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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zonked on November 3, 2009, at 21:29:39
Hi all:
I can scarcely believe I have the energy to make this post. So, remember a few months ago, when things were swinging along OK and I was finally on an *almost* fully remissive dose of Parnate?
The "permanent" psychiatrist I was assigned to decided that 30mg of Parnate was "way too high", after seeing me once, and instructed me to taper down to 30. Well, guess what. I just spent TWO WEEKS in the loony bin from suicidal depression after that taper--and the doctor in the hospital wouldn't raise my Parnate back up! (I think it has more to do with doctors not wanting to step on each others' toes, not what's good for the patient.)
I am on 30mg a day, still, which believe me is better than nothing. But I am anhedonic, apathetic, teary-eyed much of the day, and just generally in lousy shape. After much complaining I am finally going to see a new doctor who supposedly still prescribes MAOIs to some of his patients--that's this Thursday. If I meet one more "cautious" or "conservative" doctor I am going to pull my hair out!!! When I had private insurance, my doctor did what he thought was best for me and took into account my input (and guess what, I stayed well for a _long_ time.)
I am suffering so bad I am doing everything I can to stay out of the hospital until my appointment - and it's only two days away! If it weren't for the Ativan they gave me in the hospital.. (yes, that's right, Ativan, not Xanax--which has less side effects for me, but that's another story...)
I know this sounds crazy, but sometimes I swear to god I don't need the &$(#%&$#&* doctors! I know my own body well enough and have done my homework regarding psychopharmacology. I am tired of them thinking they know better and making me sick when I was well, or keeping me from getting better...
Man, you know? My mom has cancer, and I don't know how much time I have left with her--she can't handle me depressed (and I don't blame her either) and I really don't have time to be toyed with by clinicians who think they know better...
wish me luck eh?
zonked
Posted by ColoradoSnowflake on November 3, 2009, at 21:51:07
In reply to Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by zonked on November 3, 2009, at 21:29:39
Zonked:
Sounds TERRIBLE! I hope you get a great doctor Thursday who can get you set on the appropriate amount of Parnate again. How much WERE you on?
Sometimes Parnate needs some augmentation to really work well. I take Nortriptyline and Provigil with my Parnate and it's great.I'm sorry your mom is sick too. That has to be really hard on both of you!! I wish her well in her fight with cancer.
I wish you the very best of luck, especially on Thursday! Let us know how it goes!
Hang in there!!
Warmly,
Gayle
70mg Parnate
25mg Nortriptyline
200mg Provigil
Posted by Netch on November 4, 2009, at 8:02:53
In reply to Re: Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by ColoradoSnowflake on November 3, 2009, at 21:51:07
zonked, I know the feeling. Psychs have a lot of power and sometimes they make patients into involuntary guinea pigs.
/Netch
Posted by Phillipa on November 4, 2009, at 10:02:49
In reply to Re: Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by Netch on November 4, 2009, at 8:02:53
Zonked what a horrible time in your life for you. My deepest sympathies for your Mom also. Your under an incredible amount of stress now why is ativan better than xanax as taken both. Not getting off target. So your're upping your dose of parnate? Good luck finding a doc. Phillipa
Posted by maxime on November 4, 2009, at 11:47:02
In reply to Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by zonked on November 3, 2009, at 21:29:39
That's a horrible thing to go through just because your doctor doesn't know what he is doing. Just awful. I hope things get straightened out on Thursday. I am currently on 80 mg of Parnate and doing well. I hope your doctor will see the light!
Posted by manic 666 on November 4, 2009, at 12:29:30
In reply to Re: Tired of idiot doctors... » zonked, posted by maxime on November 4, 2009, at 11:47:02
your new ,so you may not have heard mine, 3rd world p.doc stopped me dead. 10mg a day ativan .a bottle of brandy, an put me on effexor a med , if he had looked on my records said, patient reactions poor to effexor. i am still alive after suicide attempt.try an detox that lot.
Posted by Bob12 on November 4, 2009, at 12:34:08
In reply to Re: Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by manic 666 on November 4, 2009, at 12:29:30
More patients must sue their psychiatric doctors for malpractice. That might change the culture of incompetence.
Bob
Posted by bulldog2 on November 4, 2009, at 12:41:25
In reply to Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by zonked on November 3, 2009, at 21:29:39
> Hi all:
>
> I can scarcely believe I have the energy to make this post. So, remember a few months ago, when things were swinging along OK and I was finally on an *almost* fully remissive dose of Parnate?
>
> The "permanent" psychiatrist I was assigned to decided that 30mg of Parnate was "way too high", after seeing me once, and instructed me to taper down to 30. Well, guess what. I just spent TWO WEEKS in the loony bin from suicidal depression after that taper--and the doctor in the hospital wouldn't raise my Parnate back up! (I think it has more to do with doctors not wanting to step on each others' toes, not what's good for the patient.)
