Seeing a psychiatrist (how to bring someone)

[Camrysfa]

Bro. I went thru these stages. Spent almost 30k seeing all sort of psychiatrist doctors. Even dr ang chin guan.

I would suggest u go thru chinese physican before going to angmo dr.

Cos ang mo medicine once started, it very very difficult to stop and will stay in yr body for months or year

 

anyone else . . . .

[Camrysfa]

Simi symptoms?

 

aiyah, you speed reader ah . . . repeat:

 

depressed, feeling very sad, cries. unable to sleep, even with sleeping med avg 3 hrs.

breaks into sweat and attacks of scared emotions. Not at ease with taking sleeping and anxiety medication for fear of addiction.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Camrysfa

[Jman888]

 

aiyah, you speed reader ah . . . repeat:

 

depressed, feeling very sad, cries. unable to sleep, even with sleeping med avg 3 hrs.

breaks into sweat and attacks of scared emotions. Not at ease with taking sleeping and anxiety medication for fear of addiction.

 

Since psychologist is yet to be a recognized body in Singapore, getting psychiatric help from

IMH is more appropriate than wasting money on the psychologists. Or the person has already been to IMH for diagnosis?

[Camrysfa]

any success story with TCM in psychiatric case? safe and effective results.

[Camrysfa]

Since psychologist is yet to be a recognized body in Singapore, getting psychiatric help from

IMH is more appropriate than wasting money on the psychologists. Or the person has already been to IMH for diagnosis?

 

X has been to the Sleep Disorder Unit in SGH - the Dr there is a psychiatrist.

There is no test carried out. Only hear the symptoms and prescribed sleeping & anxiety medication.

Has been told the person will feel worst in week 1 or 2 of taking the anx med, before the body counteracts.

 

Think this head problem is due to chemical imbalance in the body. Hope it is curable?

[Baal]

 

aiyah, you speed reader ah . . . repeat:

 

depressed, feeling very sad, cries. unable to sleep, even with sleeping med avg 3 hrs.

breaks into sweat and attacks of scared emotions. Not at ease with taking sleeping and anxiety medication for fear of addiction.

 

if cannot wait, can see private 1st, then go poly to get refer to a re-structured or imh as its cheaper in long run....

 

re-structured hosp

 

a) MC does not state psycho dept, hence give employer no issue.

 

b) About arrivial at the hosp, long waiting time to see doc + the same to collect medicine + make payment.

 

c) Hard to find parking. And must pay for parking.

 

IMH

 

a) MC states psycho dept, hence give employer may have issue.

 

b) After arriving, wait to see doc, collect med, make payment, all usually within 1 hr.

 

c) Free parking. If cp a & B no lot, go to the back at lot c.

 

 

Antidepressants take some time to work. Can be up to 8 weeks. Typical initial med given is Prozac (Generic Fluoxetine)

 

a) likely out on weight.

 

b) initially causes stomach discomfort

 

c) causes libido issues. Especially for males, delayed ejaculation. More pronounced as dosage increase. Typically, doc will start of patient with 1 capsule (20mg). Max is 80mg but most docs will stop at 3 (60mg)

 

c) female will also experience genital numbness, but since ejec is less of an issue, ......however, they may have issue w the put on weight part.

 

d) Prozac generally slows down a person. Lathargy. Belongs to the class of anti depp called SSRI.

 

e) Often, anti anxiety pills are given while waiting for anti depp to take effect.

 

f) common anti anxi med.

 

- Xanax (alprozolam). Fast & stronger effect but tapers off after 1.5-2hrs. Usually used adhoc for onset of severe anxiety.

 

- Clonazepam. Like above but....effect not so strong.....but last 4-6hrs. Usually this is the sop anti anxiety med for long term use. Doc may still give Xanax to top up as & when required.

 

- Clonazapam can be subsidized but not Xanax. (Guess Garmen dont encourage Xanax)

 

- Above anti anxiety medicines used long term at higher dosage may lead to some memory issues in the long run. Xanax & Clona belong to the class of medicines called Benzodiazepine. Docs just call Benzo.

 

 

Just treat it like managing diabetes, high blood pressure. Usually life long treatment. Best not let the 'Asian Stigma' on mental illness stop the recommended treatment.

 

Yes, Dr Ang Yong Guan is a very good doc. But its at Paragon......so......all in, it can be a few hundred per visit. But if can afford, guess its your choice.

