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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by L.Marie on December 30, 2000, at 11:55:40
I have had chronic low grade depression for as long as I can remember. Low energy, always on the verge of depression, but never falling in. On a scale of 1 to 10, I like to say it's like constantly being at #5. No real downs, but no real ups.
I was seeing my most recent therapist (MSW) for several months, when my insurance company (Oxford) refused to continue paying for the sessions. I cannot afford therapy without insurance, and Oxford said the only way they would continue covering the therapy was for me to see a psychologist and try meds.
So I tried several meds - Paxil made me suicidal, Prozac didn't work. Celexa was a wonder drug for 3 weeks - I felt really truly alive, and then it burned out - when the doctor upped my dose I turned into a slug - literally could not get out of bed. Effexor XR didn't make me feel better, but it caused hand tremors and concentration problems. Wellbutrin made be break out in hives.
After trying all these meds without any success, I decided to stop trying. Each failure / side effect caused more suffering than every day living. I tried to continue therapy (paying without insurance) but I just couldn't do it financially. So I stopped going 3 months ago.
I feel that I still need therapy, but how do I pay for it on my own, or how do I get Oxford to cover it?
And maybe I do need to take meds, but which ones? My doctor said that based on my previous reactions to SSRI's I should consider trycyclic, or MAOI's. But considering I can function without meds, are the side effects worth trying the drugs?
Also, does anyone have any recommendations for psychologists, or psychopharmacologists in NYC?
Thanks.
Posted by Noa on December 30, 2000, at 19:41:17
In reply to cure worse than the problem, posted by L.Marie on December 30, 2000, at 11:55:40
Try the Family Services Association--it is a private, non-profit, organization that usually has outpatient therapy clinics for a sliding scale fee. There are probably many others in NYC like it. Also, sometimes post graduate training programs have low fee services, provided by clinicians who are getting advanced training.
Also, I have to bring up the thyroid issue. have you had a GOOD evaluation of your thyroid functioning?
Posted by S.D. on December 30, 2000, at 21:15:32
In reply to cure worse than the problem, posted by L.Marie on December 30, 2000, at 11:55:40
>Wellbutrin made be break out in hives.
There was a thread some months back, the conclusion of which was that one person's skin reaction (don't remember if it was hives precisely) to Wellbutrin apparently was not a Wellbutrin-allergy at all, but a cat-allergy that began only after starting Wellbutrin. When removed from his shrink's cats, the skin condition went away.
In your situation, if it doesn't cause you insomnia then Wellbutrin is probably as promising a med. as any antidepressant. On the other hand, if you own cats they probably do more to improve your mood than anything else you've tried so far...
> And maybe I do need to take meds, but which ones?
> My doctor said that based on my previous
> reactions to SSRI's I should consider trycyclic,
> or MAOI's. But considering I can function
> without meds, are the side effects worth trying
> the drugs?For the rest of it I can only share your suffering and your questioning whether the drugs are worth it.
But Noa's suggestion is good, and if you haven't noticed it already, read the thread "Calling Dysthymics..." beginning 12/03/00. There are references to the thyroid thing and other possibilities. For any one of us, there might be a "right drug" and it might be one that is not normally considered an antidepressant.
Posted by allisonm on December 31, 2000, at 11:55:18
In reply to cure worse than the problem, posted by L.Marie on December 30, 2000, at 11:55:40
There are many other drugs out there and in classes other than the SSRIs or Effexor. Remeron and Wellbutrin are two of the newer ones, but there are others, including the older tricyclics. You might try those before trying an MAOI, which has a number of dietary restrictions. Keep trying. You'll find one that helps. The longer your depression goes without treatment, the harder it becomes to treat, my doctor told me.
Posted by L.Marie on January 1, 2001, at 16:42:40
In reply to Re: cure worse than the problem, posted by Noa on December 30, 2000, at 19:41:17
I have had a complete thyroid check up - blood tests, ultrasound. My thyroid levels are within the normal range (I can't remember the exact number, but it was in the middle - not near the top or bottom of the scale). In fact I was disappointed to learn that my depression was not due to my thyroid.
I will look into the Family Services Association.
Thanks for your advice.
This is the end of the thread.
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