Posted by shar on May 1, 2004, at 19:37:19
In reply to Fear, anxiety, all the usual suspects..., posted by Racer on May 1, 2004, at 12:26:57
Racer,
What we have here is emotional stew. Carrots, potatoes, onions, broth, maybe some beef if you're not vegetarian. All of it swirling around. The only difference is that real stew turns out tasty, and emotional stew just leaves us confused or paralyzed or fearful.You brought up a number of issues, very important ones. First, about trust. You've had a relationship with this doc now for a while. Unless a miracle occurs, I wouldn't expect it to change in nature. Or I could be WAY wrong. But, it seems likely he's not going to change, and the question is, given that, how can you convey to him your concerns (which you have every right to do, and he is not being altruistic in seeing you; it is a partnership).
Before their conveyance, you have to know what your concerns are. I think that is sort of like taking the stew off the stove and separating out every carrot, onion, potato (and maybe beef) and putting it into its own identifiable little pile. When it is all swirling around, it's hard to identify the carrots/fear, potatoes/trust, onion/what you want. Especially when there is broth involved.
It seems you have been on Effexor before and it did not do much good, except to make you feel sort of numb and give you weight gain. If that is correct, he needs to hear just the facts. And then, I think, you get to ask what else he could suggest. Something with a different mechanism of action perhaps, so you are not just repeating the past.
I know you are caught in a milieu that is not good--secondhand information, statements of the 'he-said/she-said' variety, etc. Not a good situation. So, I would want to clarify as much as possible, who said what. If you can walk in more or less matter-of-factly, I think you might have a chance to get some clear information. I would want to know, is Effexor the only drug I can take? Given my history, I'd like to know if there are any alternatives.
Well, you get the idea. If my T alluded to this or that, or he said-she said stuff, I would probably be rather point blank in asking "is that my only option?" In other words, what ARE your options?
Well, these are just my insane ramblings on an empty stomach. I do believe you have the right to know what your treatment options are; surely in all of medical history there has to be more than one--which has not worked in the past.
Good luck.
I wish I had some stew.
Shar
poster:shar
thread:342191
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/2000/20040501/msgs/342296.html