Finally I asked for help with mental issues

[thomasgreen]

It's bloody hard work getting help for mental health issues isn't it! That doctor really has no clue?! it's so sad because gp's are suppossed to be the gateway to other services for us all?! i really hope things start to look up for you soon!! I'm a psychiatric nurse and have suffered with depression (plus anxiety and paranoia) for 7 years so had some experience of how tormenting mental health problems can be for people-i only got help for myself the irst time this year, it was totally different being on the other side of the treatment etc!!

I don't really know what words of wisdom or experience i can offer other than send you my thoughts and love!!! i really wish for these horrible symptoms to leave you soon so that you can feel relaxed and enjoy yourself!!

Tom

[prison break fan]

Dear Mrs Fibble, I have just read your post and my heart goes out to you. Please know that even if we are strangers we can still understand and sympathise with you, and wish you all the very best. Sometimes talking about your problems is the best cure, and we out here are all willing listeners. lot of love, pbf

[Green Aura]

Dear Mrs F
I read your opening account and my heart went out to you. Your experiences are obviously very distressing for you but there are many ways to deal with them.
Several things stood out for me.

1) Although most Drs are generally w4nkers, don't give up on them completely. They have 10 minutes to see you and unfortunately the government has them so tied up with targets they often don't have time to get past them. You mentioned being on thyroxine. Thyroid problems can present with some of the mental health symptoms you describe. Insist on getting your medication levels checked. And don't be afraid of asking to see a specialist if you get no joy from your GP - it's your right. He also can't impose things like the fat pills- if the side effects are bad get rid of them, but find out first if it's safe to just stop them, or if you need to wean yourself off them.

2) Have you tried getting advice/help from somewhere non-statutory - like Mind. They have some fantastic staff and volunteers - many of whom have had similar experiences and learned how to cope with them.

3) Many of our most prolific talents have been "boosted" by the up time of their bi-polar illness (if that is indeed what you have). Spike Milligan worked prolifically when up. The point I'm making is that it's not all necessarily a disaster.

4) Protect yourself when you're particularly vulnerable. It sounds like you've got a good network of support. Make sure you have well-rehearsed strategies for bad times.

here's loads of other stuff but the most important is get your thyroid function done.

You can get through all of this.
Maggie

[mrsflibble]

Roselunda: thank you for your long message, I have told others that my appointment is on that date and James has pledged to phone me from work and badger me until I leave the house. He can't be off work that day, but I also told him to keep reminding me I have a problem 'cos when I become lucid again I start to believe there's nothing wrong; and cancel appointments hey, at least I know myself hahaha!!!

as for other messages, yes I shall speak to MIND. never thought of doing that, how hard can it be?!

and yes I've finally informed all of my close mates of my problems so they know if I ring with an excuse they need to ask me how I am...although saying that, Tea; soph genuinely had diarrhoea on weds!!! Really this time! no fob-offs! I was raRING TO GO OUT AND HAD THE SWIMMING BAG ALL PACKED TOO sorry, knocked the caplock.

I'm going out of this thread now before I start raging about the medical establshment and what they have done to me in the past!

[LBR]

Mrs. Flibble, hugs and dear thoughts to you!

I happened onto this website while looking for something, and immediately put myself on their mailing list. Here's one of their website pages I found very useful: http://www.sensible-alternative.com.au/ ... eight.html

I stayed up late one nite just reading almost every newsletter on their site. It was one of those "right info at the right time" experiences for me. I went on a high alkaline/low acid diet and am feeling calmer, steadier and healthier than I have for years.

The eating/depression dynamic can be quite a challenge. Several years ago, I had one of those "a-ha" moments and completely stopped eating sugar. I found that not eating sugar improved my well-being so much that I stay off of it, completely. I'm calmer, stronger, healthier, and thinner.

Another food which triggers a false appetite for me, and makes me feel vulnerable and irritable, is wheat, esp. refined wheat flour. But, wheat at all, makes me kind of edgy, even in small bits.

Just staying off the sugar and the wheat helped tremendously.

I've actually enjoyed the experimenting, and find that when I feel better, I feel up to taking another step. Getting older has helped, too, because I can't get away with staying up late or drinking coffee.

I'm just one of those people who needs to walk a straight line. If I don't, I feel quite poorly. When I take care of myself, I really like the results. It's an ongoing challenge.

Am sending you victory thoughts.

