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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 19, 2002, at 11:41:37
HMOs suck. I've been struggling with a range of disabling (though not debilitating) mental and physical disorders for years. My HMO demands that I see only my GP for problems, who must referr me to a specialist if I am to see one. I suppose this makes sense, and would be fine if the GP actually did this, but she doesn't. The trend is that I present a problem, she runs a couple of tests that check for a narrow range of possible problems, sees nothing, and pretty much tells me to live with it. GI problems? Let's run an endoscopy and barium and look for a gross disorder. Didn't find any? Go away. Fainting problems? Let's run an EEG and check for low blood pressure. Nothing wrong there? Go away. Depressive problems? Try Effexor. Didn't help much? Well... don't take it. Go away. As long as it's been proven that I'm not dying, I feel like I'm brushed off.
So anyway, despite my doctor's superior medical knowledge, I posess much better knowledge of my symptomology, and access to medical reference material. After getting brushed off for the 10th time, I decided to look into other alternatives. Based on the majority of my problems and my history, it appeared that a lot of research suggested an anticonvulsant/mood stabilizer. After finding out which would be the best particular one, I did a no-no and ordered some from a web site. It was remarkable! After a couple of weeks, almost all of my problems have ablated. No longer dizzy, confused, frustrated and out of it. There is a clear and broad benefit from this drug, and I feel like a new person.
Problem solved, to some extent. My only dillema now is that I'll have to continue ordering it online. Aside from that, I'd like to know *why* this anticonvulsant is benefitting me so much (do I have a neurological disorder?), which I can't do on my own. Solving these issues requires that I fess up to my doctor about going behind her back, and that she actually listen to me about it. I fear that she'll just get upset that I did this, and do nothing (in fact, I'd bet money on it). Has anyone else been in similar circumstances? What should I do?
Posted by utopizen on November 19, 2002, at 14:05:23
In reply to Stepping on Dr.'s toes, posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 19, 2002, at 11:41:37
wow.
Well, try a different GP. I'm fortunate to have a PPO, so I can technically see a new doctor every day out of the year, if I were a hypochondriac and that sort of thing would please me... heh.
Anyway, I think it's weird a GP's giving you Effexor. Wow. Tell her you want a "second opinion." I did that with my dermatologist regarding a nail fungus treatment (he was uncomfortable with it b/c of liver problems with the drug) and he didn't mind doing it at all... in fact, the secretary was pleased, because this doctor has like a 4 month waiting list for new patients.
Posted by Dinah on November 19, 2002, at 16:53:50
In reply to Stepping on Dr.'s toes, posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 19, 2002, at 11:41:37
I'm sorry your choice is so limited. Are there no better options? Or any chance of getting on a PPO? Our plan doesn't even offer an HMO anymore. It must not have been too popular.
You know, I'm sure, that you need to tell the truth. If for no other reason than if you have adverse reactions, or there will be drug interactions with future prescriptions, or blood monitoring of some sort needs to be done. For example, my liver enzymes are off and while it's probably due to an over-reliance on Excedrin Migraine, they also need to know I'm on Depakote.
Of course, you can think long and hard about *how* to tell the truth. And if she decides to terminate you over it, do you have anywhere else you can go? I suppose all those things should be thought out.
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 20, 2002, at 15:50:25
In reply to Stepping on Dr.'s toes, posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 19, 2002, at 11:41:37
I guess I don't have the perspective on normal prescription avenues to appreciate the strangeness of my primary prescribing Effexor. I was just glad she was actually trying something. It made me impotent, so she switched it to serzone. That didn't do much better, on top of having to get constant blood tests for serzone/liver problems. Bah.
I'm in agreement that it would benefit me to have her aware of the drugs I'm taking. I'm thinking about switching my primary, which is evidently allowed, and then laying all my chips on the table with the new physician. What's sad is that I switched to my current doctor because she seemed a lot better than the previous one, who seemed even more annoyed with my health issues.
Posted by Gracie2 on November 20, 2002, at 22:58:58
In reply to Re: Stepping on Dr.'s toes, posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 20, 2002, at 15:50:25
You need another primary physician, you can try any one that accepts your insurance plan and change as often as you feel is necessary. I went through 3 primary physicians in 2 years, until I found one that I was comfortable with and trusted.
It was a discouraging search but I'm much better
off than if I had just decided to stick it out with the first guy, who was kind of bumbling.After much experience, I'm now convinced that the administration of psychiatric medications should
be closely monitered by an experienced psychiatrist as side effects, long-term effects and misuse can have terrible consequences.
-Gracie
Posted by syringachalet on November 21, 2002, at 9:37:30
In reply to Re: Stepping on Dr.'s toes, posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 20, 2002, at 15:50:25
Eddie, sounds like you are 'between a rock and a hard place' when it comes to getting any relief your current medication regime.
Getting meds from the internet has its risks and benefits.
Had you ever considered Wellbutrin? Also are you taking any other meds that would interact with your psych meds?
I had a friend who started on Lexapro and was feeling so much better after about two weeks, she decided(on her own) to buy some Meridia(diet med) off the internet and get 'a jump start of gettting those extra pounds off'...
HOLY COW!! She ended up in the ER and was lucky she didnt have a intracranial bleed (STROKE)from the sky-rocking bllod pressure the combo of these drugs caused....pretty scary stuff...Just a thought...you know you best... in all your health care needs...
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 25, 2002, at 9:30:23
In reply to Re: Stepping on Dr.'s toes, posted by syringachalet on November 21, 2002, at 9:37:30
> Had you ever considered Wellbutrin? Also are you taking any other meds that would interact with your psych meds?
--------------------My dad is on Zyban (same thing), so maybe I should ask him how it's going. I could stand to stop smoking, anyway.
> HOLY COW!! She ended up in the ER and was lucky she didnt have a intracranial bleed (STROKE)from the sky-rocking bllod pressure the combo of these drugs caused....pretty scary stuff...
----------------------I'm very cautious about what meds I take together. Before taking tegretol, I looked up all the info I could find on interactions, and printed out the CYP-450 enzyme info for it for my own investigations. I also stopped taking my other medication (imipramine) before starting it. The imipramine was for a dx of irritable bowel, but I'm finding that the tegretol alone does almost as good a job in managing that, as well as keeping my mind straight. A one med solution that doesn't interfere with my libido is a dream, and one that my current dr would never have suggested.
This is the end of the thread.
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