Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 339136

Shown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

McPac other UK people Were are you/how many?

Posted by TheOutsider on April 23, 2004, at 10:51:29

Has any one managed to get decent treatment in the UK?
Can anyone recommend a good UK doctor?
Alternativly would going abroad for treatment make sense?

I've got ADD & social anxiety. Never of which is being treated at the moment.
The social anxiety in particular is driving me crazy. My experience with the NHS has been horrible.

 

Re: McPac other UK people Were are you/how many? » TheOutsider

Posted by colin wallace on April 23, 2004, at 15:25:06

In reply to McPac other UK people Were are you/how many?, posted by TheOutsider on April 23, 2004, at 10:51:29

> Has any one managed to get decent treatment in the UK?
> Can anyone recommend a good UK doctor?
> Alternativly would going abroad for treatment make sense?
>
> I've got ADD & social anxiety. Never of which is being treated at the moment.
> The social anxiety in particular is driving me crazy. My experience with the NHS has been horrible.
>

Hey there,

NHS psychiatry in the UK is renowned for being sub-standard-even by doctors themselves!
My experiences too were particularly awful(an ignorant doc.refusing to consider my suspicions that I was bipolar, and receiving only FOUR appointments in over 3 years, had a grave effect on my illness course.I've griped about that here many times in the past!
Last year I learned of the Priory clinics(very highly regarded, but of course, you pay for it-£180 per hour!!-and was impressed with the high-calibre of the psychiatrist I saw there(and continue to see).
My first interview was so thorough it was exhausting,but at least I got a firm diagnosis(and the floors are carpeted too :)
Most of the patients I've chatted with in the waiting rooms have been similarly pleased with their experiences.
Here's the link I first came across...

http://www.prioryhealthcare.co.uk/default.asp?sID=693&pID=710


Best of luck,

Col.

 

Re: Thanks for that link Col (nm)

Posted by Slinky on April 23, 2004, at 15:41:50

In reply to Re: McPac other UK people Were are you/how many? » TheOutsider, posted by colin wallace on April 23, 2004, at 15:25:06

 

UK People! Is Abilify released yet?

Posted by cybercafe on April 23, 2004, at 21:47:44

In reply to McPac other UK people Were are you/how many?, posted by TheOutsider on April 23, 2004, at 10:51:29

I would be very grateful to anyone who could tell me :)

thanks

 

Re: UK People! Is Abilify released yet? bad news

Posted by TheOutsider on April 24, 2004, at 11:10:08

In reply to UK People! Is Abilify released yet?, posted by cybercafe on April 23, 2004, at 21:47:44

I haven't checked this but I remember reading a post from someone in a very similar position to you who had done some research.
I'm fairly sure that ablifiy is not currently available in the UK & I don't think it'l be released in the near future.

How about ordering some from abroad?
Or going to the US to get some?

 

Re: UK People! Is Abilify released yet? bad news

Posted by cybercafe on April 25, 2004, at 5:49:47

In reply to Re: UK People! Is Abilify released yet? bad news, posted by TheOutsider on April 24, 2004, at 11:10:08

> I haven't checked this but I remember reading a post from someone in a very similar position to you who had done some research.
> I'm fairly sure that ablifiy is not currently available in the UK & I don't think it'l be released in the near future.
>
> How about ordering some from abroad?
> Or going to the US to get some?


yeah i did that last time... it was only an hours drive... it's just that i'm dirt poor :(

ah well.. i'm feeling hypomanic after reducing my dosage and current life events.... i think i will start bombarding the disability decision dudes with requests for a speedy decision

 

NHS and a sadly altered life, warning--pitiful

Posted by ramsea on April 26, 2004, at 13:53:55

In reply to McPac other UK people Were are you/how many?, posted by TheOutsider on April 23, 2004, at 10:51:29

