Morning at Psychiatrist Department

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

It’s has been 3 months since my last follow up with my Psychiatrist till today (8/12). Denis drops me while Janice wheeled me up to the dept. When I arrived there around 10 am, there were many people already waiting. 

At the same time, my Neuro medication has finished, and need to have a new follow-up. After Janice left me, she went to the Neuro dept (104) to take a new medication chit from the doctor and collect them in the pharmacy

On my side, I waited for nearly half an hour before the counter staff called my name to take blood pressure. When I pushed myself to the back room, few people were queueing in front of me. There was only one staff taking blood pressure for all the patients.

I came back outside, I saw my place was taken up by a few elderly people on the wheelchair. So, I stay behind the other wheelchairs.

While waiting for the doctor to call me, I observed the people there. I was unable to write my journal on my hp due to my eye problem.

When the doctor called my name, I was happy to see the same doctor who saw me the last time. She is a good, kind Malay doctor. When I was in her room, she asked me about my thyroid and the doctor I have seen. She told me my thyroid can upset my mood too.

After she has seen my mood is quite stable, she continue my present medication at the same dosage. Since everything was ok, I didn't stay long in her room. She wrote medication chit for me and helped to wheel me out.

As I pushed myself out to the corridor, a kind Chinese lady asked me if I help and she pushed me near to the lift. I thank God for sending someone to help.

After I went down and straight wheeled to the lobby. I took a Grab car home, thank God He gave me a good driver to help me into the car.

In the afternoon Janice collects my medication for me.

 Thank you, God for helping me the whole morning.

Increase of Medication

Thursday, 24 Sept 2020

 

 A month has passed since my last follow up and I went again on 24/9 morning.

Janice dropped me and pushed up to Psychiatrist Dept and left me there. She helps me drop my card in the box. There weren't many people on that day.

Around 20mins, the staff at the counter called my name to take blood pressure. I wheeled to the back of the room. There were three to four persons before me. After finishing my pressure test, I went back to the front.

As the front door of the doctor's room was open, I saw my doctor was discussing another doctor. After that, my name was called. A Malay lady doctor (I believe she was the head of doctor as she has her room) saw me. She went through my file and blood test paper. She told me my thyroid can lead to having a low mood. I also told her, I won't be going to the counseling anymore as it was a too-short time and I have other check-ups to go too. She also increases slightly my depression medication. I was in her room for around half-hour.

After I left, I pushed myself down to the lobby but I didn't take my medicine as needed to queue up. I called Janice to fetch me. At that time when I was in the lobby, there were so many cars fetching their family members. All the cars jam up in the lobby, which made Janice slow in fetching me.

At last, I saw her. Thank you, God, for the morning.

 

 

New medication for another month

Tuesday, 25 August 2020

 

Two weeks have passed since my last Psychiatrists follow up, so my appointment date 25/9 is here again.

Janice drop mum and me at 10.15 am. When we reached the department, wow I saw there are so many people in the waiting area. I called Janice to bring mum home as there were only a few sitting areas left for mum to sit.

After mum left I waited alone and wrote my journal. Around 45mins later, the counter staff called me to take a blood pressure test, I slowly wheeled myself to the back. Luckily when I reach the back of the room, there was no one taking pressure. So without waiting a lady staff took my pressure.

After I came back to the front, I waited until over noon when a lady doctor called me in. She talked and encouraged, she asked me to compliment myself in the little things I have done.  I ask her if there is any counseling session. She says have, then she wrote a letter for me and ask the counter staff to make an appointment for me on 3/9.

My doctor also asks me to continue the same dosage of the medication for another month. After finish, I came out and see there were people still waiting for the doctor.

I slowly wheeled myself downstairs and to the lobby, When I nearly the pharmacy I felt tired, luckily an Indian lady who passed by saw me and I asked her to pushed me.

Instead of calling Janice to fetch me, I book a Grab car (luckily there was a line for a book the car).  When the driver arrives, I have some problems with the car as the seat was slightly higher. The good Indian driver slightly carries me up to the seat.

