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Hospital that treats mental and physical?

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Depression
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Posted 10/12/2014 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

I have quite a few physical med problems and am also very depressed. Cannot find a mental health unit where they have the ability to treat both. Does such a thing exist? Even the day program they say you can't leave for medical appts, cuz insurance will say then you must not really need the psych tx.

Feel stuck. Just keep pretending things are ok for now. Looking for a way out of it all.

Post Edited (Sunny13) : 10/12/2014 4:41:03 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/12/2014 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Sunny,

You could try a regular hospital that has a mental health unit.

I know when I disassociated and needed stitches, the crisis unit
kept me 10days at that Hospital so I could be seen by medical staff for the wound and my PTSD and dissociative disorder.

You might try asking your Pysch doc for a reference also.

Peace and comfort
Trina
Posted 10/12/2014 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Sunny-do you feel you need more care/help as an inpatient vs outpatient? Are you thinking you need med adjustments for both physical and mental and would like to be supervised while doing so?

Def call your psych tmr and tell them what's going on and ask for suggestions.

Let us know what they say and if I can think of anything more, I'll get back with you.

Sending you hugs and peace!
Lisa
Posted 10/12/2014 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I guess I would probably do ok w/ outpatient. I would, however, like to know if there is somewhere I can go if things get much worse, because then I would need inpatient treatment. There is a day program/partial hospital program at a hospital near my house for depression, etc., but it goes from like 9-3:30, M-F. I have multiple doctor appts every week, and those hours would never work. As you all know, some appointments have to be scheduled weeks or months in advance, it just wouldn't work to reschedule them all.

Not sure what I need. I currently have several medical problems that have gotten really confusing and intertwined. Don't know what's causing what and how to fix it. I have about 10 or so specialists, and getting them to actually work together is never going to happen. I also go to see the colorectal surgeon on Tuesday to see if they are going to a colostomy, along with a bunch of other stuff that has to be done surgically. I feel like I am falling apart.

On lots of meds for different things, and once again, not sure what are side effects of meds or problems caused by interactions between meds, or what the "true" problems are anymore.

Been on meds for depression for right around 20 years. (I'm 36). Have certainly had lots of ups and downs, lately things have been pretty tough. I'm sure the stress and extreme confusion of the medical stuff is a big part of it, but then I also have a lot of thoughts about being worthless, unwanted, and like nothing in my life will ever work out. Sort of "typical" depression thoughts I guess.

Just tired of my life. I want so badly to throw in the towel, but I don't want my parents to feel guilty. Something's gotta give. Soon.

Right now, I see a psychotherapist 2x/week, DBT skills group 1x/week, and psychiatrist 1x/every 2 weeks. But still really struggling to stay alive.

Sorry to write so much. I don't want to bother anyone, just don't know what to do anymore.

Thanks.
Posted 10/12/2014 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Sunny- never apologize for writing long posts. That's what this place is here for!

Just as an outsider, I'd be talking to your psych to get your depression under control. He knows all the meds you're taking and should be able to figure out which meds may be interfering with the effectiveness of your depression meds.

I can certainly understand your frustration and hopeless feeling of not knowing what's what anymore. Why wouldn't you feel the way you do. Depression is overwhelming enough, let alone with chronic conditions. The psych doc should be able to do something. I'm putting my emphasis on him bc my friend has chronic conditions & her psych helped her get stable despite being on many medications for different chronic ailments.

Is it possible for you to get a case manager through s mental health agency? Someone to advocate for you and help you with resources and check in on you during the week? I know we have agency's here that do that very cheaply if not fee, if you have Medicaid or Medicare.

If you'd like help making phone calls or looking into what's out there, I'd be happy to help you. I have a phone, time and am willing to help. Please let me know, I'm serious withy offer.

We love you here at HW & are gonna carry you through this rough patch you're having. Don't ever doubt the love & care we have for you.

Let me know how I can help :-)

Sending love & healing-
Lisa
Posted 10/13/2014 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the message. I do have an appt with my psychiatrist this Weds., but I suppose I should call her before then and give her a head's up on what's going on. I don't know. ??? She specializes in pharmacology & psychopharmacology, so she really knows her meds! Usually she's the doc who is the most insistent about what meds I take, even for other problems--she isn't afraid to call my other docs and plead her case.

And I do have a case manager, thanks for the suggestion though! She doesn't help with much at all. Doesn't know a ton about resources other than what I could find myself or already know about. Trouble finding any way for her to be of help. I've been using the mental health system in my area for 20 years, and my best friend is a social worker and peer support specialist (so she tends to have any info I don't know about).

