Getting Help for Depression

[unblocktheplanet]

Sheryl, very interesting about haemochromatosis. I was diagnosed a couple of years ago and have suffered depression, anxiety/panicks, sleeplessness & odd neuropathies.

 

Most haematologists in Thailand are at a loss when it comes to haemochromatosis--Asians don't get it! So their knowledge is wholly theoretical.

 

Whether or not phlebotomies are ordered takes into account your five iron levels (serum iron; ferritin, transferrin- & iron-binding capacity; transferrin & transferrin saturation per cent but it's a fine balance when taking your haemoglobin, haematocrit & MCV into account so as not to leave you anaemic which has problems of its own. Like our OP, I have not had a phlebotomy for a year due to Covid. And certainly no doc investigated my liver!

 

I've had good luck with public hospitals in Bangkok. I certainly could not afford Bumrungrad! That said, one often only gets to see a young resident who may not have chosen your complaint as his/her specialty. But Phuket is a populous province--there must be public hospitals with good reputations there hosting well-trained docs.

 

The doctor-patient relationship, like all relationships, relies on chemistry: no point pushing a rock uphill. You have to do your own research & come armed with questions & facts. A lot of docs think that g-o-d spelled backwards. Walk away, no matter how smart they are!

 

In general, psychiatrists here only push pills. And there is a place for that. As an OP has pointed out, however, antidepressants can mask deeper organic symptoms. They are also habituating not in the sense of addictive but one can't just start & stop them; stopping requires slow & careful weaning. There's precious little genuine medical support. However, almost all docs can speak English well enough with a foreign patient's support.

 

I can suggest Ajarn Dorn Wattanakulpanich at Ramathibodi Hospital. His is a private but reasonable private clinic in a public hospital. His specialties are haematology, helminthology & community mental health. He's a kind man & might well be a good fit.

 

For appointments online: https://www.tropmedhospital.com/booking/internal-medicine-clinic.html but I think a patient has to register with the hospital so arrive early to accomplish this at the main desk.

 

You love the ocean, mother to all of us. That's a great start!

 

 

[bamboozled]

In a perfect world, perhaps one would not self-medicate with anti-depressants. But I don't see any perfect world out there. It's plenty easy (and good advice) to say go see a doctor, go see a therapist, or see a psycho, 2, 3 sessions. I would agree. But first you have to find a therapist/psycho near you. Are there any at all that deal with Westerners? Then...are they any good at what they do, is it a good fit? And then, do they have time to see you? These days, many mental health folk have their plate full, I believe, as so many people are...bummed out. They might just tell you, very sorry, we are full. This was certainly the case 1 year ago. I don't think much has changed. And then....all this adds up to a grand expense, just the doctors, and then you add the meds on top of that. We're talking hundreds of dollars. Sure, your mental health is top priority but if you don't have the money that road is closed. A side note about some docs: there are plenty of quacks in powerful positions with multiple degrees who will entertain you with a brief visit and then simply write you a script for the drug of the pharmaceutical compaNnies choice (the one that gives them the most kickback) and set you on your way with little to no guidance and come see me in a month. In a scenario such as this, informed self-medication would be safer. Just because a professional doctor signed off on it does not necessarily make it, as my math teacher in high school liked to say now and again, "copacetic".

I have experienced all of the above first hand; I'm not just riffing in thin air. It happens and I think quite often. Here and everywhere.

 

Life is fraught with danger. Yet, we must make informed decisions about doing dangerous things everyday. Apart from dangerous physical pursuits, some of us take mind altering substances or engage in mind altering activities. Not necessarily drugs but spiritual quests, fasting, etc... Hopefully, we do our research and enter into them with some knowledge and a game plan/support. I think there exists a somewhat knee-jerk reaction to the word "self-medicate" that we have cultivated in the west. Probably due to people being ignorant and doing dumb things and harming themselves. I'm not advocating that.

 

In the absence of the perfect world, we have to make decisions based on our own personal experience, resources, situation, capacities, etc...and act accordingly.

 

OP, yes, your ailments are there, they exist. It is your reaction to them that you might be able to alter to decrease your suffering. You also might look at Vipassana meditation. The Power of Now surfs on a lot of the same tenets. A good book for that is, The Art of Living : Vipassana Meditation as Taught by S. N. Goenka. I read this and The Power of Now when I was down in the dumps and both gave me great insight. They are both available in Thailand in English.

[Sheryl]

Suggested Bangkok hematologosts:

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Ponlapat-Rojnuckarin

(Sundays only)

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Tanawat-Jirakulaporn

(monday through Saturday)

 

[big dendrobenaes]

try PAROXETINE Tbs........look them up on google......

I AM Not A DOCTOR.......

[Sheryl]

OP, to what I have already said (see 2 recent posts) I would add that the fact that your father is dying is almost certainly significant. Even though you are not in touch, this news will have reawakened old issues for you. All the more reason to see a therapist, a few sessions talking about this will be very helpful. Depression is often related to bottled up emotions. It is also often related to loss, and while your father's death now will not be a loss, since there is no current relationship, there is the long standing loss of all you did not ever  get from your father and those old emotions  will be  fighting to come to the surface at this  time.

