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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by poser938 on May 21, 2014, at 11:21:21
I spoke too soon about my good news in ECT. i was justrying to look at the bright side if things i suppose.
been waiting since last Thursday simply for the shock doc to accept my referral.
and i just got off the phone with the hospital, and the doc still hasnt had the time to accept it. then the lady i talked to started telling me to call around to other hospitals that might accept my unsurance. i stopped her in the middle of it and told her im done with trying to find a doctor who wants to help me, and that if i cant get help then i will have to take things into my own hands. And hung up.
this is so demeaning. ive been trying for 3 months to have ECT done with no success. theyre making me beg for something that may very well harm me.i cant keep going on trying to find someone who wants to help me.
Posted by phidippus on May 21, 2014, at 16:10:25
In reply to make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by poser938 on May 21, 2014, at 11:21:21
You're not exactly the typical candidate for ECT. You're not psychotically depressed, you're not catatonic, you're not balls out manic. All you've got is this peculiar inability to not feel pleasure. Maybe you're just not a good candidate for ECT.
Eric
Posted by Christ_empowered on May 21, 2014, at 16:31:51
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me » poser938, posted by phidippus on May 21, 2014, at 16:10:25
I'd advise against ect. Maybe...stimulants?
Posted by Phillipa on May 21, 2014, at 18:07:42
In reply to make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by poser938 on May 21, 2014, at 11:21:21
Poser I'm sorry. So what next? How is your Mom doing? Phillipa
Posted by Beckett on May 21, 2014, at 19:12:03
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me » poser938, posted by phidippus on May 21, 2014, at 16:10:25
I was anhedonic (really anhedonic) for a year, and besides the few times I was psychotically (sp?) depressed, it was pure hell. ECT was suggested during this time, but I declined.
Finally a round of dexedrine helped kick it out.
Posted by Beckett on May 21, 2014, at 19:14:10
In reply to make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by poser938 on May 21, 2014, at 11:21:21
Poser, maybe you've already done this, but have you tried high dose amphetamine? I was given it as a heroic effort.
Posted by poser938 on May 21, 2014, at 19:45:55
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me » poser938, posted by Beckett on May 21, 2014, at 19:14:10
What im experiencing isnt exactly depression or psychosis. i still appear pretty normal, that is until i attempt to have anything more than a "hi and bye" kind of relationship with anyone. i have to purposely keep my facial muscles from drooping, if i dont it lookz as if theyre being artificially pulled down. cant tolerate any kind of physical activity what so ever. And i constantly. feel like im just missing a big part of life. The parts of ljfe that matter. Ive been catatonic before, and i know if i dont get the help i need, then i will become catatonic again.
ive tried up to 30mgs of Adderall with no effect from it, and i think if Adderall were to benefit me in high doses, then it would be extremely short term. about a year ago i had tried Adderall after having not taken it in years, it wirked for maybe 30 minutes, then after that, nothing and nithing on continued dosing.
but, im considering driving to Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and telling them i need help, and that if i dont get it then im going to go home and "harm myself." I asked my mom what she thought of this, and she said it might be a good idea to do that to get them to start treating me. but, can someone tell me what all consequences that might have? Im going to pretty damn difect about it.
and as Eric said, it looks like my situation isnt that serious in some ways. it doesnt bother me that he said that, but ive got to do what it takes to have this be taken seriously. i also go in front of the disability judge on July 11, and i neex him to take it seriously.
Posted by Beckett on May 21, 2014, at 22:13:47
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by poser938 on May 21, 2014, at 19:45:55
If you report suicidialty, can they hold you against your will for observation?
Posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 10:58:05
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by Beckett on May 21, 2014, at 22:13:47
Everywhere i call for help i get the same answer. "I dont jnow whst to tell you"
either because a doc doesnt accept my insurance, ir hes accepting new ECT patients. or "therrs not a doctor available for ECT at Vanderbilt at the moment."
Ive been dragged around for too long. i dont know exactly what im going to do, but this is going to come to an end.
