![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by chiron on June 24, 2008, at 23:16:50
I've been with this psychiatrist for 2 years now. I've tried a lot of meds, and he has been running out of ideas. Today he said he thinks we've reached a point where meds won't offer any more help. His main suggestion was that a serious relationship might be beneficial.
Great day.
Posted by Phillipa on June 25, 2008, at 0:44:14
In reply to Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship', posted by chiron on June 24, 2008, at 23:16:50
Chiron time for a new pdoc. Why would the pdoc suggest a relationship and all the stress that goes with them? Love Phillipa
Posted by johnj on June 25, 2008, at 9:07:33
In reply to Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship', posted by chiron on June 24, 2008, at 23:16:50
I wouldn't date your doctor if I was you :)
Just kidding. I have been told the same thing. Meds wont' help me. I diagree as we haven't tried all that many. But, I did go on vacation and did very well. Got back to sleep every night after waking up. Back to work and life and here I am waking up and having a hard time. I stress about anything.
If it is a good relationship it can help but won't magically make everything better because I don't think happiness or contentment comes from someone else. Time to find a new doc maybe.
regards
johnj
Posted by Justherself54 on June 25, 2008, at 9:43:29
In reply to Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship', posted by chiron on June 24, 2008, at 23:16:50
Good Grief..I can't imagine what you must have felt like. I'm running out of options with meds too and am currenty on a MAOI...when I asked my pdoc what next if it doesn't work or poops out on me and he said "I quess we're going to have to get really creative"...
I hope you find a pdoc who is committed to working with you. You deserve it.
Posted by SLS on June 25, 2008, at 10:00:02
In reply to Re: Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship' » chiron, posted by Justherself54 on June 25, 2008, at 9:43:29
Don't give up on an MAOI until you have added Deplin to it. Deplin acts to potentiate the increase of monoamine neurotransmitters produced by MAOIs. Deplin is supposed to act as an augmenter of SSRIs as well, but I have had a great deal of success with it when I added it to Nardil.
My current creative regime:
Nardil 90mg
nortriptyline 150mg
Lamictal 200mg
Abilify 20mg
Deplin 7.50mgFeeling good...
- Scott
Posted by SLS on June 25, 2008, at 10:05:58
In reply to Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship', posted by chiron on June 24, 2008, at 23:16:50
> I've been with this psychiatrist for 2 years now. I've tried a lot of meds, and he has been running out of ideas. Today he said he thinks we've reached a point where meds won't offer any more help. His main suggestion was that a serious relationship might be beneficial.
> Great day.Perhaps your best move now is to establish a serious relationship with another doctor.
Clever words aside, when you do shop for another doctor, ask first whether or not he feels qualified to treat TRD. If not, maybe he can give you some recommendations on finding someone who does.
- Scott
Posted by seldomseen on June 25, 2008, at 14:08:12
In reply to Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship', posted by chiron on June 24, 2008, at 23:16:50
Well, sometimes there is a lot to be said for lifestyle changes.
Was his remark a joke? a glib remark? Because man, I would be outta there so fast if a pdoc said that to me as a serious suggestion.
Seldom
Posted by bleauberry on June 25, 2008, at 18:56:53
In reply to Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship', posted by chiron on June 24, 2008, at 23:16:50
You need one of two things:
Either a new doc with experience in treatment resistance; or personal experimentation with meds from other countries mailorder. One example, you would not be the first who failed ECT and an MAOI but responded well to Milnacipran. Or someone else who did well on Parnate, had to get off, and was surprised how well Tianeptine worked.Not sure which direction I would go. Probably both actually. In any case, the doctor you were seeing did you a favor, since he apparently did not have the inherent talent to help you. Find one with a reputation for tackling the tough cases with enough success that his name is referred in peer circles.
Posted by Maxime on June 25, 2008, at 19:18:35
In reply to Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship', posted by chiron on June 24, 2008, at 23:16:50
> I've been with this psychiatrist for 2 years now. I've tried a lot of meds, and he has been running out of ideas. Today he said he thinks we've reached a point where meds won't offer any more help. His main suggestion was that a serious relationship might be beneficial.
> Great day.That happened to me once five years ago. I waited 9 months for an appointment to be told that I would be happy if I got laid. Unacceptable!
Which meds have you tried? Have you tried an MAOI?
Change pdocs.
Maxime
Posted by william puga on June 26, 2008, at 1:47:50
In reply to Re: Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship' » chiron, posted by Maxime on June 25, 2008, at 19:18:35
If ur that depressed, not a good time to start a relationship. U have to be able to give to get and depression is draining. Working on becoming more social, getting into new hobbies, exercise, etc can be helpful but yeah, look into another opinion. Perhaps a university/med school setting that may have a mood disorders clinic.
Reasons for not responding to rx include:
not the right diagnosis, eg could u b bipolar, type II? that is treated differently
Not on high enough doses of the antidepressants
not on the ad's long enough
possible medical issues, eg low thyroid, etcgood luck!
