![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Gee on February 23, 2006, at 2:31:04
Today (way too early) I had a pdoc appointment. I hadn't met this pdoc before, but apparently she's really good with meds. She doesn't like to give them out if possible. My old t set it all up for me, and she came with me. The pdoc wants me to add Welbutrin to my Effexor. I had started tapering off Effexor because I thought I was doing okay, but after today, I'm really thinking I was just kidding myself. When I went down, my mood did drop, but I didn't really think anything of it.
After the appointment my t and I went out for breakfast, and we talked it over. Ultimately it is my descion, but I don't know what to do. I look back at how I've been coping, and I'm barely coping some days. Right now, I have tons of homework that needs to get done before Saturday, and it's overwhelming me. I've started, but I don't know where to go from there. It doesn't help that I don't wnat to do it either... heh heh.
I don't know, I just needed to vent...
Posted by caraher on February 23, 2006, at 14:20:50
In reply to Have I just been kidding myself?, posted by Gee on February 23, 2006, at 2:31:04
I don't think you were "kidding yourself" at all... it's just that the pdoc evidently thinks you can do better. It's hard to tell when you're "all better" when you've been depressed for a considerable time. Perhaps the pdoc just wants to see you have more energy, something Wellbutrin is reputed to add to other meds. It sounds like that might help you do what you want to get done.
Posted by Tamar on February 23, 2006, at 18:38:43
In reply to Have I just been kidding myself?, posted by Gee on February 23, 2006, at 2:31:04
I know next to nothing about meds, but from what you say you’re really quite depressed. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do, then you need some kind of help. If you’re anything like me, ‘barely coping’ means ‘being one hour away from complete meltdown’. If you were doing OK on Effexor, and it didn’t have too many side effects, maybe you’re better off staying on it for a few more weeks. If Wellbutrin might help, perhaps it’s worth a try.
I definitely reckon that you need some kind of regular help. Meds are convenient and probably cheaper that daily therapy (though I know nothing about meds…). But if you think your depression will respond best to therapy, you should probably argue for more therapy as soon as possible and get off the meds as therapy helps you…
It’s all a bit of a juggling act, and you have to figure out what works best for you. It can take weeks, or even months. But once you find the right combination you will be able to start getting your life back together.
Tamar
Posted by Poet on February 25, 2006, at 11:23:31
In reply to Have I just been kidding myself?, posted by Gee on February 23, 2006, at 2:31:04
Hi Gee,
I understand your situation. I just saw Dr. Clueless on Thursday and told her that I reduced my dose of Effexor XR. (Which she should have figured out since I haven't seen her in six months and the prescription should have run out in three, but anyway, I don't call her Dr. Clueless for nothing.)
I have been more depressed, but so much of it for me is situational that I honestly don't know if reducing the Effexor contributed to it or not. Sound familiar?
She told me to stay on the Effexor XR at the dose I've been taking for another month. I should write down three things that I would want an antidepressant to do for me and bring it with me to my next appointment.
My concentration is zero right now, which is why I haven't posted much. So help my concentration is going to be on the list. I don't know about the other two. Can't concentrate long enough.
What would your three things be?
What's good is that your new pdoc doesn't like to give out meds if possible. That tells me that she wouldn't have suggested Wellbutrin if she didn't think it would help you. Dr. Clueless prescriped an anti anxiety med for me in addition to Effexor XR. Somtimes you just have to trust the experts, I guess, but I keep thinking I should know what'll work for me. Bet that sounds familiar, too.
Poet
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Psychology | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.