Substandard Psychiatric help in Washington State

I received a call from my insurance company to check on how I'm doing since getting out of the hospital and explained that the new medication I was put on is out of reach financially and surprisingly she said that they will make an exception for this one medication and my copay should be under $100.00 per month so that is good news.
As far as SI those thoughts come and go but are so intense at times I barely can control it and as far as a plan, yes. When I left the hospital I completed a crisis coping plan but again around Seattle resource are too limited when it come to behavioral health so I have a Nurse Prescriber but have not been able to connect with a counselor yet.

John J

Over the last 22 years I have lost track of how many Medications I have tried but it is in the teens. None were helpful except Abilify and that only lasted three weeks even after varying the dose. So I will be trying something new for me, Latuda for a good couple of months and if I fall into that deep dark depression before that med has a chance to work I will have no choice but to consider ECT again.
I'm glad you are a survivor, and have good people around you and now because you are here, you are helping others by posting.

John J

@minneapolis123

Have you started on the Latuda? That's one I've never tried.

Was ECT helpful? I was all cleared to do it, but my wife was against it. It would have meant driving to Portland every Monday and driving 150 miles back home on Friday. We have to drive over a pass in the Cascades, and my wife, who doesn't like to drive, would have to be the driver. I was working with the OHSU social worker on finding accessable housing and transportation. Before I could get all the details worked out, I had to drop it because it was too overwhelming for me. Feeling overwhelmed is one of the symptoms of my depression. My psychiatrist and other doctors were encouraging me to do it, and would probably still approve it. Then, the only doctor who did the treatments in Oregon moved away. By now there are a couple of doctors in Oregon who could do it. I'm not up to starting the process over again, and my wife isn't able to drive because of severe hip, leg and shoulder pain. If the hospital here in central Oregon were to get set up to do the therapy, I might seriously consider doing it.

I can only take life as it is dealt to me. ECT doesn't seem to be in the cards for me. If you decide to go that route, keep us posted.

Jim

I had 18 sessions of ECT in December of 2003 and January 2004. The Doctor wanted to do more but I had to stop because of significant memory impairment and overall confusion, but did it help for really bad depression? I always say to people who ask, that for me, that many mostly bilateral treatments left me mostly unable to remember what the heck I was that depressed about, honestly. It took months for these side effects to subside. That is the experience I had and I realize that everyone responds differently and even though I told myself I would never do ECT again life got tough enough that I tried it again two years ago but I could not control my fear and anxiety just minutes before the session and stopped the treatments after just two. I think that it is really important to say that other patients have told me ECT saved there lives and the memory and confusion problems were not as bad as what I experienced.
I am now in the process of trying to sets up Esketamine nasal spray treatments and hopefully I can try that before too long it looks so promising on youtube to possibly start feeling better after just a few treatments. I do not know how much it will cost yet but I look forward to hopefully trying this newly approved procedure.
I can't say I feel a much improvement on the Latuda I started taking about 3 weeks ago but it may take longer to start working. if at all. Also I have tried TMS Therapy with the magnets and again for me that particular treatment completely failed there was no benefit for me at all
I will keep you updated on what happens next.

John J

Hi. I live in Washington State too. I've read some bad things about Fairfax especially. It was in The Seattle Times. However, I would suggest trying Harborview. They seem to deal with many things and have a goid reputation. You just need a goid therapist to help you. I've had clinical depression. It's awful. Every life is important and you are here for a reason. What seems impossible now, CAN CHANGE. You need hope and love. You can type to me. Hang in there. You're worth it! I'm worth it! I am dealing with chronic pain and OA in my knees. It's a grieving process. I cry often, but keep trying. Talking is the first step, especially with people who have been there.

I'm at the point of needing to make a change as to where I live but the big question is where to go.. As you know Washington state ranks near the bottom of all the states when it comes to a bed availability in a Behavioral Health Hospital in a crisis. I have put off going to the ER in the past because there are only 22 beds at the place I prefer to go when I get into depression trouble that being Swedish Hospital Ballard Campus. Most of the time there simply are no beds available and there is a big chance of being be sent to Fairfax which for me being in an over crowded, rowdy facility is exactly what I don't need.
As far as Harborview goes I have a ban on inpatient care there not because I caused a problem but because they keep pushing a year long DBT program on me. It is not for me I have already tried it and the anxiety was just too much and I do not have a diagnosis of Borderline Personality.
I have a copy of the investigative article in the Seattle Times about Fairfax Hospital and hopefully there will be some changes made but I really doubt it. No one should have to suffer when they are asking for help that is why I made the post on the Mayo Clinic site originally. I had someone who was willing to fly to Rochester Mn with me but I was told their inpatient program was only for residents of the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. I'm was not asking for a favor I always pay my own way but that is the way it is.
I really hope things work out for you as you said every life is important.

John J

@minneapolis123 Every life is important. I live in Minnesota and we have a shortage here too. I have not found anywhere that does not have a shortage; however, that does not mean it is impossible to get in. The Mayo psychiatric area of the hospital is one of the best in the country. As far DBT goes, it is one of the most used programs across the country. Do you think that you might be able to find a program you can do at home? There are booklets and videos that teach DBT. Have you been able to try different mental health professionals to look for someone who is better able to help you. We are all different, but for me the best was to get my meds right. Have you tried journaling to see if you can see if there is something common to your anxiety attacks? Maybe an event or food or drink or person? Have you tried a social worker? Sometimes a social worker may point you to programs that will help someone in your situation. I hope you can use something out of these suggestions to help you. Please keep in touch and do not give up. We are all here empathizing with you because we have been there ourselves. Just when I thought there were no answers, things started going right.

@minneapolis123

Has a therapist worked with you with CBT? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been most helpful for me. I've not been convinced about all of the magnet and copper stuff.

The last 5 therapists have been hired by the hospital system here - make that 6. The next to the last one is the reason I'm still alive. He promised that he wanted to stay here until he retired. After a year, he had some family crisis and had to move. I only had two weeks notice. That was really tough. A woman filled the position after a few months, but I just don't click with her. It's not because she's a woman, and not because I think she's not a good therapist. I've had several female therapists, most of whom I liked. If I haven't missed any, I've seen ten therapists in 13 years. I'm feeling like I'm going to need to see another one in the not too distant future.

Jim

Hi, @carynfree - wondering how you found a good therapist? Did you ask friends or a primary care doctor for a recommendation? What tips would you give others looking for someone to see for talk therapy?

Hi, @minneapolis123 - you might be interested in a few other Mayo Clinic Connect discussions on topics you touched on:

- on ketamine/esketamine https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ketamine

- on Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tms-therapy-for-long-term-depression/