I can really only think of 1 psych unit in a regular hospital (that I wouldn't be afraid to go to anyway) where I live. And they only have 8 beds for females, so finding an open bed at the time you need it is not easy! But, I suppose at some point I should at least find out if they could help me if it comes to that point. Last time I was hospitalized (about 16 months ago at a free-standing psych hospital) they had a hard time dealing with the easy stuff, like "allowing" me to use my catheters (brought from home) and it was not possible to get any extra help for my migraines except for the prescription meds I brought in (they found it difficult to give me ice packs, and an injection to stop the migraine was simply out of the question.) Hopefully a regular hospital w/ psych unit inside it would be better equipped to handle medical stuff.

Right now, it's like I have to choose, either handle the physical stuff or deal w/ the depression. I've been trying to do some of each (for most of the past year), but it's not working at all. I'm barely hanging on mentally and physically, not actually making any progress and often feel like I'm slipping further down in both areas.

I am close to my mom and a few friends, but lately, it seems like I can't even open up to them. One of them even asks me to stop talking about it after a couple minutes, I know it's b/c they feel helpless, but.....

Thanks for the caring and support. Really is getting me through the day.
Posted 10/13/2014 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, and thanks for the offer to help me find resources, etc. Appreciate it. I may take you up on your offer if my appt. w/ the surgeon doesn't go well....would definitely need hospitalization if they say they can't help.
Posted 10/13/2014 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
My suggestion would be to call your psych doc & get in sooner if you can. I believe that depression inhibits physical healing and we know it can actually increase pain. Your psych doc sounds wonderful & I'm sure if you called & told them of your situation, they could get you in sooner.

That's wonderful that your best friend is a social worker. I'm sorry about your other friend that tells you to stop talking about it. Some people just don't have it to give...

The reason why I'm encouraging getting the depression handled first (barring any life threatening medical stuff w/your physical stuff), is bc when I had surgery last year, when I consulted w/the surgeon, he asked me several times if I was mentally well (in a round about way) to handle surgery & downtime bc if I wasnt, my healing would be affected. Luckily last year I'd been in a good place for years so I didn't hesitate to say I was great. I healed fine.

Depression definitely inhibits everything so I can't encourage you enough to get that improved. Like I said, in the meantime, we are always here to encourage & support you. Let me know how I can help anytime. My email is in my profile.

Hugs!!
Lisa
Posted 10/13/2014 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice. Makes a lot of sense.

Just emailed my case manager and shared what's going on, asked for her help in not just finding additional resources, but finding ones that I would actually use when I needed to. Not really sure if that's even really part of her job, so we'll see.

I won't lie to the surgeon about the depression, but at the same time, I will also tell her that the medical junk is a big contributor to the depression. Because of my GI problems, there are lots of times I don't feel well enough to go out and do things, sometimes I cannot leave my apartment for a couple days at a time, not even to go down the hall to get the mail. It's not pretty. So, the GI stuff easily leads to isolation and feeling left out (like when friends go out for dinner etc.). Even when I am with them, there's still the fear of having a "problem", or just not being able to mentally leave the medical stuff at home--bringing my own food when they order pizza, or being the first one to leave a group get together cuz I'm tired or feel sick.

The isolation and feeling "different" pretty quickly can turn into me feeling like a loser, and from there the judgments just fly.

Not saying surgery will fix my depression, but I think it could help quite a bit. Plus then I could actually use therapy time to work on building up my self worth and rebuilding a life. All we work on now is what I would call "staying afloat". Not making any progress, just trying to handle this moment, and then the next, etc. Almost exactly a year ago, we began to try to manage this "crisis" and are still stuck doing that.

I don't know. Maybe i'm wrong about it all. I'm just ready to give up.

At least I thought about what to do if the surgeon says she can't help....I will call the doc I saw at Mayo (in August) and beg him to help. I keep telling myself that asking him for help is an option, should I need it.

Thanks for listening and offering support. You are so kind and thoughtful.
Posted 10/13/2014 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Sunny, never never give up.

Especially when you are so close to seeing the surgeon and getting some answers.

Your depression could be worse, do to seeing the surgeon and the anxiety you are feeling with the answers.

10 docs is alot, overhelming I would think, I would review with with your pysch this week, make sure you truely need them all.
I don't know your medical history, this is the only reason I suggest it.

It sounds like you have enough support to get answers and things done. If you go inpatient, things with come to a HALT. You will be under the docs care in the inpatient , then when you go out patient you will be under that docs care for pysch.

Definately tell the surgeon about the depression, good idea.

If you are not writing things down, I would suggest you get a notebook and start. It will help you keep things straight, you can refer back to it and know what questions to ask at what doc appointment.

