Recommend (or warn against) an adolescent psychiatric specialist- Bipolar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not covered by insurance, but I don’t know of this thorough of an evaluation this is unless it is an inpatient program (and none around here): https://www.sheppardpratt.org/comprehensive-outpatient-psychiatric-evaluation/

Can you advise how much the evaluation costs?

OP here, I can answer that one. I inquired and received an email. THis is from that email:

Our comprehensive, self-pay, three-day evaluation is conducted at Sheppard Pratt’s campus in Towson, Maryland, and provides patients with an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan. Each evaluation is personalized based on the patient’s distinct life circumstances and needs. The evaluation costs a minimum of $15,000.

That is a disgrace, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not covered by insurance, but I don’t know of this thorough of an evaluation this is unless it is an inpatient program (and none around here): https://www.sheppardpratt.org/comprehensive-outpatient-psychiatric-evaluation/

Can you advise how much the evaluation costs?

OP here, I can answer that one. I inquired and received an email. THis is from that email:

Our comprehensive, self-pay, three-day evaluation is conducted at Sheppard Pratt’s campus in Towson, Maryland, and provides patients with an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan. Each evaluation is personalized based on the patient’s distinct life circumstances and needs. The evaluation costs a minimum of $15,000.

That is a disgrace, IMO.

Agreed. When we handed over $5,000 for DC's evaluation I noted how it was cost prohibitive for most families. And I don't even know what to say about $15,000. I understand paying for that much professional expertise but damn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I think what I am looking for is a diagnostic opinion.

From there, I think I can find a practitioner for med management....

I think step one is getting a proper diagnosis, or a proper set of opinions.

Im not sure my daughter fits in any box neatly, and of course that's often the case.

She has a lot of symptoms of Bipolar II and Borderline personality disorder, but she also has ADHD _and_ some interesting neurological symptoms like silent migraines and hypersensitity at times to textures on her skin, sound, lights. But not all the time.

Im most concerned about starting her on any neuromeds that may affect her adversely....yet equally concerned about NOT getting her on neuromeds in time to avoid affecting her adversely.

Hi OP. I’m so sorry for what you are going through. I am not trying to be an armchair physician but wanted to share our story. My ADHD DD became depressed, anxious, and emotionally dysregulated as a teen. She would feel “high” but not for days, but hours. She would feel extremely low also for hours - literally crying saying that her emotional pain was so intense that it felt physical. The depression and anxiety were always there but then there were the hours of emotional dysregulation. We have a family history of bipolar so we were concerned about that and she also had some borderline features. She ended up being diagnosed with high functioning autism. You taking about the textures and sensitivity made me think about my DD. Her SSRI has almost eliminated her emotional dysregulation (that coupled with a lot of life changes). If she gets upset (which is extremely rare) she will still have a very outsized reaction. She had a neuropsych when she was in elementary that only identified her ADHD. We had an updated one while in the throes of her mental illness that identified autism. One well respected ADHD psychiatrist said she didn’t think it could be autism at that time and it is very, very subtle. Of course, if you look back you can little things. But girls with autism present completely different than boys (and often against the stereotypes). My DD was extremely verbal, hit all milestones, and was extremely imaginative and had friends. It was after COVID and the increased social demands of MS that it became apparent. GL

Your experience mirrors ours down to the early ADHD diagnosis and the subtle ASD presentation + emotional dysregulation later. Unfortunately the SSRIs aren't effective, but just hearing that your DD is doing well is encouraging. Can you tell me about life changes that worked for your family?

[Anonymous]

Please also ensure that she has regular thyroid testing and sees an endo in addition to psych.

- dx as Bipolar/ADD as a young adult also hypersensitive and have dysregulation issues. then dx changed to cyclothymic disorder. then years later treated for thyroid and it ended up being the treatment that actually worked, in conjunction with a very low dose anticonvulsant. I tried multiple meds, dosing, supplemental meds, adding meds for med side effects, seasonal dose changes, etc.

Maybe the psychs know this now or test more regularly or refer to endos but I have my lab results from my dx timeframe and I was hypothyroid and have a deep family hx of Hashimotos as well as mood disorders.