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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 August 3, 2011, at 14:40:18
In waiting room now, nervous. Doc is new, old one left the clinic. don't know what to expect. Hopefully not an inflexible cranky one. Feel nervous cuz I am going to ask for Xanax plus Nardil increase plus labs plus a hypnotic. I hate asking for things. Sometimes, I wish we could just eliminate the middle man. know that's ridiculous. sigh.
Posted by floatingbridge on August 3, 2011, at 15:49:50
In reply to Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments?, posted by Zonked on August 3, 2011, at 14:40:18
:-) to eliminating the middle person.
If wishes were horses as they say....
You update us? I hope you are happily surprised.
You asking me if I'd get nervous? Guess my answer.
fb
> In waiting room now, nervous. Doc is new, old one left the clinic. don't know what to expect. Hopefully not an inflexible cranky one. Feel nervous cuz I am going to ask for Xanax plus Nardil increase plus labs plus a hypnotic. I hate asking for things. Sometimes, I wish we could just eliminate the middle man. know that's ridiculous. sigh.
Posted by Zonked on August 3, 2011, at 16:55:57
In reply to Re: Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments? » Zonked, posted by floatingbridge on August 3, 2011, at 15:49:50
Klonopin was replaced with Xanax thank God.... Nardil raised to 90, temazepam added for sleep, testosterone and thyroid labs ordered. The adventure continues... I will be comfortable with this doc THANK GOD. And thank you for listening to my anxious nonsense.
Posted by floatingbridge on August 3, 2011, at 17:10:08
In reply to Re: It went fine... i work myself up too much! » floatingbridge, posted by Zonked on August 3, 2011, at 16:55:57
> Klonopin was replaced with Xanax thank God.... Nardil raised to 90, temazepam added for sleep, testosterone and thyroid labs ordered. The adventure continues... I will be comfortable with this doc THANK GOD. And thank you for listening to my anxious nonsense.
Yahoo! That's great news. It seems pretty reasonable to wonder about a new doc. There is quite a bit at stake, esp when a patient knows what works. S/he sounds pretty good :-)
Thanks for the update.
Posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2011, at 19:47:26
In reply to Re: It went fine... i work myself up too much! » Zonked, posted by floatingbridge on August 3, 2011, at 17:10:08
Glad all went well. Congrats on the new doc. Phillipa ps nervous with any doc!!!!
Posted by bleauberry on August 4, 2011, at 20:00:16
In reply to Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments?, posted by Zonked on August 3, 2011, at 14:40:18
I don't get nervous at all. They get nervous when they know I'm coming.
Posted by Phillipa on August 4, 2011, at 21:23:11
In reply to Re: Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments?, posted by bleauberry on August 4, 2011, at 20:00:16
Blue I bet they do!!!! Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on August 4, 2011, at 21:28:08
In reply to Re: Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments?, posted by bleauberry on August 4, 2011, at 20:00:16
> I don't get nervous at all. They get nervous when they know I'm coming.
I am loving this comment, BB. Thanks!
Posted by Zonked on August 5, 2011, at 9:42:37
In reply to Re: Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments?, posted by bleauberry on August 4, 2011, at 20:00:16
> I don't get nervous at all. They get nervous when they know I'm coming.
I wish I were more like you. I read a post of yours recently where you described doing things you used to find pleasurable in the hope that one can retrain the brain even though it's hard. I don't know how you did it man, when Ann Hedonia is around, I get frustrated and find it hard to pay attention. Maybe I just lack something. How are you doing these days anyway? is your depression cleared up pretty much? There are so many things I'd like to look into which don't require a prescription ... but as I'm on a tightly fixed income I just can't afford anything my insurance won't pay for. SAM-e in particular looks interesting to me. Wish it was an Rx drug here like in some countries.
Posted by SLS on August 5, 2011, at 10:53:35
In reply to Re: Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments?, posted by bleauberry on August 4, 2011, at 20:00:16
> I don't get nervous at all. They get nervous when they know I'm coming.
That's pretty cool.
I make efforts not to foster fear or nervousness in my doctors. I prefer they be challenged and goal-oriented while being determined to get me well. It should be a collaborative effort. Of course, if I wanted to, I could overwhelm many of the doctors I have seen through self-education. I just chose not to use my tongue to my disadvantage.