Posted by okydoky on June 26, 2008, at 16:08:33
In reply to Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship', posted by chiron on June 24, 2008, at 23:16:50
Had a doc at college suggested something similar. I did it and had a "nervous breakdown". Listen to these people on the site. They have experience and a lot of knowledge. Something we need at our low times.
I wish I had had the benefit of this site or some caring community around me back then. These people care. They are not getting paid to help. I've had the experience several times of psychiatrists not being able to treat treatment resistent depression. As difficult as it was to hear I respect those most who owned up to it. Make a break with this one.You were well enough to take this first step by posting this here, I suspect you thouoght better than his suggestion.
Good Luck,
oky
Posted by yxibow on June 26, 2008, at 18:04:33
In reply to Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship', posted by chiron on June 24, 2008, at 23:16:50
> I've been with this psychiatrist for 2 years now. I've tried a lot of meds, and he has been running out of ideas. Today he said he thinks we've reached a point where meds won't offer any more help. His main suggestion was that a serious relationship might be beneficial.
> Great day.Yes, I agree with the comment of treatment resistant depression options.
A second opinion, or it seems now a second doctor may help --- but remember it takes a while, speaking of relationships, to develop one with a doctor so it's not an easy road to go down.
As for relationships, there are many kinds. The relationship you have with the clerk at the store, the relationship you have with family, the relationship you have with friends, and a sexual relationship.
Entering a sexual relationship may not be the best thing -at this moment- (its important not to project to the infinite future and feel as if one will never have one).
But beyond medication, I believe its important to form relationships (I really need to) with people, with friends, with those who will tolerate you for who you are and your powerful strengths and yes, the limitations that do come with any mental illness.That doesn't mean to introduce to someone and say, hi, I'm [so and so] and I have [such illness].
Defining oneself solely by their illness belittles the other strengths, passions, interests, and intelligence that someone has.That is the sort of healthy relationship one actually should have going through a major illness. And groups like NAMI are also a place, if one feels comfortable, to have peer discussions about their disorder, in a non threatening environment. But they're not all just about talking about being ill.
So I think there are a number of good suggestions here and its not the most professional for a psychiatrist to say, okay, I've tried everything -- if they do reach that and they really say, gee, I have tried all I know in my practice, they should give you a referral to someone who deals with TRD.Because yes, maybe I'm projecting, but despite the ups and downs of a personal relationship, my doctor has always said he will see me through this illness. What that means, what the future holds, I am scared of, but its irrelevant, there is no crystal ball for anything nor is it the best to focus on the darkest of things.
Anyhow, that being said, if you are meeting your doctor anytime soon, I would have a serious talk about that and see if he/she has colleagues who can help you with your illness -- and its not all about the medicine as well -- I hate to mince words, but in a fine line, their is a truth to a relationship -- a relationship with the outside world that may bring you just as much hope in addition to a medication regimen.
-- best wishesJay
Posted by chiron on June 26, 2008, at 20:41:09
In reply to Re: Dr gave up on meds for me. 'Try a relationship' » chiron, posted by Maxime on June 25, 2008, at 19:18:35
All your comments have REALLY helped. I am going to either get a new dr (which are in shortage in this state) or online ordering.
Maxime's comment:
> That happened to me once five years ago. I waited 9 months for an appointment to be told that I would be happy if I got laid.Holy sh*t! And I thought mine was bad. I do get people wondering why I'm not married, etc. "you seem nice and are attractive..." I feel like an outcast. But I often don't even feel like hanging out with friends, how can I go on match.com and go on dates when I would rather die? Plus I don't really need sex.
> Which meds have you tried? Have you tried an MAOI?
I tried Emsam, and it seemed the higher I went, the worse I got, and probably some cycling.
Other meds: SSRI: prozac, lexapro, paxil, celexa (current), zoloft SSNRI: effexor, cymbalta Atypicals: Geodon, Neurontin, Abilify Stabilizers: Lithium, Depakote, Tegretal, Topamax, Lamictal(current) Other: Wellbutrin (current), Xanax(current), Adderall
Posted by BGB on July 5, 2008, at 4:09:01
In reply to Thank you all seriously, posted by chiron on June 26, 2008, at 20:41:09
I think your doctor is crazier than any of us are. There's almost no way to maintain any sort of intimate relationship when you are that severely depressed; especially if you are not already seriously committed to someone. Someone has to love you a whole lot and have a very serious commitment to you to stay with you during deep depressions, so how the hell are you supposed to form and maintain a new relationship?
Bipolar disorder killed my 3-year relationship; I always thought that we had the very best and healthiest relationship of anyone that I knew, and then an incredibly bad depressive episode hit me. So he left me, which was really really great for my already suicidal mood. The only reason I didn't kill myself is that I was afraid that he would feel guilty, and while I was bitter that he left me, I still cared for him and didn't want to destroy his life by ending my own. I wonder just about every day, hmmm, has it been long enough since we broke up? If I put a round of 12-gauge .00 buckshot through my head, would he still feel somewhat responsible? I guess that's a good thing; it's probably all that's keeping me around. The jacka**. I really do resent him now because he's just prolonging my misery.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.