Medical Help At Home?

[BlessedBackyard]

I've had panic attacks off and on for ~ 3 years, but agoraphobia took me by surprise last September. I was home sick for a week, and then my truck wouldn't start. It took a week to fix it. So 2 weeks at home, and I was suddenly deathly afraid of leaving. I've made various lifestyle changes and have seen small improvements, but I still haven't been able to leave home. I've found a psychologist who is willing to do phone consultations, but how does an agoraphobic go about getting medical attention?

I want to get some testing done, specifically hormone levels. I've been tracking symptoms, and there seems to be a monthly pattern. If I can't get testing done, I at least want a consultation with a functional medicine doctor who can draw conclusions from symptoms.

I'm irritated and keep hitting dead ends. My general physician says she can prescribe 2 doses of valium to get me to and from her office, so that she can prescribe an anxiety med at her office. I'm at the point that I'm willing to try medication, but one dose of valium (after never taking anything like that) is not going to cut it to get me out of the house, 30 minutes down the road, and into a doctor's office. I feel like that's something I need to work up to, and she can only offer a one-shot deal. Just the stress of that idea drives me crazy. The doctor also said they don't do hormone testing on a woman who still has a regular period. Um, hormones can be skewed while I still have my period, so I don't get that. Anyway, even if the dose of valium worked, this isn't the doctor that I want to stick with.

I emailed a few functional medicine doctors. Most never responded, but the ones that did said I have to come in for my first visit. They can't recommend home visits or home health care without seeing me in the office first. That seems backwards. If I could get to the doctor, I wouldn't need a home visit, so thanks.

What do other agoraphobics or disabled people do?? How am I supposed to get medical help? The panic attacks originally came out of nowhere -- no negative thoughts, no worrying -- so I do believe there is a physical aspect there. Surely, there's a way to find a doctor who will do phone or Skype consultations, if not home visits.

[Kirk]

I would try to go out of the house with a family member or good friend. Melatonin, Benadryl or L-Theanine may relax you enough so you can leave for a bit, if someone else drives.

[Anne1221]

I agree. Instead of your goal being to get a doctor to come to you, your goal should be to get yourself to a doctor. I think if you took one Valium and had a trusted person with you, you could get to that doctor's office. If not, start taking baby steps each day to increase your steps out of the house. Tonight I was terrified to do something and it turned out to actually be fun. It's fear that keeps us down. Don't let the fear win.

[Dahila]

I am in Canada and no doctor will come to your place. My best friend how a 30 years old son who will not leave the house, Still she takes him somehow to doctor.......... there is not choice, I agree all this effort will go to waste, tunnel it in good direction. We do have a member she does not come here a lot but i keep in touch with her. Find Frankies thread about agarophobia in social anxiety subforum. She shared her story and her recovery. Step by step

[Kirk]

The only way that I know of a physician will come to you if you are ill is if you pay for a concierge internal medicine physician.

[BlessedBackyard]

Thanks for the encouragement, and thanks Kirk -- a concierge physician isn't something I'm familiar with. Dahila, I'm going to look for Frankie's posts right after this. I haven't looked much through the social anxiety subforum yet.

I suppose I didn't really expect an answer, but after getting off the phone with my physician's nurse, I was frustrated. She basically said "we can't help you, I don't know who can, and I'm not willing to spend any time finding out." I emailed another doctor to see if they do phone consultations, and instead of answering my question, the clerk told me how much an office visit costs. I know I'm not the only one who can't currently get to the doctor for that initial visit, so I was frustrated the most by the gaping hole in the medical profession that allows these people to fall through the cracks. I find it ironic that if I could get to a doctor, I wouldn't need a doctor, or at least not need one for what I'm currently facing.

I am taking steps to get out of the house -- things that help me let go of the fear and things that help my body get healthier. It's a slow process.

Update: Dahila, I've had no luck finding the thread you mentioned. Any idea how far back I need to look?

