Posted by Elizabeth on February 10, 2002, at 12:10:56
In reply to Re: depression, etc. » Elizabeth, posted by sid on February 9, 2002, at 9:03:21
> > > Saw my doc today. She gave me something to help me sleep (fall asleep, has 4 hours of effect only)
> >
> > Ambien? Halcion? (Don't make me play this guessing game. :-} )
>
> zaleplonSonata: that lasts more like 2 hours, I thought. If you wake up early or if your only problem is initial insomnia, I imagine it'd be great -- assuming it works, of course!
> Well, I'm in Canada and thank God we don't have HMOs.
I guess God doesn't like your neighbors down south. :-(
> We can go to any doc we want too.
Here there's a *lot* of variation depending what kind of insurance you have. Medicaid, the state program that disabled people typically get (it's harder to get in some states than others), often covers a lot, but it's common for doctors in private practice not to take it because it doesn't pay them enough.
> So some GPs kind of specialize through experience and interest.
That's cool. I think it's true to an extent here too.
> For e.g., my obgyn is really a GP, but all she does is obgyn.
I think most insurance plans allow you to see an ob/gyn as your "primary care provider."
> She refers you to a real obgyn if needed, but otherwise, I deal with her. And this GP I go to for my depression treats a lot of people for mental illnesses.
So they're both doctors of internal medicine (or whatever you guys call it) by training?
> Of course she'd refer me to a pdoc if my case became more complicated than it is now.
How complicated is it? Have you had a lot of treatment resistance?
> I used to have another gp whom I'd go to for colds, the flu or a sprained ankle, but I didn't feel at ease to go to him for my depression - he knows my entire family and that would have been weird.
Actually, I think it's good for a pdoc to meet your family (I try to introduce my immediate family to my pdocs where feasible), but if he knows them already then that would be kind of odd.
> From what I read here, the more ADs you took before, the less effect they seem to have.
I don't think that's necessarily true of side effects. Also, I think it's more likely that because all of the currently recognized ADs have similar (monoaminergic) mechanisms, if you don't respond to one or two then it becomes quite a bit less likely that others will work for you. (On the other hand, of course, many people who don't respond to SSRUs will respond to MAOIs or TCAs, say, since the different monoamines aren't all the same.)
> I know, I had to switch brand last spring because I was getting depressive on Diane-35.
I tried Ortho-Tricyclen. I decided it wasn't worth it to try a different brand.
> What I meant is I never took benzos or ADs before. And I've been taking birth control pills recently only (past year) because of major PMS (suicidal 3 days per month).
I was taking them to try to prevent cramps (only one or two days but really bad). I think I'm lucky that I don't get any kind of PMS, because it seems like many, maybe most, women do.
> > "Psychomotricity?" Is that a word? :-)
>
> It is in French anyway. I freely translate sometimes. Psychomotricité.Damned Canadians. :-)
> Del Montes's prunes in juice work well for me. Oh, and humongous, delicious navel oranges. They're expensive, but MMMMMMMM they're good!
I'll keep that in mind -- I like navel oranges, although prunes aren't my favorite food (to put it mildly). I've been trying to use Metamucil regularly, but it's a bit of a PITA.
> > Yeah, one day we'll all reach OK. (I wonder if the Oklahomans are ready for us? :-} )
>
> lololololol !I thought that joke was really bad, myself!
> I forgot to tell you... increased bruxism was a problem for a while.
With Effexor, you mean? I think I've heard of that happening with SSRIs and maybe Effexor before.
> Now it's not as bad as it was about a month ago. I wear a mouth guard every night, and my jaw does not hurt anymore, so I must not have so much bruxism while I sleep.
FWIW, I think Klonopin (Rivotril) is supposed to help with that. It's become sort of the standard for movement disorders in sleep.
> Take care, elizabeth. And take your meds. :-)
Yeah, you too :)
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:75408
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020208/msgs/93588.html