Misdiagnosis and CTO

[indianna86]

I have recently been an involuntary patient in hospital and believe I have been seriously misdiagnosed. I'm now on a CTO and receiving treatment against my will for bipolar, instead of the acute anxiety disorder that I have experienced since I was 12 years old. Basically, I'm receiving the incorrect treatment for my condition and I want my medical record and CTO changed. I'm desperate for advice on how to get my diagnosis changed so that I receive the correct treatment. Should I get a second opinion and then take this to a lawyer?

[IreneM]

Think that can happen to many. It happened to me once and I got doped up with many medications to the point where I had absolutely no quality in life. But not on mental grounds.

From the support groups that I have been in and now also look after I encourage along with other patients, not to hesitate getting a second opinion. I have also known people who have their specialist and GP disagree and when you see one you end up on one treatment and when you see the other you go back onto something else. GP and specialists should always work together for you and be in agreement for your benefit. The moment that your GP and Psychiatrist/Psychologist don't work together change, but at the specialist end always allow time for your treatment to do it's job, this can take weeks or months. Sometimes going to Emergency is the answer to find another specialist urgently.

I wouldn't try and get my medical record changed - that is always permanent. In the long run it will be worth it and show the new health professionals what DOES work for you if any medication does - it will be your history somewhere. In your medical records there is always a glimmer of hope in there somewhere. This is difficult to understand when we get given the wrong treatment. One specialist nearly ruined my life at one stage but moving away from them and putting this behind me is what has made me the success story that I am today.

If you are not coping don't hesitate to call the helpline, or go to emergency at a major metropolitan hospital which has got mental services. It turned my life around and helped me to go up instead of down. The mental services at two major metropolitan hospitals have helped me and now they are letting me help them, for the benefit of other patients. Insist on a referral to someone else if you are not happy. Always allow time for your medication to work and every Good Health Professional will NOT LET YOU GO THROUGH MORE THAN ONE MEDICATION CHANGE AT A TIME. Up to a month between reviews is a must, especially with Anti-depressants.

BEWARE OF DRUG INTERACTIONS! IF you are on too many medications your problem could be that something is toxic and that not everyone knows what medications of vitamins you are having. These can also interact and make things like tremors or mood swings worse.

So seek further medical advice! There's always someone good out there, among the bad doctors.

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi Indianna86,

Great that you are posting on the forum to gain some support about your current situation. It sounds like you are really stuck and need the right information to get your on the right path. Being on a CTO when you don't agree with the conditions is a difficult situation. Under the state that you live in there are rights for people who are under the mental health act or a CTO. I can't give you specific advise as I don't know what state you are in and I am only familiar with a few of the states legal arrangements for being involuntary however I do know that you have the right to request a second opinion and you have the right to seek legal counsel. In fact there should be an information sheet given to you with the numbers of free legal representation that you can seek advisement from. For example, if you are in Victoria, the Independent Mental Health Advocacy group has information about your rights under a CTO. Each state will have something like this. See weblink here for example: http://www.imha.vic.gov.au

If you are meeting with your treating team or your case worker, you should request them to give you this information and go over it with you. You can then phone to make a request to speak to a mental health law person or advocate.

It is a really difficult system to navigate on your own especially when you are having symptoms of anxiety as your describe. I wonder if you have any friends or family you can use as a support if you want to take steps to have your case reviewed. It would be a good idea to have a support person along side of you throughout the process.

And if you are feeling really down, please reach out to the beyondblue support line on 1300 22 4636 where you can talk to someone instantly who may be able to offer you some immediate support.

Wishing you the best possible outcome,

Nurse Jenn