[Dahila]

BB I can not find it either but there is a few other threads, look at the ones with a lot of replies. I am sorry , It is a slow process but you will recover, your determination will be awarded. I keep you in my thoughts, it is such awful thing to deal with it, You do not have to ask why I know it. I was there, and i had overcome it, In my case meditation twice a day 15 minutes gave my such calm mind that I could do anything. Maybe it is worth to try ?
You only need a doc when you want to go on meds. Therapy would be good, however it never worked for me, What worked for me was internet and meeting people who deal with the same problems. For so many years I was ashamed to tell anyone about my anxiety. I am old and it was not accepted. We still have a stigma on mental diseases.
Meeting people with the same problems took care of my loneliness. We have many good members who can advice and help you. What you have to do ; just ask for it:)

[Anne1221]

Here's what I would do. I would go as far as you can comfortably in your front yard. Each day just take one step further than you did the previous day. YOU CAN DO IT!

I know that one day I told my therapist I could not go to the gym. I was too scared. He said, "Yes you can." That gave me confidence and I did and it worked out fine.

[dontcarewhatusernameis]

Misread the initial post. OP could try googling "online general practitioner". It seems like there are a few that will do video chat online. It won't let me post a link but (www)amwell(.com) is one.

[gypsylee]

Do you drive?

When my anxiety is bad it comes in the form of agoraphobia and this year I had a few episodes where I needed to get to doctors but I was so panicky I felt like I couldn't drive. So one time I got my mother to take me and another time I caught a taxi. Well both were SUCH a hassle (my mum is 75 and driving is this huge drama for her) that it made me realise driving myself there was easier, no matter how anxious I felt!

Agoraphobia is like any other phobia really and the best way to deal with it is to expose yourself to whatever it is that scares you. I read a book a while ago called The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold (who wrote The Lovely Bones). The mother in that had such bad agoraphobia that whenever she had to leave the house (for doctor's appointments) she'd have to be wrapped in towels and blankets before even getting in the car! The book is written from the perspective of her daughter and it took such a huge toll on her and her father that he ended up killing himself and she ended up killing her mother.

I've never been that bad but it's one of those things where I can understand how it happens if you don't face it. When I'm at my worst I wait until it's dark and I do little drives to the convenience store and buy something there. Then I might go to the supermarket and gradually I get more relaxed about going out. I also find it helps to have something on me like Valium, which reassures me that if I start to feel panicky I can take one and it'll take the edge off.

All the best,
Gypsy x

[Kirk]

The concierge physician concept is relatively new. You pay a fee of around $1500-$1750 per year and get email. text and cell phone access to your
physician 7 days a week. It typically includes 12 visits per year, with home visits counting as 2 visits, although their are variations.

[Kirk]

Even though our daughter is now 26 and lives with her boyfriend, we only pay $300 per year for her as she
is under 30 and my wife and I pay $1,650 per year. i never feel rushed and each visit is at least 30 minutes and
some have been an hour or so. I get an annual wellness check and it lasted 2 and a half hours or so. He also
has the best bed side manner I have ever seen and I am on a first name basis with him. He is never aloof
and talks to you like a friend. For me, it is money well spent.

[Dahila]

Do you have any idea that OP maybe can not afford it, Most people here can not,
Can not believe in this two posts above, We do not care how much you pay.

[Kirk]

No need to get upset Dahila. I am merely giving alternatives for him to choose from with all of the information he may need to proceed.
Also, you do not know what people can and can't afford. I am entitled to also voice an opinion as this is not your forum. You are just a
member like the rest of us, so take a pill if you need to relax and get a grip.

[Kirk]

This is also an open discussion forum where ALL of us are here to get support and ALL of us are entitled to our opinions.
Just because YOU don't like something or disagree, does not give you the right to smother someone else's viewpoint.

[Dahila]

Kirk I am long time here and rich people do not use forum, they have treatments and therapy. Trust me on it, The rich ones would not ask on this forum how to get the doc to house. They will just do it. This is why I reacted but I am not upset , just you should be a bit more sensitive and tune up in our members. I may be wrong and maybe OP is very rich and can afford it.
I still think 99% of our members have no means, to have it.
I do not disagree with you Kirk, I stated that is difficult for most of us to pay for services, this is the main reason people look for help here. :)

[gypsylee]

Hahahahahahahahaha

oh you guys

[Dahila]

Hahahahahahahahaha

oh you guys

Am I nice or not????????????

