Hi Everyone, I've been struggling with depression for quite some time, my most recent episode has lasted over a year. My psychiatrist is encouraging me to consider an intensive outpatient hospitalization, or inpatient. I'm scared and not sure what to expect at a hospital, and also don't want to have to explain to my job why I would need the time off. Anyone have experiences with being hospitalized - good or bad?? Thanks.
I had to go to the psychiatric ward for 5 days when I was 12 years old during the onset of my severe PCOS mood problems. It wasn't helpful at all. Of course, they had no idea what was wrong with me (and it took us 9 years to find Dr. Elizabeth Vliet who figured out it was PCOS).
I see from your profile that you are only on psych meds. Is no one managing your PCOS? When your hormones are better stabilized, your mood problems will lessen greatly (they have disappeared for me for long periods of time). Psych meds don't work if you don't have enough estrodial (healthy estrogen) in your body. Plus, you may feel relief for awhile, but they affect hormones and eventually they will not work.
Try to get Dr. Vliet's books It's My Ovaries, Stupid and The Savvy Woman's Guide to PCOS. You will then understand why PCOS makes you feel like **** mentally.
NO amount of therapy or intense drugging with psych meds is going to take away your PCOS-related mood problems. Unless you are dangerously suicidal, I would spend the time and money getting your PCOS treated.
Feel free to message/email me anytime. I know what you are going through!!!
Hugs!
__________________ Had hysterectomy with ovaries removed Feb. 6, 2006 because of severe mood problems suffered for 15 years from PCOS. I'm 27 & was in law school until last December. Elizabeth Vliet is my doctor; get her books for great info on PCOS and effects of hormones on the whole body, including moods. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
it helped answer my questions about the usefulness of psychotropic meds. I just recently dropped all my courses and am taking a break from school- to try and get a grip on this syndrome.
Hi Lilywind,
Actually, I had been on Yasmin until November, but stopped it due to migraines. My depression has gotten significantly worse since then, but the doctors did not seem to think it was related to the PCOS. I am going to mention this to my psychiatrist when I see her next, and also see about making an appt with my gyn. Thanks!!
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Dx Major Depression, Sleep Apnea
Officially Dx PCOS 8/2006
Current meds: Lithium ER, Nardil, Yaz
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So, if you have any specific questions, I'll try and answer them as best I can if you pm or email me.
I think a lot of patients find the seclusion of the unit healing. It's a chance to rest without distractions from their usual life chores.
On the other hand, some find the free time overwhelming and are consumed with anxiety about what's going on back in their homes and work.
Inpatient care facilities have changed a great deal over the last 10 years and continue to do so rapidly thanks to changes in third party pay source limits, etc. It's my understanding that most, as well as my own, are acute care facilities serving only people in immediate crisis states.
If your psychiatrist is recommending inpatient, I'd take their suggestion.
Intensive outpatient can be good as well.
Feel free to ask your psychiatrist the questions that are holding you back...
Good luck with your decision.
You know, research shows that almost 40% of progress occurs between the time a decision is made to get help and the actual help itself... The empowerment of just taking that step will do wonders for your functioning!
It would be a miracle if your psychiatrist knew anything about the effect of hormones on the brain. Likewise for the gyn. It is EXTREMELY difficult to find good care for hormone related mood problems. You have to be your own advocate, which is why I recommended Dr. Vliet's books. She has literally saved my life.
Yasmin doesn't have a very high level of estrodial, which can cause migraines. Also, were your migraines constant throughout the month, or when you started taking the placebo pills right before your period?
You might want to try another BCP, but not just any BCP. Ortho Cyclen is a good option for PCOS, and it has higher estrodial. Also, Ovcon is a good one (but you may have to call around to various pharmacies as it is hard to find). Have you ever been on Glucophage???
I really hope you can find a good doctor who will take your problems seriously and take blood hormone tests and treat you appropriately - they ARE related to your hormones...it's NOT all in your head.
__________________ Had hysterectomy with ovaries removed Feb. 6, 2006 because of severe mood problems suffered for 15 years from PCOS. I'm 27 & was in law school until last December. Elizabeth Vliet is my doctor; get her books for great info on PCOS and effects of hormones on the whole body, including moods. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Edaj - I know what you are going through. Feel free to message me!!!
