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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 29, 2012, at 7:52:51
What would you do if you went from being a say, decade long TRD patient, to figuring out what "your individualized treatment is." And all of a sudden, applied that individualized treatment and remitted and say, got out of your mood disorder completely? Or even got to 90% consistently?
How would you handle it?
Do you think your family and friends could handle it after you were TRD chronic patient for so long?
Would you be angry that it took so long to figure out "the solution?" Would you just "move on" or would you also perhaps seek litigation against the doctors who treated you most of that time, saying you were damaged by losing at least ten years of your life because they "were not on the stick."
How would you handle it?
Would you start psychotherapy to handle "returning to the world?" Or would you just keep on doing what it is that got you out of it, get a job if unemployed or get a better job if somehow you had maintained a job and just move on?
Ever thought about it?
Eric
Posted by Phillipa on March 29, 2012, at 11:13:18
In reply to What would you do if you remitted?, posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 29, 2012, at 7:52:51
Yes I would just be happy and enjoy it. Phillipa
Posted by mellow on March 29, 2012, at 15:06:16
In reply to What would you do if you remitted?, posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 29, 2012, at 7:52:51
I'm probably close to remission right now.
I don't think you can just wake up one day and be better. I think it is something you work at and comes very gradually. For instance I have a friend with nearly identical features to mine. We're both alcoholics, both have had psychotic episodes and have had some form of schizo diagnosis, both of us struggled with gaining weight from taking antipsychotics. But my friend has stayed down in dumps for years while I have achieved what many on Babble would probably call a full remission. Quit drinking, lost weight, became employed, haven't been hospitalized in several years, etc. I've only had residual symptoms for the last few months. It took a lot of trust in my treatment team.
I certainly wouldn't file a lawsuit against any of my health care practitioners. Even the bad ones that prescribed the wrong drugs helped me towards recovery in a sense. They helped me figure out what drugs work through a process of elimination. (even if it was painful) Some of the good docs prescribed the wrong drugs too! I think a total remission to me would be not taking meds and I doubt if that will ever happen. The main issue I work through in therapy is how I am not at peace with the handful of pills I take at night and that someday I will not have to visit the mental health clinic. I go back and forth between the extremes.
As for how I feel today I just thank my lucky stars and forget the past. The stars must have aligned just perfect to save me from myself. I was in bad shape for many years.
mellow
Posted by tensor on March 30, 2012, at 12:08:57
In reply to What would you do if you remitted?, posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 29, 2012, at 7:52:51
> What would you do if you went from being a say, decade long TRD patient, to figuring out what "your individualized treatment is." And all of a sudden, applied that individualized treatment and remitted and say, got out of your mood disorder completely? Or even got to 90% consistently?
Probably relapse ;-)
Posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 31, 2012, at 10:56:49
In reply to Re: What would you do if you remitted?, posted by mellow on March 29, 2012, at 15:06:16
Even if it took the Pdocs over ten years to get you there???? To remission? That is ten years of your life, it represents a huge loss, a loss of earned money, probable loss of marriage if married, probable unemployment. That means what should have only taken maybe six months max to figure out, took ten years, at least. To me, that is damages.
I look back on my situation and all the stuff I have could have easily been detected in six months or even under. Had my doctors "been on the stick," so to say. And I hear about so many other patients with SPMI (Severe and Persistent Mental Illnesses) taking absolutely forever to figure out what works for them. That is, IMO, ridiculous.
Also, there is the emotional and financial strain it puts on your family and if you are on disability, on the taxpayer. It just seems to me that psychiatry oftentimes does not work, but when they finally do figure out what it is and you remitt or come close to it, they act like it is just serendipity or something. And I dont buy that serendipity stuff.
Im just saying, these psychiatrists have a huge responsibility on their shoulders. And I dont think some of them recognize that, or care. So why not just sue'em if it turns out you have sleep apnea or some endocrine disorder after several years (or more) of endless, mindless psychopharmacology merry go round? Send'em the message, "dont play these bs psychopharmacology games with patients, refer to other specialists if you suspect in even the slightest other problems." If my Pdocs had been like that, I could have remitted in 1998.
Eric
> I certainly wouldn't file a lawsuit against any of my health care practitioners. Even the bad ones that prescribed the wrong drugs helped me towards recovery in a sense. They helped me figure out what drugs work through a process of elimination. (even if it was painful) Some of the good docs prescribed the wrong drugs too!
Posted by Emme_v2 on March 31, 2012, at 17:32:12
In reply to What would you do if you remitted?, posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 29, 2012, at 7:52:51
> Ever thought about it?Didn't just think about it. Lived it. Still living it. :)
I'm not at 100% remission all the time, and I do have short term relapses, but nothing like the unending, unendurable depression I had for so many years. We're not talking fairy tales, and I still have a mood disorder. But it's controlled enough for me to have a life.
So what did I do with the mood disorder reined in? I thanked the psychiatrist who worked so hard with me for so long and never gave up hope or stopped believing in me. I moved to a new (and wonderful) city for a new job that I was fortunate enough to be blessed with. Started taking classes for fun. Ditched my old jalopy and got a more reliable car. Just generally tried to make up for lost time, even though I know I'll never get that lost time back.
I feel very sad indeed over what so many years of depression have cost me. But I don't feel particularly bitter.
BTW, the core of my magic brew ended up being Lamictal + Abilify.
emme
Posted by SLS on March 31, 2012, at 19:06:02
In reply to Re: What would you do if you remitted? » LostBoyinNCReturns, posted by Emme_v2 on March 31, 2012, at 17:32:12
> Didn't just think about it. Lived it. Still living it. :)
Far out!You continue to be on my prayer list.
:-)
- Scott
Posted by Emme_v2 on March 31, 2012, at 20:24:47
In reply to Re: What would you do if you remitted? » Emme_v2, posted by SLS on March 31, 2012, at 19:06:02
> > Didn't just think about it. Lived it. Still living it. :)
>
>
> Far out!
>
> You continue to be on my prayer list.
>
> :-)
>> - Scott
Thanks! I'll keep you on mine as well. :)emme
This is the end of the thread.
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