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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 10 to 34 of 34. Go back in thread:
Posted by Maxime on December 30, 2010, at 21:51:44
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by Cydnie on December 30, 2010, at 17:12:19
I don't like the sound of the kind of support your are getting from your therapist. Any chance you can get a new one?
Posted by floatingbridge on December 31, 2010, at 1:54:54
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by Cydnie on December 30, 2010, at 17:12:19
Cyndie, I'm thinking of what to write. Depression after baby, not to mention 'normal' highly emotional state with all those hormones....
Not many want to put their infant in daycare--but every mom I know, depressed, in pain, or healthy loves and craves time to one's self. You might feel you've already tapped everyone, but maybe you haven't. (Part truth, maybe, but also part fiction? Sounds like your folks might not be available.) I've been
looking at part-time childcare for my young child through our local community college. There are some really nice
students in the early education program that like part time work. And some
people really love looking after infants.Some reassurance from your therapist would be great--should be forthcoming. Can you ask her directly how available she is? Cripes, I found my therapist with doctor number four. He 'saw' me. But doc shopping in a crisis is really rough.
Are you on meds now besides pain
meds? And don't let some doctor or nurse try to shame or induce guilt for taking pain medicine. That's their agenda. Remember that. Do you have a good psychiatrist? (Insurance?) They can help oversee meds.When I found myself with only vicodin to deal with pain, I needed to take an
amount that was a depressant for me. And it made me very dull witted.Thank you so much for writing. I'm sad to think of your Christmas Eve. Keep thinking that you will get out of this. You will.
Please keep writing and posting if you care to. Do you ever journal?
Posted by roscopeeco on December 31, 2010, at 6:26:00
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by Cydnie on December 30, 2010, at 17:12:19
Sometimes a good hospital is just what suicidal patients need to stabilize. I don't think patients in a hospital setting get much from the actual therapy, but they do get a sense of safety. I recently went to a fairly decent hospital that allowed me to sleep when I wanted and participate in group when I wanted. To me that was great. There was absolutely no pressure. I know this sounds silly, but the hospital was very homey. The hospital was also smaller and had an outside area where you could smoke and chat with other patients. To sum it all up, not all pscyh hospitals are like the ones you see in movies.
Where do you live? What is the biggest city nearby.
Posted by floatingbridge on December 31, 2010, at 11:46:22
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by roscopeeco on December 31, 2010, at 6:26:00
Hi roscopeeco,
My experience in a hospital was very stressful for a number of reasons, even though it was a 'very good' one. That said, your suggestion has a lot of merit, I think, especially if it is a facility where one can truly rest.
One babbler here has gone to a crisis centre. And maybe there is a women's center to call. When I went, I didn't have a child yet, which complicates everything while making the securing of help even more imperative--not just for the child's sake, but for the mother's. I'll speak only for myself here. Having an infant is very stressful in an odd, consuming way.
Cyndie, will you maybe write us today?
fb
Posted by roscopeeco on December 31, 2010, at 13:43:41
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » roscopeeco, posted by floatingbridge on December 31, 2010, at 11:46:22
> Hi roscopeeco,
>
> My experience in a hospital was very stressful for a number of reasons, even though it was a 'very good' one. That said, your suggestion has a lot of merit, I think, especially if it is a facility where one can truly rest.
>
> One babbler here has gone to a crisis centre. And maybe there is a women's center to call. When I went, I didn't have a child yet, which complicates everything while making the securing of help even more imperative--not just for the child's sake, but for the mother's. I'll speak only for myself here. Having an infant is very stressful in an odd, consuming way.
>
> Cyndie, will you maybe write us today?
>
> fbYeah...the hospital I went to had their own AC units in each room. I cranked it down to 60 and threw 5 covers on top of me and forgot the world existed, except when I had to eat.
I can understand her concern about her baby, but if it weren't for the hospital I might not be here. If a hospital stay is a strong consideration for her she shouldn't tell them that she is suicidal because that alone can cause later stress when you feel like its time to leave. Not to mention the 24 hour watch they put on you.
Posted by Phillipa on December 31, 2010, at 18:28:59
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by roscopeeco on December 31, 2010, at 13:43:41
Suicide watch definitely but sometimes having those checks frequently gives more contact with staff. I myself was a Psych RN and loved the patients. I realize all are not working for the same reasons same as doc some good some bad. Cyndie let us know how you are. Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on January 1, 2011, at 15:51:12
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » roscopeeco, posted by Phillipa on December 31, 2010, at 18:28:59
> Suicide watch definitely but sometimes having those checks frequently gives more contact with staff. I myself was a Psych RN and loved the patients. I realize all are not working for the same reasons same as doc some good some bad. Cyndie let us know how you are. Phillipa
When I have had suicide checks, it didn't give me more contact with the staff. They would just check to see where I was and that I hadn't hurt myself. From my experience psych nurses actually don't have much contact with the patients although that is their role. They are supposed to ask you how you are doing etc. and then they report it back to the doctor. But the times that I have been in, they just hide behind their plexi glass fish and talk amongst themselves and do paper work. It's sad.
