Merry

Hi there

Does anyone have experience of whether or not a diagnosis of bipolar is a problem when it comes to medical? I'm fairly stable and have never been hospitalised because of it,

thanks!

Jim Humphries

This is one of those situations where you will have to fully document the problem with diagnosis, prognosis and treatment with follow up. No one here can truly say what the immigration medical service will decide.

Judy in Calgary

Hello, Merry, and welcome to the British Expats forum.

Just in case you are hoping that more responses from a variety of people might give you a chance of receiving a reply that is both accurate and different from the one Jim Humphries has given you, that unfortunately is not going to happen.

The Wiki article called Medical Conditions-Canadian Immigration outlines the situation. It provides just a bit more detail, but tells you essentially the same thing as Jim did.
x

Merry

Thanks for replying - I wasn't so much looking for a definitive answer just any advice. I would hope it wouldn't cause any difficulty because I don't actually use any services other than occassional GP visits and medication, probably no more than lots of others, but I guess we'll just have to wait and hope for the best!

gemmie

hey merry, i don't know if this is true, but someone in another thread someone said that spousal applications are never refused on medical grounds.... not sure which category you are applying for though...

Merry

Thanks but the application isn't a spousal application so don't know. We got our 90 day letter on Christmas Eve so things are progressing - I was just trying to get some idea of how it might affect our application, I'd be devastated if I was the cause of the family not being able to move! I also posted the question because I couldn't believe that I was the only person who has had mental health problems!

Jim Humphries

Bipolar represents a range of problems from the quite benign to the major. That is why you should have your specialist write a careful report showing the diagnosis and prognosis. That is the best you can do.

gemmie

no you're not! i've had my experiences of depression, and actually was put on lithium about 3 years ago when i had gone to the doctors saying i had had a manic episode (though looking back i think i was probably having a bad reaction to smoking cannabis!).
all a bit of a mess, and i'm not sure if i actually 'have' bipolar now or not according to my medical records. i have never seen a doctor whilst being manic, only afterwards that one time, but have been treated with fluoxetine (prozac) for depression, and actually voluntarily checked myself into my local mental ward in 2006 (aged 19) when i was suicidal (no actual suicide attempts ever).
since then i've taken prozac, worked abroad and in the uk, generally gotten on with my life and experienced no further symptoms of bipolar... making me think i never was!
now am married to a lovely canadian guy, living in canada on vistors visa and pregnant, filling out forms in preparation for applying for spousal visa. wondering what (if any) impact my past mental health issues will have on my application success... should mention that i'm currently fine not taking any meds at all, not since september when i found out i was pregnant, as i don't want to affect the baby.
sorry for going on, but it has been playing on my mind! don't even know what to say in the immigration medical- should i mention my past issues/does it matter if i don't?