doctors

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Has anyone ever had this horrible experience I’m having with doctors that won’t take patients that are treatment-resistant with major depression?

I’m fine and better without an antidepressant or all of the combos of antidepressants that I had tried.
I can’t even safely take antidepressants because they actually made me actively suicidal in my early 40’s.

But, I still have needed prescription sleeping pills to sleep even for 4 hours and I still have needed anxiety medication especially now while I watch my cat daughter, my only child, suffering most days and deteriorating from her very old age and her medication side effects for her scary hyperthyroid condition.

But, I can’t get a new doctor to take me as a patient, and obviously, I do need one still, but the doctor I have been going to repeatedly and unmistakably treats me horrible -demeaning-laughing in my face about my disabilities, so I obviously can’t put myself through that with him any longer.

And to make matters even worse - when my current sleeping pill and anxiety pill prescriptions run out, I have had fear instilled in me by multiple doctors and my pharmacist that I will experience unbearable withdrawal symptoms for a very long time since they are both controlled substances that I was put on since 2019. And not one doctor wants to do their job and even monitor me as I come off of these medications. #Doctors #Psychiatrists #MedicalProfessionals #TreatmentresistantDepression #CheckInWithMe #MajorDepression #ChronicDepression #MajorDepressiveDisorder #Insomnia #Anxiety

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CJ Walker @thegeneticdiabetic

Wellness Wednesday: Patient Rights

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Kailee @kaileerollman

Serious Question

So I have been learning about the brain and nervous systems in my anatomy class. There is a small part of the brain called the Medulla Oblongota. It is responsible for controlling and maintaining a healthy and normal heart rate, as well as other autonomic functions. I instantly looked up POTS and studies on the Medulla Oblongata. And there was absolutely NOTHING! There’s no way that I am the first person to have this thought. Has anyone had a doctor look into this? Any doctors here, please look into this. Is it a malformation? Is the electrical activity different?
#AutonomicDysfunction #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #POTS #LivingWithPOTS #ChronicIlless #ChronicIllness #Doctors #MightyQuestions

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danimoorewrites @danimoorewrites

contributor

Coping With Doctors Telling You You're 'Fine' With Chronic Illness

“You’re fine. You should be fine.” These are the words that my new primary care provider said to me after I had dragged myself into her exam room hunched over in pain, feeling like the world was spinning around me. I had given her a laundry list of symptoms that I was experiencing, and she had a “logical” explanation for all of them. “I feel foggy all the time, like I’m here, but I’m not here.” “Oh, you’re just tired. You should get more rest,” she said. “I always get these headaches, and it feels like something is pressing behind my eyes.” “That’s just your sinuses — take some medicine for that,” she replied. “I’m always out of breath.” “You have asthma, so I’ll prescribe you an inhaler,” she claimed. “I feel like my vision is blurry even though it was fine a month or so ago.” “Maybe you need some new glasses,” my doctor said. My doctor thought that she had all the answers, but she blatantly dismissed all of my concerns. I walked out of her office feeling alone and defeated, but I took her advice and made an appointment to see an optometrist. I’d recalled that my kids’ eye doctor had these cool machines that took pictures of the insides of their eyes, so I made an appointment with their optometry practice. The day I walked in, I was greeted with kind smiles and warm words. “If nothing else comes out of this, at least I’ve found an office with kind people,” I thought. The doctor introduced himself, walked me to the back, and started to ask me a few routine questions. As we neared what we thought would be the end of my appointment, he said that he wanted to check the pressure behind my eyes. He turned to me and said in a gentle tone, “I’m glad that you came in.” My heart sank. I had no clue as to what could be going on. Why was my body rebelling against me all of a sudden? He said, “I think that you have something called pseudotumor cerebri. You have a lot of pressure behind your eyes, and you have swollen blood vessels. Most of them are bleeding. I want to take some pictures, do a field vision test, and refer you to a neurologist.” I left the optometrist’s office confused. How could this have happened? What would happen to me? Would I be able to care for my family? However, I was extremely grateful that we were starting to get to the bottom of what had been causing me so much pain and draining my body and mind for the last few months. I sat in my car optimistic about my recovery because according to the doctor, I would only have to take medication and then I’d be “fine.” Here we go with that word “fine” again. Of course, nothing was “fine.” It was just the beginning of an even longer journey. Listen to your bodies, folks. It’s unfortunate, but some health care professionals just want to put a band-aid on you and walk you out the door. If you aren’t getting the answers that you need, find someone else and advocate for yourself until a professional takes notice and does something to truly help you. This may not be easy, but it is necessary. Here’s hoping that you will be better than just “fine.”