__________________ Had hysterectomy with ovaries removed Feb. 6, 2006 because of severe mood problems suffered for 15 years from PCOS. I'm 27 & was in law school until last December. Elizabeth Vliet is my doctor; get her books for great info on PCOS and effects of hormones on the whole body, including moods. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I have had a negative experience in a emergency psyc ward. I was placed there for having thoughts of suicide just after my diagnoses of PCOS and infertility. I found the treatment of the staff to be disrepectful and cold, and the Dr.s to be ineffective in their councling. When I finally convinced them that I wasn't planning to kill myself, they sent me on my way. It was a terrifying experience and I don't care to relieve it. I was still recieving bills six months later. Overall, it cost us about $1500 out of pocket for a few hours of "treatment". Money, that we certainly didn't have. That guilt still lays heavy on me.
I agree with lillywind, see about getting your PCOS treated before you make your decision and see if that helps to improve your moods.
Goodluck and God Bless.
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Married December, 20, 2003
TTC since April 16, 2005
Diagnosed October 5, 2005
Adoption Hopefully in 2007
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Lilywind,
I was having migraines for about 10 days out of the month, starting right before I was taking the placebos. I have never been on other medications for my PCOS, my doc didn't think it was necessary since I'm not IR. My gyn is pretty knowledgable about PCOS, so I hope that he will have some insight - I left him a message. Thanks so much for the suggestions!
Melissa
__________________
Dx Major Depression, Sleep Apnea
Officially Dx PCOS 8/2006
Current meds: Lithium ER, Nardil, Yaz
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Last edited by Melissa1223; 04-11-2006 at 09:56 PM.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I am going to see about working on the PCOS first, since the antidepressants don't seem to be working. The experiences with hospitals seems to be mixed... I'm going to try to just increase my sessions with my therapist for now and see if that helps.
__________________
Dx Major Depression, Sleep Apnea
Officially Dx PCOS 8/2006
Current meds: Lithium ER, Nardil, Yaz
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i honestly dont know what to say because i REALLY think i need to go too i have some major mental issues but i cant afford it ---everything from hormones to parent problems my father just picks at me so bad
and i wish i could break down but my family just says ah get over it
i wish you the best of luck in everything
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I picked up a copy of Dr. Vliet's book and have found it to be SO informative, it really explains the connection between moods and PCOS (as well as lots of other things). While my doctors seem to be aware of the possibility of the mood connection to hormones, I'm planning on bringing them the book and see if they are open to looking at the hormonal connection rather than just trying more and more antidepressants which are not working!! This might be asking alot :-)
__________________
Dx Major Depression, Sleep Apnea
Officially Dx PCOS 8/2006
Current meds: Lithium ER, Nardil, Yaz
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Well I've been hospitalized several times...some voluntary, some not. I would say that all of them wERE A TOTal waste of time. Since that time I started reading Vliet and other books on hormones. Trust me when I say that the depression and suicide and mental problems are related to OUR HORMONES. Unfortunately, the doctors are not tuned in enough to want or try to know. They rely solely on what they learned in school, which isn't much about hormones. None of mine would even begin to listen or even think of the possibility that hormones are my "manic depression" are related. I've had to do trial and error on my own. One of the things that helped me with my headaches, weight loss, and more stable mood was progesterone cream... Other things I did was change my diet...really important.... I started by doing an elimination diet and slowly adding back in foods to see if I were sensitive to them... I found out I have a gluten allergy and that sugar is "poison" to me... It sends me spiraling out of control...literally...
I don't know if I posted the story here, but just to tell you how our hormones impact us... I have been taking progesterone cream for a while. Well because of all of the antidepressants that I have been on for years, I started to have seizures. Of course, I was then put on seizure meds. Well when I looked back at some of my journal entries, my seizures occurred during the week prior to my period...usually when I was always hospitalized as well...suicidial...etc... Also...my headaches occurred around this time along with my out of control behavior. Last June I had a very bad seizure and had to be hospitalized...it was the week prior to my period... When I asked my neurologist if there was a link between women's hormones and seizure activity, he told me that there was a stury underway that was testing that theory and they were USING PROGESTERONE CREAM TO alleviate this. After I stopped staring at him, I said well I've been out of progesterone cream for over a week and a half because I hadn't felt like going to the store!!!
So my theory is that as women we face serious illnesses and injury because of our hormonal imbalances....doctors usually treat our symptoms...mostly never discovering the real cause....our hormones...
MY 2 CENTS!
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hospital? 