[Ponder]

I'm with Anne on this one. Concentrating too much on the definition of your label is only making things worse. Buy working on what is really needed each day little by little, you will achieve more than what you expect of any medical intervention for your lifestyle related problems. You already claim that you have made gains from changing your lifestyle, however label those achievements as small. You have to remember that what led to your "issues" (I purposes not use medical labels as that seems to be what bound most people) took a long time. No one just pop's out with gene's and or predispositions turned on. They require a trigger in order to develop and for most of us that has taken years. Your are on the right track with lifestyle changes. Therefore whilst I have little faith in any kind of medical intervention, yet respect your desire to seek it out; I would recommend that you start aiming for your mail box or equivalent taking one step at a time. Seek out help from anyone you know when you feel ready to take a step beyond that so that they may be able to accompany you and your first medical visit outside your house. Don't worry, just because you walked out you house, no one will think you are cured ... I am sure they will have plenty of prescriptions on the ready as long as you able to keep coming back. Is how the system works.

Personally the only way I have been able to stem the tide of anxiety, social phobia, agoraphobia, paranoia, mania and whatever labels ... take your pick (...and I really REALLY DESPISE society.) Was to make lifestyle changes and let them sink in over the years. For me medication and medical intervention only dragged on my "issues" Rome was not built in a day - nor our issues. Allow yourself time.

In the mean time ... seek out the help you wish by working on graduated exposure towards the footpath that graces then entrance to your home. Anything less is just creating issues - defining the act of "The Perpetual Cycle."
_____________________________________________

Terribly sorry if this is yet another Debbie Downer for the resident MD. http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/sad/shedding-tears.gif

Now about Medical Help @ Home ... that's another story. We are very lucky here in Australia ... but then that depends on how you look at it. In one way, we do not have to rely on rich parents paying our way; and thank **&K for that, because most of those boomers are always gallivanting overseas. Here in OZ - we have all kinds of medical assistance that's bulk-billed and or Government funded/approved. Disability Support, Home Care, Nursing Assist down to on call doctors/visiting GPs. The GPs get $200 per visits and boy do they break the speed limit when your able to catch them at the traffic lights. The quality of care with a home call doctor is rather questionable due to the racing around they are prone too ... this is the same for all those blue nurses that typically run over peoples cats and green bins. "Sorry Darl - CANT CHIT CHAT TODAY ... GOT TO RUN!!!" Broom BROOM ... onto the next one. It's part of that Perpetual Cycle you see. Once again ... just keep working on those lifestyle changes. Trust me ... you don't won't to rush into home care reliance anytime soon. The handing out the wrong prescriptions, doing wrong tests and so on is a regular thing with that bunch. Very much hit and miss. Alas - you also get what you pay for. In that regard, you better off living in someone else's "dream" ... where the parents go online and sprout how they pay for their kids quality care.

Fact is - that's not a realistic program ... nor is the one that requires people fork out a couple of grand a year ... that would equate to not much more than the welfare level of assistance one receives over here. (Very Questionable and one that is designed to keep you sick!) A franchise of sorts. Let's do please do keep this real. (Rolls Eyes)

So there you have it. From the Land of the Lucky - The Land of Plenty ...

Keep Working on those Life Style Changes - or at the very least, graduated exposure ... towards that front footpath

Good luck with whatever way you go.
________________________________

[Dahila]

:rolleyes:.............................

[Kirk]

Whether anyone likes it or not, medical intervention is necessary in certain circumstances such as heart attack,
stroke, cancer, severe bleeding and the like. Without medical intervention you would be six feet under and that
is all she wrote.

[Dahila]

Of course it is necessary, docs saved my life a quiet few times. If this was not for health care I would be dead 40 years ago. NDE is not easy to take............ docs are necessary so is medication which save lifes.
We just try to do other things first before popping the pill, at least I do.
I am on meds for HBG, HBP, and on clonazepam, so not I need it, I take it.
It is about OP and her success (I do believe she just started to do first steps in this direction) in going back to normal, happy life.
Kirk I do agree, but I would be cremated :) not smelling the daisies

[Ponder]

Whether anyone likes it or not, medical intervention is necessary in certain circumstances such as . Without medical intervention you would be six feet under and that
is all she wrote.

