Psych thinks I might be bi-polar. Bit shocked. If so, will I automatically lose my driving license?

[dontrunwithscissors]

I suppose my title says it all, really. DD2 was born in January, and I was diagnosed with PND back in April, and spent 6 weeks in a Mother and Baby Unit. (Although I also had it, but undiagnosed, after DD1.) I went to see the psychiatrist today. We discussed my mood swings - both up and down, and she's said she thinks it might be bi-polar as she feels the way I've been over the last 5/6 months doesn't really fit with how she'd expect PND to progress. (Hope that makes sense.) I'm a bit , to be honest, and don't know what to think. My big worry, after having read a leaflet she gave me, is whether a diagnosis of bi-polar (regardless of the severity) means you have to relinquish your driving license. Can anyone enlighten me? Sorry I've driveled on , I'm just rather and after that appointment.

[DameGladys]

Sounds odd to diagnose that when the episodes seem linked with having children.

Have you had issues in the past pre-children?

Sorry, don't know about driving license but would surely be bizarre to ban people with mental health problems that don't cause them to black out from driving.

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

My DF is bi-polar, and has to drive as part of his job. It has never been mentioned.

[Rockbird]

No, my SIL has bi-polar and she drives. She also has epilepsy which is the thing that stops her driving if she's not taking her tablets.

[Rockbird]

has/is bi-polar, never sure

[FloraFinching]

NO, you will not automatically lose your driving licence.

If you have had a very recent and severe manic episode, or if you are getting sedative side effects from the medication, your doctor may advise you to stop driving for a bit. If you get given this advice, and ignore it, your doctor is supposed to contact the DVLA. But lots of people with mental health problems drive safely every day with the blessing of their doctors.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

My ex-boss was bi-polar, and drove. :)

[NoahAndTheWhale]

I am almost 100% certain that being diagnosed with bi-polar does not mean you can't drive.

But I would say that any depression is likely to develop in its own way and just because your PND doesn't fit with the way your psychiatrist feels it should be, it doesn't mean it isn't PND. Or it might be what I call "general" depression that can get complicated by things like having children, which has been my experience of it.

I have also seen psychiatrists who really weren't useful in any way and left me feeling like there had been no point in seeing them. Have also seen good ones too.

[rathersplendid]

No it doesn't mean you'll lose your driving license, unless of course you're on medication which make it's unsafe for you to drive (ie. strong sedative medication). In fact the diagnosis shouldn't change ANYTHING at all apart from perhaps the treatment you'll receive wrt medication / therapy.

[Gracie123]

My BiL's mum is Bi-polar and she drives - I'm not entirely sure she should though some of the time

Try not to worry too much about the label the Dr has mentioned. It is just a label, and all these things are on a scale of severity. If you are Bi-Polar, you always have been. Nothings changed, except that now you have a name you are likely to get more help and hopefully manage it a bit better.

I'm DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and when people first found out that were all shocked and several people said it must be a misdiagnosis. What they don't understand is that finding out how your brain is working is one of the most empowering things, as now I can take steps towards ensuring that I'm not put in situations that could make me worse.

I really do think you should talk to your doc more, and if the leaflet scares you, don't read it. Is there someone your trust to read it for you and summarise it?

My DH did this for me and it was really helpful.

Hope you feel better soon.

[dontrunwithscissors]

Thank you for the reassurance - it was a part of the leaflet I was given that got me worried. The psych said she's considering bi-polar as both types of AD's I've been on have sent my mood 'up,' which she said can be a sign that there's something else going on. I described to her how, when this happened most recently, I was up at 4am sorting out all my books by the dewey-decimal system and at the gym for hours at a time. This is the third time I've been like this since DD2 was born. It didn't happen after DD1. I don't know. Some of the symptoms listed in the leaflet definitely don't describe me (heightened sense of self-esteem, risky behaviour.) Others, however, are pretty close to the mark.

[dontrunwithscissors]

Missed your post, thanks Gracie. The doc was very nice and reassuring, and just said she'll moniter how things are for a few months. I just panicked at the thought of losing my license - we'd be screwed.

[QueenofWhatever]

Could be BPD, not the end of the world even though it must be a real shock. It would be useful to know if you have had similar episoded prior to having children. Puerperal psychosis is quite an unfashionable diagnosis but is often triggered by having kids.

[dontrunwithscissors]

Thanks, QueenofWhatever. No, I've never had episodes like these before DD2. However, ever since Uni I have tended to work in big spurts of 18-20 hour days for a couple of weeks. Then I'd slip down and do nothing for a few weeks. (Not a problem with my work - the super-productive times more than made up for the unproductive times.) That was one of the things the Psychiatrist mentioned. I suppose the last few months have felt like that x100. The Psychiatrist didn't say much else about symptoms, just gave me a leaflet to read. The leaflet mentioned irrational spending of money - during this 'episode' I spent £2000 mostly on bags/shoes - money that we desperately don't have at the best of times, but I'm on mat leave right now so we're really broke. Thankfully, most could be returned, but I'm excruciatingly embarassed . Not like me. Not sure whether that counts as irrational spending. Unfortunately, my CPN is on sick leave so I can't discuss this with anyone & don't see the psychiatrist for 2 months. Sorry, I really am rambling again.