Posted by noa on April 17, 2004, at 8:24:08
In reply to Whether or not to take a vacation in hospital?, posted by Racer on April 16, 2004, at 12:52:53
Racer, how awful this is for you.
As you said on another board, you have responded to meds before. But you had some problems with the meds and bigger problems with the doctor when you tried to talk to him about the issues you had with the meds. I think that's when you decided to go off the meds.
But you need meds.
My suggestion is this--get the name of a REALLY GOOD psychiatrist. One who specializes in psychopharmacology and who is known to be respectful of patients and who works collaboratively with his/her patients, and has worked with people who have had refractory depression.
Go to such a doctor for a short-term consultation. Have this doctor recommend a med strategy for you. Work with this doctor on a short term basis, to get stabilized on meds. Tell him or her right up front about your financial situation and that for long term care, you are going to need him/her to do this consultation and then refer you to a doctor who is in the county system (or some other system that is financially flexible) for the ongoing maintenance treatment.
You deserve a really good doctor and good care. I know it is financially difficult to attain it, but I really think you should at least get a short term consult from a good doctor to get you started.
Sending you a hug and some hope.
Noa
poster:noa
thread:336919
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/2000/20040213/msgs/337116.html