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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 60. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KaraS on June 10, 2005, at 19:54:05
I had my first appointment today. I saw the doctor for about an hour and a half. I was extremely impressed. He was so sharp, really brilliant actually, and so on target in his assessment of me. He was also very caring. My friends are all shocked. They've never heard me talk about a doctor in such glowing terms. Usually I'm frustrated and feeling helpless after seeing them. Not so this time.
For one thing, he noticed that my pulse rate was too high. He took it a couple more times during the session. I explained that it's not always this high and that I was stressed from running late to the appointment. The pulse stayed high during the whole exam because I was nervous that this might be the end of the line for me and if this doesn't work, then what? I also mentioned that it was usually in the normal range at my regular check-ups. Anyway, he noted that my reasons for feeling nervous still didn't justify my pusle staying that high. He took a family history and noted that my dad died of a heart attack at age 45 and that my mother is an extremely anxious person. He could tell that my system overreacts to stress and stays in overreactive state far too long. He gave me more specifics about that. He thinks it could turn out that I don't need an antidepressant at all. He gave me a prescription for a beta blocker. I asked if the beta blocker might make my depression worse. He said he's never seen that in his patients and that the tests that led doctors to think that beta blockers do cause depression were done on people who already had heart disease, which he believes distorted the picture.
He also gave me tests for memory and cognition. Things have always taken me longer to think through than my peers in school so I have suspected that I may have some ADD. I managed to be a straight A student and get an MBA but my slow pace has been a huge detriment to me in the work world. Anyway, after the oral tests he gave me, he concluded that the rate of my cognitive functioning was not on a par with my IQ. He said that the rEEG would probably show that I need a stimulant. I told him that I had tried Ritalin but that it put me to sleep. He said that I probably haven't tried the right stimulant.
He discussed how the rEEG often indicates medications for people that are completely counterintuitive. For instance, he has found at least one case where dexedrine worked wonders on a woman with anorexia.
He also mentioned that he thinks SSRIs are safe medications and that the risks of suicidal ideation are minimal. He said that the problem is that they're given when they're not needed. He claimed he has never seen an EEG that showed a child or teenager needed an SSRI.
So anyway, my next step is to take the beta blocker and get off of the doxepin and the Omega 3 oils. (He said that the rEEGs indicate that Omega 3s can work like a mild Neurontin in the brain.) He wants me off of both of them for at least 10-12 days while I discover what dosage is right for me on the beta blocker (Atenolol). Then I'll have to be off of the beta blocker for a day or so before I can get the brain scans done. Also, he wants me to get some metabolic blood tests done including thyroid panel and CBC.
I was weeping at the end of our session because I finally felt that I was dealing with someone who could help me. I didn't have to try to convince him of anything that didn't match with my experience. I also was weeping because I felt that if I had met this doctor 25 years ago, then I might actually have had a life.
I hope my going on and on about this has been helpful to some of you. I'll keep you posted on how things progress. I'm very anxious to get the actual rEEG done and get on with the rest of the treatment.
Kara
Posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2005, at 20:21:03
In reply to rEEG intake session today - WOW!!!, posted by KaraS on June 10, 2005, at 19:54:05
Now that sounds interesting. But I don't understand the fish oil? I thought it was a food supplement? Sounds like you may be on the right track. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 10, 2005, at 22:18:50
In reply to rEEG intake session today - WOW!!!, posted by KaraS on June 10, 2005, at 19:54:05
Posted by Sarah T. on June 11, 2005, at 0:26:56
In reply to rEEG intake session today - WOW!!!, posted by KaraS on June 10, 2005, at 19:54:05
Kara, this is wonderful news!!! Please keep us posted. I'm so happy for you! I do have a few questions. . . You mentioned your rapid heart rate. Is it possible that Doxepin is causing that? I had very rapid heart rates all day and all night long on all TCA's, even at low doses.
Also, your doctor said Omega-3 FA's can function like Neurontin. Can you elaborate on that? Did he mean that they act like mood stabilizers? Neurontin was touted as having mood stabilizer properties, but I thought it had turned out to be quite a disppointment in that respect.
One last question: You mentioned having brain scans. Do you know what kind of scans you'll have? SPECT? PET?
Posted by KaraS on June 11, 2005, at 1:19:45
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session today - WOW!!! » KaraS, posted by Sarah T. on June 11, 2005, at 0:26:56
> Kara, this is wonderful news!!! Please keep us posted. I'm so happy for you! I do have a few questions. . . You mentioned your rapid heart rate. Is it possible that Doxepin is causing that? I had very rapid heart rates all day and all night long on all TCA's, even at low doses.