>
> I am on 30mg a day, still, which believe me is better than nothing. But I am anhedonic, apathetic, teary-eyed much of the day, and just generally in lousy shape. After much complaining I am finally going to see a new doctor who supposedly still prescribes MAOIs to some of his patients--that's this Thursday. If I meet one more "cautious" or "conservative" doctor I am going to pull my hair out!!! When I had private insurance, my doctor did what he thought was best for me and took into account my input (and guess what, I stayed well for a _long_ time.)
>
> I am suffering so bad I am doing everything I can to stay out of the hospital until my appointment - and it's only two days away! If it weren't for the Ativan they gave me in the hospital.. (yes, that's right, Ativan, not Xanax--which has less side effects for me, but that's another story...)
>
> I know this sounds crazy, but sometimes I swear to god I don't need the &$(#%&$#&* doctors! I know my own body well enough and have done my homework regarding psychopharmacology. I am tired of them thinking they know better and making me sick when I was well, or keeping me from getting better...
>
> Man, you know? My mom has cancer, and I don't know how much time I have left with her--she can't handle me depressed (and I don't blame her either) and I really don't have time to be toyed with by clinicians who think they know better...
>
> wish me luck eh?
> zonkedOutrageous! Idiot does not describe him. Obviously has faulty knowledge of the drug and made a dangerous and stupid decision.
Posted by Jeroen on November 4, 2009, at 15:03:05
In reply to Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by zonked on November 3, 2009, at 21:29:39
listen to yourself in first place,
im sorry about your mom
these are hard times or us all
Posted by Rosy Crucifiction on November 4, 2009, at 15:46:13
In reply to Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by zonked on November 3, 2009, at 21:29:39
My sympathies. I don't know where you are, but the gold standard in the states is the Depression Center Hospitals (both in and outpatient). From what I've heard these folks will try whatever it takes. I'm on my way to one next month.
The mission of the NNDC is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and availability of depression and bipolar illness diagnosis, treatment and prevention so people can live better lives.
The Charter members of the NNDC are:* Columbia University
* Duke University
* Emory University
* Harvard Brigham & Womens Hospital
* Harvard Massachusetts General Hospital
* Harvard McLean Hospital
* Johns Hopkins University
* Stanford University
* University of California, San Francisco Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute
* University of Colorado Denver Comprehensive Depression Center
* University of Cincinnati-Lindner Center of HOPE
* University of Louisville
* University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center
* University of Pennsylvania
* University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
* Weill Cornell Medical College
Posted by Phillipa on November 4, 2009, at 19:21:49
In reply to Re: Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by Rosy Crucifiction on November 4, 2009, at 15:46:13
Hi Rosy. Duke and Emory are both within a four hour and two hour drive. Inpatient for how long? Do you have a link that explains how this works? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by greywolf on November 4, 2009, at 20:24:04
In reply to Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by zonked on November 3, 2009, at 21:29:39
Best of luck to you. Very sorry to hear that you have to deal not only with your own difficulties, but with your mom's illness, too. That's a lot to handle.
As another poster mentioned, you may want to explore augmenting the Parnate. I'm at 60mg Parnate, with 5 mcg Cytomel and, now, 10mg Saphris (was on 10mg Zyprexa, but the somnolence during waking hours was too much)--along with a vagus nerve stimulator (like a pacemaker).
The Cytomel is an interesting angle. It's a thyroid medication that's sometimes used to supplement ADs. I guess some studies have shown that people who have subclinical hypo- or hyper-thyroid problems (meaning an imbalance up or down that's not clinically significant from a physiological perspective) have a higher rate of depression than people with thyroid imbalances that require treatment. I've been taking it for several months and it appears to help.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Greywolf
Posted by Rosy Crucifiction on November 4, 2009, at 22:00:52
In reply to Re: Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by greywolf on November 4, 2009, at 20:24:04
FYI - cytomel made me tired. I switched to liotrix (t3 and t4 in a 4:1 ratio) and it was a major help.
Posted by Rosy Crucifiction on November 4, 2009, at 22:15:02
In reply to Re: Tired of idiot doctors... » Rosy Crucifiction, posted by Phillipa on November 4, 2009, at 19:21:49
Hi Phillipa,
When I looked into it, each of the hospitals offers slightly different programs. Some are in patient and out patient only. Some have partial stay options. I think the deal is that this is a network of the leading research institutes in the US who have agreed to share treatment protocols. I'm going to Stanford. They do 1 week MRI scans, they have 2 memantine depression trials going, all kinds of stuff. From what I understand, they are not hobbled like a lot of PDOCs by convention and fear. I would look at Duke and Emory's websites to see what they offer. With your background you might just call them. I went through a phone interview process and they've wait listed me for treatment with someone who specializes in both therapy and pyschopharmacology. Let me know what you find out."when the great Cosmocrator demands-" Who art thou?"
Yes, beyond a doubt, I shall answer "The Happy Rock!"
And, if it be asked-"Didst thou enjoy thy stay on earth?"-I shall reply: "My life was one long rosy crucifixion."
Posted by maxime on November 5, 2009, at 15:58:22
In reply to Tired of idiot doctors..., posted by zonked on November 3, 2009, at 21:29:39
This is the end of the thread.
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