Thank you, God, for helping me the whole morning and sending people to help me.

 

 

New medication again

 Tuesday, 11 August 2020

After two weeks since I last saw my Psychiatrist doctor, here I am again. My last visit, the doctor gave me a new medication it didn't suit.

Janice drop me around 10.30 am, mum follows and assists to push me. When we reach the Psychiatrists Dept, there were so many people and all the seats were full. When someone got up from the seat, I quickly asked mum to take a seat.

Today, it's really fast (within 10mins) the nurse at the counter calls my name to take blood pressure. Mum pushes me halfway and I continue wheeling myself to the back of the dept. When I reach there was no one taking their pressure, so I was the only one the nurse took my pressure.  After I left I saw few people lining up for their pressure.

Another "super fast" thing is halfway thru taking my pressure check, without expecting a Chinese male doctor to call my name from the back room. I was a surprise (and happy too) that he calls me in so fast.

After taking my pressure, I wheel back to the front and went in to see my doctor. As I push into the doctor's room, he is checking my file. I told him I feel not as good as the new medication suit me.

He asks me many other questions about my mood, feelings, etc. I was in the doctor's room for quite a long time.

Again, my doctor changes my medication. I feel not at ease as I'm afraid the new medication will give me side effects. What I have to do is to pray that it will make me better.

When I come out I went to find mum, she was waiting for me. We went down, intend to take medicine from the pharmacy, but the queue was too long.

I call Janice to fetch but she was busy running error. She asks me to take grab car home, I tried but there was no line to book grab car.  Luckily Janice has finished her errors, so she came to fetch us

I was glad everything was over that morning.

 

 

 

My Morning At The Psychiatrists

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

 

My last Psychiatrist check-up was two months ago. Today (28/7) is my follow up again. Around 10 am Janice and Denis drop to GH main lobby. Janice pushed me up to the 1st floor where the Psychiatrists Dept. and drop me alone there.

When I arrived there were not many people. Janice helps me to drop my card into the box at the counter before she left.

While waiting I sat beside an aquarium with a big fish and a few other small fishes. I feel peaceful watching the fishes in the aquarium.

After half an hour later the nurse called my name. I took my no and I wheeled to the back and queue up to take my blood pressure.

I feel so sleepy while waiting to go into the doctor's room, but I keep myself awake by writing my journal

After waiting for an hour, an Indian lady doctor calls me in. She asks me how I feel (my mood). I talk to her for some time and told her how I feel. I told her my mood is the same even with the present medication. My doctor went to discuss my case with her boss, so I waited for quite along.

When she came out, she tells me that she is changing medication for me. My doctor also gave me a referral letter to the Endocrine Department for further treatment of my thyroid.

I was in the doctor's room for more than an hour.  It was 1pm when I leave the doctor's room and came outside everyone have left.

I didn't take the medication chit from the pharmacy today. Instead Janice will take for me another day. I wheel myself down to the lobby. I told Janice I will take a Grab car home as it will faster. At that time in the lobby I have difficulty booking a car as there was no line. I keep trying and praying that I can get a car and get a good driver.

Thank God, my prayers was answer. The driver was willing to help in and out the car when I came home. Janice came down to help me too at the car park.

Thank you, God, for helping me throughout the whole morning.

My follow up

Tuesday, 19 May 2020

Since my last Psychiatric follows up in March, I haven't been there due to the MCO.  My appointment has to be postponed twice until today 19/5.

Earlier this week, we suggested that mum follow me together, so she can see the doctor in the Outpatient Clinic for her follow up medication. But Janice came up with another idea, as she herself follows me to GH. We took Grab car as she is unable to drive me there, due to parking difficulty.

When we reach the lobby, I was surprised to see there were so many people, like it's back to normal days but everyone's is on a face mask. Before passing through the lobby, there were a few hospital staff taking everyone's temperature. 