After 20 yrs of inappropriate and counterproductive treatment which worsened my condition and ruined my career (which 40-plus means hardluck), narly cost my life andfamily too---I have at last a NHS pdoc--two of them, one mane, one female--who are right up to the minute in their research and knowledge. I am trying to get my life back now. It's true I am more stable, and the meds are mostly right I think, but I am on disability, have lost all my friends, my career prospects are nil (used to be professional) and the meds jave done a number on my appearance. I'm crying as I write this, this has been such a traumatic experience, so degrading, so humiliating. I feel I have been treated as a criminal, staff have said abusive things, I can't begin to tell you what a dehumanizing experience this has been. And for why such punishments and unfriendliness and unhelpfulnes? Because I suffer from Bipolar 1 disorder, with ADD traits, and rapid cycling. A disease I have had I believe from childhood. All along the way. Life has been an exhausting battle to appear normal and "good". Really wonder why I even bothered. Guess for my family--I do loe them so much and they have unconditionally accepted me. As I do them. But I have no lie outside my house, and that is weird for me---the traveller, the bold, bolshie, colorful arty sort of person---hahha, everything is different now,

 

Re: NHS and a sadly altered life, warning--pitiful

Posted by TheOutsider on April 26, 2004, at 17:01:27

In reply to NHS and a sadly altered life, warning--pitiful, posted by ramsea on April 26, 2004, at 13:53:55

I really feel for you.

I'm sorry things have turned out they way they have when they obviosly didn't have to!
I get so angry when I think of way people get treated under NHS! RRRRRRRR
I'm dealing with the NHS at the moment. I feel like I'm beating my head against a brick wall, doctors lie to you, pairents and friends don't understand.
I feel very alone in a funny way. Most people have been brough up to trust doctors, so its hard for them to understand just how incompitent and callous some Pdocs can be!

 

NHS circus

Posted by ramsea on April 27, 2004, at 6:11:34

In reply to Re: NHS and a sadly altered life, warning--pitiful, posted by TheOutsider on April 26, 2004, at 17:01:27

Thank you for your support. I hope you win your battle, but am furious it has to be a battle just to get effective health care. I really could write a scathing article about some of the things that have happened. But for now I just am sending you well wishes. Let us know how you get on. Remind them whenever it necessary that staff are there to help, not harm. To guide, not goad. And to heal, not to hell.

 

Re: NHS and a sadly altered life, warning--pitiful

Posted by cybercafe on April 28, 2004, at 9:07:46

In reply to NHS and a sadly altered life, warning--pitiful, posted by ramsea on April 26, 2004, at 13:53:55

> After 20 yrs of inappropriate and counterproductive treatment which worsened my condition and ruined my career (which 40-plus means hardluck), narly cost my life andfamily too---I have at last a NHS pdoc--two of them, one mane, one female--who are right up to the minute in their research and knowledge. I am trying to get my life back now. It's true I am more stable, and the meds are mostly right I think, but I am on disability, have lost all my friends, my career prospects are nil (used to be professional) and the meds jave done a number on my appearance. I'm crying as I write this, this has been such a traumatic experience, so degrading, so humiliating. I feel I have been treated as a criminal, staff have said abusive things, I can't begin to tell you what a dehumanizing experience this has been. And for why such punishments and unfriendliness and unhelpfulnes? Because I suffer from Bipolar 1 disorder, with ADD traits, and rapid cycling. A disease I have had I believe from childhood. All along the way. Life has been an exhausting battle to appear normal and "good". Really wonder why I even bothered. Guess for my family--I do loe them so much and they have unconditionally accepted me. As I do them. But I have no lie outside my house, and that is weird for me---the traveller, the bold, bolshie, colorful arty sort of person---hahha, everything is different now,

i am very curious to hear of your experiences..... i want to return back to london ... but i wonder how long it takes to get dole and disability! and i'm hoping these are enough to pay for a decent private doctor if i can somehow save up enough to pay for room and board myself (in some ghetto of london) ....
i might go back to seeing my old private doc, cuz i know he at least believes in ADD+bipolar, but he will probably charge 90 quid a visit minimum again ... uggggg....

 

Re: NHS and a sadly altered life, warning--pitiful

Posted by cybercafe on April 28, 2004, at 9:10:52

In reply to Re: NHS and a sadly altered life, warning--pitiful, posted by TheOutsider on April 26, 2004, at 17:01:27

> I really feel for you.
>
> I'm sorry things have turned out they way they have when they obviosly didn't have to!
> I get so angry when I think of way people get treated under NHS! RRRRRRRR
> I'm dealing with the NHS at the moment. I feel like I'm beating my head against a brick wall, doctors lie to you, pairents and friends don't understand.
> I feel very alone in a funny way. Most people have been brough up to trust doctors, so its hard for them to understand just how incompitent and callous some Pdocs can be!


if everything works out, i am actually planning on moving back to the UK and pursuing a career in psychiatry..... i am really persistant about seeing someone go out there and help all (okay a small few, but at least some) of those people......