 

Another good anti anxiety med will be mood stabilizers. Gov hosp may give Valporic Acid (Sodium Valporate). Not much side effect but need to take blood test once a year. The traditional mood stab is Lithium (the ones in batteries....) but in very very low dosage. However, more deadly in overdose. Hence the former may be used 1st. Mood Stabi usually precribed for Bipolar Disorder (formerly known as Manic Depression).

 

Depending on the patients condition & severity......could be mono treatment.....just a anti -deppress or in some cases, a combo of the above.

 

1 more thing, many coy med coverage / insurance policy cannot claim. Oh, Depression can now use Medisave. ....Schizo also.....unsure if there are income restrictions & if it applies to private.

 

[Baal]

 

X has been to the Sleep Disorder Unit in SGH - the Dr there is a psychiatrist.

There is no test carried out. Only hear the symptoms and prescribed sleeping & anxiety medication.

Has been told the person will feel worst in week 1 or 2 of taking the anx med, before the body counteracts.

 

Think this head problem is due to chemical imbalance in the body. Hope it is curable?

The above sounds like prozac. Anti depressants often can sometimes cause anxiety or if applied on obessessive comp disoder, make it worse b4 getting better.

 

If its Xanx, Clona......its immedately calming. Yes, its believed to be addictive.

any success story with TCM in psychiatric case? safe and effective results.

Maybe, but not that I have come across.

Since psychologist is yet to be a recognized body in Singapore, getting psychiatric help from

IMH is more appropriate than wasting money on the psychologists. Or the person has already been to IMH for diagnosis?

IMH also have psychologist.

 

can be a combo of medication, see psychiatrist & psychologist. Hence I suggest, seeing poly , get referr.

 

Psychologist at private Atas hosp can be like $80 per 20 mins of counselling. This is excl seeing the psychia & medications. Imagine all add together.....

[Baal]

Tks Damienic, Sosaria, David.

 

Yes, job stress was a reason. Job stress has eased: went on 4 day work week recently. Being relatively healthy for 5 decades did not help. Person has fear of taking sleeping and anxiety tablets. Person fears will go mad.

 

This Dr Ang: have heard him being interviewed on radio ( on psychiatry ); yea, know that he has political aspiration. May call clinic on Monday.

 

 

Yes, job stress is often a major source of the problem. Being labelled as 'siao' is terrifying initially, but best to overcome this. Depresions is known as the common cold of mental illness.

 

Mad or siao.......hear voices, those typical stereotypes are more towards psychosis........eg, Schizo....psychotic depression..... but even for such severe conditions, with proper medication, can still be controlled & employable. Schizo....medication will be anti/psychotics like ....eg, Risperidone. These days, I think Quetiapine is more commonly precribed. Side effect initialy, at high dosage of 300-400mg = very tired... but should improve after a while.

 

Side effect, need blood test yearly as it can cause diabetes. So if have underlying condition consult doctor.

 

 

 

Tks Damienic, Sosaria, David.

 

Yes, job stress was a reason. Job stress has eased: went on 4 day work week recently. Being relatively healthy for 5 decades did not help. Person has fear of taking sleeping and anxiety tablets. Person fears will go mad.

 

This Dr Ang: have heard him being interviewed on radio ( on psychiatry ); yea, know that he has political aspiration. May call clinic on Monday.

 

 

Since 2011 , after he he join oppo, bo liao.....for obvious reasons.

 

Nowadays, they seem to like to interview Dr Adrian Tan from Gleneagles......

[Tianmo]

I am just thinking out loud..................will acupuncture help???.............

[Camrysfa]

The above sounds like prozac. Anti depressants often can sometimes cause anxiety or if applied on obessessive comp disoder, make it worse b4 getting better.

 

If its Xanx, Clona......its immedately calming. Yes, its believed to be addictive.

Maybe, but not that I have come across.

IMH also have psychologist.

 

can be a combo of medication, see psychiatrist & psychologist. Hence I suggest, seeing poly , get referr.

 

Psychologist at private Atas hosp can be like $80 per 20 mins of counselling. This is excl seeing the psychia & medications. Imagine all add together.....

 

X already seen twice at Sleep Disorder Clinic. The Dr there is actually a psychiatrist. So unsure whether IMH is any different. This Dr is only at the SDU once a week, so who knows she may be a IMH dr.

