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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Christ_empowered on December 2, 2010, at 9:24:28
In reply to Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 20:56:40
what's with pharmacists and hating psych drugs? Not the first case I've heard of a pharmacist knocking the psychiatric meds (not that the meds are that great, or always used appropriately, but..still...)
Anyway, I wouldn't worried about it. First of all, she or he obviously has some kind of anti-psych agenda here. Secondly, just assume that its true, and you have some irreparable brain damage. So what? You're still functioning, aren't you? No tardive dyskinesia, no cognitive impairment, no sudden drop in IQ...
I do think you should give up the antidepressants, though. I'm obviously not a doctor, so feel free to reject my advice (I won't feel hurt), but it seems like they're causing more problems than they're worth. Besides, they're really good for moderate-to-severe depression, when the patient could do with some emotional numbing to help deal with stuff. You seem more like you just need some tranquilizers, maybe some supplements.
Good luck.
Posted by jeaner on December 2, 2010, at 9:31:01
In reply to Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 20:56:40
I can understand your concern for what he said.We are looking for help and look up to doctors or people in the health care profession. To have one of them say there is no hope is devastating. That was not only wrong of him to say such a thing it was cruel. Our bodies can heal we are growing new cells every day. I get so angry at people sometimes. I used to get terrible panic attacks out of the blue. They started in my teens. I suffered till I was in my 30's with them. I started b complex and they are gone for the most part. I very rarely have any problem with that.It's the b6 that helps ,but all the b's work together with magnesium. Maybe you could ask your doctor about trying some. If you google it there is alot of info on b6 and panic anxiety.I believe that it would be much better for everyone to be able to use natural products for health but we do what we have to do to be well. I had a doc tell me once he doesn't cure people he heals them. He said take a pickle out of the cure and it goes bad. Thats true. We need to do our best to find what we need to heal.Remember the pharmacist is not God so he does not have the last say.
Posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2010, at 10:37:17
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by jeaner on December 2, 2010, at 9:31:01
To all I really didn't expect any supportive posts. I sincerly mean that. Someone mentioned functioning. Well I go through the motions without trying to feel as I have been hurt so many times by both family and elsewhere. My pdoc said eventually we reach a point where the brain can't handle any more and we kind of snap. She said this in reguards to a conversation we had on me asking how and why could I take care of three kids, run a business, go to nursing school and divorce and feel good. She said that eventually you can't and that is what happened to me. See I've had my pup look at me for three years like I'm dying. I have felt the same and it scares me. Often others say take this med or that med or see this doc or that doc and I can't as have no money. Not only that I'm terrified to even pick up the phone and make a phone call. The breaking stone for me with physical stuff was hearing I had osteoporosis and would fall, break a hip and die in a year. Plus then got fired by a doc that wanted me to get reclast infusion cause asked questions about it, then the controversy on bioidenticals. And then benzos now making me tired instead of wanting to increase them I just want to stop everything and go to sleep to avoid controversy well really fighting in real life realationships. I feel no doc can help me. It's me and I've lost who I am. And going to bed at 3 doesn't help just up and already dreading the few hours the sun will be up. I totally depend on my husband as I'm terrified of aloneness and he hates it and me. I better be quiet now and eat breakfast. Sarcastically said " oh joy another meal I can't taste". And seriously not feeling sorry for me sorry for those around me. I need to more not living up to my standards or the ones my family is used to. Thanks for listening. I guess cause I'm blasting me it's okay so won't worry about being blocked. Again anyone with any ideas please write. I'm totally out of them. My head spins should I do this or that or this or that til I can't think at all and am so tired. Love Phillipa
Posted by merpmerp on December 2, 2010, at 10:42:34
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin » Phillipa, posted by orbital on December 2, 2010, at 3:06:46
> P. don't freak out. Your pharmacist's theory is absolutely unfounded, it makes *no* sense whatsoever. It's pretty outrageous.
I agree. The word "outrageous" came to my mind too. This pharmacist was completely unprofessional and had no business saying that. I believe the newest research shows that the brain continues to change and form new neurons throughout life (albeit slowly) so there is always hope that it will improve. You're fine.As far as Lexapro I think it's worth a shot, at a low dose anyway to try and avoid adverse effects like the ones I've described elsewhere. It's supposed to be great for anxiety. The jury's still out on whether this low dose will work for me long term but I am feeling fantastically better so I hope my experience gives you a little hope. :)
Posted by rculater on December 2, 2010, at 11:02:31
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by merpmerp on December 2, 2010, at 10:42:34
Forget it. You should report the pharmacist for giving a mis diagnosis based on ......nothing.
and talking bs.