[Russian Doll]

Roselunda: thank you for your long message, I have told others that my appointment is on that date and James has pledged to phone me from work and badger me until I leave the house. He can't be off work that day, but I also told him to keep reminding me I have a problem 'cos when I become lucid again I start to believe there's nothing wrong; and cancel appointments hey, at least I know myself hahaha!!!

as for other messages, yes I shall speak to MIND. never thought of doing that, how hard can it be?!

and yes I've finally informed all of my close mates of my problems so they know if I ring with an excuse they need to ask me how I am...although saying that, Tea; soph genuinely had diarrhoea on weds!!! Really this time! no fob-offs! I was raRING TO GO OUT AND HAD THE SWIMMING BAG ALL PACKED TOO sorry, knocked the caplock.

I'm going out of this thread now before I start raging about the medical establshment and what they have done to me in the past!

rightio madam whens the appointment..ill come down ad be with you..well ill make sure ya gert htere and take the kids to the park

[Graye]

Poor you! I have no idea about what to suggest but just thought I could add my voice as someone else wishing you all the best things and hoping you can get the help you need.

I also took Xenical for a while (with 4 stone to go at I needed some help at first) but, as you say, some of the side effects are scary. At best it taught me very quickly what NOT to eat and very fortunately for me I stuck to this revised diet without the pills and it still worked. My problem was an almost obsessive love of cheese - now I just don't buy it and have all but wiped it from my diet. It sounds as if you are fighting other illnesses which make you prone to weight problems so you are already starting at a disadvantage. Also, a quick check on the internet concerning weight problems caused by hypothyroidism tells me that "Xenical is not believed to be an appropriate remedy for this problem" so it sounds as if he may have been barking up the wrong tree anyway. Thinking this through, if you are not overweight from consuming too much fat then taking this medication wouldn't really help, would it? Funnily enough, you mentioning a certain smell really struck a chord! Not a "bad" smell but a certain sickly sweetness?

You seem to be making some positive moves to help yourself with the thyroid and depression problems so perhaps worrying about weight loss could go into abeyance for a while anyway? What a huge pity that your GP turns out to be one of those who can't see past his first impression and thinks all things will come right if he can get you on a diet! Yes, overweight is a problem, puts strain on your body etc, etc but I personally know a lot of fit, healthy and active overweight people. I'm not saying ignore the weight but perhaps you can deal with it later once you have things on a more even keel instead of trying to keep so many balls in the air at once?

As for the problems with the GP not listening, does your practice have a nurse practitioner? We have several and I find ours so much easier to talk to. They are more understanding and don't seem to be trying to get you out of the door at the drop of a hat.

Take care of yourself and keep on trying to get yourself the best treatment. It sounds as if your husband is a great guy, your sister is a rock and you have some very understanding friends. Always bear in mind there are a lot of people on the forum who, although they can't really give you physical aid, are right there supporting you too.

[ina]

My problem was an almost obsessive love of cheese

That's my downfall, too. None of those junk foods that people always think one eats to get fat...

[Graye]

Yes, sometimes I felt like an addict. There it was in the fridge - calling to me! And of course it's almost pure fat despite being seen as "healthy". In fact, as I don't particularly like sweets etc it was "healthy" food (plus a serious dose of osteoarthrosis which stopped any form of excercise for a while) which got me fat in the first place!

However I suspect that if Mrs Flibble kept a record of her normal eating over a couple of weeks she would find these fat blocking pills aren't suitable for her anyway. It strikes me her weight problem might well be caused by her other illness and that her overall treatment needs a bit of fine tuning rather than even more pills. Then throw in depression and the consequent pills for that and the whole situation becomes ridiculous. Hopefully she can find the right person to counsel and help her as well as review her treatment so that she can see a way forward.

[mrsflibble]

I don't eat a very high fat diet, which is why it struck me as strange that he prescribed them to me; but as Kelly has told me I don't need to necessarily have been eating maccy D's every day for weight to pile on with a mismanaged thyroid problem.
Graye: my sister is lovely, but she's 11. do you mean Tea or Mme Cholet? one's my best mate (and yes, she's a rock) and the other's my auntie hahaha!!!
Tea: thanks. I really appreciate that. Even if you can't be there, could you phone me and badger me until I leave the house please?! Will arrange with you.
Green Aura: james has spent so long dealing with my moods that he's developeed such a good coping strategy that he's been sort of counselling our friends Kate and Jamie on the best things to do for your depressed other half (both of them suffer, but are getting help).