 

I don't have the names of the medications - probably those zepams group.

 

the medication also causes a feeling of bladder full. Worst is the emotional sadness.

 

do you think pte dr like Dr Ang makes a difference?

[Baal]

This is a real account of a good friend

 

Her niece was diagnosed schizophrenia at IMH and was on medication including some that will make her put on weight. She was not getting better and was constantly told to bring her back to IMH for follow-up. Finally she was brought with her mother to IMH. The doctor (foreign doctor) immediate told her to go to a clinic to test for pregnancy. Her mother was so worried sick and brought her to test for pregnancy and turned out negative. She was upset because why IMH had no facilities to test for pregnancy and why need to ask her to go other place to test. Furthermore, it cost her fair amount of money. Already the medication is expensive. The mother has lost faith in IMH and don't know what to do. She is contemplating going to private but it is just so expensive. She is complete lost.

 

My humble opinion is look for a doctor whom you know to refer you to or a close friend who knows the doctor. This appears to be a safer route in hunting down a doctor if you need one. At least so far from experience.

if its subsidize, 1 issue is that cannot choose doctor. Perhaps can request to see a senior doctor & paymore. with subsidy, consultaion for registrar is like ~40. HOD is ~60. iirc

 

Its Medical Officer - Registrar - Consultant - Senior Consultant - HOD.

[Camrysfa]

 

I am just thinking out loud..................will acupuncture help???.............

 

 

X has been to TCM for acupuncture abt 3 times and those TCM massage and warm cup therapy. No use as far as I observe.

[Baal]

 

X already seen twice at Sleep Disorder Clinic. The Dr there is actually a psychiatrist. So unsure whether IMH is any different. This Dr is only at the SDU once a week, so who knows she may be a IMH dr.

 

I don't have the names of the medications - probably those zepams group.

 

the medication also causes a feeling of bladder full. Worst is the emotional sadness.

 

do you think pte dr like Dr Ang makes a difference?

If its me, I may see Dr Ang 1st, for the first 6 mths......get everything in order......stabilize......know what meds required........then......get poly refer......imh. Sounds ch ee po but......

 

usually for depression, its counselling with psychia, - add med - med + counselling - increase med + increase counselling.

 

As mentioned, anti -depp takes time to work. Can be up to 8 weeks. Also, not all patients respond to meds. In this case, the Doc will need to monitor & tiltrate where necessary. Hence I suggested the method in my 1st 2 lines.

 

In some cases, warding may be needed. When all else fails & the possibility of suicide is very real, Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) may be used.....but thats usaully the last last last resort.

and its fairly common that anti-depp initally makes the conditin worse........b4 improving. So this is where family support comes in.

[Camrysfa]

You are so right on family support. You know alot too. Hitting the sack.

[Baal]

You are so right on family support. You know alot too. Hitting the sack.

Sure, no prob. Glad to help. I also going to

 

sending my kids for swimming lessons tmr morning....

[Spring]

If its me, I may see Dr Ang 1st, for the first 6 mths......get everything in order......stabilize......know what meds required........then......get poly refer......imh. Sounds ch ee po but......

 

usually for depression, its counselling with psychia, - add med - med + counselling - increase med + increase counselling.

 

As mentioned, anti -depp takes time to work. Can be up to 8 weeks. Also, not all patients respond to meds. In this case, the Doc will need to monitor & tiltrate where necessary. Hence I suggested the method in my 1st 2 lines.

 

In some cases, warding may be needed. When all else fails & the possibility of suicide is very real, Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) may be used.....but thats usaully the last last last resort.

 

and its fairly common that anti-depp initally makes the conditin worse........b4 improving. So this is where family support comes in.

Well said bro!! Good advice n written from the heart!

[Baal]

Well said bro!! Good advice n written from the heart!

 

No prob. We need more awareness for the benefit of all. Cheers.

[Tigerwoods]

My friend's wife is divorcing him after 3 marriage counselling workshops.

He is suspecting that she is bipolar.

Is it possible for a person "other " character to take centre stage for long periods of the time until it becomes almost permanent?

She don't even care about the well being of their kid and gone missing each time she is to pick kid up for quality time together. Worst is she called kid sorry mummy can't meet you and hung up and kid calls back no one answers.

How to bring such person to IMH when their parents are overtly protecting her.