made it. On "bad" days, I could blow off most of my academic responsibilities and still ace the exams or complete the work by deadlines for the most part. If that weren't the case, I'd have had a very vert tough go of it. I had been in the hospital at least 8 times during those 16 years (i was considered a "rapid cycler"). I did not simply take the meds and walk away...I fought it every step of the way. Unfortunately, my voice was not heard over the drone of "booksmart docs". I tried to direct the docs based on my own assessment of the situation I was in how (I felt, what I noted in my journal, etc.) I went to therapy and was very active in my own care. But, as I have noted before, once the diagnosis of bipolar was noted in my medical records, anything I had to say was disregarded. I was often offended by the level of condescending comments I received from many doctors. Just because one has a "problem" does not mean their IQ fell off by 30 points. It was more frustrating than I can possibly express in written word. I had some wonderful employers who tolerated a lot of absenteeism due to illness from the meds and breakdowns, etc. But, the underlying problem was still "missed" even though I was pointing my finger right at it. Also, it was not impossible for me to have three pregnancies with low estrogen levels. It was not a static problem. It waxed and waned throughout the years (had the appearance of cycling).

 

[panzertanker]

You are asking for too much , my dear.

I know, but SOMETIMES they will give it to you.....

 

[panzertanker]

I made it through four years of college and managed to graduate 1st in my class in 1997. I then went on to graduate school while working a full time position in the chemical industry (R&D). Intellect was not the issue..that is something I don't have to work hard at...thank God...otherwise, I would not have made it. On "bad" days, I could blow off most of my academic responsibilities and still ace the exams or complete the work by deadlines for the most part. If that weren't the case, I'd have had a very vert tough go of it. I had been in the hospital at least 8 times during those 16 years (i was considered a "rapid cycler"). I did not simply take the meds and walk away...I fought it every step of the way. Unfortunately, my voice was not heard over the drone of "booksmart docs". I tried to direct the docs based on my own assessment of the situation I was in how (I felt, what I noted in my journal, etc.) I went to therapy and was very active in my own care. But, as I have noted before, once the diagnosis of bipolar was noted in my medical records, anything I had to say was disregarded. I was often offended by the level of condescending comments I received from many doctors. Just because one has a "problem" does not mean their IQ fell off by 30 points. It was more frustrating than I can possibly express in written word. I had some wonderful employers who tolerated a lot of absenteeism due to illness from the meds and breakdowns, etc. But, the underlying problem was still "missed" even though I was pointing my finger right at it. Also, it was not impossible for me to have three pregnancies with low estrogen levels. It was not a static problem. It waxed and waned throughout the years (had the appearance of cycling).

Better!

As I am not a lwayer, you DEFINITELY need one if you choose to persue this....

The hardest part you will have, is proving that you were hyop/er thyroid 16 years ago, and not a new onset/diagnosed one! A;so, what med r taking? And how often are your levels checked?
That said, good luck in gathering the information. Not trying to discourage, just be realistic. Most medical companies are required by law to maintain only 7 years of records if they become inactive.

Have you had any psychological testing related to General Anxiety D/O, Postpartum depression, or even just Situational Anxiety Reaction?
The brain is a very complex organ, and can wreck havoc on your system as well, mimicking other S/S.


Ellen, Send it insured, I doan wan nutting to be happenin to it on route!!!
HEHEHE!

 

[rmet4nzkx]

I would send you a PM but you have that turned off.
After your subsequent posts it would appear that you may have had an appropriate Diagnosis of bipolar but at the same time had a very similar disorder that wasn't Diagnosed in adults at that point in time, a disorder which responds to thyroid Rx. If this is the case, there would be no negligence. In other words at that point in time bipolar was the correct Dx and as your said the condition waxwd and wained. Please consult a neuropsychologist for testing, provide them with as complete a medical history as possible and then consult an attorney if the NP believes you have a case because without older evidence there will be little to support any claim.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

I see you are online now, have you considered my last post? Your history suggests this disorder which is often diagnosed and treated as bipolar.