Frustration at being wrongly diagnosed

[carlosspicywiener]

Hi Everyone, i am just annoyed that i had poured my heart out to a senior Psychiatrist who later sent me a letter saying that there was nothing he can do with me and that i should have just contacted Health in Mind in the first place - basically i wasted his time.

Yet during this assessment meeting he agreed that was maybe something he could treat.

Ok, here`s the thing - i had a heart op in 2010. During this operation, i have since learned, there were complications resulting in the operation taking 6 hours longer than expected, the need to alter anesthetic, need for Insulin and Adrenalin, etc, and i spent 4 night on ITU instead of 2. My recovery time since this operation is basically still going on.

Since this op i have had a very profound, and sometime very loud heartbeat. This heartbeat can be powerful enough to effect my whole upper body. (i play darts and this effect can be so bad at times that the scorer is worried for his life )

This `thump` also keeps me awake at night as i cannot find a comfortable position that is also quiet enough for me to sleep.

This has caused for me to need to have had more sick days from work than i would have liked - as i just couldn't carry on. This has now led to me almost being sacked 3 times - 2 years ago i was reduced to 2 days per week (for my Health) but my sanity and finances is now wearing very thin.

The reason i visited the psychiatrist in the first place was to be assessed to find if i have been mentally effected by any of these issues - and to be basically told 'Nah, there is nothing wrong with you - as you do not fill all the boxes for PTSD.

For me to have nearly all the symptoms of PTSD but not get any diagnosis except a bit of Anxiety and Depression is quite frankly a kick in the teeth.

Has anyone else had problems like these or am i just overreacting ?

[Nathalie99 Partner]

Hi Carlos,

Diagnosing PTSD is really not straightforward and I think there are questionnaires to be filled - quite extensive ones - to be officially diagnosed

PTSD diagnosis is still often reserved for military and first responders and it is sometimes not recognized that there are other reasons for developing it.

I think if you have the symptoms, you need to ask for official assessment and to fill out those tests.

There are different protocols for trauma therapy that are not the same as for depression or anxiety. Although anxiety and depression are very common symptoms of PTSD.

Hope you find someone that will listen and help you get another assessment.

[Hidden]

Hi firstly PTSD cannot be assessed in one appointment it took six weeks for my psychologist to determine I had Ptsd. People who have Ptsd don’t let their guard down on first appointments they hide behind a mask, which they have been using for years to hide their true self behind. Your Psychiatrist must have seen you didn’t have this. You probably do need counselling of some sort. I would ask your doctor to refer you to a counsellor so you can talk to someone on how your feeling.

[Dolphin14 Moderator]

Did you get started on meds for anxiety and depression?

[Lindyloo53 Volunteer]

Depression is a very serious illness in itself. Ptsd can also have depression component attached to it. In some ways it’s good, though not what you wanted to hear, that the psychiatrist has said there is nothing he can treat you for. This saves you being caught up in the MH servicesnever ending. Circle. You may still well have ptsd, there are a number of tests that can be administered for this. Here in nz a clinical psychologist can do the testing. There is no known cure for ptsd but there are some very well reasearched treatments which could reduce the symptoms you are experiencing again these treatments would be done by a clinical psychologist not a psychiatrist. In the main a psychiatrist responds to a diagnosis by giving medications to try to alleviate the symptoms.

A psychologist would be able to say if you have been affected. By trauma.and give you some options for treatment.

[Shy_Guy]

Wow, one appointment is too soon to diagnose anything let alone PTSD. I would suggest getting a second opinion. Your medical conditions sound terrifying. I hope you find some help with the mental and physical effects of this.

I have suffered from depression most of my life and I decided to try a different phycologist to see if he could help me. He told me that I was not depressed and took me off my medication. I got a lot worse and started thinking about suicide. My point is that some therapists are not very good at their jobs. Some therapist barely made it though school and they are practicing right along side of the therapists that were the top of the class.

I did find another therapist and she found a two medication combo that actually keeps me from falling into depression. Good luck to you.