Anymouse Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Well, after my complete psychotic/manic breakdown in May, the P-docs at the Veterans Administration have given up. The combination of allergies/bad reactions to every medication they have tried over fourteen years have done nothing but destroy my sleep patterns (Seroquel) and my thyroid (lithium). Now they are keeping me on a regime of no meds (on their advice) and monitoring, after a two-week stay at the VA which I can remember nothing about where I slowly regained my sanity while tied to a bed. Considering the damage done in May to my house, computer, wife, and finances when I went overboard and had to be taken down by four police (I am told they were amazed that when the local emergency room ran a panel for every illegal drug under the sun & they could find none - the cops were sure I was blasted on PCP or Meth or something), this is a real improvement. Now the only meds remaining in my "cocktail" are the 132mg of phenobarbital for my epilepsy and Synthroid for my destroyed thyroid. And you know what? Even though my rapid cycling is back, and I am not the funnest person to be around (but then I was not when I was medicated either), I feel like myself again. It has been fourteen years since I was first put on a cocktail of Haldol and Clonopin (spelling) when first diagnosed with epilepsy and bp - and I feel alive again instead of drooling in a corner or unable to think through a haze of medications. I have even landed a job, as a Romance novel editor with a company in Canada where I can work from home in Oklahoma (my previous work was electronics in the Navy). Hopefully the Government experimenting with all these new psychiatric drugs has ended once and for all, and I can finally get on with my life, and maybe off the dole. James. (Accept no dangerous and fruadulent substitutes; always ask for me by brand name.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Persephone Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I am glad you have finally found some peace. It sounds like you've been down a tough road. My hat's off to you for making it out alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raquin Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Congratulations on getting a job! I'm glad you feel like yourself again. i hope things continue to get better for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpuppy Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Dealing with the VA can be a massive pain in the ASS. Been there, done that. Every once in awhile you stumble upon a good pdoc that manages to get you onto the right treatment regime for YOU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 My mom was an administrator for VA disability benefits, and she said the average psychiatrist she came across was ghastly bad. One of them kept referring to Alzheimer's as "Old Timer's." You would think it would be more attractive to good psychiatrists. I would think from a psychiatrist's point of view, it would be interesting professionally to work with Vets. I am glad you found a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liveoak Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Actually, my very good pdoc recently left private practice to work for the VA because of the benefits. Maybe they are recruiting for better pdocs because of the war. I hope so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Me too. I should add that she retired right before the current conflicts, but after the first Gulf War. She said it was really sad how the military pretended that illnesses from the Gulf War (particularly vaccines for anthrax) were not an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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