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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by seeknsolace on June 1, 2004, at 19:48:55
It seems my thoughts are spinning.. I'm so confused. I've been thinking lately on how can a pdoc just give u a pill and your on your way? And if that one fails, try something else, if that doesnt work.. yet again something else.
If a certain pill does work.. is it really working, or just masking? How can they really tell what is working, being effective/healing? If a person has a bad day and gets drunk, they may forget about their probs.. doesnt mean they have gone away. I know when I have a migraine, and take excedrine.. the migraine goes away and my moods lift because of the medicine, but doesnt mean it cured the core what was ailing me
If you feel better, then they say that med is working, but again, maybe its just masking.. not being what the brain truly needs.
Arent there tests available to see what is really causing the mental symptoms and test again to see if the drug is fixing it?
I've gotten so confused about the depressed brain.. maybe someone can help me understand.. you have your neurotransmitters, talk of tryptophan, dopamine, serotonin, reuptake inhibitors.. what else am i missing? What does each do? What do you want to enhance and suppress?
I'm just thinking alot lately, trying to determine if I want to pursue getting back on meds, and if I do, I want to have some say.. to have control, but I dont know how much of an option it will be or not be.. being I have no medical insurance. I'm not on the edge.. so there's no hurry.
Posted by Ann Marie T. on June 1, 2004, at 21:17:31
In reply to can anyone help me make sense of it?, posted by seeknsolace on June 1, 2004, at 19:48:55
I have found that if you a consult a pdoc they will always suggest you go back on meds. But if you consult a therapist they will work with you and help you determine if you really need meds....this will be the step I take next time I think I need meds..(after I'm weaned off zoloft of course).
Posted by poppi on June 2, 2004, at 1:55:26
In reply to Re: can anyone help me make sense of it?, posted by Ann Marie T. on June 1, 2004, at 21:17:31
Never been to a pdoc. Although I do not advise against it. My md has been very good at explaining things like seretonin uptake or the lack therof to me so I do not hessitate to take what he prescribes. He is 85 years young and has a mind like a steel trap. Don't know what I'll do if he ever dies. I'm sure he will never retire.
Find a good MD you can trust. Ask family and friends for reccomendations and find one you are comfortable with. Then do as he or she directs!!!
poppi
Posted by poppi on June 2, 2004, at 2:43:23
In reply to can anyone help me make sense of it?, posted by seeknsolace on June 1, 2004, at 19:48:55
Seeknsolace
Went back and read your post again and feel impelled to comment further.
If a pill cures your migraine then what is the problem? I have had migraines of and on throughout my 61 years on this earth. Haven't had but one in years because of a drug called a beta blocker. Do I question why? Heck no, anything not to have another one. And If I do, I have a Maxalt-mlt handy to stop it. Do I question why? Heck no, anything to stop the pain and blindness caused by a migraine!
Depression, got so dang sick 13 months ago that I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, didn't want to do do anything. Had all kind of medical tests done, blood, urine ,x-rays, ct scans, etc. Nothing wrong physically!! Lost 50 lbs in 3 months. My MD put me on effexor and within 3 weeks I began to feel better. You spoke of masking, he said the xanax that I had been taking was only masking the effects to the depression. I do still take it on bad days!
I can now drink beer again and feel better and not worse! Again I do not reccomend that.
There is no easy answer to your questions. Except to tell you to quit worrying about having control, just do what you have to do to feel better! Life is too short to feel bad all the time!
My very best to you and may whatever Gods there may be smile upon you
And if you meet someone who doesn't smile back
Give em one of your best
poppi
Posted by partlycloudy on June 2, 2004, at 6:44:34
In reply to can anyone help me make sense of it?, posted by seeknsolace on June 1, 2004, at 19:48:55
I have thought the exact thing about meds masking the depression. It seems that when I feel better, I can't even fully recall what was upsetting me so while depressed. When I take the next dive, it's right there to greet me, warts and all. I see a p-doc and a therapist and I truly believe I have only started to work on the core issues recently.
I too struggle with alcohol although I realized a long time ago that it was part of the problem and not something that made it go away for any length of time.
I have asked both the p-doc and T about what the meds do. My p-doc encourages me to talk with my therapist; my T says I have to change my core beliefs about myself to make headway into the problem.
So this isn't an explanation but more the message that you're not alone. If I wasn't taking effexor, wellbutrin, xanax and ambien, I don't think I'd be here now.
This is the end of the thread.
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