Posted by Burt on October 5, 2002, at 20:52:48
In reply to Re: Depression and psychosis triggered by alcohol, posted by Twirleygirl on October 4, 2002, at 11:48:17
Thanks, folks.
On the info: Her previous psychiatrist, bless his heart, involved me deeply into my wife's treatment. I basically became his assistant. I kept journals and exchanged information with him on a continuous basis. Also, I am a "dry" alcoholic. I gave up drinking 25 years ago. I know how hard it is. Also, I work in a profession where alcoholism is an occupational hazard - no problem in understanding the matter. Also no preconceived notions either. I can hang out in bars with clients until 5am with some non-alcoholic beers, and nobody even notices (especially when they are plastered). I personally bought my wife her champagne until we found out that alcohol was at the core of her psychiatric problems.
It's not a lack of info given to the practitioner. My wife is quite open when she sees a new psychiatrist (maybe a little bit too optimistic about giving up the booze - but she knows and says it's her problem.) Also, I make sure that the knowledge is there.
I have a written "brief" - developed with her late doctor, that lists her problems, that disallows anti-psychotic drugs etc. etc., and anybody who ever sees her, gets it.
My problem is that the info is too often ignored. I even had to threaten malpractice on occasion. That gets her out of the hospital or away from the doctor in no time flat, but it also doesn't get her anywhere else.
On AA: She tried it. She's too smart for it (she's a successful artist). And according to her late doctor, AA or any chemical dependency clinics won't do anything to her. His theory was that the drinking is triggered by a mild depression, she self-medicates with alcohol, and then goes down the deep end.
My business takes me out of the country for weeks. And when I'm back, I'm home all of the time. She's totally dry when I'm home. When I go to the airport, she opens the bottle. (No, it's not the abandoned wife syndrome ... that has been explored.)
It's tough.
I'm just coming back from a meeting with a good, considerate, but also very opinionated psychiatrist. I had to point out to her that she had changed her diagnosis (no schizophrenia, borderline schizophrenia, serious schizophrenia, no schizophrenia whatsoever) four times inside of 48 hours.I know, it's easy to misdiagnose my wife for schizophrenia when she's been drinking for two weeks. The trouble is: Anti-psychotic drugs really make her sick, her symptoms worsen, and all the doctors do is increase the dosage. Which would be eventually fatal. Because she is a poster child for Tardive Diskinesia and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS).
Off the sauce, she recovers in two weeks. Add some Parnate and Klonopin, and she's as good as new.
I had explained all of this to the good doctor, supported by paperwork, and what does the good doctor do? She writes a prescription for Navane, and says it's just what my wife needs. She can't explain what Navane is. While I'm perusing her desk reference, she writes a prescription for Artane.
I find Navane, I read "Tardive Diskinesia" and "NMS" - and I find myself in need for a hypertension drug. For good measure, I look up Artane (again, she couldn't quite explain what it was, just that "it is great in combination with Navane") and see that it counteracts the tremors caused by antipsychotics.
I tell the good doctor mildly that my wife will not take this stuff. The Dr. insists. I tell her that my wife's history for severe side effects have been duly disclosed to the doctor. She still insists. I tell her that it's her lucky day. Because had I not been here, and had I not prevented this from happening, she would have to deal with a malpractice suit.
That was the end of that doctor/patient relationship. I'm now shopping for another doctor.
Folks, I tell you: It's frightening. This can drive a sane person mad.
I someone tells me again, Psychiatrists have to be good listeners, then I will bounce off the ceiling.
poster:Burt
thread:122250
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020930/msgs/122471.html