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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 10 to 34 of 48. Go back in thread:
Posted by zazenducke on October 18, 2012, at 18:45:13
In reply to Re: Perhaps a robust placebo response?, posted by Twinleaf on October 18, 2012, at 17:47:34
> Don't forget Scott's scan, done at NIH, which showed extreme underactivity throughout his cortex. That he has been able to change such a situation is remarkable. I don't think there's much room in this scenario for the luxury of "secondary gain".
I didn't know he had a scan. How do you know the underactivity in his cortex has changed? Has he had another scan? But it is remarkable that he has changed. I'm not sure how you see secondary gain as a luxury. It's not an insult. The doctor visits , the posting on the internet, the positive reactions from you and babblers, the subsidized apartment, the disability payments, the pharmacology studies, the planning future medications , the belief that he would have been a medical doctor if he weren't ill are all gains in a sense. That doesn't mean he's faking it. It just means it's a lifestyle for him that provides a good many positives and it will be a huge change if he gives it up and a potential source of stress on his recovery whether it is from his latest med combo or a placebo effect.
Posted by Emme_v2 on October 18, 2012, at 18:54:04
In reply to Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by SLS on October 18, 2012, at 11:02:18
That is really excellent news! I'm very glad to hear it. :)
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 19, 2012, at 2:56:47
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission. » SLS, posted by Emme_v2 on October 18, 2012, at 18:54:04
Nice one Scott, hope it keeps on keeping on!
Posted by SLS on October 19, 2012, at 3:15:04
In reply to Re: Perhaps a robust placebo response?, posted by Twinleaf on October 18, 2012, at 17:47:34
> Don't forget Scott's scan, done at NIH, which showed extreme underactivity throughout his cortex. That he has been able to change such a situation is remarkable. I don't think there's much room in this scenario for the luxury of "secondary gain".
I'm not familiar with the term "secondary gain". It sounds interesting.
In 1985, a doctor of mine who was a professor at NYU told me that if I didn't reduce my stress level and perfectionism, I would ultimately fail to maintain a remission with any type of treatment. From that moment, I made it my goal to protect my brain from further stress and deterioration, and to nurture a remission by working to resolve as many psychological issues as I could. While at the NIH, I requested psychotherapy; something that was not required as part of the experimental protocol. Fortunately, my doctor there was as talented with psychotherapy as he was with psychopharmacology and neuroimaging.
Put quite simply, I want to maximize my chances of success. I have been taking advantage of psychotherapeutic milieus over the years and have profited greatly from them. It was well worth the effort. Interestingly, I have a desire to possibly go back into therapy as my physiology improves. There is a whole lot to the world both inside me and outside me that I wish to understand and improve upon in ways that will enhance my life. The more tools I can pool from the available resources, the more complete my life will be. I want to achieve physiological and psychological wellness as quickly as my potential will allow.
As far as others attempting to characterize me, my illness, and my responses to somatic treatments, I am currently quite content to observe them muse over my experiences without my intervening.
The brain determines the mind as the mind sculpts the brain.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on October 19, 2012, at 3:33:59
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 19, 2012, at 2:56:47
> Nice one Scott, hope it keeps on keeping on!
Thanks, Jono. The support that I have received here at Psycho-Babble over the years has been of enormous help to me emotionally and spiritually. In addition, PB has given me motivation to research and learn things that I might not otherwise have exposed myself to. This motivation has come from wanting to help others as much as it has from my wanting to help myself. It is obvious to me that this is true of most everyone in this Internet forum. This synergistic symbiosis has, in large part, influenced the path I have chosen towards wellness that seems to be working for me currently. I pray that my recovery continues.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on October 19, 2012, at 3:35:55
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission. » SLS, posted by Emme_v2 on October 18, 2012, at 18:54:04
> That is really excellent news! I'm very glad to hear it. :)
Gosh, it feels good.