 

NHS circus

Posted by ramsea on April 28, 2004, at 13:09:16

In reply to Re: NHS and a sadly altered life, warning--pitiful, posted by cybercafe on April 28, 2004, at 9:07:46

It's hard to know what the best strategy is in circumstances like your own. A certain amount of benefit would be possible depending on all the usual factors--how long you've been outside UK, etc. As for disability, that was hard to get because they are so down on giving disability to people who legitamately need it, they really make you roll through hoops and that kind of exertion and interference can be devastating if you are very ill and unable to handle social situations. For those who do go along they get a grilling. Unpleasant. I was fortunate to have a social worker and CPN, as well as my new pdoc, who informed the board that I was simply too unwell to go along to a testing group. It would have thrown me over an edge.

But I'm not trying to say anything is impossible, sometimes people get smooth help. I hope that happens for you. And if you do decide to study psychiatry, I think it is very hopeful, because psychiatry has got to either give up on itself or start having confidence in their work, believing in mental illness and not treating patients like they are con artists/pathetic/hopeless/manipulative/sad excuses for a human being. If mental illness is real, stop blaming the patients. If it is not real, everyone should close wards and clinics and pdocs should be eliminated, and mental health nurses should retrain to deal with "real" illnesses. I am fed up with how often patients are suspect, treated like they're pulling a fast one. If mental illness is real then we should be given the same down to earth, non-judgemental care that patients get on physical wards.

They need to be practical, scientific as possible and when the art part comes in, they need to really listen to what theirpatient says more than ever, since they are also in the dark in those areas of the mind that are poorly understood. It At best their needs to be partnership, with the pdoc offering his/her expertise and support, and the patient offering careful feedback that is truly taken in by the pdoc in a respectful way.

The world needs psychiatrists who have well deserved self-respect but not king-size egos; up to the minute knowledge of mental illnesses and treatments, and integrity, so they don't debase their clients.

There has to be a way for med schools to weed out the power hungry psychiatry students who just love to play mind games with the weak and vulnerable. If you do go for this study, it's encouraging to know there will be at least one caring psychiatrist out there. And there are a few others, thank heavens. best of luck to you.

 

Re: NHS circus for cybercafe

Posted by TheOutsider on April 28, 2004, at 16:08:42

In reply to NHS circus, posted by ramsea on April 28, 2004, at 13:09:16

I completely applaud your decision to study Psychiatry.
GO FOR IT!
I have similar plans myself, although they don't look to realistic at the moment.

If your trying to find somewere cheap to live go for South of the river. I recommend Brixton, as I have a friend who lives there.
People say its really dangerous, but I've been there lots of times and never had any trouble, you just have to be careful.

 

Re: NHS circus for cybercafe

Posted by cybercafe on April 30, 2004, at 5:09:08

In reply to Re: NHS circus for cybercafe, posted by TheOutsider on April 28, 2004, at 16:08:42

> I completely applaud your decision to study Psychiatry.
> GO FOR IT!
> I have similar plans myself, although they don't look to realistic at the moment.
>
> If your trying to find somewere cheap to live go for South of the river. I recommend Brixton, as I have a friend who lives there.
> People say its really dangerous, but I've been there lots of times and never had any trouble, you just have to be careful.

yeah ... i am really intelligent and have a prestigious undergraduate degree etc etc and can certainly talk ... BUT i have a major problem with performing surgeries on people, i'm very squimish... but i am getting to the point where i will watch the most disgusting videos of suicides etc if that is what it takes to get a job i would LOVE .... (hell i feel like i'm a psychiatrist already, it's just that no one listens to me and i don't have a perscription pad) :) :)

i found finsbury park to have a cheap place (68 quid a week?) and it wasn't too dangerous at all

hoxton/hackney was a different story


 