We have house calls in this country for fee to stop filling up the emergency entrances from otherwise trivial cases. They even have adverts on prime time TV to educate people on such a dilemma.

People can avoid "heart attack "... stroke, cancer, severe bleeding and the like ... by avoiding the very consumer products that cause these kinds of ailments to begin with. So in fact, if you don't like medical intervention then it would be best to avoid the circumstances that go a long way to making medical intervention "necessary."


Then of course many people are at a loss and choose to consume the way they do - in order to kill themselves, which makes the term "necessity" a rather subjective point of view. This be the state of affairs we currently live in. Either way ... this cycle is great for the business of medical intervention whilst upholding so called moral ethics and instilling a false sense of purpose in those who thrive on them.

[Kirk]

You are correct in SOME cases, but not ALL. Here in Baltimore, their is a radio show where a natural pharmacist talks about exercise,
eating healthy organic foods, staying away from processed foods, taking supplements, etc. He owns a large holistic pharmacy, yoga studio, etc.
He said that in his estimation no matter what he does, he cannot rid himself of all cancer risk. Many illnesses are also the result of heredity, bad luck, etc.
So to say all diseases can be avoided, is not realistic.

[Ponder]

Thx for the clarification. I'll accept what you have said. What matters is acknowledging what is within our control and working with that. It matters not what others have to say except that which we know to be true for ourselves. For sure a lot can be gained gleaning from others, but nothing beats learning from our own personal experience. One of my main points I was trying to make, is that once we have been sick long enough, we either make the decision to heal ourselves or we just give in and continue to pop the pills. I can't speak for others - but I do know one scenario is about taking responsibility for self, whilst the other tends to leave it in the hands of others. Of course it's not an open and shut case or rings as clear as a bell or quite as simple as that.

I would swap out SOME for MOST when it comes to the amount of SAD cases that plague this world. In that light I would also say ... that's being real. It's not pleasant, and it's understandable that people choose not to accept it or any form of pain. It is how we have been and are conditioned. I'd say that holistic fella knows very well that only through acceptance comes relief as opposed to hiding from unpleasant experiences. Only then can true healing take place - no matter how far gone or infested we or any other person be. Coming to know and experience such is what gives me hope and why I continue to breathe. The knowing/discovery in that, brings about a real sense of peace no matter how senseless things can seem.

[BlessedBackyard]

We have house calls in this country for fee to stop filling up the emergency entrances from otherwise trivial cases. They even have adverts on prime time TV to educate people on such a dilemma.

That makes a lot of sense. I vaguely remember hearing about nearby paramedics trained to make house calls rather than transporting patients to the hospital, when it's something they're equipped to handle. It'd be great to see emergency rooms handling actual emergencies.

Kirk, I appreciate your response about the concierge, whether I can afford it or not. It was nice to know expected costs, in case I ever did want to go that route.

I can't swallow pills, so medication for anxiety hasn't really been a serious option, though I've been desperate enough to consider it if they had been on hand. My main interest in having a home visit is for testing, to see what physical things could possibly be out of whack. I get that the agoraphobia stems from my fear of the panic attacks, but the initial ones came out of nowhere or even during my sleep, which I equate to a physical imbalance. It would just be nice to know a starting point instead of trial and error with supplements and such, hoping I land on the right combination.

Driving is a big phobia at the moment. I've worked up to driving to my neighbor's house, but once my home is out of sight, it's all over. Being a passenger is no better, especially since I'm easily car sick. The biggest help has been the puppy I got a few weeks ago. With his help, I walk to the mailbox and get some exercise. He's still scared of a lot, so I try to be strong for him. I'm finally ready to see and socialize with people, which is awesome.

[Ponder]

Now that sounds like a step in the right direction. Take your time, and pay no mind to the setbacks when they happen. Sensible planning without too much expectation often helps me to see myself slowly making gains with graduated exposure. Having a well thought out escape (a well planed path of retreat without the need for drama) also helps. The more I prepped early on before leaving my door, the less dramatic things felt before I left. Little bit by little bit.

Perhaps there may be something of help among the following Link:
Planning Ahead for Agoraphobia (https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Planning+ahead+for+agoraphobia)/Social Phobia