worried, please help

[lizziev1234]

Hi, im not too sure where to start on this but ill try. I have a history of depression and self harm etc and ive previously been prescribed prozac. I contacted my doctor at the beginning of the year and im now on 45mgs of mirtazepine and over the last month or so been put on olanzapine 5mgs.
What im worried about , is that my doctor rederred me to a psycharitrist and last week saw a occupational therapist. At the end of the first session, the OT suggested that i could be schizophrenic, i saw my gp this week and she wasnt happy that i saw a OT and that a schzophrenia should not have been mentioned at that time. My gp phoned them on my behalf as she is concerned that she cant prescribe different medication until the diagnosis has been found.
The OT called me yesterday and has now said that i should see a senior house officer, as it now may be paranoid depression.

What im worried about is how they can diagnose any illness, and when i looked up on the internet about the psychotic depression, it mentioned going into hospital. I cant be away from home as im a single mum of a 16 year old.

Any help you can give would be good, as ive been worried, firstly about the schizophrenia and now this latest potential diagnosis.

thanks for reading this x

[roiben]

An OT can not diagnose you, so all they can talk about is conjecture (i.e possibilities which will help guide what type of treatment or therapy they may offer you).

Only a Dr and/or a Psychiatrist can diagnose you. Your GP was right to call the OT, as they should not give you such confusing and worrying conjecture.

Please do ask to speak to a Psychiatrist, as they can help put you at ease with regards to any diagnosis, or what stage they are at in obtaining one and whether or not it may involve hospital - To be fair, they only usually involve Hospital as a last resort, so they will most likely look to help you as Outpatient first. Do speak to them about it though.

Roiben x

[tamobhuuta]

odd for an OT to be saying that.

it really scared me when i looked up psychotic depression and all these sites were talking about hospital treatment. but i'd like to reassure you that i've avoided hospital treatment so far with that diagnosis.

i hope your GP can sort everything out so there's some unified idea about what's going on for you and you get the best treatment.

xxx

[lizziev1234]

Thanks for the messages Roiben and Tamobhuuta, that has helped loads. I found all the websites dealing with psychotic depression talked about being in hospital for treatment which was worrying. Im hoping that by next Thursday, im a little bit closer to finding out whats wrong. Luckily i have a good GP who is taking things seriously, which helps. Will let you know how it goes as im sure i will have loads of questions after the appointment.

xxx