<sigh>
It's been a long time coming. Hopefully, things will "stick" this time.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on October 19, 2012, at 3:37:18
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by Phil on October 18, 2012, at 12:23:38
> That's great Scott.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Someone recently commented that you are a good person. I agree.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on October 19, 2012, at 3:46:32
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission. » SLS, posted by phillipa on October 18, 2012, at 11:04:32
> This is really encourgaging. seems like when the minocycline was added things began to really improve. Fingers & Toes crossed. Phillipa
Thanks, Phillipa. I really do appreciate your support over the years. I am particularly happy when the nurse in you comes out and you teach me things about medicine. You also teach me in other ways, of course. I would love to see you attain the health that you seek. Twinleaf's post along another thread has helped me to understand and appreciate you more.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on October 19, 2012, at 3:47:26
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by gadchik on October 18, 2012, at 12:35:47
> being cautious is ok, but I vote for optimism. May you continue to stay well.
:-)
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on October 19, 2012, at 3:52:29
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission. » SLS, posted by ChicagoKat on October 18, 2012, at 13:06:37
> glad to hear the good news. i hope you continue to feel better
Thanks. I look forward to the day when I can say the same thing to you. Your intellect, spirit, and persistence should pay off. I hope it has already.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on October 19, 2012, at 3:54:18
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by Beckett on October 18, 2012, at 13:38:49
> Wow Scott, I feel such happiness reading your post.
Pretty cool, right?
Thanks.
:-)
- Scott
Posted by AlexCanada on October 19, 2012, at 6:46:10
In reply to Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by SLS on October 18, 2012, at 11:02:18
glad you are doing better
> Hi All.
>
> After having lost a few weeks trialing doxazosin without success, I returned to prazosin. I have titrated the dosage to 12 mg/day. This seems to be the minimum effective dosage for me.
>
> I am feeling stuff I haven't felt since 1987. Good stuff. One word comes to mind - "Finally". I am notorious for being optimistic in the face of ultimate treatment failure, though. However, it is my best guess that I will achieve a persistent remission with my current treatment. Since I have guessed wrongly so many times in the past, I should probably remain cautious in my optimism. Time will tell.
>
> I am currently taking:
>
> Parnate 80 mg/day
> nortriptyline 150 mg/day
> Lamictal 200 mg/day
> lithium 300 mg/day
> Abilify 10 mg/day
> prazosin 12 mg/day
> minocycline 200 mg/day
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by phillipa on October 19, 2012, at 9:41:31
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission. » phillipa, posted by SLS on October 19, 2012, at 3:46:32
Scott thanks. I tried to reply to messages yesterday but I think Dr Bob was reviewing posts. For a followup I had cut luvox in half. Two days and was better. Yesterday I saw the pdoc and told him and he acted like he didn't know what I was talking about reguarding now feeling brain zaps and strange. I went back up to 50mg last night. As there is definitely something in this med that my brain now requires. I do wish I felt well enough and could afford to seek out other options. The RN in me had an article to post last night saying that inflammation was implicated most likely in depression, bipolar, schizophrenia. So this mino is on target for you. Unfortunately I admit I'm afraid of it as I do have autoimmune illness already with the thyroid. I am immensly happy to see you doing so well on this med. Finally the missing link. Phillipa
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 19, 2012, at 14:35:28
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission. » ChicagoKat, posted by SLS on October 19, 2012, at 3:52:29
Thank you Scott, what kind things to say. And I am truly happy for you :)
Kat
> > glad to hear the good news. i hope you continue to feel better
>
> Thanks. I look forward to the day when I can say the same thing to you. Your intellect, spirit, and persistence should pay off. I hope it has already.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 19, 2012, at 19:09:28
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission. » SLS, posted by ChicagoKat on October 19, 2012, at 14:35:28
Thanks Scott - and please dont take those "secondary gain" comments to heart, I think that phrase is usualy used by arsehole doctors employed by insurance companys in order to deny claims
Posted by SLS on October 20, 2012, at 2:13:06
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 19, 2012, at 19:09:28
> Thanks Scott - and please dont take those "secondary gain" comments to heart, I think that phrase is usualy used by arsehole doctors employed by insurance companys in order to deny claims
Thanks, Jono. I had to look up the meaning of the term "secondary gain". I had never heard of it before. No one has ever suggested that of me.