Re: NHS circus

Posted by cybercafe on April 30, 2004, at 5:11:00

In reply to NHS circus, posted by ramsea on April 28, 2004, at 13:09:16

> It's hard to know what the best strategy is in circumstances like your own. A certain amount of benefit would be possible depending on all the usual factors--how long you've been outside UK, etc. As for disability, that was hard to get because they are so down on giving disability to people who legitamately need it, they really make you roll through hoops and that kind of exertion and interference can be devastating if you are very ill and unable to handle social situations. For those who do go along they get a grilling. Unpleasant. I was fortunate to have a social worker and CPN, as well as my new pdoc, who informed the board that I was simply too unwell to go along to a testing group. It would have thrown me over an edge.
>
> But I'm not trying to say anything is impossible, sometimes people get smooth help. I hope that happens for you. And if you do decide to study psychiatry, I think it is very hopeful, because psychiatry has got to either give up on itself or start having confidence in their work, believing in mental illness and not treating patients like they are con artists/pathetic/hopeless/manipulative/sad excuses for a human being. If mental illness is real, stop blaming the patients. If it is not real, everyone should close wards and clinics and pdocs should be eliminated, and mental health nurses should retrain to deal with "real" illnesses. I am fed up with how often patients are suspect, treated like they're pulling a fast one. If mental illness is real then we should be given the same down to earth, non-judgemental care that patients get on physical wards.
>
> They need to be practical, scientific as possible and when the art part comes in, they need to really listen to what theirpatient says more than ever, since they are also in the dark in those areas of the mind that are poorly understood. It At best their needs to be partnership, with the pdoc offering his/her expertise and support, and the patient offering careful feedback that is truly taken in by the pdoc in a respectful way.
>
> The world needs psychiatrists who have well deserved self-respect but not king-size egos; up to the minute knowledge of mental illnesses and treatments, and integrity, so they don't debase their clients.
>
> There has to be a way for med schools to weed out the power hungry psychiatry students who just love to play mind games with the weak and vulnerable. If you do go for this study, it's encouraging to know there will be at least one caring psychiatrist out there. And there are a few others, thank heavens. best of luck to you.

i dunno! last time i was in london i worked for a year and was making around 30 quid an hour at one time so i certainly paid my NIC while i was there! ... i also have a family friend who works in the benefits office, though i'm not sure we want him to know about my disability (read: my mother is embarassed of me, haha)

 

Redirect: NHS circus

Posted by Dr. Bob on April 30, 2004, at 22:27:43

In reply to Re: NHS circus, posted by cybercafe on April 30, 2004, at 5:11:00

> i dunno! last time i was in london i worked for a year and was making around 30 quid an hour at one time so i certainly paid my NIC while i was there!

Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups not about medication to Psycho-Social-Babble. Here's a link:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040430/msgs/342008.html

Thanks,

Bob

 

Re: Cybercafe who was your dr in London?

Posted by TheOutsider on May 1, 2004, at 17:39:26

In reply to Re: NHS circus, posted by cybercafe on April 30, 2004, at 5:11:00

You mention that you did know a decent doctor in London.
Can you tell me who he is, I badly need a good doctor!

 

Re: Cybercafe who was your dr in London?

Posted by cybercafe on May 2, 2004, at 5:32:13

In reply to Re: Cybercafe who was your dr in London?, posted by TheOutsider on May 1, 2004, at 17:39:26

> You mention that you did know a decent doctor in London.
> Can you tell me who he is, I badly need a good doctor!

okay first i was in hendon and saw an NHS doc who was really good, i think head of the Edgware hospital psychiatric department (guessing)..... he actually heard of lamictal back in 2000... i was impressed..... also introduced me to a room of 20 students... so it seemed like he was really a senior dude ...

saw a few crappy doctors.. then went private... and saw a fairly decent doc ... though he pretty much hurt me more than helped me (didn't realize mood swings were due to trying to concentrate -- ADD -, took me off antidepressant and i got depressed, put me on epival and i still cycled)
but he was still more knowledgable than the average doc.. and i bet if i had stuck with him he would have eventually figured things out

i wouldn't mind sending y ou his name in email, but i don't think it would be appropriate to post it publicly

 

Abilify (aripiprazole) recently released in UK » cybercafe

Posted by Jonathan on June 18, 2004, at 23:21:44

In reply to UK People! Is Abilify released yet?, posted by cybercafe on April 23, 2004, at 21:47:44

http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/DisplayDoc.asp?DocumentID=14541


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.