That's a good question. I guess it's possible but he didn't think that such a low dose should do that. I'll be able to check it again once I'm off of the doxepin (and I'm not taking a beta blocker).
>Also, your doctor said Omega-3 FA's can function like Neurontin. Can you elaborate on that? Did he mean that they act like mood stabilizers? Neurontin was touted as having mood stabilizer properties, but I thought it had turned out to be quite a disppointment in that respect.Unfortunately I can't elaborate on the Neurontin comment. I don't know for certain why he mentioned Neurontin rather than one of the standard mood stabilizers but I suspect it has to do with what he has observed directly from the qEEG scans. I will have to ask him that next time I see him.
> One last question: You mentioned having brain scans. Do you know what kind of scans you'll have? SPECT? PET?
I also don't know how the brain scans he takes compare to SPECT or PET or BEAM. All I know is that they are called digital qEEG scans and that the information they take is fed into a database. The process of feeding this information in to the database is called rEEG. There was a post a little while back that compared the various brain imaging forms but I'm too lazy to try to find it.K
Posted by KaraS on June 11, 2005, at 15:00:33
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session today - WOW!!! » KaraS, posted by Sarah T. on June 11, 2005, at 0:26:56
I took my pulse rate this morning upon waking and it was only 68. A little later on it was 72 so I suspect that the doxepin isn't complelety responsible for my raised (and sustained) rate yesterday. (Of course I haven't started the beta blocker yet either.)
K
Posted by linkadge on June 11, 2005, at 15:06:10
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session today » Sarah T., posted by KaraS on June 11, 2005, at 15:00:33
What do you mean? Are you saying that 72 is your off-doxepine pulse??
I tried 10mg of doxepine once, and it added about 20bpm to my pulse, and lowered my BP.
Linkadge
Posted by Ktemene on June 11, 2005, at 17:11:50
In reply to rEEG intake session today - WOW!!!, posted by KaraS on June 10, 2005, at 19:54:05
Posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2005, at 17:17:30
In reply to Great news! Let us know how it goes. (nm) » KaraS, posted by Ktemene on June 11, 2005, at 17:11:50
Kara, That Thread you mention is well worth finding. There's a doctor who has a clinic which uses all the various scans who contributes to the Thread. It is through and extremely interesting. Google it. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by KaraS on June 11, 2005, at 17:25:13
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session today, posted by linkadge on June 11, 2005, at 15:06:10
> What do you mean? Are you saying that 72 is your off-doxepine pulse??
>
> I tried 10mg of doxepine once, and it added about 20bpm to my pulse, and lowered my BP.
>
>
> LinkadgeX
X
XWow, you're really NE sensitive, aren't you?
I take doxepin every night. The 68 and 72 bpm were my rates the following morning while still on doxepin.
K
Posted by KaraS on June 11, 2005, at 17:26:55
In reply to Re: Great news! Let us know how it goes., posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2005, at 17:17:30
> Kara, That Thread you mention is well worth finding. There's a doctor who has a clinic which uses all the various scans who contributes to the Thread. It is through and extremely interesting. Google it. Fondly, Phillipa
Hi,
I remember that thread. The doctor who chimed in is one of the three doctors who is fully trained in the rEEG method.K
Posted by linkadge on June 11, 2005, at 19:53:22
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session today » linkadge, posted by KaraS on June 11, 2005, at 17:25:13
Yes, I am NE sensitive.
Linkadge
Posted by Jazzed on June 11, 2005, at 23:37:49
In reply to rEEG intake session today - WOW!!!, posted by KaraS on June 10, 2005, at 19:54:05
This is great, I hope whatever you try works wonders for you. Ritalin made me tired and slow initially, and then that wore off after an hour or two. That's when it kicked in. Adderall made me tired the first day I took it, but after that I was fine. If you are ADD the stimulants might make you tired, they're supposed to slow you down. Trial and error.
Jazzed
Posted by KaraS on June 11, 2005, at 23:46:15
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session today - WOW!!! » KaraS, posted by Jazzed on June 11, 2005, at 23:37:49
> This is great, I hope whatever you try works wonders for you. Ritalin made me tired and slow initially, and then that wore off after an hour or two. That's when it kicked in. Adderall made me tired the first day I took it, but after that I was fine. If you are ADD the stimulants might make you tired, they're supposed to slow you down. Trial and error.
