CHAPTER 85

2025-09-09

In addition to the underlying medical condition, patient discomfort is also influenced by the environment and process of treatment, as well as the side effects of medications.

When I was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in early June 2019, my physical and mental state was at its worst. One reason was that my family doctor prescribed the wrong psychiatric medication, which made me even more nervous and my mind raced, making it impossible to stop. Nearly three months of insomnia had drained my energy and left me in a state of mental haze.

The medication also had side effects, hindering fluid secretion and causing a lack of saliva, making chewing and swallowing food extremely difficult. Furthermore, I lost my appetite and didn't drink enough water, which dehydrated my intestines, further hindering digestive function. This sluggish digestion made my life even more chaotic. Three months later, I was admitted to the hospital and had lost over ten pounds.

Liver transplant anti-rejection medications have their own side effects. Long-term use can potentially damage certain organs. At my year-end follow-up six years after my transplant, the doctor ordered a reduction in the anti-rejection medication. Three months later, three weeks after my depression began, several liver parameters that had been under control suddenly spiked.

Because the reduction in anti-rejection medication and my psychiatric medication overlapped, the worsening liver parameters were not certain whether they were due to one or both. The transplant clinic had suggested I stop taking the psychiatric medication, but I was concerned about my depression getting out of control. Ultimately, the clinic allowed me to continue taking it for observation.

During this time, a friend shared her experience with medication. Initially, she was very resistant to it. After being persuaded, she switched medications several times before finding the right one. During the most difficult period, the medication made it impossible for her to go to the bathroom, a truly miserable experience. During my hospitalization, the same symptoms, along with diarrhea, occurred, truly breaking the camel's back. Improvement began to appear after a week.

Fortunately, during my hospitalization, the medical team performed a comprehensive examination, continuously screening out various unknown factors and testing medications. After a few days of rest in a stable and quiet environment, my liver function returned to normal.

On my third day in the hospital, an activity coordinator invited me for a walk and chat outside the hospital for about an hour. A week later, I went for another walk. Upon returning to the hospital, she told me that my condition had improved significantly since the first walk, something I had been completely unaware of.

One morning early in the second week, while I was lying in bed resting, a woman knocked on the door and entered. She introduced herself, saying we had met before at a seminar and that she was a resident psychologist. I was very inattentive at the time and ignored the formalities. I continued to lie in bed, staring at the ceiling while talking to her. Looking back, it must have been after a week of stopping the wrong medication that I had regained some cognitive function and was ready for the counseling session.