Posted by Beckett on May 22, 2014, at 12:22:37
In reply to going to have to do something desperate, posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 10:58:05
Then I think you should go to the hospital. I don't know if ect is the answer for you, but you sound frantically desperate and that's not good. Is Vanderbilt a good hospital? Because if it's not, that will compound your misery.
Posted by Beckett on May 22, 2014, at 12:25:20
In reply to going to have to do something desperate, posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 10:58:05
Suboxone? Are you responsive to opiates?
Posted by phidippus on May 22, 2014, at 13:32:44
In reply to going to have to do something desperate, posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 10:58:05
What exactly are your symptoms? I know you've explained them before, but I want a really good handle on them.
Eric
Posted by phidippus on May 22, 2014, at 13:39:56
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by poser938 on May 21, 2014, at 19:45:55
>i have to purposely keep my facial muscles from drooping, if i dont it lookz as if theyre being artificially pulled down.
This sounds psychotic. How do you respond to antipsychotics?
Eric
Posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 14:25:46
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me » poser938, posted by phidippus on May 22, 2014, at 13:39:56
Desperate timed call for desperate meadutes, Eric.
please dont confuse that with psychosis.
and please Eric, dont respond to my posts on Babble anymore.
Posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 14:33:27
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me » poser938, posted by phidippus on May 22, 2014, at 13:39:56
Well i asked you to not respond to my posts.
but if ypu really, really get the urge to. im going to take Dr Bobs advice from a few months ago and NOT open your posts.
Posted by baseball55 on May 22, 2014, at 19:27:20
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 14:33:27
I don't know how it works in TN, but I can tell you how it works in MA. I would guess they're pretty similar.
If you go to an ER, they will assess whether you have strong intentions and plans to commit suicide. If you do not, they will send you home.
You will not necessarily end up in the Vanderbilt hospital, even if you go to their ER. There is a shortage of psych hospital beds and, if they feel your life is in danger, the docs in the ER will look for an open bed somewhere in the area. This may or may not be at Vanderbilt. It may or may not be at a place that does ECT.
If you go to a place that does ECT, they may or may not agree to do it. ECT is only used for severe depression and sometimes severe anxiety. Insurance companies don't like to pay for it unless they feel the severity of your illness warrants the expense.
If they do decide to hospitalize you, the insurance company will be in contact with the doctors daily to see whether you are really in imminent danger. Insurance companies hate paying for hospitalizations and will try to move you out as fast as possible.
Also - a word about ECT. Most places will not do it on an inpatient basis, for all the reasons I gave above. You will need to arrange to have someone drive you to and from several appointments (usually a minimum of 12) - someone who is willing and able to hang around for an hour at the hospital, drive you home, get you safely indoors and stay with you until the anesthesia wears off. I have lots of friends who are retired or work flexible schedules, so this was okay for me. But some people just can't find this level of help. It seems you live with your parents (?), so hopefully they can do it.
Good luck.
Oh, one more thing. The standard practice, if the ER decides to admit you, is that you will be asked to sign a voluntary commitment agreement. This allows the hospital to keep you for a maximum of 3 business days, if they deem it necessary. If you want to go home after 3 business days and the hospital thinks you should stay, they will file with a court for involuntary commitment and you will be assigned a lawyer.
Posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 22:04:58
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by baseball55 on May 22, 2014, at 19:27:20
I called around to many, many hospitals. some take my insurance but do not do ECT. some do ECT but dont take my insurance. im not even positive Vanderbilt will take my insurance. The woman ive been in contact with there insists they do. but i contacted my insurance co. and they said vanderbilt does accept my insurance....
I talked to my insurance co. today and they said they do cover Tennova (the hospital i was to originally have ECT done, but at the last minute Tennova told me they dont accept my insurance.
