Posted by Racer on August 26, 1998, at 17:26:17
In reply to Re: PS: A look at the side effects scares me more, posted by Toby on August 26, 1998, at 16:00:53
First off, the ketoconazole is used topically, but was mentioned on a FAQ sheet, so I wanted to make sure I could keep using it.
Second, this is the first trial of anti-depressant medication in several years. However, since I have had so many side effects in the past, it's really frightening to try a new drug, especially in this case.
This county doctor is the only one on this side the county. If the lightheadedness gets worse, I'll call around to see about getting someone to drive me over to the other county doctor (you may live in a bigger or richer county!), but that's not so easy to arrange.
As for the doctor, she was terrible. I went from fully ready and semi able to participate in my treatment to feeling like a "disposable" person and ready, once more, just to end it. It may have been partially colored by the depression, but let me assure you, if she had been in private practice, I would have told her why, after about 5 minutes, I was walking out, why she might want to rethink her therapeutic manner (telling me that my life was just fine, it was just the depression? Not answering my questions about the possible side effects of the drug? Blowing off my questions?), and why I didn't think she should charge me. I'm depressed, not stupid, and I can tell the difference between someone who goes to work for the county in order to help the rest of us and someone who goes to work for the county because she can't get any other job.
Here's one example: in the course of the interview, she asked about a note on my chart regarding an eating disorder. I responded by telling her that it was still a problem, and that it got worse with the depression. She said, "well, you look fine, so there's no reason to worry about your weight." Gee, thanks for telling me. I never realized that before. I thought 110# really was the recommended weight for a 5'9" woman. I guess that all those doctors out there who specialize in eating disorders should go find another specialty, since all it takes is pointing out the reality like that. No, she didn't ask anything about prior treatment for it. No, nothing more. Just "you look fine."
Funny, huh, that I'm so unreasonable as not to trust this doctor? Strange that my depression seems worse today than yesterday?
poster:Racer
thread:381
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990501/msgs/390.html