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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Anna Laura on July 29, 2001, at 6:11:07
A pdoc told me weeks ago that i didn't have many chances to recover fully since i got a partial response with TCA. I lost hope since then. I feel like i'm doomed to be a failure, i feel such a looser. I'm a college dropout, i thought i could still go back to college, finish my studies if i found the right med. My dreams are vanishing now: i'm afraid i'll never be able to cope again. I suffer from long lasting dhysthmyia and from bouts of major depression which are stress related. My depression went untreated for more then two years: i should have being given AD, i was given benzos at high doses that made my depression worse year by year. I eventually found a pdoc who gave me the right diagnosis : i was prescribred for TCA (imipramine); i slowly improved, and i eventually recovered from the major depression episode, still i had dysthymia ever since, which grew worse through the years, i guess because it went untreated. My former pdoc thought i didn't need any meds so he made me quit with the TCA i was taking (imipramine) when i recovered from the major episode. (1995).
I had a second bout of major depression last winter: took Tofranil and it helped. I tried Prozac, Zoloft, and Amytryptiline with scarce results (they helped with the bigger symptoms but i still had dysthymia). I'm currently switching to effexor.
Don't know where to turn anymore.
Don't want to live such an unproductive, meangless life.
Posted by Else on July 29, 2001, at 10:24:02
In reply to loosing hope, posted by Anna Laura on July 29, 2001, at 6:11:07
I am appalled that a psychiatrist would tell a depressed patient that there isn't much hope for them especially given that hopelessness is a symptom of depression. Is he trying some new technique or does he just want to make you feel worse? Maybe it was reverse psychology although I'm not sure shrinks are supposed to use that. In any case, it was obviously not very productive.
Look, you really haven't actually tried that many drugs compared to a lot of people on this board.
From what I can tell, you've only tried TCAs and SSRIs. I think you should check this depression algorithm and see that there are plenty of other possibilities.http://www.mhc.com/Algorithms/Depression/
Best Wishes
> A pdoc told me weeks ago that i didn't have many chances to recover fully since i got a partial response with TCA. I lost hope since then. I feel like i'm doomed to be a failure, i feel such a looser. I'm a college dropout, i thought i could still go back to college, finish my studies if i found the right med. My dreams are vanishing now: i'm afraid i'll never be able to cope again. I suffer from long lasting dhysthmyia and from bouts of major depression which are stress related. My depression went untreated for more then two years: i should have being given AD, i was given benzos at high doses that made my depression worse year by year. I eventually found a pdoc who gave me the right diagnosis : i was prescribred for TCA (imipramine); i slowly improved, and i eventually recovered from the major depression episode, still i had dysthymia ever since, which grew worse through the years, i guess because it went untreated. My former pdoc thought i didn't need any meds so he made me quit with the TCA i was taking (imipramine) when i recovered from the major episode. (1995).
> I had a second bout of major depression last winter: took Tofranil and it helped. I tried Prozac, Zoloft, and Amytryptiline with scarce results (they helped with the bigger symptoms but i still had dysthymia). I'm currently switching to effexor.
> Don't know where to turn anymore.
> Don't want to live such an unproductive, meangless life.
Posted by Shar on July 29, 2001, at 11:23:06
In reply to Re: loosing hope » Anna Laura, posted by Else on July 29, 2001, at 10:24:02
> > I am appalled that a psychiatrist would tell a depressed patient that there isn't much hope for them especially given that hopelessness is a symptom of depression.
Anna/Else:
I am also dx dysthymia, and had a pdoc tell me that I would essentially be depressed always. Plus, she added, I was really not that bad off, I wasn't having hallucinations, did not try to commit suicide, could handle daily life reasonably well....Whew! That was a BAD day for me. So, I went to yet another pdoc. He and I discussed my situation and he took a conservative approach. I did not change the meds I was on, but rather how I took them.
When that didn't help a lot he added risperdal to the cocktail; just a little bit. That helped a lot.
Anna, there are many things to consider when it comes to meds. I believe that it IS usually possible to be helped. I am not depression-free, I am usually feeling a bit depressed but it is SO MUCH less than before, I'll be happy to live with it.
I have more energy since the risperdal, but have to admit my memory and smarts are somewhat worse than before. However, people will just have to put up with that. I hate it, do what I can about it, and will see what happens.
If you, Anna, will become your own expert and learn these meds, by doing research here on babble and on other med sites, you can be a much more active participant in your own care, and discuss/suggest things to your pdoc.
Best of luck,
Shar
Posted by adamie on July 29, 2001, at 13:15:55
In reply to loosing hope, posted by Anna Laura on July 29, 2001, at 6:11:07
Here in Canada we have the VNS, Vegus Nerve Stimulation approved for treatment of depression. It is supossed to create a true response in 40% of all treatment resistant cases.
