Posted by jerrympls on May 29, 2003, at 23:07:22
In reply to Re: Saw new pdoc, said nothing more could be done., posted by Jack Smith on May 29, 2003, at 22:11:06
> > "You're the man who's tried everything, and to be perfectly honest with you, I have no ideas as to how to treat you. You've been on everything. There's nothing more. That's psychiatry's dirty little secret: not everyone responds to treatment and some will will only achieve a very partial response if anything at all."
> >
>
> Frankly, I am outraged by this. I agree that the doctor at least had the honesty to admit that he couldn't help BUT he certainly could have TRIED to refer you to someone else or to tell you that he would ask around for someone with experience in extremely resistant mood disorders. You cannot have tried everything. That is mathematically impossible, by the way. Combinations of different psychiatric drugs for a therapeutic amount of time could take up a lifetime. Anyways, you have not even tried off label drugs like Mirapex? Correct? Have you tried opiates? This is definitely something you should look into. I suggest you contact Dr. Ivan and tell him your story with this dr., I think he would try to refer you to someone in your area who is willing to at least TRY.
>
> BY the way, did you ask about Mirapex? I cannot believe that he would be unwilling to even give you a script for it!
>
> What is this doctor's name by the way? I think it is safe to say that no one here should go see him.
>
> JACKHi Jack-
thanks for the reply. After hearing "OH NO -we can't prescribe antyhing off-lable here..." from the nurse, I abandoned any attempts to even bring up the subject of a trying a med like Mirapex. No, I haven't tried Mirapex or other meds like amantadine, however, although haven't been prescribed opiates for depression necessarily, I have talked to my current research doc that hydrocodone has been the best "anti-depressant" I've ever been on (following surgical procedures, dental work, etc). I don't get "high" or manic - I just feel normal again - feel motivated to "live" again.....I explained this to him and he was very open and said it was a possibility to try something like that in the future. You're probabaly wondering why I'm not seeing HIM instead of Dr. No Hope -well, it's kind of complicated, but there's a conflict seeing him as my primary pdoc while in the study I'm currently a part of.
Back to this dr. I saw today - yes - it's quite amazing he didn't even offer to help find someone more experienced. He switched very quickly to the subject of sleep apnea and then said: "Wait to come back to see me once you've had your sleep study and have been treated by the pulmo dr."
Uhh.....hmm..ok? Nah - I do plan on doing the sleep study, etc. because I think I do need some treatment - but I won't be seeing Dr. You Have Nothing To Live For again.
Interesting that you bring up Dr. Ivan. I exchanged many helpful emails with him many years ago right before he became the depression "cult icon" he is today. Dr. Ivan is an extremely intelligent, wonderful dr. and person. In one of my emails, I told him if I had the money I'd fly to New York just for one appointment. Of course I was 23-24 yrs old at the time and in college and broke. Anyway, I may just take your advice and see what Dr. Ivan has to say......
Anyway, I'll keep you all posted. Thanks so much for your advice and support - it helps more than you can know.
Jerry :-)
to be continued......
poster:jerrympls
thread:230097
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030525/msgs/230115.html