Starting quetiapine

[pulisa]

"Limited benefit" is the classic fob off because it means nothing. I would have thought that getting your sleep sorted into a reasonable and consistent pattern should be of paramount importance? If the lower dose of quetiapine suits you and acts as an add-on to boost anti depressant efficacy then this would be ideal but I know it's not as simple as that. I know my son has risperidone to limit rumination/self harm/ suicidal ideation in conjunction with 225mg ven but he is on a low dose(2mg) to limit akasthisia. Doesn't help with sleep though although he takes it at night but he has ASD so things are more complicated and his ruminations are solid and unreachable.

Glad you've got a review next week. Don't be afraid to speak your mind because you will still get that promised therapy. You are just being assertive and not just "taking" whatever is dished out by a wishy washy psych!

[Dying_Swan]

Thank you, and you're right about getting my sleep sorted. I'll try to get a BP reading tonight after quetiapine, and hopefully that'll be enough. I've written down some questions for the psych appointment next week too, as I find the appointments quite stressful and end up zoning out.

How is your son doing? Has he started the EMDR yet? I'm sorry he is still struggling with sleep. It's such a basic thing but has such a huge impact.

[pulisa]

Good idea to get your questions written down-I think psychiatrists often have their own agenda for these reviews and you end up not being able to say what you really want to say.

My son isn't good but he starts his EMDR therapy on Tuesday. I will admit that I'm worried that he won't be able to cope with the repercussions but I'm probably being over cautious. It's a whole new treatment programme so for me it's just fear of the unknown and I'm the one who will have to deal with the fall out...if there is one!

[Dying_Swan]

They definitely do seem to have their own agenda! I got some bp readings but typically it didn't go as low as it sometimes does, except for standing BP when I woke up, which was unreadable.

From what little I've read about EMDR, it's very effective, although the reason for that isn't clear. I would think it will be very important for the therapist to give your son some grounding techniques while he's going through this, and also some crisis planning if that's a possibility. Hopefully they will also have some clue as to how his ASD affects him. Please do let me know how he gets on. I hope you have some support too.

[pulisa]

No support for me and, more importantly, none for my daughter either who is suffering horribly and on 24/7 alert but we are just collateral in all this.

The therapist is a psychologist who specialises in ASD so is ideal. Not available locally of course but hopefully worth the journey.

Thank you for your good wishes, DS. I really do hope you get a decent second opinion and that you have some rapport and respect for the new psych..Can make all the difference, can't it? Just knowing you are on the same wavelength...

[Dying_Swan]

Thank you. They're sending me miles away for the second opinion, just like your son's psychologist, but hopefully it'll be worth it on both counts. I'm sorry it's so hard on you and your daughter. You'd think they'd see the value in caring for carers. Keeping my fingers crossed for you, and your son and daughter. I will be thinking of you and hoping this treatment will make a positive difference for you all.

[pulisa]

Thank you, DS! I'm sure the therapy will help and if it doesn't at least we will have tried to make things more tolerable for him. I could probably make more fuss about the carer support aspect but I just can't be bothered with having people round to discuss my "needs". i'm more concerned about my daughter's very fragile and fearful state.

Fingers crossed for your second opinion and I hope that a change of psych and location could be the start of better and more appropriate care for you. My daughter had to go out of county for some ACT therapy a few years back and it was very successful. You realise that there are some much better services elsewhere but you have to persevere to get access to them!

[Dying_Swan]

Thank you Pulisa. You've been a huge support. It'll be my third opinion, as the first two are conflicting. The private psych had a different opinion to the NHS one, although I know they had a discussion. I think I will ask whether the private one eventually agreed, as if there is agreement between two, I'll find things easier to accept.

I hope that your daughter is getting some support, beyond you having to cope with everything. Ive said it before and I'll say it again, I take my hat off to you. Having a psychologist who specialises in ASD will hopefully be really helpful. I think your son and daughter are very lucky to have you as their mum.

[pulisa]

Thank you but I'm certainly not a great example for them!

You could see 5 different psychiatrists and get 5 different diagnoses and meds regimes, I reckon! So much depends on getting an accurate diagnosis and so much hinges on the expertise and area of interest of the psychiatrist. I'm not sure how helpful "labels" are-I'm more interested in getting the right treatment for the symptoms as diagnoses can vary from expert to expert.

[Dying_Swan]

I think you're spot on. It all just seems to be a matter of opinion, or a guessing game. Slap a label on, swallow these pills and ask no questions. Still, the psychologist said the same as you, about treating symptoms and not labels, so vaguely optimistic about that. Hope your week goes well.