bipolar disorder?

I was told back in 1989 that I was bi-polar and it was also the first time my DR hit me. No one said anything about my DR even though I kept on complaining that I was seeing thru a mist or a fog. I was treated by several psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers who never took my complaints seriously about my visual problems. I swear I knew i was depressed but when the DR hit me it was like I went thru a trap door and fell 1000 feet. I am one of those bi-polar types that get the really low lows, but my highs aren't that high. I mean I feel good when I am in an upswing but I can not stay up for days. I need only about 3-4 hrs sleep when my mainc phase occurs but during my depressive phase I need about 12 hrs. My current shrink says that the DR really bothers me when I am in a down cycle but when i am in a up cycle i can put up with it. He says when the lows are there my DR is magnified sort of like "the perfect storm" when everything comes together to produce the most serious cosequences. I had an prior girlfriend who got to know me really well and she one time exclaimed that "I have never seen a person go thru such highs and lows like you do". I thought it was normal for me at the time but in looking back on my life I guess she was right.