I'm not sure why you feel that your doctors get nervous when they know you're coming, but this may be an indication that you are seeing a doctor who is not well-suited to treat you.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on August 5, 2011, at 13:26:28
In reply to Re: Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments? » bleauberry, posted by Zonked on August 5, 2011, at 9:42:37
Is Sam-e compatible with Nardil?
> > I don't get nervous at all. They get nervous when they know I'm coming.
>
> I wish I were more like you. I read a post of yours recently where you described doing things you used to find pleasurable in the hope that one can retrain the brain even though it's hard. I don't know how you did it man, when Ann Hedonia is around, I get frustrated and find it hard to pay attention. Maybe I just lack something. How are you doing these days anyway? is your depression cleared up pretty much? There are so many things I'd like to look into which don't require a prescription ... but as I'm on a tightly fixed income I just can't afford anything my insurance won't pay for. SAM-e in particular looks interesting to me. Wish it was an Rx drug here like in some countries.
Posted by utopizen on August 8, 2011, at 12:40:01
In reply to Re: Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments? » Zonked, posted by floatingbridge on August 5, 2011, at 13:26:28
It's probably wise to just be open with your doc, note this is what you are feeling, and mention you would prefer it if you had a straighter head, as you know that would help with the rapport.
Your doc can adjust your meds, perhaps even give you something special just for days you are to see him... but use the word "rapport" to remind him the importance of resolving your anxiety when you see him, as the anxiety can confuse you and make you forget about matters to bring up and such.
Posted by Meddy43 on August 8, 2011, at 23:51:18
In reply to Re: Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments?, posted by utopizen on August 8, 2011, at 12:40:01
I will go to a day-treatment facility today, to last 4-6 weeks everyday, to try to combat my residual depression and anxiety, and I'm nervous about seeing the pdoc. I met her once, and she was nice, so I don't know what this is all about...
Nice to know your meeting went fine !
Kindly, Meddy43
Posted by g_g_g_unit on August 12, 2011, at 8:37:29
In reply to Re: Is everyone nervous at pdoc appointments?, posted by SLS on August 5, 2011, at 10:53:35
I was actually going to make a thread on this issue, but you've saved me the effort by bringing it up here. I learnt my lesson about not 'showing your hand' the hard way, by dealing with psychiatrists who either mocked or grew injurious over my attempts to influence things. Of course, I kinda deserved it 'cos at that point I really had no idea what I was talking about.
My current psychiatrist is benevolent and exceedingly intelligent, and I've gone in as a 'blank slate', disclosing only the drugs I've been on, my reactions to them, and my subjective experience with depression and anxiety.
But I still find that I'll have some preconceived idea about a point I want to make (and know the technical jargon I could use), and then have it interpreted differently by the psychiatrist, which just results in frustration.
I'll give an example from today's session and maybe someone could tell me how I might approach things differently. I've been taking 15mg of Lexapro, which leaves me feeling numb, apathetic and anhedonic. I also feel like I have no will of my own and struggle tremendously to initiate tasks, complete them, or remain interested in them .. even basic reading, like web articles.
So I said to my psychiatrist that I feel very structureless, like I could sit down and watch TV and stop at any point and it wouldn't matter, like there's no incentive or engagement or flow to anything. He has a background in analysis (which I've just started) and said that the experience I describe is quite common, whereby people lack an organizing purpose intheir lives .. which is true in my case.
But I was speaking more about day-to-day stuff and mentally contrasting my experience to the way I feel on stimulants, which is where I just have a natural drive, don't procrastinate, don't think twice about doing basic chores etc. I didn't want to mention that because I don't like to sound like I'm drug-fixated, but I don't know .. I tend to think of these things as chemically based, where he seems to kind of pin the responsibility on me.
I just left feeling very frustrated, and it's been fueling my OCD all afternoon because I feel like I want to get a point across 'correctly' and don't succeed.
>
> I make efforts not to foster fear or nervousness in my doctors. I prefer they be challenged and goal-oriented while being determined to get me well. It should be a collaborative effort. Of course, if I wanted to, I could overwhelm many of the doctors I have seen through self-education. I just chose not to use my tongue to my disadvantage.
>
Posted by Phillipa on August 12, 2011, at 20:16:03
In reply to Re: self-education + pdocs » SLS, posted by g_g_g_unit on August 12, 2011, at 8:37:29
ggg unit just as you told us. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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