Posted by Chris Doe on May 25, 2003, at 13:53:04
In reply to Re: Helpless in Seattle, posted by djmmm on January 24, 2002, at 2:25:51
I just wanted to say that your doctor may have been looking out for your own interest. Since i was dignosed with dysthymic disorder I have done a ton a research on it. People with this disorder are much much more likely to have substance abuse and addiction problems. I know for myself i am (please dont laugh) extremely addicted to marijuana, and i know when i smoke it i do not feel high i just feel normal, that is sadly one of the signs of addiction. This may not be the case but it may explain your doctors reaction. Hope this helps. And if anyone needs to talk about dysthymia please feel free to e-mail me chris_hild@hotmail.com it is always nice to know we're not the only ones.
> > I have had dysthymia all of my adult life. I have tried many different types of AD's and none of them have worked. I have been taking Topamax now for 3 months and am up to 350mg - working my way up to 400mg. At first it worked pretty well, keeping my mood swings under control and I was feeling pretty good. Then I went "down" and had to up the dose. This has happened twice so far. Those "down" times are rough - like my head weighs a ton, I don't want to talk to anyone, want to crawl in bed, don't want to deal with anything, etc.
> >
> > I asked my pdoc about trying opiates for my dysthymia. He just gave me a blank stare. So I told him that it was not my fault that my brain was like this and that these "down" times were awful. I also told him when the Topamax was working well, I wouldn't need the opiates and that I would be fine then. I felt like a rape victim or lawyer defending my case or something. It didn't work because he looked at me as if I was a loony toon. What's funny about this is that I have known this pdoc for 15 years. He just said that I would have to get them elsewhere.
> >
> > I have felt the physical difference before with opiates. They make me feel normal, not high. My brain and body feels right. I can't explain it, it just feels like it should. I have been reading the posts about this topic and would really appreciate hearing from people like Elizabeth - I have some questions and would like to communicate with someone that has some hands-on experience. I am meeting with my med doc next week and am going to ask her about it. She is from Europe and may be more open to it. I am going to ask her to call Dr. Bodkin. But if not, I will need to find a new pdoc that will understand that this is what I need and not what I want. Duh.
> >
> > Does anyone know of any GOOD doctors in the Seattle area that are doing research in this area or are open to this concept? If so, please email me at: jetnw@yahoo.com
> >
> > Thanks.....Jet
>
> Hey Jet, Im in Seattle, too.. (Capital Hill)...Im sure there is someone here that can help... have you tried one of the hospitals? Swedish Medical?
>
> http://www.swedish.org/get/specialty.asp?Specialty+Search
poster:Chris Doe
thread:91370
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030525/msgs/229040.html