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Ash @ashventure

Mental health team don’t help

I seriously don’t understand why I even bother reaching out to mental health teams here in NZ. over 3 months ago I got told the mental health community team was the next step in better care and they have hardly called me and used lockdown as an excuse to but get me to see a doctor till earlier this week and even then I got told the same bs and got asked the same infuriating questions. I try and try to get the help I need and it blows up in my face like they just waiting for me to end up in hospital emergency room again. #nzmentalhealth #Depression #crisisteam #Anxiety #Doctors #Nosupport

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DaniMarie @prettypleasemarie

This Monster I Battle Is Not Only My Illness

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bipolarlinedeb-compassionate Inquiry counsellor @debimann

Warning - #Holiday #Depression #Anxiety - when going on holiday - what to prepare for that you may not have thought about - My 6 tips!

One of the biggest #trigger s to #desperation , and #Depression coupled with tremendous #Anxiety is the #unknowns - #Medication shortage fear is one.

#Holidays for anyone who lives with these #illnesses can be hugely #distressing !

I'd say that we're already feeling #anxious when preparing to go away, and yet, we aren't given the tools to help us, should a #Crisis set in while away in a Foreign Country, without our regular safe #drs near.

Here are my 6 tips that I hope will make your #Holiday pleasant.

Before packing your clothes, please ensure that you have ordered enough #Medication well in advance of your trip, and perhaps a little more of your #Medication than you usually take, as a precaution. Luggage gets lost. Flights get delayed. There's massive uncertainty with #COVID etc.

We absolutely have to feel #safe regarding our #meds - and it is #Dangerous should we find ourselves without our #meds and not being able to #GET replacements.

Tip 1. Always take your #Medication on board with you. Never let the bag with them out of your sight. - This gives a feeling of #Safety and #Comfort

Tip 2. Always have your #Doctors phone number and contact details both in your handbag, as well as the bag holding your #Medication .

Tip 3. When you arrive at your destination - before you unpack it's very important, for #peace of mind, to find out where the nearest #Dr and/or #Hospital is. Take their phone number and address. Keep these on you, plus a copy at your hotel or wherever you are staying. Believe me, this will save you #severe #Anxiety and stress, and you will be able to enjoy yourself.

Tip 4. You may very well be put into situations where you start to feel #anxious and possibly #afraid . It does not matter whether it 'makes sense' to anyone. Even if you are on the beach, #Anxiety can kick in. So always, if you are on anti#Anxiety #meds , take them with you. Always. It is also perfectly acceptable to leave if you feel it's overwhelming. #Migraines are my 'go-to' sadly due to no understanding of #mental illness.

Tip 5. If you find you wake up #depressed - remember that you do not have to get up just because the sun is shining. Be #Kind to yourself. Do something to distract you. TV, a book, whatever. Stay put in bed if you want to.

Tip 6. If you've arranged a dinner out with your friends, but come time to get ready, your #distress #Anxiety - or any other part of your #illness kicks in, it is perfectly okay to politely decline by feigning a #Migraine attack. Sometimes, #whitelies are necessary - with #mental illness. Then watch a good movie. :)

I hope these few tips help you. I went away recently, and thought I had adequate #Medication - but by week 3 - I was running out.

I have learned a valuable lesson. Nightmare! Never again...I now know better. Shew.

Debi xx

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