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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on February 22, 2004, at 19:53:47
Here's my question, in the form of a question, just like on Jeopardy:
I feel as if I'm getting nowhere good on my meds right now, and am having a hell of a time with the agency that's alleged to be providing services to me. The one time someone accidentally put me through to the doctor's direct line voicemail, he called back within a reasonable time frame, but every other time I've called either the medication clinic or the case manager who was assigned to me, I've gotten a return call about one out of six times I've left messages, and none of the responses have been of any help. (Mostly they just say, "Sorry, nothing we can do, and even if there is something we can do, we don't know what it is." I don't even think they ask the doctor about any of it, just answer that they don't know the answer, so there must not be one.) Sorry, venting again.
So, here's my question for all of you: is there any source for something like a spreadsheet showing in very simple terms which anti-depressants affect which neurotransmitters with which side effects? This depression has now entered it's eighth month, and I really and truly cannot continue on like this. Period. Something needs to change, and it needs to happen soon. The meds I'm on now are keeping me just barely able to get out of bed and get dressed, but only just. (For example, I only shower when I can't get dressed because my clothes run away from the smell of me.) I'm in a tough situation, too, because I have a cat whose kidneys are failing, who needs sub-cutaneous fluids every couple of days, and my husband can't do it. If I didn't think he'd die without me, and if I didn't want to spend as much time as possible with him while I still can, I would ask my doctor to hospitalize me again. Now, for any of you who're familiar with me, you probably know that I don't think I've ever really benefited from hospital contact, right? What sort of state do you think I have to be in to suggest that that's where I really should be?
So, anyone know of a place to get good, simple, basic information about anti-depressants such as I described?
Thanks!
Posted by shar on February 22, 2004, at 23:58:11
In reply to Someone here has an answer for me, right?, posted by Racer on February 22, 2004, at 19:53:47
I don't know whether this will help or not, but SLS (aka Scott) has a website that lists numerous ADs (most of them, I believe). I am not sure what your cocktail(s) have been, but it sounds like maybe making a spreadsheet for yourself would be good so you can say with some certainty what the effects of various drugs have been. Otherwise, I don't have much advice other than I know you are NOT 50 years old, and you simply MUST hold out that long!
I'm very sorry about your cat. Our animal companions help us so much.
Here is Scott's website: http://sl.schofield3.home.att.net/medicine/psychiatric_drugs_chart.html
You might be able to email him directly because there is a link to his homepage.Hang in, my heart is with you.
Shar
Posted by Racer on February 23, 2004, at 0:20:25
In reply to Re: Someone here has an answer for me, right?, posted by shar on February 22, 2004, at 23:58:11
I've already got the spreadsheet about the drugs I've taken, the effects they had, and the side effects. I've taken it along to every first appointment with pdocs ever since I got my first computer and thought of the idea.
Oh, yeah, maybe you don't know... I do organizational things a lot when I'm trying to come out of a depression. They help me feel as if I'm able to make positive changes in my life, as if I'm not helpless, etc. One year, way back, I made a card catalog of my books -- only had about 2000 of them then, so it only took about a month, on an electric typewriter. Maybe that sounds compulsive, but it often helps me in those states.
Thanks for the link. It's loading as I type this.
Posted by shar on February 23, 2004, at 0:42:10
In reply to Heheheh -- don't you know me better than that? » shar, posted by Racer on February 23, 2004, at 0:20:25
Posted by allisonm on February 23, 2004, at 13:03:15
In reply to Someone here has an answer for me, right?, posted by Racer on February 22, 2004, at 19:53:47
Hi Racer,
I'm sorry to hear about your cat. I had a cat who had CRF. I had to give her sub-Q fluids about every other day. She lived for several years. I don't know whether you have worked with feline CRF before. One thing I learned (the hard way) is that their blood pressure can go up. If it isn't checked, their retinas will detach, causing blindness. Blindness was livable for my cat, also... as long as I didn't move the furniture or pick her up. (Boy, would she get mad at me!)
Re' ADs. Have you looked at the Harvard psychopharmacology algorithm for depression? It's on Dr. Bob's links page.
Good luck.
allison
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