I may have suffered through depression only a short while. 2.5 months. But in this period I have had a few 'up' moments were everything in life was great and amazing. expecially when stopping my paxil. then it got a bit worse. if i dont find relief in 1 year I will deffinetly get this VNS operation.
It is supossed to be approved in the US in 1 or 2 years. What it does is sends a very mild electric pulse to your vegus nerve which is a nerve in the neck. the pulse is very hard to notice and happens once for 30 seconds every 3-6 minutes depending on the individual specifications of the product for the specific individual.
The operation involves them putting a very small flat box into your upper left chest and something to connect to your vegus nerve. If you are feel you are trully treatment resistant and losing hope then I would deffinetly say try VNS. What is there to lose? The only negatives with VNS is that you will have a device in your body but it is no different than someone having a Pace Maker. This is simply a pace maker for the brain. There are absolutely no side effects except that during the moments when the very mild pulse is active it can slightly change the tone of your voice due to the fact that the vagus nerve is near the vocal cord.
It seems most people are not willing to try VNS but there is really no difference in what VNS does for a depressed person's brain than what a Pace Maker does to a person with heart trouble. VNS slowly over a period of months can make someone feel more and more normal. Many people with very severe depression were able to return to work and resume old enjoyable life activities.
Perhaps you may want to try research on this if you are interested. There are many new treatments for depression in the works. we'll all just have to be patient. take care. I myself think the VNS could be an amazing product. Big deal if you have a little box inside your body. take care
Posted by Abby on July 29, 2001, at 14:07:57
In reply to loosing hope, posted by Anna Laura on July 29, 2001, at 6:11:07
Anna Laura,
You may need a new psychiatrist. It is unprofessional to tell someone clearly still suffering in that way that nothing more can be done.
Have you been screened for a thyroid condition? Noa has a lot of experience with hypothyroidism and was seeing an endocrinologist.Check out this site
Also, has there been any kind of cyclic quality to your dysthymia. If so, it might be a bipolar spectrum issue. Then you would want to look into a moodstabilizer---lithium or an anticonvulsant. If you go the lithium route, make *sure* that you get the thyroid tests done first.
Some people have had good results with atypical antipsychotics, though weight gain can be a problem there.
Ziprasidone looks very promising. (Brand name Geodon. It was zeldox in its first trial; don't you think that's easier to pronounce than Geodon?)
Good luck. And if you need help with the doctor business, there's always support at social babble.
---Abby
Posted by Milda on July 30, 2001, at 5:21:05
In reply to loosing hope, posted by Anna Laura on July 29, 2001, at 6:11:07
That pdoc's statement is inaccurate and irresponsible. There are many, many more strategies that can be tried. Effexor is one. There are still more kinds of antidepressants. There are many kinds of augmentation strategies. There is adding cognitive therapy to antidepressant treatment. There are lots of options. I wouldn't stay in treatment with a doc who was pessimistic about my treatment outcome. I like to work with a doc who knows his or her stuff and who is on my side.
Posted by jotho on July 30, 2001, at 8:01:53
In reply to loosing hope, posted by Anna Laura on July 29, 2001, at 6:11:07
Hi Anna Laura...
I have read all the responses to your post and every one of them gives very good, and valuable insight into the variety of treatments available. I, too, think your doctor was way out of line. Rest assured that the treatments available are profuse...just in the drug treatment category alone there are an abundance to try. Keep searching (with a competent doctor)...you will find help. And stay on the network here where you will find support at every turn...do NOT give up hope!
Posted by Anna Laura on July 30, 2001, at 9:20:00
In reply to Re: loosing hope » Anna Laura, posted by jotho on July 30, 2001, at 8:01:53
> Hi Anna Laura...
> I have read all the responses to your post and every one of them gives very good, and valuable insight into the variety of treatments available. I, too, think your doctor was way out of line. Rest assured that the treatments available are profuse...just in the drug treatment category alone there are an abundance to try. Keep searching (with a competent doctor)...you will find help. And stay on the network here where you will find support at every turn...do NOT give up hope!O.K. i won't give up hope, i'm going to hold on.
Hope that Effexor will kick in 'cause i feel real bad now.
Thanks everybody for your support.
A hugAnna Laura
Posted by Kingfish on July 30, 2001, at 16:01:25
In reply to loosing hope, posted by Anna Laura on July 29, 2001, at 6:11:07
"Don't want to live such an unproductive, meangless life."
This line struck me -- that's just how I feel right now. Feels as if since starting meds, I am less productive.
- K.
Posted by kazoo on July 31, 2001, at 2:20:42
In reply to loosing hope, posted by Anna Laura on July 29, 2001, at 6:11:07
> A pdoc told me weeks ago that i didn't have many chances to recover fully since i got a partial response with TCA.
^^^^^^^^^^
Tell that quack you're seeing to go take a hike until his hat floats.
"Hope springs eternal," my dear, remember that.
You'll lose more than hope if you give up.
kazoo
This is the end of the thread.
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