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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Vesper on May 11, 2000, at 17:40:00
Well, I went to the UCLA ER once again, this time I stayed until seen by the "psychiatric clinician" who relayed my requests for medication or at least the note I need to give the business office in order to get financial help from the university, but after making me wait 3 hours they refused to do anything for me, telling me to just keep trying to get an appointment in the outpatient clinic. This is what I have been doing for weeks, to no avail. That's why I went to the ER, I had already cut myself a few times(not seriously enough for sutures, so I didn't mention that, I just told em I was getting really self-destructive because of no treatment and withdrawal from meds because no one seems to want to help me.)
It seems that one has to do some serious damage to be taken seriously. i have a really hard time explaining just how bad I feel, I use humour or something as a defence, even when I don't want to. Sorry this was so long.
My boat is in dry dock having some fibreglass work done and new bottom paint, meanwhile I am staying on a friend's cabin cruiser a few slips down from mine. I don't know if i can take another night alone, I'm beginning to see and hear and think strange things, its' scaring me quite a bit, and no one seems to care or think it's a big deal. I'm starting to think I should just end this once and for all, after all, if UCLA gave up on me, there must be good reason.
Oh, the ECT thing...there is a button in my car marked "ECT" when you press it, you change the shifting pattern of the automatic transmission. I keep expecting to get a small jolt and memory loss when I press it...
Posted by tina on May 11, 2000, at 18:14:33
In reply to Another pointless ER visit/ECT/etc., posted by Vesper on May 11, 2000, at 17:40:00
I am so angry for your sake. I can't believe those idiots at the ER treated you in such a sh**y way, what a bunch of a-holes. Sorry for the language but I am really pissed. I am sooooo sorry you aren't being taken seriously. I think about you all the time wondering how you're doing and hoping you'll find someone to help you. I wish I wasn't so far away, I'd march in there with you and give them a piece of my boot up their butts. Anyway, I am very glad you still realize that you have us. I know we're no substitutes for proper medical care but we can give you support and love. Please don't give up on yourself. I won't give up on you. I hope our best wishes and long distance hugs will sustain you at least until you can get the help you need. Please keep babbling, we care about you--really. Love Tina
> Well, I went to the UCLA ER once again, this time I stayed until seen by the "psychiatric clinician" who relayed my requests for medication or at least the note I need to give the business office in order to get financial help from the university, but after making me wait 3 hours they refused to do anything for me, telling me to just keep trying to get an appointment in the outpatient clinic. This is what I have been doing for weeks, to no avail. That's why I went to the ER, I had already cut myself a few times(not seriously enough for sutures, so I didn't mention that, I just told em I was getting really self-destructive because of no treatment and withdrawal from meds because no one seems to want to help me.)
> It seems that one has to do some serious damage to be taken seriously. i have a really hard time explaining just how bad I feel, I use humour or something as a defence, even when I don't want to. Sorry this was so long.
> My boat is in dry dock having some fibreglass work done and new bottom paint, meanwhile I am staying on a friend's cabin cruiser a few slips down from mine. I don't know if i can take another night alone, I'm beginning to see and hear and think strange things, its' scaring me quite a bit, and no one seems to care or think it's a big deal. I'm starting to think I should just end this once and for all, after all, if UCLA gave up on me, there must be good reason.
> Oh, the ECT thing...there is a button in my car marked "ECT" when you press it, you change the shifting pattern of the automatic transmission. I keep expecting to get a small jolt and memory loss when I press it...
Posted by bob on May 12, 2000, at 0:04:28
In reply to Re: Another pointless ER visit/ECT/etc., posted by tina on May 11, 2000, at 18:14:33
Yep, V-man, you should definitely end it -- and if you don't, it sounds like Tina and I have just the right boots to do it for you.
Yes, I'm talking about ending the UCLA thing ... what else? Stupid place is supposed to be one of the best schools in the world for psychology (like my favorite place for being trashed by their revolving-door mental health "services" -- UMichigan), and they all got their heads up their butts. All the more reason to start kicking tail, I say.
You're right about LA in general, if you ask me. Sure, I live in NYC, but at least we're honest and open about being nuts. That and the air is breathable. Time to leave, I say, if you're figuring on doing anything permanent. If you want to stay west, my experiences say you can't go wrong going either north or south -- it's all uphill from LA LA Land....
Hang in there, V
bob
Posted by Kathie on May 12, 2000, at 2:07:40
In reply to Re: Another pointless ER visit/ECT/etc., posted by bob on May 12, 2000, at 0:04:28
American Health Care Sucks!!!! Sheesh!!! Don't you dare give up! You better not end it all, and just because UCLA is too stupid to recognise a sick person when they see one is no reason for you to think you are not worth their time because you ARE! Bob may have a point, perhaps LA is not the place for you..too shallow! I am in Canada so can't advise you on a good place to go in the USA but surely there is someplace nice, that has a good hospital to deal with mental health issues! You have a boat?? That is so cool! Do you ever take it out to sea? What kind of boat is it? I used to live on the West Coast of Canada..Victoria and Vancouver and did my share of boating growing up, I really really miss it, living on the prairies now.....you see, you DO have some great things going for you!!! You have a boat!!!!
Let us know how you are doing and hang in there Vesper, many of us are thinking about you!
Kathie
Posted by JohnB on May 12, 2000, at 3:28:22
In reply to Another pointless ER visit/ECT/etc., posted by Vesper on May 11, 2000, at 17:40:00
> I had already cut myself a few times(not seriously enough for sutures, so I didn't mention that, I just told em I was getting really self-destructive because of no treatment and withdrawal from meds because no one seems to want to help me.)
It seems that one has to do some serious damage to be taken seriously. i have a really hard time explaining just how bad I feel, I use humour or something as a defence, even when I don't want to. Sorry this was so long.
My boat is in dry dock having some fibreglass work done and new bottom paint, meanwhile I am staying on a friend's cabin cruiser a few slips down from mine. I don't know if i can take another night alone, I'm beginning to see and hear and think strange things, its' scaring me quite a bit, and no one seems to care or think it's a big deal. I'm starting to think I should just end this once and for all, after all, if UCLA gave up on me, there must be good reason.Vesper- If you are having those kinds of ideas, perhaps your not letting them know it clearly enough. I may be wrong, but it sounds like you may be downplaying your symptoms when you go to UCLA, then when you get to Babble, you tell it more like it really is. Sometimes we feel that we don't want to "upset" the doctor, or make them nervous, or have them fell we are "weak". So perhaps we minimize our symptoms, or make jokes. But that may be the wrong tack, if I can use a nautical term with you, especially in an ER situation where people are seeing you so briefly. Medical professionals are trained act aggressively if someone is, for instance, thinking about "ending it", but may be more complacent if you downplay your symptoms.
In the meantime, I hope you concentrate on getting back aboard your own boat. A friend of mine has a 25 footer berthed down at Long Beach. Makes the Catalina run a lot. I'm curious, do you post from the boat, or what? Can you save a lot rent money by living on the water? I lived on a boat once and it was the greatest. -JohnB
Posted by Cam W. on May 12, 2000, at 7:31:01
In reply to Another pointless ER visit/ECT/etc., posted by Vesper on May 11, 2000, at 17:40:00
> Oh, the ECT thing...there is a button in my car marked "ECT" when you press it, you change the shifting pattern of the automatic transmission. I keep expecting to get a small jolt and memory loss when I press it...Vesper - Loved the joke. Man, it's great to see your wit is still intact. - Good luck and hang in there - Cam
P.S. I don't think I'd push your car's ECT button, though §^*
This is the end of the thread.
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