Posted by mr.scott on January 30, 2002, at 15:37:41
In reply to Re: Last post of it's Kind.., posted by Mark H. on January 30, 2002, at 0:38:36
Mark,
Now maybe the first part of this response is steaped in hypersensitivity, but I kind of disagree about my motives to seek other opinions out...
I don't think my point in seeing the different doctors was with intent to do myself or them any harm. I think that it is more important that my body feels good or bad about a treatment decision, modality, or specific drug than to just follow along blindly down the road towards being overweight, half asleep, impotent and declared cured by some psychiatrist. The seeing different doctors grew out of repeated failures with 2 psychiatrists over a decade. One insisted I do Psychoanalysis full well knowing about my drug problem at the time. I have kind of lost faith in these healers. However I'm going to really give this some thought and re-read your response in case I am being dishonest with myself. I think I may have a innate tendency to be dishonest with myself for some reason.I did however go back to the same Psychiatrist I started with before getting the other opinions, and I actually feel more comfortable now with his uncertainty. I've been seeing him since 96...
That being said, I think the feedback you've given me is outstanding and the kind of input I need to hear. Also, the way you described my condition *feels* very accurate. And the allergy part is intersting since I do have nasal allergies. I will get the book you mentioned "Is This Your Child?" from the library or find it at the bookstore. It does sound intriguing.
Please Keep on clobbering me with the truth as you see it. I need that perhaps more than anything else.
Scott
> Scott,
>
> You know where I stand on your drinking. But as for seeing four psychiatrists in six weeks, that is truly self-destructive behavior, because even minor differences in diagnosis and approach to treatment would completely undermine your confidence in all of them, leaving you with no support, no supervised course of action, and the perfect excuse to do nothing about your condition.
>
> (Not to mention four doctors who no longer trust your ability to listen and comply with a treatment plan. Doctors -- believe it or not -- are subject to ordinary human feelings, and there are so many people in genuine need who value their care, that hardly a one of them has to tolerate a patient who goes shopping for competing diagnoses or otherwise acts in a way that discounts their usefulness, credibility, insight, education or experience. I'm not suggesting that we as patients have an obligation to coddle the egos of our physicians; however, it doesn't take too much disrespect to virtually guarantee that you will fall off the bottom of their list of people about whom they are particularly concerned.)
>
> Your history of over-use of alcohol and drug abuse, your emotional sensitivity (including perhaps hyper-sensitivity to rejection and loss) along with your reaction to various medications, suggest that you *may* be a highly allergic person. Allergies (or sensitivities, if you're a purist) can CAUSE depression and all of your other symptoms. Have you ever run across Dr. Doris Rapp's book called "Is This Your Child?" It is a must-read for anyone with food sensitivities or allergies to mold, dust, diesel fumes or what have you. You may be eating your way to poor health.
>
> Medicine is not sufficiently advanced to know what causes conditions like bipolar II and/or atypical depression. Yet many of us have successfully found help in a combination of carefully selected and trialed medications and in cognitive therapy.
>
> You're a wonderful person, and I'm very fond of you. Don't give up on your search to feel better, and don't feel that you have to "suck it up" and refrain from complaining here. I for one will continue to clobber you with my point of view for as long as you need it!
>
> With kind regards,
>
> Mark H.
poster:mr.scott
thread:91632
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020124/msgs/92216.html