Before Janice push me up to the 1st floor, Psychiatric Department, we went to Orthopedic Dept to make an appointment. The past week, my fingers were having pain, as the previous visit the doctor did my trigger fingers.  There were only a few people waiting, so it was fast to have my appointment done. 

Janice wheeled me to Psychiatric Dept, there were many people as some have to stand by the side. Janice left me there as she went to see the doctor (follow up) for mum and her father in-law's medication. I waited around 15mins and my name was called to take my blood pressure.

I waited for the doctor to call me. Everyone waiting has to sit two chairs apart. Some have to stand too. Less than half an hour, an Indian lady doctor called me in. She asked me many questions about my feelings and the medication I'm taking. I told her I wasn't feeling too good and she increased the dosage for my new medication. I also told her my hand (wrists) are always numb and pain. 

Before I left, she wrote a letter for me to see the Neurologist.  When I came out, Janice was waiting for me.

After getting the letter, we went to Neurologies Department (104) to make an appointment. We went inside and there was only one nurse sitting at the desk.  She gave me an appointment date for next month.

 We went down, Janice needs to collect medication for mum. There were a lot of people queueing up to go into Pharmacy, Janice had lined up for her turn.

I waited in the lobby as I wasn't feeling too well. I had hard breathing and heavy head due to crowded people, the hot weather, and was wearing a face mask. I sat under the fan and felt slightly better. Janice took some time at the pharmacy.

When she came out, we took a Grab car and went home. I felt relief that everything was over that morning.

Clinical Depression VS Mood Swings

Sunday, 22 March 2020

Clinical Depression   

Sadness

Suicidal thoughts

Sleep disorders

Poor concentration

Fatigue and low energy

Feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Loss of interest in pleasurable activities, apathy

Abnormal psychomotor skills - slowed or agitated movement

Weight gain or loss unexplained and unintentional

Mood Swings

Frequent changes in mood, personality, or behavior

Mood depression or elevation

Unexplainable emotions

Lack of motivation

Extreme moods

Increased stress

Start a new medication

Tuesday, 17 March 2020

Since last week, after my visit to a Psychiatrist, the doctor asked to reduce my present medication to one tablet (I used to take two tablets daily). Today, after a week, I stop taking the medication. He changed a new medication for me. Every night (for a week) I start with half a tablet before sleeping as this drug makes us drowsy.

I keep praying that it will be suitable and there will be no side-effect on me. As before, I have taken a few types of medication which didn't suit me. And the doctors had to keep changing until the medication suits me.

Dear God, please let this medication suit me and please don't let me have any side effects and help to get better emotionally.

My check-up at Psychiatrist-GH

Tuesday, 10 March 2020

This morning I went for my regular check-up at psychiatrists department 102. Mum pushed me to the 1st floor where I put my appointment card in the counter box, From there, I asked to mum pushed me to the Neuro department (104) which was on the same floor, but it was on another side.

When I reached the Neuro department, but there were no doctors inside,  but only one nurse sitting at the counter. I ask the nurse that I want to repeat my medication. She told me the doctors only come to see patients' in the afternoon. I saw Dr. Eow Gaik Bee was in the room. I approached her but she was very busy at that time. Without saying much, I left my card there and went back to psychiatric. I waited for my name to be called to take my number and blood pressure.

Within 15mins, my name was called. Mum took my number and pushed me to the back of the clinic to take my blood pressure. There were only a few patients lining up to take their blood pressure and weight. After finishing my turn, mum pushed me back to the front seat and wait for my turn to go into to see the doctor.

There was a big aquarium on the side of the sitting area. I sat beside the aquarium as not to block the passageway. The big white fish was starring at me, there were few others' small fish swimming around too. When watched the fish swimming around, I wished to be like them swimming here and there.

I wrote my journal while waiting for my name to be called. I waited for so long before the doctor called me in. Many patients went in came out before me.

At last, the doctor called me in. He asked me how was I feeling, I told him, I wasn't feeling too good inside (emotionally). We talked and discussed, and he decided to give me a new medication to try on.