- Scott
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 20, 2012, at 2:57:43
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission. » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on October 20, 2012, at 2:13:06
I have a friend who I'm pretty sure is a major victim of it - since the day we left high school in 1988, he has done maybe 2 weeks work, and has had this illness that changes as they exclude diagnosis, from back pain to arthritis to a brain tumor to MS - and the only common symptom is the inability to do a days work
You on the other hand seem to have a lot of insight and desperatly want to get better and lead a normal health life.
Posted by SLS on October 20, 2012, at 5:57:27
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 20, 2012, at 2:57:43
> I have a friend who I'm pretty sure is a major victim of it - since the day we left high school in 1988, he has done maybe 2 weeks work, and has had this illness that changes as they exclude diagnosis, from back pain to arthritis to a brain tumor to MS - and the only common symptom is the inability to do a days work
>
> You on the other hand seem to have a lot of insight and desperatly want to get better and lead a normal health life.My first goal has always been to return to work. I don't think school is in my future. My second goal is to find a significant other. If I can get to a solid 50% improvement, I should be able to do these things. It would still be difficult, but that's life. It is my hope that I can begin working next year. It would allow me to meet people and build up a social life. It would help me to rejoin mainstream society. This is my major motivation. The money would be nice, but I am only looking for enough financial stability to maintain an apartment, buy food, save some money for later in life, and perhaps buy a SLR camera. I already have a computer, printer, TV, and audio system. I really don't need much else.
- Scott
Posted by phidippus on October 20, 2012, at 18:05:50
In reply to Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by SLS on October 18, 2012, at 11:02:18
What do you think Prazosin is doing for you?
Eric
Posted by Raisinb on October 21, 2012, at 21:20:35
In reply to Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by SLS on October 18, 2012, at 11:02:18
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 22, 2012, at 0:12:49
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission. » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on October 20, 2012, at 5:57:27
That was my goal scott, to return to work and main stream society.
After i had my breakdown, I didnt work for 18 months, and was only leaving the house late at night to go to the grocery store and pharmacy, in a suburb some way from where I lived (so I didnt bump into someone I know)
With the right cocktail of drugs (and a kiss in the keeshter from the unemployment insurance people) I got a fairly menial warehouse job, which I did for 6 months, i then moved to Darwin, where I knew there was a labour and skills shortage, and got a job as a warehouse supervisotr, which i stuck at for a year, then i struck gold, and managed to land a job as a supply chain coordinator for a major manufacturing company (the position i held when i want nuts)
I am not rehabilitated (apart from relying on Xanax, Zoloft and Edronax to do it) - my next goal is to transfer this job back to my home city.
I know you can do it when they get your meds right - if that takes a while, dont let unemployment get to you, you arnt a moocher, you're ill and you're being supported by social security, when you do get back to work, your taxes will be supporting other ill people while then need it - thats how I look at it anyway
Re school, I realy should start studying, but not sure if i have the motivation
Posted by papillon2 on October 22, 2012, at 8:15:14
In reply to Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by SLS on October 18, 2012, at 11:02:18
Posted by phidippus on October 22, 2012, at 10:32:52
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 22, 2012, at 0:12:49
I was working customer service jobs and technical support positions up until 1999, when I had my first breakdown. In 2000 I filed for disability and was rewarded it in 2001. From 2001 until 2005 I was self employed, working in the music and video industry. I 2006 I started becoming ill again and by 2007 my mental health had spiraled out of control and I broke down again. By 2008 I was back on my feet and started school again after 10 years. Hopefully I'll stay well again in order to stay in school. Remission is a good thing, albeit unpredictable.
Eric
Posted by brynb on October 22, 2012, at 11:33:01
In reply to Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission., posted by SLS on October 18, 2012, at 11:02:18
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 22, 2012, at 19:29:45
In reply to Re: Continuing to recover. - My guess is remission. » jono_in_adelaide, posted by phidippus on October 22, 2012, at 10:32:52
Very true Eric - you have to take remission when it reapears, and live it while you can.
I have resigned my self to the fact that I will be on multiple psychotrophics for the rest of my life - I'm hopeing that they will keep me euthymic and functioning, if they dont, I'm not sure what I'll do.
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