Posted by jerrympls on May 30, 2003, at 22:03:35
In reply to Re: Saw new pdoc, said nothing more could be done.... » jerrympls, posted by colin wallace on May 30, 2003, at 13:11:36
> I had a great one too. I had a bad hypomanic episode(mixed-state) a couple of years back, and drove my car off the road and into a ditch(I'd been playing high speed 'chicken' with cars, and just missed the sheep I was eager to dispatch into space before I crashed).
> In the psych. hospital, my psych. was miffed that I'd interrupted his day(the nurse said,"what, you mean you DON'T have an appointment?!)and took me into a side room,where I admitted to being suicidal.He issued 200mg Valproate, and sent me home with a follow-up appointment in six months time.Whilst interviewing me(I was as mad as a weasel in a sack),he actually yawned.I'll never ever forget that one.
> I became very ill, very quickly, crawled back and asked for Lamotrigine, after much research.
> He said, nah, that stuff makes people psychotic.
> He patted me on the head, and gave me 250mg Lithium, and a further 6 month appointment.
> He also said my options were 'getting narrow.'
> How encouraging.NHS beauty.
> Anyway, I bought myself some Lamictal, and sorted myself the hell out eventually.
> Looking back, I'd rather have visited Dr Mengele.Colin -
Your experience disgusts me to no end - you admitted you were suicidal and they SENT YOU HOME!??! 6 month wait for your next appointment?!??! Isn't that against the law?! And the nurse reprimanding you for not having an appointment??!
How horrible psychiatric care can be and IS. WHY are these people in this profession?? If nurses hate seeing patients - especially those with mood disorders -WHY ARE THEY NURSES? CARE GIVER?? Hardly. My Mom's a nurse at a nursing home and has told me HORROR stories about how terrible other nurses - including administrators - treat the elderly patients. She even witnessed nurses pocketing narcotics and other meds that were supposed to go to the patient during med rounds. She's going to testify against them in court soon.
Anyway, I get LIVID if I think too much about uncompassionate, inexcusably incompetent psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses who are out there in there world treating patients the way you and I - and millions of others - have been treated. Why don't they care? I just cannot comprend why they don't care and why they get irritated if their day is interrupted by a person who needs help???!
I don't mean to scare anyone with this next bit of info - but, I did overhear once two psych docs boasting to each other about how much money they were making by having their patients go through multiple (20 + ) treatments of ECT. I was frozen with disgust. Of course - this does NOT mean that all psychiatrists are like that and I do not mean to imply anything either.
Anyway, I REALLY REALLY hate having to spend so much time, energy ( the small amount I have), money and continued emotional disappointment searching and searching and searching for a competent, compassionate, PERSON who happens to be a psychiatrist. You know what I mean?
Dr. Bob - I commend you for this site and the opportunity you give us to continue to post. I don't know you very well or your credentials, but I hope you hear us and will work to make a difference in the psychiatric community -- to encourage compassion and urge your collegues to look at us - those who battle with mood disorders -- as PEOPLE. People who want to sing and dance again. People who want to stop and smell the roses. People who want to run marathons and climb mountains. People who so deperately want to live again...to laugh...to marry...to love....
I'm sure you already do this...but, I just wanted to offer a friendly reminder.
Thanks to all who have replied to my posts. I wish for us all to one day, look in the mirror, smile, and have the person reflected smile back, with confidence and the warmth and and love we so much deserve.
I know this is cheesy but to quote:
"If happy, little bluebirds fly -- beyond the rainbow -- why, oh why, can't I?"
Someday, we will.
Thanks
Jerry
poster:jerrympls
thread:230097
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030530/msgs/230361.html