Furious Seasons

July 24, 2007

A Patient Always Reaching For The Medicine Chest And Other Notes

I apologize to regular readers for being light on posts the last few days. I was busy over the weekend and am playing catch up on some other work as a result and will be through tomorrow. Today is also the first day in a week that we've had sun in Seattle. It's only partly cloudy right now. The way the weather goes around here, we'll be into fall by early September, so we may not get much of a summer at all this year. OK, random observation.

Thanks for the many emails asking about how my Lamictal tapering has gone. I took my last 25 mg. dose on Friday, so I am essentially in the clear today. Things seem to be fairly level, especially given the amount of financial, career and personal stress I am under. A friend of mine told me last week that she couldn't believe that I was handling going off meds so well at such a tricky time in my life. I believe it, but I knocked on wood all the same.

I am trying to not make a big deal out of what's going on. But I do recognize that I am crossing into a bit of the promised land for psych patients. And that's not a small deal. Neither is the fact that each night I've had to stop myself from reaching into my medicine cabinet for a pill of some sort. Talk about breaking behavior patterns.

Speaking of not small deals, I find it very, very interesting that Lilly employees have been poking very hard on some old Zyprexa and Cymbalta posts on this site the last few days. In addition, quite a few law firms who do plaintiff's work in class action lawsuits have been spending time reading old Zyprexa posts. I know the search terms they are looking for, but I'll keep those to myself. Something is going on, however. I'd love to know what it is, so if anyone feels like dropping a little old anonymous tip my way, the email is in the top left of this page.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at July 24, 2007 10:58 AM

del.icio.us Digg it reddit

Comments

Lawfirms and drug companies are the ones reading my stuff, and they aren't looking at my "quotes of the day" they are going for Zyprexa,Seroquel,Biederman and Cerenia. Especially Seroquel.

Posted by: Stephany at July 24, 2007 11:42 AM

Interesting that they aren't using a proxy. Sounds like they want you to know they're reading. Punks.

Posted by: Lisa at July 24, 2007 03:53 PM

That must be an unbelievably free feeling, not reaching for that med bottle anymore, after nearly 2 decades--Congratulations. i just knocked on wood for you to keep the good luck going.

Posted by: Stephany at July 24, 2007 05:21 PM

I'm sorry, I'm new here, but what is your diagnosis and why are you going off of your medications? Just curious. Do you have a post explaining this? I didn't know where to look for the lowdown.

Posted by: Kristin at July 25, 2007 05:44 AM

If I were Lilly, I'd be defending by arguing that the doctors prescribed zyprexa illegally. I'd be looking for ways to transfer some of the blame to someone else. In my case I was prescribed zyprexa prior to ever getting to the hospital, making it likely that in Alabama Jerry Howell, a psychiatrist of some note, my treating physician, routinely prescribed zyprexa for everyone entering the hospital where he was chief of psychiatry, prior to examining them. So in some ways its the drug companies, in others, its the hospitals. If a Lilly lawyer reads this, however unlikely it may be, I hope they supoena all records of patients treated by that man and I am alerting them that the hospital where he worked forced me to drop my jacho (joint commission, I never can remember the acronym) complaint.

Posted by: Sally at July 25, 2007 07:06 AM

Sally, here's the link The Joint Commission. All hospitals jump through hoops to keep this approval. Complaints are recorded, and especially private hospitals depend on a clean record.

Posted by: Stephany at July 25, 2007 10:13 AM

Ah ha! I just found your about page. Sorry for not looking harder! Thanks! Hope you are well.

:) kristin

Posted by: Kristin at July 25, 2007 10:49 AM

Hey, just wanted to give you a heads up to be on the watch for protracted withdrawal. Protein will help a lot, and I know several people who have used inositol to successfully get through it.

PW is especially bad at stressful times or times you expend more energy than usual (symptoms might flare after an all day hike, for example)

Mama Says

Posted by: Milehimama at July 25, 2007 04:32 PM

Due to my complaint filed w the Joint Commission re: a private hospital, the result was 1 person who I know personally[who works there] was told the person would be fired for speaking to me in any way shape or form, [phone, in person, etc.]and when the MHP's call this private hospital that is a "chain corporation" across the country; we receive a "no beds" answer. First, they ask who the patient name is, then they answer if there are beds available. A professional in the field called there to "test" it, and sure enough it's the same answer I got. Hmm.
This is the place that the CEO escorted me out of his office. Is this retaliation? you bet. I am a silent listener in the wings with a mighty voice where it counts.
That's all I can say about it. Give 'em hell when you need to, is my advice. One day, I will speak more about this, but I want everyone reading to know that the link I provided is a way to provide public and private institutions a kick in the ass if needed.
This is the place 11 meds were trialed in 13 weeks on a 17 year old.
Don't be bullied.

Posted by: Stephany at July 25, 2007 06:56 PM

Stephany, I have that link. I didn't explain myself well because sometimes I get exhausted, as this whole thing has destroyed my life so completely. I filed a complaint with the joint commission. The hospital, Carraway, who unlike me has limitless resources and a powerful law firm on retainer, refused to settle my case if I didn't drop my joint commission complaint - actually I think its technically called an "incident report." The lawyer I have left, the one I can barely afford, insisted I do so. What I am suggesting is that in those rare situations where a psych survivior like me succeeds in getting a lawsuit filed, they are probably forced not to file an incident report with the joint commission or to withdraw one. Thus the hospitals never get reported for even the most horrible acts.

Posted by: Sally at July 26, 2007 10:08 AM

Somewhat should really set a website where psych survivors can post their horror stories with hospital and doctor names.

Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

There already is a http://ratemds.com

Posted by: anon at July 26, 2007 12:34 PM

Someone should set up a website were psych patients can post their horror stories with hospital names, doctor names, and records if so desired. It would do more than anything else to rid psychiatry of its bad apples.

There already is www.ratemds.com

Posted by: S at July 26, 2007 12:36 PM