>
> Jazzed
I've just started hearing from people that stimulants may make you tired at first but that doesn't mean that they won't eventually work for you. Thanks for reinforcing that and for your good wishes.K
Posted by Jazzed on June 12, 2005, at 6:01:30
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session today - WOW!!! » Jazzed, posted by KaraS on June 11, 2005, at 23:46:15
> I've just started hearing from people that stimulants may make you tired at first but that doesn't mean that they won't eventually work for you. Thanks for reinforcing that and for your good wishes.
>
> KYou might want to check out www.addforums.com And scroll down to the section on meds. Lots of info and different experiences there. Just keep in mind that if someone else has a bad experience yours won't neccessarily be the same, so don't freak out b4 you try something.
>
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>
>
Posted by ed_uk on June 12, 2005, at 7:21:48
In reply to rEEG intake session today - WOW!!!, posted by KaraS on June 10, 2005, at 19:54:05
Hi Kara :-)
It sounds like you've got a great new doc!!! Keep us updated, it's really interesting. I hope he can help you, I'm very hopeful :-)
Ed xxx
Posted by sleepygirl on June 12, 2005, at 21:01:52
In reply to rEEG intake session today - WOW!!!, posted by KaraS on June 10, 2005, at 19:54:05
I'm so happy for you! I wish you all the best!
Posted by iforgotmypassword on June 12, 2005, at 22:49:41
In reply to rEEG intake session today - WOW!!!, posted by KaraS on June 10, 2005, at 19:54:05
if you dont mind me asking. im desperate to try something myself
Posted by KaraS on June 13, 2005, at 1:58:02
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session today - WOW!!!, posted by sleepygirl on June 12, 2005, at 21:01:52
Thanks everyone for your good wishes. I'm not quite as psyched as when I first got out of the appointment. My skeptical side is coming through or maybe it's just that I'm afraid of being disappointed. I think things are hopeful but I shouldn't be celebrating just yet. Still a long ways to go...
Posted by KaraS on June 13, 2005, at 2:01:14
In reply to what clinic/doctor are you seeing?, posted by iforgotmypassword on June 12, 2005, at 22:49:41
I'll send you a babblemail with the details.
K
Posted by iforgotmypassword on June 13, 2005, at 3:10:31
In reply to Re: what clinic/doctor are you seeing? » iforgotmypassword, posted by KaraS on June 13, 2005, at 2:01:14
Posted by KaraS on June 14, 2005, at 19:58:29
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session today » Sarah T., posted by KaraS on June 11, 2005, at 15:00:33
Since my pulse rate has been in the normal range when I took it over the course of a day, the doctor said that I don't need the beta blockers. It was only high in his office because I was stressed out and afraid.
Now, he wants to get me in to have the actual rEEG done earlier - at the end of this week or the beginning of next week. He will do it with the small amount of doxepin that I'm on as I literally can't function for 12 days without it or something else for the anxiety. He said he'll just have to adjust for that mentally. I hope it doesn't throw things off by too much and draw out the process. I'm excited that things will be moving along quickly though.
Posted by Sarah T. on June 14, 2005, at 21:48:41
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session - follow-up, posted by KaraS on June 14, 2005, at 19:58:29
Hi Kara.
Thanks so much for the follow-up. I think it makes sense to stay on the tiny bit of Doxepin. Perhaps, at a later date, you can have the rEEG when you're not on any meds, but for now, this seems like the best course of action. I'm glad to hear that your pulse has been normal. Please continue to let us know how things are going.
Posted by KaraS on June 15, 2005, at 2:43:16
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session - follow-up » KaraS, posted by Sarah T. on June 14, 2005, at 21:48:41
> Hi Kara.
> Thanks so much for the follow-up. I think it makes sense to stay on the tiny bit of Doxepin. Perhaps, at a later date, you can have the rEEG when you're not on any meds, but for now, this seems like the best course of action. I'm glad to hear that your pulse has been normal. Please continue to let us know how things are going.
Hi Sarah,
That was very kind of you to post that. I regretted writing my last message. After sending it I thought that it didn't contain any important information for people who are interested in hearing about the rEEG process. It really only was a detail that's important to me.
Anyway, I appreciate your support.Kara
Posted by ed_uk on June 15, 2005, at 9:09:14
In reply to Re: rEEG intake session - follow-up, posted by KaraS on June 14, 2005, at 19:58:29
Hi K!
>Now, he wants to get me in to have the actual rEEG done earlier - at the end of this week or the beginning of next week.
I'm excited for you :-) Tell us how it goes :-)
Ed xxx
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