I just found that I have Schizoaffective disorder after awhile of have just schizophrenia they have found out that i’m struggling with. My question is how does you illness affect you ?? What’s the treatment you have had
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You have the thought disorder when your mood disorder flares up instead of it being more random.
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Schizoaffective is like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder had a baby. You get the random or constant psychosis along with moods that can be depressive, manic/hypomanic, or mixed.
I have schizoaffective bipolar type. I’m on Invega, Lamictal, and Zoloft. I will eventually switch to just the Invega shot and go off of the Lamictal and Zoloft, 'cause the Invega shot can sometimes stabilize mood in addition to psychotic symptoms.
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I’ve been both just sz and currently sza bp. My doctor isn’t worried about a diagnosis, she just wants to properly treat my symptoms. I’ve been on similar meds for both sz and sza.
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Its not really that bad. You might scare the op.
Sza has a much better outcome then sz, in sza usually the mood and thoughts are connected and your mood can influence your thoughts and vice verse. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes you have a good mood but Depresive thinking or vice verse. Depends on the type you have.
Don’t worry, the sza dx means that you have a greater chance at a normal life, its very rare that a sza will have a pure sza manic (for example) or sza depressive type.
The mood in on a spectrum and rarely patients are in one extreme. You have a greater chance for a spouse/friends/etc etc.
You should keep taking your meds as for a big portion of sza either go sz or bipolar (rarely bipolar with psychotic symtoms) or stay the same, a small portion will enter full remission (normal mode haha)
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I had diagnosis of schizophrenia (unspecified or paranoid) above three years ago, but after going to day hospital during 12 weeks I was re-diagnosed as having schizotypal disorder, Asperger’s syndrome and OCD. In 2015 I also had diagnosis of StD, since III-IV 2016 I had not diagnosis of schizophrenia at all. But I am not certain that I have not schizophrenia, some people may think that I have delusions or psychosis. I take medications regularly but symptoms associated with schizo did not vanish after that.
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When I was first diagnosed with sza the new doctor put me on mood stabilizers with two antipsychotics.
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My current diagnosis is bipolar disorder and nothing has changed compared to my hospital diagnosis of schizoaffective.
Same symptoms, same meds, same treatment plan.
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I have schizoaffective bipolar type. When my diagnosis changed from schizophrenia to schizoaffective bipolar, my psychiatrist added a mood stabilizer.
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I’ve been told by my doctor that treating my symptoms is more important than my diagnosis. Symptoms can change over time.
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Your doctor is brilliant! She sounds great! My psychiatrist feels the same way, that symptoms are ever-changing. He likes to keep the diagnoses updated on paperwork.
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She’s pretty good, just wish I could spend more time with her. A doctor I had who passed away used to talk with me for an hour or more. I really miss him alot. I think talk therapy should be used more in psychiatry.
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I have 2 diagnoses in my chart: schizoaffective depressive type, and paranoid schizophrenia. I take my medicine faithfully but it doesn’t make anything go away.
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He died? I’m incredibly sorry! How did you grieve? Did you go to services? Was it expected? Did he tell you he was dying? Did he treat you until he died? How did you find out he died?
I’m sorry you spend less time with your doctor now. I would like more time with mine, too, but it’s expensive. I definitely think talk therapy should be used more. My psychiatrist started out as a psychologist, so he definitely has that bent towards compassionately caring and spending time with patients to listen and respond well.
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It was really strange when it happened. I saw him for a visit and he never mentioned he was sick. He died two weeks later. I don’t think he knew he was sick. I didn’t know till I saw an obituary for him. I sent a letter to his family, thanking him for all he did for me. When I went to pickup my records, his wife and daughter were in the office. They thanked me for the letter and gave me a hug. I tried to cry with them but I couldn’t. I haven’t been able to cry for years. I think it’s my meds. But, I felt really bad about that after I left.
But something did happen at the office though that blew my mind. I was going to have to wait three months without meds to see a new doctor. His wife blessed my records and the next day I got a call that I could see the new doctor the next week. I had never experienced anything like that before. If it wasn’t for that doctor I wouldn’t have the faith I do today. I wish I could discuss more about it, but I don’t want to get flagged. It’s a shame because it’s a really good story how it happened.
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That’s incredible!! The Lord provided a definitive, visible, personal act of grace and mercy to you! INCREDIBLE!! I am inspired!
That’s beautiful and sorrowful how that all went down! So emotional! I don’t cry either, so I understand. It’s often hard when someone in front of us is expressing emotion and we can’t join them. But in our hearts and with our words, we mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.
It’s a great fear of mine that one of my treatment providers will die, but I feel a LOT better after reading this testimony! The Lord will take care of me, this I know.
Thank you for sharing!! I’m so sorry you’ve been through such a difficult experience, but I’m glad it turned out so well!
Feel free to private message me anytime to tell the rest of the story!
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Ok I will. I’m glad it inspired you.
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