Topic Title: Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned SJW
| |  "Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned SJW"
, Wed 27 Nov 09:54
I went to my dermatologist today and when she asked me what other medicines I'm taking, I told her that I take fish oil to treat my depression. I also said that I used to take SJW. She told me that her husband is a psychiatrist and that he would never give his patients SJW or fish oil for depression. And when I told her that I had been researching fish oil on the internet she laughed at me and told me that the internet is nothing but trash. How can she say that? Millions of people use the internet to research medical alternatives. She also said that over the counter herbs are useless and a waist of money. I think just because SJW doesn't help some people doesn't mean that it doesn't help nobody. I think doctors are just afraid that if patients experience success with herbs or fish oil that they will loose their patients.
Posts: 77 | | Registered: Tue 10 Sep 2002 15:9 |
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| |  "Re(1):Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned S"
, Fri 29 Nov 08:32
Karla,
First, I admire you and others on this site for taking the time and effort to learn about treatment options. I believe that it is very important to know the medical facts and options available because, in the end, its your health, your body, your life.
Second, if possible, get a new doctor - today if you can do it. Any doctor who mocks a patient is practicing poor medicine and is dangerous. All this person has accomplished is to make you feel less likely to convey your symptoms and concerns - not just on depression but your general health. And, unfortunately, many very serious illness ( including depression) have symptoms that are embarasing to dicuss - sexual disfunction for example can be anything from depression to cancer to hormone imbalance to infection etc. So, if a doctor knowingly limits a patient's willingness to frankly discuss symptoms and treatment options, they could literally cause your death.
I know of what I speak, I used to be a pharm rep and sadly, too many lazy doctors get ALL of their current knowledge on medicines through salespeople.
Also, my own experience with asthma is instructive: the doctors (I switched primary care doctors three times) 'blew it off' - just a cold etc. until I reached a day when I had trouble breathing. Even then the doctors tried to say it was an allergy to pollen no less in February! When they finally ordered tests, the med tech said that she could hear me wheezing from outside the test room. So, it took over a year for these guys to figure out what should have taken one visit and a simple test.
Bottom line: get a new doctor before this one causes you real harm.
Best of luck , Leo
Posts: 71 | | Registered: Wed 13 Mar 2002 8:58 |
| |  "Re(1):Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned S"
, Thu 28 Nov 17:37
I must be lucky. I have a psychologist who totally supported my decision to take sjw, she also monitors how I'm doing on it, dosage etc. She has never pushed the drug thing. She was even open to learn something from me about 5htp as she had never heard of it. I actually printed stuff off the net for her. Makes me really thankful. Hope you guys are able to switch to another support/treatment person.
Posts: 31 | | Registered: Thu 14 Nov 2002 0:19 |
| | "Re(1):Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned S" , Thu 28 Nov 07:57:
Big BS,,
I've tried most if not all AD's for over 26yrs!!, I honesty never tried any thing as good as SJW, I have been using it for about 4yrs now and very happy with it.
[this message was edited by sami on Thu 28 Nov 07:58]
Posts: 32 | | Registered: Tue 14 Nov 2000 6:19 |
| | "Re(1):Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned S" , Thu 28 Nov 07:09
Here's a scary doctor story for you that, unfortunately, is probably not uncommon, but really shocked me nonetheless. I went to a city shrink many years ago. Free shrink, big US city, low-income neighborhood, mostly public aid recipients. Doc tells me to tell her what's wrong. I tell her I feel depressed and talk for about five minutes. After listening to me for this very short time, she gives me this long, really weird lecture on my life, how I'm searching for my father, how the fact that I'm working in a comedy club (as a bartender) is bad since all comedy is essentially depressing (or negative or something like that). She even starts throwing in quotes from Jung and some other names I remember from Psychology 101. Then she makes an appointment for me to come in and pick up anti-depressants. I walk out of her office and past all these sad-looking, unemployed people with real-life problems, all lined up to go see this crazy doc, who probably encouraged them all to take anti-depressants without really listening to them. I do not mean to say there is no situation than such medication should not be used, but this doc sure didn't take the time to explore other options, or even to get to know her patients for that matter. Patient beware.
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Wed 6 Nov 2002 1:4 |
| | "Re(1):Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned S" , Thu 28 Nov 06:35
Ignorant and shortsighted indeed! Better doctors who are confident in their own knowledge, are usually happy that patients have taken the trouble to research their own problems and methods of self help! Why not change to a more modern one, who is better informed....(One who uses the internet to 'enhance' their own practice for instance!)
Posts: 13 | | Registered: Thu 7 Nov 2002 2:36 |
| |  "Re(1):Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned S"
, Wed 27 Nov 13:48
Many Doctors get all their medical information, after medical school, from the salesmen representing the big Drug companies. The salesmen come by and deliver the latest company advertisements and give the sales pitch. A Doctor who would dismiss herbs that he has no direct knowledge of is ignorant. You have to study something before you know if it works or not. Ignorant Doctors are not only poor healthcare providers, they are dangerous. Look for open minded Doctors who are willing to research things they don't know about. Herbs and vitamins, used wisely, are important in the health of patients. It's sad to know that Doctors like you mentioned have to open their mouths and show their lack of common sense.
James
Posts: 30 | | Registered: Tue 5 Nov 2002 7:3 |
| | | "Re(2):Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned S" , Wed 27 Nov 15:10
What makes me so mad is that the psychiatrists hardly ever tell their patients about the side effects of anti-depressants(unless you ask them). But when you mention herbs they're so quick to attack them. They act as though anti-depressants are perfect. I was on Prozac for nearly 2 years and about a year after I got off it I fell into a relapse and then after 3 weeks being on Prozac I was suicidal.
Posts: 78 | | Registered: Tue 10 Sep 2002 15:9 |
| | | "Re(3):Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned S" , Thu 28 Nov 08:39
About 2 years ago, I saw a doctor about feeling depressed. After listening to me for about 3 minutes she told me I had three choices..."Swallow down the Seroxat (paxil), get some sort of counselling or put up with it".
I had already started taking SJW, so I told her about it, as I had read that it shouldn't be used with SSRIs, as it acts on serotonin. She looked at me as if I had gone mad and said that she didn't know where I got my information from but there is nothing in the BNF (British National Formulary) about SJW.
I later checked with a pharmacist and another doctor and of course I was right, it should not be mixed. Her ignorance could have been extremely dangerous for me.
BTW, I never took the Seroxat!
Posts: 125 | | Registered: Fri 3 May 2002 3:4 |
| | | "Re(4):Doctor laughed at me when I mentioned S" , Fri 29 Nov 08:48
Juju, I always find your posts useful. I think we "talked" in a couple of my posts about Paxil, therapy and other options. I have an appointment in 3 days with my MD and I wanted to let you know that your input (and others who responded - thank you all btw) convinced me to refuse Paxil - I will insist that, along with therapy,if prescription meds are indicated, I'll try if needed but NEVER NEVER NEVER take Paxil. If the doc insists I'll switch doctors. Thank you for all of your help. PS. while I find sjw to be helpful, I think that my depression is going frorm moderate to severe due to life issues, and sjw is not recommended for severe depression. I don't have anything against prescription meds - just against doctors who don't listen to patients. Leo
Posts: 72 | | Registered: Wed 13 Mar 2002 8:58 |
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