Posted by bleauberry on December 2, 2010, at 11:31:56
In reply to Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 20:56:40
Absurd. Ludicrous. Ridiculous. Arrogant. Ignorant.
What is the world's greatest brain expert doing working in a pharmacy? Come on.
People bedbound on the brink of death...nervous system damage clearly beyond repair...20 meds....are up discarding their canes and meds and going back to work after a few months of LDN.
There is not a single person on the planet that can claim what the pharmacist claimed.
That was a rather cruel arrogant ignorant thing for someone to say to you. I mean, what, does the person get jollies out of removing hope from someone's life? The person obviously has not a clue....he/she was dealing with a psych patient....which means suicide risk is higher than normal....which means the last thing you want to do as a professional is discourage the patient. Especially when the discouragement comes from completely unfounded self opinions.
Maybe the pharmacist has a thing against psych drugs, I dunno. Regardless, it is not his/her place to discuss those opinions with customers and seems to me to be some kind of breech of professionalism. That "might" be a kind of conversation that could occur between a doctor and a patient in a trusting relationship....but even then, is totally opinionated and not substantiated by any proof or fact....but for a mere bottle stuffer in a pharmacy to say that is, wow. A hungry lawyer could probably get that pharmacist sued.
I feel some 4 letter words coming on, so, enuf.
But to reiterate....stories abound on TV, in the news every day, in magazines, journals, and the internet....of people who were given up for dead who recovered miraculously when given the proper treatment.
Posted by bleauberry on December 2, 2010, at 11:58:26
In reply to Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 20:56:40
Phillipa, here's a little homework assignment. Go back to the pharmacist and with a polite curious smile on your face ask him/her politely:
1. What part of my brain is damaged? Be specific. It matters. I mean, are we talking tissue, neurons, receptors, dendrites, fatty tissue, left side, right side, prefrontal cortex, blood vessels, ??? If he/she KNOWS it's damaged than obviously he/she knows WHAT is damaged right? Otherwise such a statement could never be made.
2. How was it damaged? By what mechanism? Which drug did it? How?
3. Why is it not repairable?
4. Why is it that a stroke victim can regain brain activity that was damaged, but you can't?
5. How does the pharmacist differentiate between damage that was done from disease/genetics versus damage done from meds? That would be good to know, because then you finally know for sure what disease you had! Finally!
6. How could anybody possibly get to 65 years with so much unrepairable damage going on their entire life?
So basically, we need more details for such a blanket statement....WHAT, WHEN, WHY, WHERE, and HOW. If he/she knows so much, it should be easy. If not, you are going to get a bunch of "well", "ahh", "we aren't sure but" , and such.
All that said, the human brain begins to deteriorate the day we are born. His/hers apparently has deteriorated much faster than yours and at a younger age....without even any meds to do it!
Posted by Tomatheus on December 2, 2010, at 12:53:15
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin » Tomatheus, posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2010, at 0:16:46
> Thanks so you think this lexapro can work or wasting my time and money?
Phillipa,
I think that there's a chance that the Lexapro could work. If I were taking it, I would probably give it a full trial as long as I could tolerate the medication and then work with your doctor from there. And again, I would also remain very skeptical of what your pharmacist told you. I'm certainly no medical professional or neuroscientist, but it's hard to see how he (or she) could have reached the conclusion that your brain is irreversibly damaged just from listening to you talk about your treatment history. I agree with the other posts that have been made here.
Tomatheus
Posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 13:31:50
In reply to Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 20:56:40
PJ, people say anything. Every second person is an expert. You get in a plumber and in 5 minutes he's an expert on your plumbing. This pharmacist has made himself an expert on the state of your brain. At our age most people's brains are damaged. Certainly yours and mine. It is (shall we say) a no brainer. Hope for us? Hope for what? I don't think there is hope for anything. Maybe there is. I wouldn't know.
I'm interested in the fact that you are frightened of being alone. I'm not nearly as frightened of being alone as I sometimes am of people.
Posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 13:34:45
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin » Phillipa, posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 13:31:50
>Hope for what?
Hope for relief?
I don't have a lot of that.
Not from the pharmacy these days.
Couldn't you tell him you've given up hope because people like him do not sell any decent drugs anymore?
Posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 13:36:40
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by Hombre on December 2, 2010, at 3:58:44
>Ugh...the first thing I thought was that the pharmacist has no basis for saying that.
That never stops them.
Posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 13:43:40
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin » gardenergirl, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 21:52:46
>gg seriously you feel he could be wrong?
Come on, PJ. You need to be more sceptical. How could he be right, beyond the probably right assumption that anyone our age with our med history is f*ck*d. People make it up as they go along so often.
Posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 13:48:35
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by bleauberry on December 2, 2010, at 11:31:56
>There is not a single person on the planet that can claim what the pharmacist claimed.
That sounds about right.
Posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2010, at 18:38:08
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin » bleauberry, posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 13:48:35
Thanks again will continue on the lexapro, try to cut down further on benzos, and see what happens if I give up the bioidenticals. Probably wasting my money. Sigi we can't be old can we? PJxx
Posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 19:38:51
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2010, at 18:38:08
>see what happens if I give up the bioidenticals. Probably wasting my money.
I don't know. I take bio-identicals. Wasting your money? It depends how much you have to spare. I think bio-identical hormones in people our age make sense.
>Sigi we can't be old can we?People our age are not supposed to say they are old, so I get great pleasure from saying I am.
Even better is to have loud conversations in public places about how old and ugly I am.
Posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 19:40:57
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin » Phillipa, posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 19:38:51
>People our age are not supposed to say they are old, so I get great pleasure from saying I am.
>Even better is to have loud conversations in public places about how old and ugly I am.I'm going to have a field day in the nursing home.
No party hats for me.
Posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 19:44:06
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 19:40:57
>I'm going to have a field day in the nursing home.
>No party hats for me.
That's what you need in life. Something to look forward to.
Posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2010, at 20:10:49
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 19:44:06
Sigi you take bioidentical hormones? Somehow find that hard to believe. Not estrogen, progesterone, testosterone. And you are younger than me. And quite handsome as still have your pic. Sigi very handsome. The ladies in the nursing home will chase you about. Your body could be in danger!!!!! Love PJxxx
Posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 20:32:31
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin » sigismund, posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2010, at 20:10:49
Yes, I take testosterone. I already have very high levels of DHEA for some reason, so no need for that.
In 20 years time the me I am then will think that the me I am now is very handsome.
It just never happens when you want it to.
Posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2010, at 21:22:13
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin » Phillipa, posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 20:32:31
Sigi isn't it funny how for instance at age 31 wouldn't cut hair short as said I had wrinkles. Got a time machine? Love PJxxx
Posted by ed_uk2010 on December 3, 2010, at 9:14:00
In reply to Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 20:56:40
>Today in all seriousness was told by pharmacist that my brain is damaged beyond repair.
Is that what s/he actually said or was that your interpretation?
It would be an extremely unusual thing to say. I have never heard anything like it.
Posted by glydin50 on December 3, 2010, at 10:53:24
In reply to Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 20:56:40
Maybe the bigger thing to explore is the susceptibility to accept willingly without critical consideration and to consider the type of opinions, suggestions, etc being accepted.
I have had my issues with just that - that willingness for believability is generally a part of my being mentally and emotionally unwell and in NOT a good place. Illness makes for a lack of confidence in my own convictions and what, "normally", would make or not make good sense to me.
Theres nothing wrong with hearing/thinking about opinions and suggestions. Info is just info. Opinions are just opinions. Wisdom comes from the ability to process and apply. When we only accept negative suggestions and are dismissive of any positive suggestions, I think looking at why that is is important or, at least it was for me.
Just a suggestion (Smile)
Posted by Phillipa on December 3, 2010, at 21:22:39
In reply to Re: » Phillipa, posted by glydin50 on December 3, 2010, at 10:53:24
Actually was looking for good resons to continue with both hormones and that an ad would work for me as the prozac working so well for my Daughter. But he replied her brain hasn't suffered the damage yours has from all the years of prescribed benzos. And as for the hormones he also compounds and said when asked if he felt they were safe for older women he said "the jury is out". So was just asking questions and he answered to the best of his knowlege. Phillipa
Posted by Glydin50 on December 3, 2010, at 21:57:08
In reply to Re: » glydin50, posted by Phillipa on December 3, 2010, at 21:22:39
Didn't intend to offend.
Posted by orbital on December 4, 2010, at 5:05:41
In reply to Re: Pharmacist today said my brain damaged no repairin, posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2010, at 10:37:17
Phillipa, I don't know what's going on but wanted to lend you my support. How are you feeling now?
I'm getting the impression that you're suffering from GAD.
Something caught my eye: Valium. It's a tricky drug for the "elderly" (I don't think that you're old at 65 btw! ;) ). Valium tends to build up *extremely* quickly in certain patients who are over 60 (check the insert or prescribing info).
I once took care of an elderly relative (78) who was taking Valium. She was slightly "off", which I gathered was due to her age/slight senility. Eventually a new doc saw her and he immediately whisked her off Valium and replaced it with a shorter acting benzo. It helped.
You're on a low dose of Valium, but maybe you could consider trying a different benzo? Just a thought.
One thing at a time :) Hug.
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