Re: What can I do?????
From: Anna (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 17 Nov 2000 10:07:04 -0600 (CST)
Hi,
I know how exasperating all this waiting can be. I've recently been
through it myself - after crying for 5 hours straight one day I called
my dr. and was given an appointment 3 weeks from then. Thanks a lot!
:-)
Since the wait was not really conducive to my state and I have tried one
anti-depressant before with bad, bad side-effects (Zoloft, 3 years ago,
excessive shaking, yawning, sweating, itching), I tried herbal remedies,
and either they work wonderfully or they have an amazing placebo effect:
I'm on 900 mg St. John's Wort and 600 mg Kava Kava a day (both from
Walmart, Brand: Spring Valley), and I'm not crying, I'm not panicking,
and there are no side effects.
BTW, when I lived in Europe, I was actually prescribed these things by a
psychiatrist - it's not that this is all quackery, but people in the
U.S. are too hesitant to try herbal medication. If it's a plant, it
can't be good, right?
Hope this gives you at least a general idea in which direction you might
go until the doc sees you.
--
Anna
At Thu, 16 Nov 2000, Losing wrote:
>
>I've had a recurring history of depression. Things have been bad for
>several months (probably closer to a year), but I just haven't had it in
>me to try to get anything done about it. Things have really
>deteriorated the past few weeks and I feel totally awful the past few
>days. I'm trying to find a therapist in my area, but between the 3rd
>party certification for my insurance and other miscellaneous bullpucky,
>I haven't been able to get an appt. The offices I have talked to don't
>have new patient appts for at least 2 weeks, and my insurance will only
>refer me to a clinical social worker for initial evaluation. And the
>offices I have called won't schedule me until I talk to an "intake"
>person who has yet to call me back.
>
>I don't know how I can wait 2 weeks to see the social worker, then god
>knows how long to see someone who can prescribe anthing, and then still
>have a week or two before the meds take effect. I'm afraid I may still
>have 4-6 weeks of feeling absolutely awful. Very discouraging to say
>the least. Why do they have to make it so danged complicated? How does
>someone who's seriously ill ever get any help?
>
>I don't feel like the situation is desperate enough at this point to
>justify an emergency room visit or anything like that. I'm not suicidal
>or anything. I'm more afraid I'll make rash, lousy life-altering
>choices or say something unforgiveable because things seem so bleak and
>hopeless and people are just irritating me so much. I'm not in a state
>of mind to be making those kind of decisions.
>
>Any suggestions for how to proceed so that I may be able to get some
>treatment sooner? Is it reasonable to expect an earlier appointment if I
>convey the seriousness of the situation (does it even sound that
>serious)? Could my GYN possibly be able to help me in the meantime?
>
>Thanks for any suggestions....
>
>A.
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