Posted by emmanuel98 on January 1, 2011, at 18:13:48
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » Phillipa, posted by Maxime on January 1, 2011, at 15:51:12
When I have been hospitalized, the nurses were great. They didn't do the checks, though. The aides did. But if you needed to talk to someone besides the social worker (once a day) and the doctor (once a day for about 20 minutes), the nurses were always available. That was my experience, anyway.
Posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2011, at 19:04:49
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by emmanuel98 on January 1, 2011, at 18:13:48
Emmanuel That is exactly how it works here. We didn't have a plexiglass screen. At all times the patients could walk up to the desk, ask for meds, to talk, or report symptoms, whatever they wanted. We would let the patients use their mirrors or items deemed unsafe as long as signed out and returned. Now if on suicide watch usually lasted 24 hours during that time only use under supervision. And our med tecks also did the checks unless in seclusions then the RN's did also. Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on January 1, 2011, at 19:56:48
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by emmanuel98 on January 1, 2011, at 18:13:48
> When I have been hospitalized, the nurses were great. They didn't do the checks, though. The aides did. But if you needed to talk to someone besides the social worker (once a day) and the doctor (once a day for about 20 minutes), the nurses were always available. That was my experience, anyway.
Wow, sounds lush. Where I was there was (I've been in two places in Montreal, and 3 places in Calgary, one in Kitchener, and two in Washington DC)only one social worker for 35 patients so talking to her was not usually possible. Her role was to help patients find housing etc. after they left the hospital. I never saw my doctor once a day, maybe every 3-4 days.
Health crisis in Canada, eh?
Posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2011, at 20:29:37
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » emmanuel98, posted by Maxime on January 1, 2011, at 19:56:48
Here a pdoc must see you daily and write in your chart. Canada doesn't sound too great. In that respect. And they say we are headed that way? Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on January 1, 2011, at 22:49:10
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » Maxime, posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2011, at 20:29:37
> Here a pdoc must see you daily and write in your chart. Canada doesn't sound too great. In that respect. And they say we are headed that way? Phillipa
Well, that's the way it was on the psych wards even the two I was in in Washington DC. My mom was in the hospital for her surgery in March and that was completly different. The surgeon even came in on a Sunday to see all her patients which is not the norm. I guess it all depends on which unit you are on.
I think the problem is that the psych nurses (and other nurses) are tired of the way things are going. They are overworked because the government will not allow hospitals to hire more. Low wages in Quebec as well.
Sometimes I think there should be an evergreen programme for psych nurses. That after so many years they should have to go on another unit because they become too uncaring. I would ask to talk to my nurse and she/he would act like I was bothering her. I remember once in Calgary I asked a nurse for a towel because I was going to have a shower. She told me that she wasn't my nurse, and that I would have to wait for my nurse. Sometimes they would give me towel and sometimes they wouldn't and it had nothing to do with being on any special sort of watch.
Posted by Maxime on January 1, 2011, at 22:55:06
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » Maxime, posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2011, at 20:29:37
> Here a pdoc must see you daily and write in your chart. Canada doesn't sound too great. In that respect. And they say we are headed that way? Phillipa
I am slightly hurt by what you wrote. I feel that you can't take my experience in psych wards and apply to a whole country. I feel that if the US does adopt a similar health system to Canada's, that it will not effect how your psych wards are run or how caring the nurses are. At least I would hope not.
Posted by emmanuel98 on January 1, 2011, at 23:23:41
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » emmanuel98, posted by Maxime on January 1, 2011, at 19:56:48
> > When I have been hospitalized, the nurses were great. They didn't do the checks, though. The aides did. But if you needed to talk to someone besides the social worker (once a day) and the doctor (once a day for about 20 minutes), the nurses were always available. That was my experience, anyway.
>
> Wow, sounds lush. Where I was there was (I've been in two places in Montreal, and 3 places in Calgary, one in Kitchener, and two in Washington DC)only one social worker for 35 patients so talking to her was not usually possible. Her role was to help patients find housing etc. after they left the hospital. I never saw my doctor once a day, maybe every 3-4 days.
>
> Health crisis in Canada, eh?What a drag. Sounds like the snake pit. Why doesn't the government put more money into health? Or is it just mental health that suffers. When I was visiting my daughter in Quebec, we went to see a friend of heres who had been hospitalized with a fever and sore throat. They would never hospitalize someone for that in the states. Just give you and anti-biotic and send you home. She was weak and her WBC count was low, so they kept her in the hospital to monitor. I found this amazing.
Posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2011, at 23:59:43
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » Phillipa, posted by Maxime on January 1, 2011, at 22:55:06
Sometimes I'm thinking ahead not good to do when I write and was thinking of a friend in Canada I write to who has had so long waits to both medical and psych docs and referrals. So My comparing sort of anyway was a catestropic sequence of what if the government adopts either socialized medicine or nationalized which I understand is better supposedly and the long waits. I've heard some provinces of Canada are better than others also. Also I worked in private psych hospitals so that may have made a difference also. Last one was combined but run by a separate company and the hospital supplied the beds and nursing staff. I loved that job. Did groups at night based them on the main diagnosis of the patients. Movie on topic first then play acted or lecture. Sometimes the small hospitals give better care. Well lets hope for the very best in this year for health care for all parts of the world. Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on January 2, 2011, at 15:34:09
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » Maxime, posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2011, at 23:59:43
Sometimes the small hospitals give better care. Well lets hope for the very best in this year for health care for all parts of the world. Phillipa
That's a good hope. I hope for the same, thank you.
Posted by Cydnie on January 7, 2011, at 14:58:45
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » Phillipa, posted by Maxime on January 2, 2011, at 15:34:09
Not sure if anyone's still reading this thread, but wanted to come back and post after reading everyone's posts and thank you all. I went into a pretty serious depression, and actually going in-patient sounded kind of good. My psychiatrist had gone away and not left someone in charge of any emergency calls. Also, I had had an appt. on the Monday when I had the scary reaction to the med, and ended up in the ER. Today I went in to see my psy doc, and his secretary was billing me $210, and I asked why and she told me because we didn't call the Friday before to cancel. I told her, the doctor knows I went to the ER though, she told me it was policy. I told her there was no way for me to know on Friday. She told me it didn't matter. I told her I thought it was harsh, that doesn't an actual emergency supersede the policy, she told me no. I thought it was cruel, she told me to take it up with him at my next appt. I told her I didn't know if I would want to come back after that, it seemed harsh, and she told me, Well, there's always that option." I was taken aback, and told her I've never been late/canceled before, never paged him, always been loyal and even referred patients to him and my husband had too (he works at a hospital). She told me, "It doesn't matter, those things don't always work out." I was dismayed, and already so incredibly depressed, and he knows of course my financial situation, and he also knew before he went on vacation that I was in crisis, but never tried to reach me. I had told him I had been suicidal, but he never once acted as though it was a concern. I have never told him that I felt that way before, and wondered why he was acting this way when we met (it seems like he would act this way if I always told him that, which I never had before, but even if I had, even if I was not easy to treat, with treatment resistant depression, I felt he should have either told me, or tried to continue being a doctor.) My husband thinks he wants easy cases, works in a wealthy town, and maybe is trying to eek me out of his practice by doing this. I've been in crisis since I tried to hurt myself on Xmas eve, and now I am without a psy doc, and don't know where to turn. I'm so lost. If I believed in anything, I would think the universe was trying to tell me, give in already, we don't want you. Does anyone else ever feel that way? I feel so desperate and alone!
Posted by floatingbridge on January 7, 2011, at 16:12:42
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by Cydnie on January 7, 2011, at 14:58:45
Hi Cydnie, I am glad to hear from you, even if the news continues to be trying.
Let me get this out of the way, first: That receptionist was not behaving in any decent, humane, polite, or civil way. Translated crudely as someone should give her a nice kick in the pants. (And does she want you to pay on your time to talk w/the doc? Can you reach him by phone. No way you should be liable. Grrr.)
Whether your husband is right or not about him wanting 'easy cases', this entire scenario does not reflect upon the doctor well. Do you have a counselor or therapist? Some towns and counties have mental health referral.
Yes, I often think I cannot handle one more thing and take it as a sign that I am an awful mistake. Often. And then again, I know that's the depression talking. As if the universe were that ordered, lol and no offense meant.
I wish you had a better, more responsive doctor. And to see a new (and find him or her) while severely depressed is more than daunting. However, I wonder, from what you've said, the chances might be you could do way better with your next doctor. More empathy, new eyes and intelligence, maybe even curious about you as a person.
Sometimes situations develop that are like 'perfect storms'. At least I like to think I control everything, so when the sh*t really flies from all directions, I blame myself first. I have a young child too, and that really raises the stakes.
Hang on in there Cydnie. Keep posting.