Keep posting here and we will do the best we can to support you.
You are not alone in your struggles.
Peace
Trina
Posted 10/14/2014 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I meet with the surgeon in just over an hour! Talk about being anxious!!! I'm freaking out inside!!!

Hoping and praying that I get good news, that the surgeon is able to help. I have tried to prepare myself for whatever she says, good or bad. Decided I will call the GI doc I saw at Mayo if the surgeon (here at home) can't help. I need to at least know that's an option. Should keep me from totally falling apart if I get bad news. Of course, i think i would still feel pretty crushed/devastated.

Thankfully, I do feel I have some good support to lean on after this appointment....people on the forum, my ostomy mentor, a couple good friends, my therapist, psychiatrist, case manager, and to some extent, my parents.

I know I have many docs, and we've tried to eliminate some and combine things as best we can. I've got several docs working at the same hospital, so that helps a bit. I do my best to keep everyone informed and stay organized, which makes things a little easier for them and me.

As for writing things down.....I am the queen of making notes! I make notes before every appointment, writing down what I need to tell them/want them to know, what questions I have, and what I feel like I need them to help me with. That way, if I get anxious or just forget, I can peek at my notes and it's all right there in front of me.

I do really want to avoid inpatient, and I think I can. I saw my therapist this morning, we went over my plan for the appointment w/ the surgeon and how I will cope with whatever answers I get or don't get. My therapist reminded me I can contact her any time if I need support. I do have another appt. scheduled with her on Thursday, so that will also help. I am also meeting with my case manager Friday, to keep working on a crisis plan (including trying to find a hospital if inpatient should ever be needed) and also to find a few more resources specific to my needs (like a support group for chronic illnesses or something like that). So, I guess I've got plans in the works and I've identified my supports, etc.

I am terrified right now. So unsure of what's going to happen. Just gotta keep breathing and try to keep calm.

Thanks for your wonderful support. It means a lot.

I'll let you know how things go....

Sunny.
Posted 10/14/2014 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Sunny,

Do keep breathing. It really helps.

Good luck with seeing the surgeon. Know we are all here for you no matter what.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 10/14/2014 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Sunny...There's no doubt that your physical issues can deepen your depression and heighten your anxiety.  I sometimes think that for me, personally, appointments and procedures cause me more emotional harm than physical "good".  I like you have dealt with multiple doctors seeking relief for severe chronic pain.  I too, have put too much "hope" into approaching consults, etc. only to find myself feeling totally deflated afterwards.

As I read your post this morning, I was encouraged by your words.  Yes, you are afraid...but you have a PLAN.  That's always GOOD.  Stay strong in knowing that you are NEVER alone.  You have cyber sisters and brothers here...always.  The bonus is that with cyber siblings, we don't have to argue over who hosts Thanksgiving smilewinkgrin

Big Ole Bear Hugs~~Dixie

Posted 10/15/2014 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the support and kind words.

Met with the surgeon, and.........great news!! Surgery is going to happen. Surgeon wasn't sure whether the colostomy will improve the severe and chronic constipation much, if at all, but it is certain it will eliminate any issues of incontinence as well as the prolapsed "parts" I have (they will be removed). Looks like it can all be done at one time, but will actually be 2 surgeries, done by 2 different surgeons. Never ever thought I'd say something like this, but I am really looking forward to surgery, sort of excited even. It's kind of the only chance at this time to get control over the situation; it will significantly improve my quality of life, my physical and mental health.

Also had a good session this morning with my therapist.

Today's news has lifted a huge weight off of me. I am still kind of in shock about the whole thing, but already I am mentally in a much better place.


Thanks again for listening and being such a strong support. I know that when things really get tough, I can always count on the people here to help me get thru it.
Posted 10/15/2014 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
FABULOUS news Sunny, I feel like cheering out loud for you but my husband is asleep tongue

Keep us updated and keep posting here. We are your friends and care about you. Someone called all of us here "cyber siblings." I like that! lol

Hugs to you girl and sending much love!
Lisa
Posted 10/15/2014 10:45 AM (GMT 0)
Yay Sunny,

I am glad you got the news you wanted to hear!!!

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 10/15/2014 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Well done Sunny!

Healthy out look for the surgery and quality of life after.

Peace
Trina
Posted 10/15/2014 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Sunny...I'm so happy that you got some answers from the surgeon.  I think we all understand that anvil of weight that you've been carrying.  Hallelujah! for the relief of that burden being lifted.  You should do well with surgery.  As your body heals, your emotions will follow.  There are "SUNNY DAYS" on your horizon, my cyber sister!  We will all be with you every step of the way.

HUGS~~Dixie

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