After explaining the new medication to me, I came out and mum was waiting for me outside. We went to the main pharmacy, there was a long queue so mum took a number but didn't wait to collect my medication as I needed to go home urgently to ease myself. 

There was an OKU toilet near to the pharmacy, but I was unable to use it as toilet flush was spoil. It was also dirty and smelly.

  

I called Janice to pick us up. In the afternoon, she would collect my medication together with a list of my medications from the Neuro department. Before they went to GH, Janice called Neuro if the doctor has written the medication.

Thank God, it was ready and can be collected. Janice went again to collect all my medication.

Thank you, God, for giving a caring and loving family who help me in times of difficulty.

My regular check-up

This morning I went to psychiatrist department for my usual check-up in GH. There were a lot of people of all races with different metal sickness waiting to see the doctors'  We put our card inside the box in front of the counter and waited for our name to be called. After our names were called, we take our number and a small chit to the back and everyone have to test the blood pressure and  weight. Because I'm on the wheelchair, they can only check my pressure. All of us went back to our sit and wait for the doctors to called our name before we go into the doctor's room. This is the usual procedure we have to do.  

I waited for more than 1 hour before my name was called. I hope and prayed that I would get my  regular doctor who saw me twice before. Thank God I got the same doctor again. Sometimes, they would change different doctors to see different patients. I was relief that I got the same doctor again. 

This Malay doctor is kind and gentle person. He asked me how I felt and I told him all my emotion and thinking feelings/problem and I told I felt terrible.  He looked through my file and talked to me. I'm not happy as he asked me to take another type of medication. Now I have to take 2 different type of medicine. Anyway, I have to follow what the doctor's say. He gave me two weeks to try the medicine before he sees' me again.

After seeing the doctor, my maid pushed me down (ground floor) to take medication at the famisi. There were a lot of people waiting to take medication too.

I quite scare to take new medicine as sometimes have side effect or what so ever. I really pray that this medicine suit me and don't give me any side effect.

Marc Anthony - My Baby You

Depression difficult to cope

In early 2017, I started going back to GH Physiatrist after I stopped my treatmemt for few years. My depression got worst and my spasm attacked me severely in 2016 and 2017. Neurologies doctors' told me it was connected to my emotion. That was why after I increased my spasm medicine, yet my spasm attacked me severely.  

It felt really terrible after I stopped my depression medicine.. I never knew my emotion feelings so horrible. I felt like going mad.

After what the Neurologies doctors' told me, I went back to Physiatrist department. The doctors' asked me why I stopped coming, I told them the medication didn't suit me. From that time onwards, they changed my medicine.

At the beginning of last year, the doctors' gave me one tablet. My mood was slightly better, but I kept thinking the past that people hurt me. Also many other incidents. This make me very unhappy.

This medicine also calm my mood. When I stopped the medicine last few years, I easily get angry, irritated, frustrated and many other different feelings.

Starting this year, they asked me how I feel, I kept sharing with them my negative thoughts and feelings. Because of that, doctor increased my medicine to 2 tablets. My appointment with to see doctor is mostly every two months. Early this month when I see the doctor, I shared with them my negative thoughts and feelings quite the same  feelings as before. Again the doctor increased my medicine to 3 tables.

 I felt very sad as I wasn't getting better but still the same yet have to increased my medicine. I still feel very sad and empty inside my heart

Feeling better

Last Thursday, 14/11, I went to see the psychiatrist doctor in GH for the second time. I was surprised to see so many people in the department. I waited for more than 1/2 hour before my name was called into the doctor's room. The doctor read my report and asked me few questions. I told the doctors' I didn't want to take any medicine in my report. But this doctor asked me to try the medicine which she recommended to me. She says it will make me happy.

So I try the medicine, within few days I could feel the different. I felt calm - my anger, frustration and the negetive thoughts were all gone. I keep thinking if one day if I lift off the medicine, will all these bad feelings come back to me again. I hope I need not have to take this medicine for a long time.