Help! Need a good psychiatrist!

jesssheu
jesssheu Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi,

Currently I am having chemo and been feeling very tired and depressed. It's getting harder and harder to get up in the morning. I live in Cupertino, CA. Does anyone know of a good pyschiatrist that can help? Thanks in advance.

Jessica

Comments

  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #2
    Jessica:
    What kind of chemo are you having? It's typical to feel this way. Have you spoken to your doctor about it? I'm going through my second treatment program in the last 6 years. I will tell you that I was warned the second time around would be harder. That was an understatement! It's been so difficult I almost said, 'I'm not doing this again'. But you have to take not just one day at a time, but one MOMENT at a time. Let me know exactly what you're feeling - maybe some of us can help. I sure know what it's like not to want to move or get up in the AM. But also speak to your doctor about it. I'm sorry I have no connection to California to help you. But if that's what you decide to do your doctor should also be able to give you some recommendations.

    Please keep in touch. I'll be praying for you.

    Monika
  • jesssheu
    jesssheu Member Posts: 4
    #3
    mopar said:

    Jessica:
    What kind of chemo are you having? It's typical to feel this way. Have you spoken to your doctor about it? I'm going through my second treatment program in the last 6 years. I will tell you that I was warned the second time around would be harder. That was an understatement! It's been so difficult I almost said, 'I'm not doing this again'. But you have to take not just one day at a time, but one MOMENT at a time. Let me know exactly what you're feeling - maybe some of us can help. I sure know what it's like not to want to move or get up in the AM. But also speak to your doctor about it. I'm sorry I have no connection to California to help you. But if that's what you decide to do your doctor should also be able to give you some recommendations.

    Please keep in touch. I'll be praying for you.

    Monika

    Monica,

    Thanks so much for your reply. It makes me feel like I am not alone. The chemo drugs I am using are Taxol and Carboplatin. I had my 2nd treatment last week. This time it is not as easy as the 1st one. Been feeling extremely tired. I also have lost almost all of my hair. It has been very hard on me. I don't even want to look at myself in the mirror. I don't want to go out either. Everyday, I just feel empty and hopeless. Like you said, I am trying to take it one moment at a time. And at the end of each day, I tell myself: "I've survived another day".

    I told the nurse who administers chemo for me about my depression but I was told to contact the American Cancer Society, which provided me some other organizations to contact. I am desperately trying to get a recommendation.

    Thanks again,

    Jessica
  • Christa54
    Christa54 Member Posts: 15
    #4
    Please know you are not alone! I finished my first round of chemo with the same drugs you are receiving in November. I experienced similar feelings that you are going through and commend you for realizing that you need help. No one can get through this treatment alone. I do hope you are able to find therapist who is experienced in this kind of situation. I met a couple of times with a pyschologist who had expertise with cancer patients and found that she was helpful. The other thing that I did was start on a low dose of Lexapro, which is an antidepressant. It helped me deal with my anxiety as well as the depression.

    I will also keep you in prayer.
    Christa
  • jesssheu
    jesssheu Member Posts: 4
    #5
    Christa54 said:

    Please know you are not alone! I finished my first round of chemo with the same drugs you are receiving in November. I experienced similar feelings that you are going through and commend you for realizing that you need help. No one can get through this treatment alone. I do hope you are able to find therapist who is experienced in this kind of situation. I met a couple of times with a pyschologist who had expertise with cancer patients and found that she was helpful. The other thing that I did was start on a low dose of Lexapro, which is an antidepressant. It helped me deal with my anxiety as well as the depression.

    I will also keep you in prayer.
    Christa

    Hi, Christa,

    Thank you very much for your reply. I have since found a pyschiatrist and will be seeing him early next week. In the mean time, I am trying to read up on self-help books and trying to be positive. I am also going to an ovarian cancer support group this week. I appreciate the support from you and all others in the forum. Let's support each other to go through this life-time experience.

    Thanks again,

    Jessica
  • groundeffect
    groundeffect Member Posts: 639 Member
    #6
    Jessica, I'm really glad to read that you've got an appointment with a psychiatrist, but I'm especially glad to see that you're going to meet with a support group. I had a lot of anxiety during and following my chemo, and have been taking Zoloft (a very low dose) for some time to help keep an even keel. I did not have severe reactions to chemo (carbo/taxol), but it did make me very tired for a few days after a treatment, and was told (after asking the oncologist) that it does have a cumulative effect.

    Although I haven't had all of the experience my OVCA support group women have with chemo, I've learned much from them about clinical trials, the effect cancer has on families, and how to deal with insurance companies. I was a little scared about going to a meeting, but spent some time in the chat room on this site and asked some questions; the lovely people I spoke with then assured me that it would probably be a good experience, and that a support group is not gloomy and sad all the time! I really look forward to meeting with my group once a month, and we occasionally contact each other via phone.

    This board has always been a good place for sounding out things for me, too, and I'm glad you've joined it!

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