Gentle bear hugs,
fb
> Not sure if anyone's still reading this thread, but wanted to come back and post after reading everyone's posts and thank you all. I went into a pretty serious depression, and actually going in-patient sounded kind of good. My psychiatrist had gone away and not left someone in charge of any emergency calls. Also, I had had an appt. on the Monday when I had the scary reaction to the med, and ended up in the ER. Today I went in to see my psy doc, and his secretary was billing me $210, and I asked why and she told me because we didn't call the Friday before to cancel. I told her, the doctor knows I went to the ER though, she told me it was policy. I told her there was no way for me to know on Friday. She told me it didn't matter. I told her I thought it was harsh, that doesn't an actual emergency supersede the policy, she told me no. I thought it was cruel, she told me to take it up with him at my next appt. I told her I didn't know if I would want to come back after that, it seemed harsh, and she told me, Well, there's always that option." I was taken aback, and told her I've never been late/canceled before, never paged him, always been loyal and even referred patients to him and my husband had too (he works at a hospital). She told me, "It doesn't matter, those things don't always work out." I was dismayed, and already so incredibly depressed, and he knows of course my financial situation, and he also knew before he went on vacation that I was in crisis, but never tried to reach me. I had told him I had been suicidal, but he never once acted as though it was a concern. I have never told him that I felt that way before, and wondered why he was acting this way when we met (it seems like he would act this way if I always told him that, which I never had before, but even if I had, even if I was not easy to treat, with treatment resistant depression, I felt he should have either told me, or tried to continue being a doctor.) My husband thinks he wants easy cases, works in a wealthy town, and maybe is trying to eek me out of his practice by doing this. I've been in crisis since I tried to hurt myself on Xmas eve, and now I am without a psy doc, and don't know where to turn. I'm so lost. If I believed in anything, I would think the universe was trying to tell me, give in already, we don't want you. Does anyone else ever feel that way? I feel so desperate and alone!
Posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2011, at 20:09:08
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » Cydnie, posted by floatingbridge on January 7, 2011, at 16:12:42
Who treated you in the hospital? Could it be that this doc didn't pass along the info to your pdoc? Were you fired or taking what the receptionist said as what the doctor wants? Phillipa
Posted by roscopeeco on January 9, 2011, at 9:36:16
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by emmanuel98 on January 1, 2011, at 23:23:41
> > > When I have been hospitalized, the nurses were great. They didn't do the checks, though. The aides did. But if you needed to talk to someone besides the social worker (once a day) and the doctor (once a day for about 20 minutes), the nurses were always available. That was my experience, anyway.
> >
> > Wow, sounds lush. Where I was there was (I've been in two places in Montreal, and 3 places in Calgary, one in Kitchener, and two in Washington DC)only one social worker for 35 patients so talking to her was not usually possible. Her role was to help patients find housing etc. after they left the hospital. I never saw my doctor once a day, maybe every 3-4 days.
> >
> > Health crisis in Canada, eh?
>
> What a drag. Sounds like the snake pit. Why doesn't the government put more money into health? Or is it just mental health that suffers. When I was visiting my daughter in Quebec, we went to see a friend of heres who had been hospitalized with a fever and sore throat. They would never hospitalize someone for that in the states. Just give you and anti-biotic and send you home. She was weak and her WBC count was low, so they kept her in the hospital to monitor. I found this amazing.They hospitalize people in the states all the time for that. I work in an Emergency Department. It depends on the extent of the infection and what type of antibiotics they are given. Some antibiotics need to be given IV and hospital administration is usually what happens in these cases.
Posted by roscopeeco on January 9, 2011, at 9:37:16
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by roscopeeco on January 9, 2011, at 9:36:16
edit...admissions
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2011, at 19:50:06
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by roscopeeco on January 9, 2011, at 9:37:16
I used to float to the ER for triage. Very challenging ER work. The first to assess the patients. Still have standing orders for meds? Or do Er's now need an order or just ASAP? Phillipa
Posted by emmanuel98 on January 10, 2011, at 21:02:25
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by roscopeeco on January 9, 2011, at 9:36:16
> They hospitalize people in the states all the time for that. I work in an Emergency Department. It depends on the extent of the infection and what type of antibiotics they are given. Some antibiotics need to be given IV and hospital administration is usually what happens in these cases.
>She wasn't on IV antibiotics. They just wanted to monitor her because she was weak and had high WBC count. No insurance company in the US would pay for this. Which is understandable given what hospitals in the US charge. When I fell down some stairs in Toronto and was taken to the ER by ambulance, x-rayed twice for a broken hip and sent back to my hotel with a wheelchair, they billed me, since I live in the US. Total charge: $350.
Posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2011, at 21:22:00
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support » roscopeeco, posted by emmanuel98 on January 10, 2011, at 21:02:25
High WBC's would indicate infection and which WBC's involved a lot of them all different functions. Hospitals would be negligent if didn't admit if needed based on ability to pay. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2011, at 21:24:47
In reply to Re: In need of kind, gentle support, posted by emmanuel98 on January 1, 2011, at 23:23:41
Low WBC's not good either as infection they rise to fight infection low compromised immune system. Needs isolation reverse if too low. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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