 

 

[Adumbration]

9 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

In a perfect world, perhaps one would not self-medicate with anti-depressants. But I don't see any perfect world out there. It's plenty easy (and good advice) to say go see a doctor, go see a therapist, or see a psycho, 2, 3 sessions. I would agree. But first you have to find a therapist/psycho near you. Are there any at all that deal with Westerners? Then...are they any good at what they do, is it a good fit? And then, do they have time to see you? These days, many mental health folk have their plate full, I believe, as so many people are...bummed out. They might just tell you, very sorry, we are full. This was certainly the case 1 year ago. I don't think much has changed. And then....all this adds up to a grand expense, just the doctors, and then you add the meds on top of that. We're talking hundreds of dollars. Sure, your mental health is top priority but if you don't have the money that road is closed. A side note about some docs: there are plenty of quacks in powerful positions with multiple degrees who will entertain you with a brief visit and then simply write you a script for the drug of the pharmaceutical compaNnies choice (the one that gives them the most kickback) and set you on your way with little to no guidance and come see me in a month. In a scenario such as this, informed self-medication would be safer. Just because a professional doctor signed off on it does not necessarily make it, as my math teacher in high school liked to say now and again, "copacetic".

I have experienced all of the above first hand; I'm not just riffing in thin air. It happens and I think quite often. Here and everywhere.

 

Life is fraught with danger. Yet, we must make informed decisions about doing dangerous things everyday. Apart from dangerous physical pursuits, some of us take mind altering substances or engage in mind altering activities. Not necessarily drugs but spiritual quests, fasting, etc... Hopefully, we do our research and enter into them with some knowledge and a game plan/support. I think there exists a somewhat knee-jerk reaction to the word "self-medicate" that we have cultivated in the west. Probably due to people being ignorant and doing dumb things and harming themselves. I'm not advocating that.

 

In the absence of the perfect world, we have to make decisions based on our own personal experience, resources, situation, capacities, etc...and act accordingly.

 

OP, yes, your ailments are there, they exist. It is your reaction to them that you might be able to alter to decrease your suffering. You also might look at Vipassana meditation. The Power of Now surfs on a lot of the same tenets. A good book for that is, The Art of Living : Vipassana Meditation as Taught by S. N. Goenka. I read this and The Power of Now when I was down in the dumps and both gave me great insight. They are both available in Thailand in English.

Yes.  Theoretical solutions are well and good. Practical implementation is the sticky part.

[Adumbration]

3 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

OP, to what I have already said (see 2 recent posts) I would add that the fact that your father is dying is almost certainly significant. Even though you are not in touch, this news will have reawakened old issues for you. All the more reason to see a therapist, a few sessions talking about this will be very helpful. Depression is often related to bottled up emotions. It is also often related to loss, and while your father's death now will not be a loss, since there is no current relationship, there is the long standing loss of all you did not ever  get from your father and those old emotions  will be  fighting to come to the surface at this  time.

 

 

Yes. It is certain that the imminent death of my father has affected my condition. But it is the structural issues that I have already mentioned above in this thread and the unsolvable institutional nonsense I have to ensure in trying to get access to and be able to manage my own savings (see my other thread) that are causing me the most distress.

[Adumbration]

I would just like to add here that a couple of members have PMed me to reach out and offer good will and encouragement.  Thank you very much for you kind support.

 

Also I would to thank all posters on this thread hereto for your valuable input.

Edited October 21, 2021 by Adumbration

[unblocktheplanet]

I wish to second Sheryl regarding amino acids. th.iHerb has reasonable prices & shipping to Thailand.

 

I'm taking 2000mg N-acetyl l-Cysteine (NAC) for depression and 500mg d-Phenylalanine (DPA) for anxiety. Some improvement.

 

Separated from food by at least 30 minutes.

 

Worth looking up the free online Braverman Personality Assessment which can give you a lot of pointers in this direction.

 

And, as an OP has pointed out, do NOT take benzodiazepines! They c.r.a*p out & leave you addicted.

Edited October 21, 2021 by unblocktheplanet
new

[natway09]

It sounds at least like you "have a handle" on things & sounds like you are very aware what is going on.

No shared stories from me at this time but if can afford get yourself to a specialist

who can do a full assessment & suggest the safest medication for you.

One size does not suit all & even the Dr will possibly need to try 2 or 3 different medications 

until finding tjhe one that suits you best. Some just make me more ding dong than I am already.

Try to live for today

[Adumbration]

31 minutes ago, natway09 said:

It sounds at least like you "have a handle" on things & sounds like you are very aware what is going on.

No shared stories from me at this time but if can afford get yourself to a specialist

who can do a full assessment & suggest the safest medication for you.

One size does not suit all & even the Dr will possibly need to try 2 or 3 different medications 

until finding tjhe one that suits you best. Some just make me more ding dong than I am already.

Try to live for today

Thanks for your kind words and input.

[unblocktheplanet]

Big apologies! My bad: Dr. Dorn is at Rajvithi Hospital in Bangkok. Don't know why I lost the plot!

[Adumbration]

Hello all.

 

Just a quick update.

 

On Saturday I was able to travel with my partner down to Phuket.  I did not seek medical care I just visited and old fried, met and played with his toddler for the first time, ate bbq and walked on the beach.  It was a lovely break...and it did my partner a lot of good also.  I am now back in front of my computer trying to move forward with my road map of problems.

 

The problems I am having accessing my life savings in the commonwealth bank took a significant turn for the worse on Friday.  I will report more on that in my other thread on that topic.

[Adumbration]

I have identified problem receiving SMS from my banks in Australia is because of TRUE: