Posted by medlib on April 29, 2000, at 11:07:39
In reply to Re: Dr Martin Jensen...CarolAnn, posted by JohnL on April 29, 2000, at 5:08:59
JohnL--
Your description of and recommendation for Dr. Jensen's method has already made a difference for me with my pdoc. I took in a couple of your posts, and he agreed to speeded up rx trials and didn't demur about trying Ritalin. (Unfortunately, 10mg. of it BID has made little impact--maybe a slight increase in alertness.) Sadly, I must go see my pdoc (I'm running out of meds) before I receive and have a chance to digest Dr. Jensen's book. I'm looking forward to reading it, because your outline of his method seems intuitively right to me.
I think I'll probably be asking Dr.Jensen for a telephone consultation--if either of my docs will cooperate with him. Why would a pdoc be anything other than highly insulted to have a stranger on the telephone take over treatment of one of his patients, expecting him to serve as secretary/nurse? My internist isn't likely to be too thrilled, either. He declared that psych wasn't his balliwick and referred me to a pdoc; he may be unwilling to get involved in something that he's washed his hands of earlier.In the meantime, I'm unsure of what to ask for from the pdoc next week. My current cocktail (Effexor XR 300mg; Synthroid 0.1mg; and the Ritalin) just isn't cutting it--I'm still dysfunctionally depressed. More Ritalin, other stims? More Effexor? (The last E. bump-up made me sick for 2 wks., but an additional 75mgs. isn't totally out of the question, I guess.) SSRI augmentation? BuSpar was a bust, beta blockers depress me utterly. I'm reluctant to try Remeron because I already have weight problems. Some time ago I tried Wellbutrin, both with and without Prozac--nada. I was on Elavil years before Prozac, but it "pooped out" in 6 months.
I guess that leaves Naltrexone--I don't have a feel for whether that would be worth a trial.It seems unreasonable to make a major change into other classes of meds if I may be consulting Dr. Jensen soon, but it's important to me to do something to maintain a sense of momentum. I have a strong sense that I'm running out of time. If you have any thoughts about my current situation you'd be willing to share, they would be much appreciated.
The fact that you've researched and experimented your way into a med cocktail that works for you is most encouraging--gives others of us some hope; it also enables an obviously valuable person. Thanks for sharing your success with us.
Thanks, too, for your patience with this lengthy saga. If I *do* succeed in finding something that works for me, it will be largely because of your knowledge and your generosity with it.
Best wishes--medlib
P.S. Since I wrote this I've spoken with my pdoc's office which tells me he "doesn't do that sort of thing." Will try my internist next. Have printed out your script for asking--*very* helpful! Thanks again for all your assistance.
-------------------------------------------------Carolann,
> I think it's unlikely you will find a local doc who practices Jensen's approach. Even if there was, I doubt they would be as talented as he is. He seems to have such intricate knowledge of every medication. The clues provided by medication trials all make sense to him. What really stands out the most to me is his passion for what he does. He is passionate and in love with his work. In my experience, anyone in any profession who is passionate with what they do seem to excell above their peers.
>
> Anyway, you don't need a local doctor who practices his approach. All you need is a local doc willing to cooperate with the approach. Here's why... His practice involves speaking with you own doctor personally, before consulting with you. He'll make sure everyone's on the same page before getting started. After your consultation, he will fax his recommendations and reasonings to your local doc. So while Jensen is the leader of the team, it is your own local doc who will actually write the prescriptions and monitor the situation at the local level. He won't--and legally can't--run the show across state lines without your own doctor's involvement. More accurately I think Jensen is more of an expert consultant to you and your doctor than he is a primary care giver.
>
> I was worried my local GP wouldn't cooperate. I emailed this concern to Jensen. He emailed me back saying he would be happy to call my doctor personally to discuss whatever hesitancies there were. Apparently he is getting very good cooperation.
>
> When I approached my local doc, I said something like this, "I'm considering consultation with an outside psychiatrist. He specializes in getting people well--fast--who have had multiple failures on medications. But his approach is different than anything you've likely seen, and I think you might be skeptical at first. But I've studied his method and I really like it and I want to try it. It's being taught in medical schools right now. Basically he's going to run me through various quick trials--probably a week each--of different meds to gather clues before deciding on any longterm medication. Since I've been frustrated up to this point on different medications, I don't see that I have anything to lose. I want to try it. He will deal with you directly, like a consultant. Will you please work with me and give this a try?"
>
> So as long as you have a GP to receive the faxes and write the prescriptions, you're all set. Jensen works as part of a three member team...you, your local doctor of choice, and him. He really is an expert and quite a gentleman. Any hesitancy or reluctance on your doctor's part, Jensen will be happy to call him personally.
>
> As for the cost. It's about the same as all other pdocs I've dealt with. $300 for the first hour, which is what I've always normally had to pay anyone. And then $75 for each 15 minute follow-up, which is right in line with every other pdoc I've ever dealt with. Hope this helps. Keep us updated. I'm interested in your progress.
> JohnL
poster:medlib
thread:31396
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000429/msgs/31670.html