Posted by katekite on April 14, 2002, at 9:55:49
In reply to Re: just talked to her nurse.... » mom, posted by jay on April 14, 2002, at 0:28:19
Hi Jay,
I had two hospital experiences. The first hospital was what I would rate excellent, the second fair to poor.
The first hospital was suicidal depression. I went as a preventative measure and was the one to suggest it and was completely coherent etc on arrival, although really depressed. A darn good thing I could think clearly. After I gave my medication history to the doctor, he ignored my saying I had had severe side effects to a medication and put me on a combo of 3 meds including the one I get severely ill from. I refused and argued and argued and he changed the offending one to one I had also taken before with no good result. It seems some doctors have standard combinations they like, and he wasn't about to try to work with me. He also disagreed with what my psychiatrist at the time told him he thought would be good. The godsend at this place was the nursing staff, who informed me I was allowed to refuse any med I felt like, and were actually supportive of this knowing that this particular doctor was a little nuts himself. So I thought about it and decided to refuse all but one (a new one I hadn't been on previously), so that I could at least see what effect which medication had. It turned out to be somewhat helpful and I felt much better after 4 days and went home (although every single day the doctor came and told me what the heck was I doing etc, arguing, mad....shocked anyone would not take his advice).
My second experience was a university hospital. In retrospect what sent me there was likely serotonin syndrome, definitely serotonin toxicity although I can't say it qualified for sure as "the syndrome". At this place, after suddenly discontinuing all my meds, doing an EEG and mri and interview they concluded I was bipolar (I'm not, I'm ADD) and started me on bipolar drugs as well as restarting all my former meds. Then while I was newly drugged I took the mmpi assessment test. I came out as completely normal, LOL, did not rate depressed or even neurotic. So we know right there something was off, LOL. My serotonin syndrome briefly abated due to them having discontinued the meds I came in on. So I at least felt better. They tried a few other bipolar drugs and when I began to do worse sent me home. I was also assaulted by another patient. I read the report from them to my own psychiatrist, and they failed to record most of the symptoms I told them I had, they altered my chief complaint from flushing and chills, to mood swings, and they said I had come in with a general function score of 25 (practically catatonic) and left with a 70. When really I left lower than I came in. Anyone who drives themself there, stops at Borders to buy some reading material and run errands for batteries for their walkman etc, is not a 25. Anyhow, that's my story. In retrospect I should have gone to an ER and not arranged to be an inpatient because I was no risk, and my problems were more 'medical' if that's possible to say.
That second experience frightened me off of hospitals for good. Actually not completely true, I've done some research and found a few places that sound ok, in other states. If it comes to it I will travel there -- insurance would not need to know I wasn't on vacation in that state.
As far as xyprexa, I was given a low dose as I had been diagnosed with GAD. I literally could not stand up and felt frantic, could not think well at all. So I had a poor experience. I know that some people with anxiety have great benefit (I think I'm probably more sensitive to the cognitive effects than someone without ADD). It just doesn't sound like something to start in the hospital unless there is clear indication.
I'm curious to hear your experience with hospitals if you have one to share. Both good and bad.
Thanks for listening,
kate
poster:katekite
thread:102912
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/103035.html