Posted by SLS on September 23, 2000, at 19:54:54
In reply to Is Tommorrow Your Consultation in New York?-SLS, posted by shellie on September 14, 2000, at 11:12:38
Hi Ladies.
I'm flattered that you guys were thinking of me.
Yes, I had my first appointment with the doctor in NYC a week ago Friday. I wish that I had made this change a few years ago. My old doctor had become focused on conducting clinical drug trials rather than investing his time and energy into treating his private patients. On the other hand, my new doctor seems committed to doing whatever is necessary to get me well. He said that my case was one of the worst he'd ever seen. (I'm so special). He also said that he will be consulting, formally and informally, with other doctors along the way. My case seems to be rather sophisticated (I'm so special).
This doctor is no stranger to difficult cases. He was the top recommendation of a Harvard research clinician specializing in TRD (treatment-resistant depression). He is on the staff at NYU (New York University Hospital). You can imagine how I felt when he described the severity of my condition as being "horrendous". That's a pretty horrendous word to hear used. I took it in stride, though. I cried.
He has a private office about a block away from the hospital. After my appointment, I met a drug rep in his waiting room who was looking to hawk some free samples of Celexa. Somehow, I managed to be discreet and asked him what he thought of the doctor. He replied that he was extremely intelligent. That don't mean crap to me. I'll take the passionate brilliance of an average Joe over the foolish indifference of a genius any day. When I pressed the rep for more information, he told me that the doctor's name always seems to come up at the professional meetings that he attends, and that he was considered the best in the area. I liked him. I think I have a good chance with him. It will be nice to feel confident enough to turn over control to the doctor for a change.
He wants to see how I react to Risperdal (risperidone) when added to the Parnate + desipramine + Lamictal combination I am currently taking. I had taken Risperdal once during a mixed-state mania, and wasn't too happy with the way I felt after a single dose. I remember becoming depressed. Perhaps this was simply an "unmasking" of the depressive aspect of the mixed-state. Along similar lines of thinking, I had previously been contemplating combining Nardil with Zyprexa. Another cool thing he said is that there were a lot of drug combinations that I haven't tried yet. Phew. So far, I've been on 41 different drugs in 59 combinations. 60 is a nice round number to stop at / begin at.
Your concern and support feels awfully nice. Thanks.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:44803
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000905/msgs/45145.html