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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by g_g_g_unit on May 2, 2010, at 8:06:46
as an adjunct to this earlier thread about conduct around psychiatrists (http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100425/msgs/945375.html), i was likewise wondering if its always a good idea to disclose the extent of your med history?
mine is long, especially for my age (24), which eventually caused some psychs to start turning me down and recommending psychotherapy instead. i was angry at the time, but it turned out to be a good idea because i really was 'addicted' to trying medication and had no sense of what i was trying to achieve from life.
after being in therapy for the past year, i now feel a lot more prepared to try medication again .. but i mean ive pretty much tried everything in the SSRI class (except Zoloft), effexor, both irreversible MAOIs, Moclobemide, nortriptyline, ritalin/dexamphetamine, and memantine, though some of the trials definitely weren't conducted fairly on my part.
Posted by Phillipa on May 2, 2010, at 10:58:57
In reply to are you always honest about your med history?, posted by g_g_g_unit on May 2, 2010, at 8:06:46
Yes as if not how can I be helped? Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on May 2, 2010, at 14:08:24
In reply to are you always honest about your med history?, posted by g_g_g_unit on May 2, 2010, at 8:06:46
Ggg,
What if you told him or her pretty much what you wrote? Working w/a doc could be seen as teamwork. If I were a doc, I'd like to think I'd appreciate your clarity and honesty. Also sincerity to work.
Do you have strong opinions about what you want and don't want? That could be good info for a doc.
Posted by g_g_g_unit on May 2, 2010, at 20:06:55
In reply to Re: are you always honest about your med history? » g_g_g_unit, posted by floatingbridge on May 2, 2010, at 14:08:24
> Ggg,
>
> What if you told him or her pretty much what you wrote?yeah i may do that. i also don't think there's any drug i've tried that i'd actually like to revisit, shy of Nardil. i just feel, though, that its extensiveness almost indicates like a 'drug-seeking' mentality
>
> Do you have strong opinions about what you want and don't want? That could be good info for a doc.i do have a fair idea of what i'd like to try, yes
Posted by floatingbridge on May 2, 2010, at 20:31:15
In reply to Re: are you always honest about your med history?, posted by g_g_g_unit on May 2, 2010, at 20:06:55
'Drug seeking' doesn't mean what you wrote about in your post. To doctors it indicates desires to get high, or other ways abuse, drug selling, doc shopping for multiple scripts.
That doesn't sound like what you're writing about at all. You might have been curious, experimenting, not always 'compliant' in giving meds a fair trial--and you also wanted to feel better, I imagine. Telling a doc you're willing to work with them and keep in touch about dosage and med changes goes a long way. When you find a doc you like. It really is a
joint venture ideally. Best to you!
Posted by floatingbridge on May 2, 2010, at 20:34:09
In reply to Re: are you always honest about your med history? » g_g_g_unit, posted by floatingbridge on May 2, 2010, at 20:31:15
P.S. 'drug seekers' deserve help and meds, too. They can be difficult to treat because of compliancy issues.
Just had to say that....
Posted by g_g_g_unit on May 4, 2010, at 19:51:36
In reply to Re: are you always honest about your med history? » g_g_g_unit, posted by floatingbridge on May 2, 2010, at 20:31:15
> 'Drug seeking' doesn't mean what you wrote about in your post. To doctors it indicates desires to get high, or other ways abuse, drug selling, doc shopping for multiple scripts.
>
> That doesn't sound like what you're writing about at all. You might have been curious, experimenting, not always 'compliant' in giving meds a fair trial--and you also wanted to feel better, I imagine. Telling a doc you're willing to work with them and keep in touch about dosage and med changes goes a long way. When you find a doc you like. It really is a
> joint venture ideally. Best to you!
>thanks for your support. you're right - i was using the term 'drug seeking' out-of-context because i feel that, with me anyway, the accompanying mindset is still similar (drug users aren't actively trying to destroy themselves .. they're looking for a way to stopper the pain without really trying to confront it, which i feel is how i acted in a way)
Posted by floatingbridge on May 5, 2010, at 12:01:34
In reply to Re: are you always honest about your med history?, posted by g_g_g_unit on May 4, 2010, at 19:51:36
Sometimes people feel they should get to the source of the pain they feel. That isn't always possible, and implied within that belief is that the individual is responsible for the pain, which usually translates as an emotional issue. I feel that is out-of-date magical thinking up to a point. And it makes great literature. However, and of course, abdication of personal responsibility doesn't help either. I see a shrink, etc. If needed, medicine is taking care of one's self. (IMHO.)
best to you!
Posted by Techno'n'PillBottles on May 6, 2010, at 6:19:07
In reply to Re: are you always honest about your med history? » g_g_g_unit, posted by floatingbridge on May 5, 2010, at 12:01:34
WOW! I can really relate. I have felt the need to hide a lot of history from docs before for the same reasons. I try to be as honest as possible about what meds I have tried and what the effects were, however there are things I won't tell them.
for example, in the past I have made some of my own med changes without consulting the doctor. not necessarily because I thought it was a good idea, but because I was losing my mind, it would take two weeks to see the doc, and I was fairly certain I could help myself by making a change. I tried to avoid doing anything drastic and make informed decisions. when telling the doc about things like this they seemed to lose a lot of trust in me that is very hard to get back and that can create a bigger barrier between you and your doc and, in my opinion, it can make their judgement about your meds worse because they are worried about the wrong issues.
I once could not sleep despite taking my full dose of seroquel and I was in a bad bad state so I took 2 extra doses. I had heard the doctors say repeatedly what a moderate dose is and used that as a gauge for what was safe to take, and I checked on the internet for what might be a dangerous dose. when I told the doc she got pissed off and made me pick up my scripts weekly instead of monthly. so I felt as if I was being punished for doing something not so bad and I was inconvenienced as well. this also resulted in repeated skeptical comments and criticisms when I made suggestions about med changes.
I recently had some serious problems with welbutrin so I decided to stop taking it for two days and then resume a smaller dose. it worked fine, solved my problem and helped me figure out what a better solution is for my meds. I definitely did not tell the doc about that because she would probably lecture me, trust me less, and be resistant to any ideas I had for med changes.
I'm definitely not trying to tell you this is always the correct way of thinking and my actual opinion is that the more honesty the better, however, some of the aspects of dealing with these people don't work that way.
My advice is this: always keep your best interests in mind. It seems like you are very clear headed about what you want and it seems you want to be healthy, stick with that. I always have to keep myself in check about "drug seeking behaviors" and such because I have had substance abuse issues, which have more to do with seeking peace than partying for many of us. always keep an eye on that in yourself because abusing meds or taking too many different things at the same time can make one too dull, too crazy, too sleepy etc. a big part of that for me is identifying the difference between boredom and serious issues. It sounds to me like you're not having too much of a problem with that right now, but it's easy to slip into that when feeling stable starts lacking excitement. I think the better you connect with yourself, the better any treatment will develop.
P.S. sorry I got a lil long winded, I get a kinda excited some times and i needed to get that crap about my doc off my chest. I hope some of it was helpful.
and in case you didn't check your other post about wanting someone to read your list, i wanted to give you my email: algaethescum@gmail.com
email me anything anytime, i'm glad to have people to talk with and i'll be glad if I help at all.
Posted by morganator on May 6, 2010, at 21:59:41
In reply to are you always honest about your med history?, posted by g_g_g_unit on May 2, 2010, at 8:06:46
In my opinion, if your not completely honest with doctors, psychiatrists or therapists, your only hurting yourself.
This is the end of the thread.
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