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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lepus on June 21, 2012, at 21:34:01
I have been having a particularly rough time lately. I've been having a lot of medical problems. I've been in the hospital a couple of times. I have learned doctors, nurses and dieticians know NOTHING about MAOIs. I was almost given 2 drugs that would have either given me serotonin syndrome or sent me into a hypertensive crisis. Luckily I either knew I couldn't take the drug or I told the nurse to check.
Now I have to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy. I will be knocked out. They are using propofol. I think that is the name of it. My understanding is that it is safe with Nardil. But I'm worried about what they might try to give me while I'm out and can't tell them to check. Does anyone have a list of meds I can't take that I can give to the doctor?
I'm also worried about the colonoscopy prep. Most broths have yeast extracts. I get reactive hypoglycemia so having a lot of sugar or Gatorade is bad for me. What have other people used to stay hydrated? I was considering Ultima Replenisher but I don't know if I can have Stevia (sweetner). Does anyone know?
I'm terrified and about to cancel this procedure. I don't trust medical personnel at all anymore.
Posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2012, at 23:24:46
In reply to Nardil - I don't feel safe, posted by Lepus on June 21, 2012, at 21:34:01
Having been one when those in field could be trusted I would make sure that your chart has a big MAOI written on it and a list of all the meds you are not allowed. Lepus are you the US now or Europe? Phillipa
Posted by Lepus on June 22, 2012, at 0:25:35
In reply to Re: Nardil - I don't feel safe » Lepus, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2012, at 23:24:46
I'm in the US. The last time I was in the ER I told them over and over again that I was on an MAOI. A nurse tried to give me albuterol. She thought Nardil was similar to Xanax.
I really want something to print out and hang around my neck!
I've also considered writing on myself with a Sharpie that I'm on an MAOI. I just have a horrible feeling about all this.I want off the Nardil. It just isn't worth the risks.
Posted by softheprairie on June 22, 2012, at 1:44:04
In reply to Re: Nardil - I don't feel safe, posted by Lepus on June 22, 2012, at 0:25:35
You could ask the person who prescribes your Nardil about the risk/benefit ratio of tapering off of Nardil for these procedures, then ramping back up with it. There is a possibility that it won't have the same antidepressant effectiveness after stopping and restarting. I read a few years ago in a Rolling Stone feature article about writer David Foster Wallace that that was the case for him.
Regarding the liquid diet before the procedures, Powerade Zero is a calorie-free competitor to Gatorade that also replaces electrolytes. One is owned by Pepsi, the other Coke, I believe. Or, if you want some sugar/carbs, but not as much as full Gatorade, there is G2 Gatorade. And/or the diet cranberry juice cocktails might work.
I understand what you mean about wanting to put a big sign around your neck or write with a Sharpie. I am not one for tatoos _at all_, and yet part of me would like to get a tatoo on my lower abdomen saying "do not undo my duodenal switch." It is a type of weight loss surgery I have had and love, but some surgeons do not support it, and I know of a case that to me is a horror story of someone who had one, and then needed a different emergency stomach surgery later, and the surgeon undid the intestinal part of her weight loss surgery without her consent, but had totally met the "standard of care" legally. It was devastating, the patient had a return of type 2 diabetes and obesity, but was able to travel back to Spain and self-pay to get her malabsorption back.
Posted by Lepus on June 22, 2012, at 12:00:44
In reply to Re: Nardil - I don't feel safe » Lepus, posted by softheprairie on June 22, 2012, at 1:44:04
I already spoke to my psychiatrist about the procedure. He thinks what the doctors are doing is fine. The anesthesia is known to be safe. The issue is if something goes wrong and they try to give me something else. I just don't trust them to remember, understand what an MAOI is or even care.
Thanks for the recommendation for Powerade Zero. I will have to try that. I think even G2 is too much sugar for me. I can't seem to get an answer on whether or not Stevia is safe.
Sorry you have concerns about doctors too. Would be nice if we could just trust them with our lives like we are supposed to be able to do.
Posted by emmanuel98 on June 22, 2012, at 19:19:07
In reply to Re: Nardil - I don't feel safe, posted by Lepus on June 22, 2012, at 12:00:44
Most anesthetics are safe with MAOIs. Unsafe drugs include demerol which is often used in surgery and post-surgery. I wear a med-alert bracelet. But I told my dentist, no epinephrine and he forgot, so I told him again, said I don't want to end up in the ER. He laughed and said he doubted I'd end up in the ER, so I had to impress on him that MAOIs can be very dangerous when mixed with certain drugs.
Posted by bleauberry on June 23, 2012, at 12:48:25
In reply to Nardil - I don't feel safe, posted by Lepus on June 21, 2012, at 21:34:01
I think maybe you will just have to ask everyone who works on you...."do you know the medicine Nardil?" If they answer no, then you will have to teach them and ask them to look it up. If they answer yes, then ask them, "Are you 100% sure the meds you might give me will not cause serotonin sydrome or hypertensive crisis in combination with Nardil? You might have to choose a substitute?
As I always say, we HAVE to be proactive in our own health care. There is just too much out there for every doctor to know stuff we think we should know.
This is the end of the thread.
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