My diagnosis changed from SZ to SZA

I guess after describing my symptoms and mood to the doctor this past visit, he seems convinced I have a combination of schizo-affective with bipolar. The hardline schizophrenia appears to be remissed.

I had to keep myself very busy with transcribing & writing music to get out of the hell that was actual schizophrenia. I think we both agreed today that it is in somewhat of a remission and a more accurate diagnosis is now schizo-affective with bipolar. I was definitely a schizophrenic for quite some time, but now that I do not take meds, I function better and have a better prognosis.

3 Likes

I wish I had some mood swings to get a better prognose. Bipolar is more accepted than sz. My mood is evenly low all the time.

2 Likes

Would you consider mood stabilisers?

I always used to post way back you can call me whatever you want, just give me Seroquel.

I was upset and didn’t want to be called that ā€˜s-word’ for a long time when 18, 20, 21, etc.
But it kept happening So I just gotta deal with it.
Some docs can only guess what’s going on since they don’t understand themselves really.
So I would say to myself, I’m the expert on myself and I will learn what to do about this stuff.

But eventually you have to deal with doctors, just find one that suits your personality.
And especially, if you don’t like them or they do and say things you don’t like, get rid of them and find another.

Bipolar, no its Schizoaffective, no its Bipolar … on and on.

Psychiatrists are rarely sure about a diagnosis - its all a guessing game.

As long as im not Hallucinating or having Delusions and my primary med is doing its job, I dont care what they label me with anymore.

Its all one big guessing game - I have a difficult time taking antidepressant type meds - I give up.

Same here. My diagnosis was then changed from schizoaffective to just bipolar1. I have been off medication now for weeks, and I haven’t had any symptoms. I’m hopeful that they will not return. I feel more clear headed and insightful. things I have to avoid are weed and alcohol. Those can destabilize the process. But so far I’m doing a lot better off Abilify.

1 Like

I don’t really have mood swings…but the Bipolar label is more accepted, so I welcomed the change even though it’s not completely accurate. I may be in remission, or I’ve completely recovered somehow.

If you have positive symptoms together with mood disorder, you will be diagnosed as SZA not Bipolar.
The fact that I suspect a lot of things and hear the voice of ā€œholy spiritā€ together with my mood swings, I am a person with SZA.
Good job, my treatment team.

1 Like

That doesn’t sound very possible for most
they count relapse in sz in terms of years not week or few months
I was dx with sza for a while then back to psz

Just these past two years my doc has been itching to change my label to from Sz to SZA…

Sometimes it bugs me… sometimes I don’t care what I’m called.

For now I’m settling on Sz with a mood element… I was doing some pretty rapid cycling this past year… I’m now on Depakote.

It’s helping. I have to admit… I was starting to enjoy the hypomanic stints.