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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by femlite on October 8, 2003, at 22:42:03
I am expereincing a phenomana that is as yet (at least to me) unnamed.
Having spent 4-6 months interacting with the members of this board I find my self (in this small mid western town) unable to find a pdoc who can compete with:
-the knowledge (links regularly sought out and volunteered by PB members explaining the latest medications and the newest theories of treatment)
-up to the minute empirical and anecdotal support of medication effectiveness, withdrawl symptoms, and side effects,
-up to the minute therapeutic,caring and social support for whatever phase of psychosis I find myself (you can even pay for that).
What am I to do?
I am at once encouraged and dismayed (BP2 perhaps)
I'm on to pdoc number 3.God help them if they dont read PB ;>)
Posted by Tabitha on October 8, 2003, at 23:01:30
In reply to Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR, posted by femlite on October 8, 2003, at 22:42:03
scary isn't it? And if you mention that you got some information OFF THE INTERNET a lot of 'em will assume it's some crackpot garbage.
I gave up on pdocs entirely for the time being. I'm just getting refills from my family doc.
Posted by Sabina on October 8, 2003, at 23:27:43
In reply to Re: Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR, posted by Tabitha on October 8, 2003, at 23:01:30
when i mentioned a helpful comment or bit of information i read here and asked my doctor if she'd heard of dr. bob's site, she said:
"dr. bob, dr. phil, dr. fu**, whoever..."
mind you, she was mostly just being funny and was trying to steer the conversation back around to just talking about *me*.
still, it made me mindful of how my contributions as a participant in my mental health managemnt team is largely financial: i pay, and they say.
Posted by femlite on October 9, 2003, at 0:56:51
In reply to Re: Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR, posted by Sabina on October 8, 2003, at 23:27:43
> still, it made me mindful of how my contributions as a participant in my mental health managemnt team is largely financial: i pay, and they say. But he gets paid.
>
You got that right sister.
My pdoc sent me to a phd because its too much trouble (read work) to dx me. Now that the PHD has me in his clutches, he makes appeals to my vunerable desire to get help, an hour goes by and i forgot why I came( to get a dx)and I feel duped and like Ive wasted an hour. But as you so aptly put it, he gets paid.Tomorrow night I pray my dander will be up enough to set him straight.
This board has truly ruined me.
My expectiations are so high. Hell, if people on a web sight can give me so much help and advice, the established Paragons of Psychiatry better wisen up, its a informed consumer market. A monster of their own making, mind you, "better living through chemistry" eh?But at the present, you know If you walk in there and act like you know anything, meds. dx's, where YOU want the whole thing to go,...bloohy, I'll probably end up in a straight jacket. (tie her up shes a drug seeker)
You just CANT discuss medications, and treatments with most pdocs.Whats a girl to do?
I wont stop looking till I find one that can think out side the d**n box they like to stuff you in.Sorry I am ranting
I so glad you are here Sabina.
I truly enjoy your posts
I love it all. "disorderd" people are so much more fun to be around. No one else undersands
Posted by Ayla on October 10, 2003, at 0:04:13
In reply to Re: Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR » Sabina, posted by femlite on October 9, 2003, at 0:56:51
This site really is great. I've only been here a few days but I have already found answers to all the questions no one else could answer. My family doctor is who I am going through for my zoloft and she only suggested that I see a counselor but now that I have found this site I am confident I can get the help I need right here, wich is very lucky because I have no health insurance and my doctor is nice enough to give me all of my zoloft in free samles every month. Also I have a huge problem with social anxiety so talking to some stranger in person is absoulutely terrifying to me.
Posted by HannahW on October 10, 2003, at 1:01:53
In reply to Re: Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR, posted by Ayla on October 10, 2003, at 0:04:13
I'm scared to have you substitute us for professional help, Ayla. I guess it's quite possible for you to need medication but not therapy, but that's not always (or usually) the case. But if you absolutely can't afford therapy, then I guess we're the next best thing! :) But if there's any way you can possibly manage it, get professional help. We're all struggling like you, although there are many very knowledgeable and helpful people on this board.
Posted by femlite on October 10, 2003, at 9:30:11
In reply to Re: Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR, posted by HannahW on October 10, 2003, at 1:01:53
No need to worry about me Dears,
I personally have lots of professional help, (and I hope you do to AYLA, Shes right)For myself Im on my third pdoc, and my 4th therapist. All in 4 months. And I always have my GP to fall back on when the pdocs are uncooperative.
It is simply impossible to find quality help ;-)
Their not all Dr. Bob, you know ;-)
The rank and file are only interested in maintainng the status quo, you know, a 5 min. chat, hand you a scrip, and send you on your merry way.
(forgive my cynicism)This board has reinforced my long standing theory that I am the consumer and they (docs)are MY advisors, ie...listen when I talk, answer my questions, provide me the bennifit of their expertise and respect my opinons.
Alas, that kind of "creative thinking" is hard to find.
Thank God I have you and the other members of this community to fall back on. (I am sincere)When the last pdoc told me that my side effects were "impposible" I was so disheartend, not only because they were debilitating and scary, but also because, of her abrupt, impatient and unprossional treatment toward moi, the one who pays the bill.
Not to fear, when I sent out an sos to the fine members of this bord, I recived at least 10-15 responses, encouraging me that, yes that was a possible side effect, (some one even sent an exhaustive pharmacuetical link of the med I was taking and all known side effects).(Thank you)At least half of the emails I recived were from people who had also expereinced similar if not the exact same side effect. Not only was I relieved, that I was not the hypochondriac she insinuated me to be, but also, there was hope, that an otherwise useful medication, might actually work out for me, if, as the posters encourged me, I could ride out these tempory but very real side effect.