My thoughts are so foggy and it doesnt help that i get a different story from every single person i talk to. im not exagerating.If i tell my doctor exactly how i feel, then whats the point in being admitted to a hospital that doesnt do ECT? Also, my doc may be calling Nardil tomorrow. and if u start that, i'll be exoected ti take it for at least a month. i cant do ECT while im on an MAOI because its contraindicated with anesthesia. and theres tge 2 week wash out period if i stop taking it.
i just cant figure out what to. its so simple to just help someone. they ate in the position to help me at these hospitals ive contacted, but something stupid is holding them back. whether its my insurance or what ever.
this is si demeaning. theyre making me beg for something that may just be useless for me. or might even harm me. time is everything ti me right now. and im not going to continue to just sit back and be dragged around like this with me having no control, just because if how ridiculous doctors and hoslitals are. but they have no consequences for allowing me to suffer. it doesnt matter one bit to them.
Posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 22:12:47
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by baseball55 on May 22, 2014, at 19:27:20
Also Baseball55, i cant remember if you told me or not. but how did ECT effect you?
And you said being an inpatient likely wont help me have ECT done? I figured it would be the other way around. ive bern trying to decide if i need to just le loose, to where i basically have to be restrained at a hospital. To where they see i wont calm down until i get the treatment i need. but its not going to help one bit if all they do is lock me in a room.
(And i know some of my writing is terrible, my cognition is horrible and im trying to type on a tiny mobile screen)
Posted by poser938 on May 23, 2014, at 8:27:29
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 22:12:47
And all i had to do was talk to a different person. i dont know their position, but i just told them how i feel and they set up an appointment in no time, for the consultation anyway, next thursday.
Posted by baseball55 on May 23, 2014, at 19:21:32
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by poser938 on May 22, 2014, at 22:12:47
> Also Baseball55, i cant remember if you told me or not. but how did ECT effect you?
>
> And you said being an inpatient likely wont help me have ECT done? I figured it would be the other way around. ive bern trying to decide if i need to just le loose, to where i basically have to be restrained at a hospital. To where they see i wont calm down until i get the treatment i need. but its not going to help one bit if all they do is lock me in a room.
>
I wouldn't recommend ECT to my worst enemy. I had both unilateral and bilateral ECT and was not helped at all, but my memory was severely impaired, especially with bilateral ECT. I don't, for the life of me, know why you would even consider trying this unless you are on the verge of suicide.I didn't say being inpatient makes it hard to get ECT, just that you don't know where you'll end up if you start out in a psych ER.
Posted by poser938 on May 23, 2014, at 23:14:41
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me » poser938, posted by baseball55 on May 23, 2014, at 19:21:32
Oh, man. i hate to hear your bad experience. i know there are many bad experiences. Has the bad effects from ECT improved any over time for you?
Did you feel you were fully informed about the effects of it before you had it done?And yeah, i basically have no other choice but to do ECT.
Posted by baseball55 on May 24, 2014, at 19:42:58
In reply to Re: make me beg for simething that'll harm me, posted by poser938 on May 23, 2014, at 23:14:41
> Oh, man. i hate to hear your bad experience. i know there are many bad experiences. Has the bad effects from ECT improved any over time for you?
> Did you feel you were fully informed about the effects of it before you had it done?
>
> And yeah, i basically have no other choice but to do ECT.The bad effects didn't last. I lost much of my memory after bilateral ECT. I never remembered a thing that happened over the 3 weeks of treatment, but I recovered other memories after a couple of months. I was informed and I had done research on my own. You should too. The evidence for ECT's efficacy is pretty weak. Even when it works, the effects don't last long and you will need to find an anti-depressant to take afterwards.
Why do you have no choice? Have you tried all classes of meds - SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, APS, AAPs? I would really regard ECT as a treatment of absolute last resort.
But you have your appointment, so give it a try. I warn you, it's unpleasant. Going under anesthesia, waking up with wet pants, not knowing where you are or who the people around you are. Spending hours afterwards with a severe headache. Doing this three times a week for a month. But it's your call.
By the way. You wrote earlier that you can't try an MAOI because of the anesthesia. But that's not true at all. I had surgery twice while on parnate and simply told the anesthesiologist beforehand so s/he could adjust the drugs accordingly. No problem at all.
This is the end of the thread.
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