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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by refluxxrabbit on December 21, 2007, at 21:14:05
Hello this is my 1st post so I'd like to say greetings to those of you who've kept me interested enough with your posts to ask a question of my own.
After 16 years of heavy methamphetamine usage
I have come to the end of that dirt road a year and several months back. But alas, this drug has changed my entire outlook on the way I relate to certain people/places/things. After quitting my recreational drug usage, I began to suffer from several phobias that may have bad enough effects to see a Dr. or a shrink...The first time I noticed it was that every time the wife or friends invite me out to different occassions where I'd have to be around anyone I didnt know I'd do just short of anything to not go along.
My brother who's a highway patrolman termed my avoidance of public places to be agorophobia(<-?).
That or I'd turned part hermit crab. YukYuk!!Real funny. I asked him if he knows a good Doctor who treats whatever his hermit crab phobia he diagnosed me with, and he laughed at me and said to just get online and look up anxiety and phobia social situations.
His final tidbit of help was to shoot me a few .25mg Alprazolam for the night and the next morning.I took the pills at night and nothing happened. The next day the flea market was open and since I'd been avoiding public places I took 2 / .25mg Alprazolam tablets and 20 minutes later I was down at the market completely relaxed and for the most part not caring about what anyone was thinking about me. It lasted long enough to shop and I now need to seriously find a Doctor who takes Medi-Cal and wont try and put me on zoloft or prozac.
See my brother gets them for anxiety from stress incurred on the job. Not to mention CHP medical benifits plan hes under allows for alot of stuff my Medi-Cal coverage doesnt.
Is there a way to ask a doctor for a specific medicine without seeming pushy/rude/ect??
And I know the SSRI's are all theyve ever tried throwing at me for this affliction I've found myself dealing with.Any help will be appreciated . Cuzz I havent the foggiest notion on how to go about this...HELP?? please?
Posted by oldschool305 on December 22, 2007, at 3:41:46
In reply to What to say to my Doctor??, posted by refluxxrabbit on December 21, 2007, at 21:14:05
well, first thing is first. don't tell the doctor ANYTHING about your past (meth usuage). if you really think that the xanax will help your anxiety issues, and your not getting them to get "high"... then just go to any doc and do NOT tell him anything about your history!!! If they even have a doubt that you have a history of substance abuse, they will quickly say "SSRI".
I have a history of alcohol/pill abuse, and i tend to be very honest with my docs hence they've never presribed a benzo to me. yet, my friend goes all the time and tells them that she has been on xanax for years, she has severe anxiety/panic disorder and they ask her no questions.
good luck. i am fighting a stupid anxiety attack right now. =O
Posted by antigua3 on December 22, 2007, at 7:58:44
In reply to Re: What to say to my Doctor??, posted by oldschool305 on December 22, 2007, at 3:41:46
Hmmm, this is an interesting subject.
In one way I agree, don't tell your doctor, but then again if you really want to get better a doctor can really help. I have addiction issues and my doctor does prescribe a benzo and has for years. I've learned not to abuse them because I'm very cautious about replacing one addiction with another.
If you do want help from a doc, please seek out someone who is experienced with substance abuse issues. I have a whole team of doctors who are aware of my past use and they are all great, and have never said no when my mental health is at issue. But docs differ greatly and some are very benzo-phobic when it comes to prescribing to former abusers. You may have to try a few.
good luck, and congrats for getting sober. It's not easy, and your phobias are to be expected since you can no longer hide behind the substance. It takes some time, and good therapy and/or pdocs can help.
antigua
Posted by refluxxrabbit on December 24, 2007, at 1:28:58
In reply to Re: What to say to my Doctor??, posted by antigua3 on December 22, 2007, at 7:58:44
I couldnt agree more about a number of things in your replies. Back when I was just 1/2 assing my way through my recovery and would sleep until I couldnt sleep anymore even if I wanted to....
