I am on Lithium for Bipolar II Disorder. One year after starting Lithium my Thyroid Gland died. I developed complicated, difficult to treat, life threatening Hypothyroid Disease. My psychiatrist said, "Well, there is a pill for that!" He did not care what he had done. The monitoring was spotty because he felt I was young, healthy and would be fine. He was not concerned about monitoring. When I asked to have a lab slip to go have my blood draw he would mock me saying, "It is too soon. You are fine. I am sure everything is fine. You worry too much. Lithium is safe!!!! Just don't worry so much."

At year two my Endocrinologist MD (Thyroid doctor) informed me my Adrenal Glands which sit on top of the Kidneys and are responsible for my Immune System were now dead. That gave me the medical problem known as Adrenal Failure. My health went downhill. I had little protection from infections. I became sick constantly.

Shortly after my Adrenal Failure was diagnosed in the second year I kissed my boyfriend while he was ill. He had Mono. I contracted Mono as well from him. Because I was an adult the Mono took hold and the Epstein Barre Virus (EBV) would not leave. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) which is incurable, there is no medication for it, it leads to cancer and an early death. Getting CFS is a death sentence. I slept my way through life falling asleep while driving, standing, sitting and falling over to sleep wherever I happened to be. I was warned I could suffocate to death due to falling face forward on the sofa, floor, bed or wherever and not waking up when my face hit the surface and instead continuing to sleep. Had I NOT been on Lithium my Adrenal Glands would be alive to protect me from the CFS. I would not be as sick as I am.

Having CFS is like having Narcolepsy only there are no drugs to treat CFS.

Year 2 and a half I developed terrible Edema. I asked for a lab slip to get a blood draw. My psychiatrist said, NO, the weight gain, puffiness and bloating are all normal for Lithium. You are fine. Stop worrying. Your anxiety is too high. Here, take an Anti-Anxiety med. You will feel better. People asked me, what is wrong with you? You look terrible! I have never seen you look like this before. Are you an alcoholic now? Is that why you are so bloated and puffy? If I could see it and everyone else could see it why did the psychiatrist not see it? Oh, yeah. He sees 2,000 patients in one month and doesn't even know my name without a chart. He has no idea who I am, what is going on with me, what I need, what is wrong with me. He is checked out and out to lunch, but I must wait two years, three years before he sends me for blood work.

I changed doctors. The new doctor refused to send me for blood work for fear I would sue HIM instead of the doctor before him. I went through several doctors like this. They all said, no, you will sue me for what the other guy did. I could not get help. No one was willing to take a chance and help me. All they cared about was "Medical Malpractice Insurance" and do not sue me for what someone else did. Too bad if you need help???

Year 5 and a half on Lithium I changed insurance companies. The new insurance company did a blood draw on me for their intake. It was during this physical I was advised I am in Kidney Failure. I am dying. I need to get on the Transplant List and find a Dialysis location.

I can not afford Dialysis or a Kidney Transplant. My health is ruined. My money is gone. My retirement savings plan has been taken by the psychiatrist. I have been bled dry. I have no money to fund Dialysis or a Kidney Transplant. Even with MediCare discounting the cost I am still unable to come up with the money.

I am looking at Medical Tourism to Thailand or Malaysia where healthcare costs less. Healthcare is a fraction of the cost in the US. The doctors speak English, are educated in the West (USA, UK, Australia, etc.) and return home to work. Malaysia is the preferred destination of Westerners because the Malaysians don't charge a different price to foreigners like the Thais do. Thais have one price for Thais and one price for foreigners.

Medical Tourism is more affordable than healthcare in the US. Transplant surgery and Dialysis costs less when you are a Medical Tourist than when you get service in the US. If I can save my money and swing it? I am leaving the US for medical help.