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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 invisibleman15010 on August 13, 2006, at 16:48:57
Just some thoughts, as I have went through the decision process once again about a med/treatment change and asked for ECT and return to Effexor ER. As I have gone through this horrible cycle of severe depression ups and downs and anxiety ups and downs, I see more and more the benefit of sites like this and others...Knowledge and some understanding of what is happening to us. If I would of known about this site back in the late 90's or 2000, I would of pursued my course much differantly and maybe not have lost all. (maybe)
As I visited this site on a regular basis, make med. changes, try to move on, have med combos quit, revisit the site, I keep seeing the same overlying premise, that most of the Dr's don't know anymore than we do. After looking up ECT on this site and others, it became less scary, less "One flew over the Cuckoo's nest like." Maybe I will end up like Jack and hopefully there will be a Chief to put a pillow over my head. But, better yet I hope to get the positive benefit that it often provides and the Effexor will work even better than before.I know a lot of the Dr's hate these website. It disempowers them. Oh to the mighty Dr. But, after going through, about all of the newer meds, anxiety meds, I have found that researching before hand, then knowing what to ask for is a good way to go. At least for those able to do that. I am only talking depression and anxiety. I have family members with severe Bipolar, Manic Depression...they often were not in a state to make a decision. Anyway, I have walked out of a number of Dr's when they told me I had to take xyz, no benzos, I am one step below God, etc.. I have been lucky to have found a Dr. that is willing to listen to me and let me help in making a judgement about treatment. It is our lives, not theirs. I have run into a few other good ones to. One's that were willing to listen to you as an educated patient. This in itself does not make my depression/anxiety go away, but it makes me more comfortable with my Psy doc/ patient relationship.
But on the down side, sometimes the web, can be info overload, read the wrong post and become scared to death about a med. If you can get anything from reading the posts, realize that these meds. react differently for each of us. Who knows why, I am sure some of you have opinions. That's beyond my expertise. Anyway, after making a big decision to pursue ECT, which my Dr. has been proposing for over a year, I felt a need to post how I decided to proceed. Be your own Judge...if you can't ...find a new Dr....there are thousands out there.......how come there are so many from India? Good luck to all
e
Posted by Phillipa on August 13, 2006, at 20:32:39
In reply to Empower yourself with Knowledge Be your own Judge, posted by invisibleman15010 on August 13, 2006, at 16:48:57
In my experience only after working with some they are constantly taking courses and updating their knowledge. love Phillipa and good luck!!!!!
Posted by llrrrpp on August 13, 2006, at 22:10:39
In reply to Re: Empower yourself with Knowledge Be your own Judge » invisibleman15010, posted by Phillipa on August 13, 2006, at 20:32:39
I have a bachelor's degree in neural sciences and so I know a tiny bit about this stuff. My pdoc knows my background and it was so nice to have him ask me what I think I need. Sometimes he agrees, sometimes he disagrees, but I think it's really important to have this kind of dialog. And the more we talk, the more I learn about my crazy brain! It is definitely empowering. I think that knowledge is knowledge. Sometimes we can teach our pdocs a thing or two also- often they are so busy that they don't get a chance to read all the abstracts or keep up with the latest studies. And they shouldn't be threatened by it (ideally).
-ll
Posted by Squiggles on August 14, 2006, at 6:06:32
In reply to Re: Empower yourself with Knowledge Be your own Judge » invisibleman15010, posted by Phillipa on August 13, 2006, at 20:32:39
I think the pharmaceutical companies have
made psychiatric care very difficult for
doctors. The proliferation of drug clones
taxes the doctor's already stretched time
limit to learn. I think that the net helps
the patient to distinguish one drug from
another, as he is closest to his personal
experience, but do we really need 60 varieties
of SSRIs? And not all patients are net
surfers. There are poor and illiterate people
who must rely on their doctors. We shouldn't
forget about poor countries and the medical
problems they have.Squiggles
Posted by invisibleman15010 on August 14, 2006, at 9:19:03
In reply to Re: Empower yourself with Knowledge Be your own Judge » invisibleman15010, posted by Phillipa on August 13, 2006, at 20:32:39
Yes, you hit the nail right on the head. Are we going to General Practioners or Psy. Drs that are up with the cutting edge of research. I get the feeling many times that they are pushing whatever the dark suited drug reps with trays of subs, sandwiches and free vacations are pushing. My current Psy dr. is able to explain why they think certain meds. work and is honest when they don't know why some have a benefit. I know when I first started on these is was with my old trusted family doctor. They have to cover the whole gamit of our body. We hear that they are putting more emphasis, training, seminars on mental health issues. Let's hope so. For Chronic Depression, I still think it is a crap shoot, trying one after another until you come close to the target, for awhile. For Anxiety, I have never had any benefit from the new line of antidepressants. Only benzos keep my anxiety at bay. A lot of doctor will not prescribe them, I have twice been told when looking for a new Dr. that counseling and one of the newer meds was all they would try for me. I never went back, especially when they insisted I would go to an all day 8 week anti anxiety group bs session/therapy...no freakin way could I be locked in a room for 8 hours with a bunch of other people......why torture a patient....
e
This is the end of the thread.
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