I made an appointment with a county run indigent-care clinic doctors with the idea of asking their help with a worsening case of insomnia.
What I really wanted was a Lunesta™ script, (as they were brand spankin new and I wanted to pop them at night but I'd probably use it recreationally if I had the chance.)The nurse asks me to roll up my sleeves and to let her draw 2 tubes of blood for the Doctor to have send to be tested. By whom, and for what, it ended up not mattering.
California indigent health care services dont cover Lunesta. But the Doctor informed me that they will cover me a 10mg ambien script. But only one time & never again.Moral of the story is that I now have a somewhat decent health care insurer...Medi-Cal.
And though they cover countless drugs that the indigent program didnt.Obsticle being: xanax isnt covered by Medi-Cal. But even if I've used xanax bought from diverted sources and am of the mindset that there has never been a drug that made me complete and whole again..ever!!
But I cant mention that tidbit of info to sway them away from SSRI's. But I know this...I will decline all attempts to treat me for depression instead of anxiety...
thanks again
Posted by antigua3 on December 26, 2007, at 10:01:31
In reply to Re: What to say to my Doctor??, posted by refluxxrabbit on December 24, 2007, at 1:28:58
With all due respect, that post sounded like you were being a bit harsh on yourself. You don't need to be, I swear.
I was struck that you refuse to be treated with SSRIs. Why? I'm on a great combo now and my anxiety has been so reduced that my use of Klonopin has dropped by quite a bit. But I'm sure you have your reasons; I just want to make sure you aren't defeating your purpose with an intractable attitude. SSRIs certainly aren't for everyone, and you may have tried some that didn't work, but please don't give up hope. You need extra special care during this time and I hope you can find it.
It's hard to think good of oneself when we first quit. Too many bad memories chattered in my head, and I had to focus on the future and try not to think of what I thought were awful things I had done.
Please take care, and keep pursuing finding a doc that specializes in addicition issues from a positive perspective--you are not to be punished for your addiction, you should be rewarded for taking the steps necessary to stop. You should feel good about yourself, but I know how hard that can be.
antigua
Posted by refluxxrabbit on December 29, 2007, at 0:59:52
In reply to Re: What to say to my Doctor?? » refluxxrabbit, posted by antigua3 on December 26, 2007, at 10:01:31
That was a friggin' beautiful post. Very encouraging and uplifting vibes I got when I read it. Thank you for your support. <---Like Bartals and James™....
Oh and prozac , zoloft, wellbutrin, then lexapro... All with none of the desired anti-anxiety results. Only dosage increases of all but the wellbutrin. I straight up wont take them. They (SSRI's) do have a definite mental effect on what seemed to be the wrong area of my mental that needs mending it seems.
:U
Posted by antigua3 on January 1, 2008, at 0:45:31
In reply to Re: What to say to my Doctor??, posted by refluxxrabbit on December 29, 2007, at 0:59:52
Posted by antigua3 on January 2, 2008, at 7:17:45
In reply to Re: What to say to my Doctor??, posted by refluxxrabbit on December 29, 2007, at 0:59:52
This belongs on the med board probably, but I tried Effexor and it was helpful for a couple of years. It did numb me, but at the time I think that was what I needed. Once I got better and complained, my pdoc switched me to Cymbalta, which was so much less numbing for me, and this year he added Lyrica. Best combo I've ever been on. I'm productive, feel and experience happiness.
Don't underestimate how important it is to understand how badly you can feel after you come off the Pink Cloud. It's totally natural, and makes you want to reach for the substance you abused, but the more time you get under your belt the better you will feel. It's not easy, I know that, but take it from me and others here, it does get better.
The most important thing you need now is a steady sleep. It will do wonders. Not the sleep that the substance brings, but perhaps a little help from a pdoc can help you get steady.
And remember, you deserve a doctor who applauds what you are trying to do, and not one who makes you feel like a junkie.
good luck,
antigua
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