Posted by Cruz on September 15, 2001, at 15:26:36
In reply to Update on me and the ECT issue, posted by PhoenixGirl on September 15, 2001, at 13:21:23
I might have an idea that could help you. If you are someone with an elevated cortisol level, which many of us diagnosed with depression have, you might respond well to treatment to lower cortisol. Using this theory I started treatment with ketoconazole. Its been about 2 weeks now and I feel wonderful. If its something you might be interested in I can provide a little more info. I can't provide a great deal, since I'm working to find the best dosage, treatment schedule etc..
> Well, here's what's been going on. Last Monday I saw the doctors at Emory hospital, and they have encouraged me to have ECT. They said the memory problems are not bad enough to interfere with me going to work. The doctor I spoke to is heading the Emory study on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, and I asked about participating in the study. I can't because you have to stop all meds for the study, and I can't do that because the depression is too intense. There is a doctor in Atlanta who is doing TMS outside the study, and I could go to him, but the Emory doctor doing the TMS study recommended I go with ECT, not TMS. ECT is proven to be effective, while TMS is still being studies. If I did TMS, I would have no memory problems, but I could be spending a lot of money on something that won't work. I wish I could try TMS first, and if it doesn't work, go with ECT, but I don't have enough money to try both. It's either-or. So, I plan to go inpatient in October for the ECT. My hope is that it will lift me up enough that I am more able to go out and meet people. My worst problem is the loneliness, but I believe there is a biological component to my depression that must be controlled through medical means.
> That's the news on me. I wanted to ask people for some advice on how I can be in situations where I meet people I'm interested in. Places like the mall aren't good because it's so random and it's not expected if you talk to strangers. The kind of people I like are deep brooding people. Probably because I'm so brooding myself! I've thought about going to a club with an aesthetic I like, and maybe talking to people there. But other than that, I don't know what to do. It's so hard to find your niche in Atlanta. Meeting people is easier in college. The people I work with suck, they're so conservative and dull and too old for me. I wish I could find a place to work with more youth and energy, more excitement. I just don't know how to go about finding people. In therapy, we talk about what to do when I'm interacting with people, but I need to find out how to be in situations in the first place where I meet people. Anyway, I'd appreciate some feedback, thanks.
poster:Cruz
thread:78799
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010907/msgs/78803.html