There have been times, because of the lack of quality treatment I have recieved from so many professionals, I have felt so depressed, that those bad "ideations" have flirted through my mind.
But lurking through these post on one of those very dark days I came across, advise from one poster to another, that was so practical, so clear heading and thoughtful, it save my mental life that day. (Thank you DSCH)All sarcasm aside, you cant pay for the kind of real and often very knowledgable help that can be found on this site.
Yes, your question may sometime go for days w/o answer, (I am not easily deterred :) and yes, all things haved to be weighed and evalutated in light of the professional advice you have recieved and your perssonal circumstances. But I , being a person of at least average intelligence, very rarely accept things with out question, from anyone.
And this site generously accomadates an individua like me and many others who it seems feel the same way, knowledge can be a powerfully helpful tool.
I am thankful to you allThank you Hannah for your concern for all. Its thoughtful and timely, and a good word for ALL
Thank you for letting me record my ongoing story.
And as always, I am helped immensely by hearing yours.> I'm scared to have you substitute us for professional help, Ayla. I guess it's quite possible for you to need medication but not therapy, but that's not always (or usually) the case. But if you absolutely can't afford therapy, then I guess we're the next best thing! :) But if there's any way you can possibly manage it, get professional help. We're all struggling like you, although there are many very knowledgeable and helpful people on this board.
Posted by Dinah on October 10, 2003, at 9:49:57
In reply to Re: Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR, posted by Ayla on October 10, 2003, at 0:04:13
Ayla, there are many therapists, and clinics especially, that work on a sliding scale. If there is a university near you, check into getting therapy from trainees. They are well supervised and often their enthusiasm and desire to do well, along with the supervision, leads to excellent therapy outcomes according to studies.
We're nice to have, but take it from one who's been here for a while. Babble is great, but it's no substitute for therapy. Sometimes Babble is even the topic of therapy.
Listen to your doctor, he's trying to do what's best for you.
Posted by Ayla on October 10, 2003, at 17:01:45
In reply to Re: Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR » Ayla, posted by Dinah on October 10, 2003, at 9:49:57
Thanks for the concern :) For me personally I have not had any traumatic experiences in my life that led to my depression/anxiety and I have never ever been suicidal or anything pertaining to self injury. I just started staying home all the time and sleeping all the time I'm sure you all know the rest of how it goes. My Dad and I have both just started being medicated (we don't live together or anything it was just coincidental) By the way do any of you know if mental health issues are genetic? Anyways I really do appreciate you caring. However I don't feel that it's neccesary for me to see that kind of doc right now but I hope it makes you feel better to know that I've only just started taking zoloft 4weeks ago so if I don't start to feel better I absoulutely will get more help. So thanks again.
Posted by yabba on October 10, 2003, at 21:15:22
In reply to Re: Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR, posted by Ayla on October 10, 2003, at 17:01:45
There's supposed to be a lot of links between depression and other 'mental illnesses' although although I've been told that even with things like schizophrenia that social circumstances matter a lot too. Right now genetic background is looked at as a probability thing but yes they're considered to be linked.
Posted by Emme on October 12, 2003, at 11:54:13
In reply to Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR, posted by femlite on October 8, 2003, at 22:42:03
You need a good pdoc and you're in a small town huh? How many pdocs do you have to choose from in your immediate vicinity? How far are you from a larger city and are you willing/able to travel there? Are you within traveling distance of a university? I am lucky to live in a densely populated area - at least as far as treatment goes. I found my first doctor in this area by calling the student health center at the nearby university and asking who they send students to when they need to send them to someone outside of the health center. I figured they'd know who in the city had a good reputation. It worked out pretty well. I started off with a good pdoc and when she moved away I went to someone she'd worked with, who is also excellent.
Good luck.
Emme
Posted by Emme on October 12, 2003, at 11:59:36
In reply to Re: Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR, posted by Ayla on October 10, 2003, at 17:01:45
Hi. One of the things my pdoc did in our first meeting was to draw a family tree marking who had mood problems. And I can see the genetic tendencies running down my mother's side of the family. So yeah, there's a genetic component to the picture.
Hope the Zoloft is working out well for you.Emme
> Thanks for the concern :) For me personally I have not had any traumatic experiences in my life that led to my depression/anxiety and I have never ever been suicidal or anything pertaining to self injury. I just started staying home all the time and sleeping all the time I'm sure you all know the rest of how it goes. My Dad and I have both just started being medicated (we don't live together or anything it was just coincidental) By the way do any of you know if mental health issues are genetic? Anyways I really do appreciate you caring. However I don't feel that it's neccesary for me to see that kind of doc right now but I hope it makes you feel better to know that I've only just started taking zoloft 4weeks ago so if I don't start to feel better I absoulutely will get more help. So thanks again.
Posted by MamaB on October 12, 2003, at 13:24:21
In reply to Re: Psycho Babble has RAISED THE BAR, posted by Ayla on October 10, 2003, at 17:01:45
Ayla,
There is research that points to a genetic component in some disorders. In my mother's family we can trace back three generations and of thirty females ten have had mental health issues, three of whom have committed suicide. I recently "met" a second cousin over the internet (her grandmother and my grandfather were siblings.) Her struggle has been nearly identical to mine! So for me YES to the inheritance thing! MamaB
This is the end of the thread.
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