Doctor Advice
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 49
Doctor Advice
Hi all,
First let me say that i'm glad I posted here. I've got some great advice and support. I have a question. I'm going to call a doctor because I know I need some blood work done. My body has taken a toll due to my drinking. I'm not eating, lost weight, almost passed out the other night while walking. I'm still drinking, well...last night, i'm okay right now. I'm praying I won't pick up. My first step was posting here, second step, call a doctor. I only have one doctor, my OBGYN. He knows about my problem but is also friends with my mom. I know they aren't supposed to say anything but i'm very embarrassed to tell him i'm drinking again, after the birth of my daughter 5 months ago. He actually delivered me 30 years ago, then my daughter. I'm not sure he would help me as far as medications go. Who would I call as far as doctors to go see. I want to start new with someone. I would like to get some meds for detoxing and then some anit-depressants for after that. I think it would help me so much. I struggle with depression but never been treated, except with my own self medicating. Do I call a family doctor, or an addiction specialist? I don't know where to start but I have to go see a doctor...I can't handle this pain anymore. Both physically and mentally. I think that would be a great start for me. Any advice would be so great.
First let me say that i'm glad I posted here. I've got some great advice and support. I have a question. I'm going to call a doctor because I know I need some blood work done. My body has taken a toll due to my drinking. I'm not eating, lost weight, almost passed out the other night while walking. I'm still drinking, well...last night, i'm okay right now. I'm praying I won't pick up. My first step was posting here, second step, call a doctor. I only have one doctor, my OBGYN. He knows about my problem but is also friends with my mom. I know they aren't supposed to say anything but i'm very embarrassed to tell him i'm drinking again, after the birth of my daughter 5 months ago. He actually delivered me 30 years ago, then my daughter. I'm not sure he would help me as far as medications go. Who would I call as far as doctors to go see. I want to start new with someone. I would like to get some meds for detoxing and then some anit-depressants for after that. I think it would help me so much. I struggle with depression but never been treated, except with my own self medicating. Do I call a family doctor, or an addiction specialist? I don't know where to start but I have to go see a doctor...I can't handle this pain anymore. Both physically and mentally. I think that would be a great start for me. Any advice would be so great.
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,469
Hi Blue,
If you don't have a general practitioner, just look around your area for drs who are accepting new patients. Or call the OBGYN you have, and ask for a recommendation for a family doctor. A family dr can prescribe antidepressants if he things you need them. Asking friends for recommendations for a new dr can be a good idea too.
If you don't have a general practitioner, just look around your area for drs who are accepting new patients. Or call the OBGYN you have, and ask for a recommendation for a family doctor. A family dr can prescribe antidepressants if he things you need them. Asking friends for recommendations for a new dr can be a good idea too.
mle-sober
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 1,243
Blue,
I have found that many GPs will persribe anti-depressants. And I'd think that they could help you with detoxing. Certainly if they didn't feel competent to do either or both of those things, they'd make a recommendation for you to see someone else.
However, a word of caution, based on my own experience. I am one of those people for whom regular antidepressants were really dangerous. Because I'm Bipolar. So, I was taking antidepressants and they were flipping me into hypomania (which feels fabulous and you would never in a million years agree that you were sick) and then, eventually, over time, things got worse and I became fully manic (which is really not pretty and no one can witness you without knowing that something is really wrong). But by that stage, you are not really in the mood for getting help. Mania rules your mind and body both.
So, that being said, my best advice, based only on my own experience, is that maybe get the initial appointment and perscription with the doctor who you have the quickest access to. But then ask them for a nurse practioner or a doctor who specializes in maintenance of pysch meds. I see a nurse practioner with percriptive privledges once a month. I know she has "caught" me a couple of times when I was getting hypomanic. Also, I can call her directly whenever I want and she will help me that same day if I'm having symptoms or side effects. I feel really lucky to have her in my corner. Psych meds are great and have saved my life for sure. But they can have lots of unintended consequences also.
I hope everything works smoothly for you. I can tell you taking important steps toward sobriety and I (and many others here) am rooting for you. Keep posting!
- MLE
I have found that many GPs will persribe anti-depressants. And I'd think that they could help you with detoxing. Certainly if they didn't feel competent to do either or both of those things, they'd make a recommendation for you to see someone else.
However, a word of caution, based on my own experience. I am one of those people for whom regular antidepressants were really dangerous. Because I'm Bipolar. So, I was taking antidepressants and they were flipping me into hypomania (which feels fabulous and you would never in a million years agree that you were sick) and then, eventually, over time, things got worse and I became fully manic (which is really not pretty and no one can witness you without knowing that something is really wrong). But by that stage, you are not really in the mood for getting help. Mania rules your mind and body both.
So, that being said, my best advice, based only on my own experience, is that maybe get the initial appointment and perscription with the doctor who you have the quickest access to. But then ask them for a nurse practioner or a doctor who specializes in maintenance of pysch meds. I see a nurse practioner with percriptive privledges once a month. I know she has "caught" me a couple of times when I was getting hypomanic. Also, I can call her directly whenever I want and she will help me that same day if I'm having symptoms or side effects. I feel really lucky to have her in my corner. Psych meds are great and have saved my life for sure. But they can have lots of unintended consequences also.
I hope everything works smoothly for you. I can tell you taking important steps toward sobriety and I (and many others here) am rooting for you. Keep posting!
- MLE
same planet...different world
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Butte, America
Posts: 10,946
Blue -
If this is the only doc you've a ready access to - USE him.
The most - he will/can recommend someone who will help you.
The dizziness could be a number of post- drinking things that I've unfortunately come to know first hand. And yes - you're going to need bloodwork to determine exactly what they are.
Get that taken care of.
Dont dink around with that stuff.
You got kids to run around after.
If this is the only doc you've a ready access to - USE him.
The most - he will/can recommend someone who will help you.
The dizziness could be a number of post- drinking things that I've unfortunately come to know first hand. And yes - you're going to need bloodwork to determine exactly what they are.
Get that taken care of.
Dont dink around with that stuff.
You got kids to run around after.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 49
Thanks for the advice. I needed it! I'll keep posting. Hopefully once I find a doctor I can get in right away and figure out what's going on. Even if it is scary! I'm going to ask about the psych meds too.
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