GP's and Anti-Depressants Important Info

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone! New Posters are very welcome to share your experiences with a GP too!

I had an appointment yesterday with my GP. He is aware of what I do on the Beyond Blue forums. I asked him about anti depressants and how he treats his patients with depression/ anxiety and why some GP's dont prescribe meds. This is what I learned yesterday from one doctor.

• He has always had an interest in depression and anxiety and prescribes AD's where the symptoms fit the criteria to do so
• He will refer to a psychiatrist if a patient shows symptoms of a more 'complex' mental illness and not prescribe meds himself
• Some GP's have little interest in 'getting involved' with depression and will refer to a psychiatrist with little if any discussion
• He isnt 'pro meds' or 'anti-meds' He treats depression as a serious illness with meds to improve his patients health & well being

• He mentioned that a pro-active GP can know more about AD's than some psychiatrists as GP's have more frequent patient contact

It did surprise me that some GP's have little or no interest in treating depression. I hope these GP's are in the minority.

I am interested to know any good or not so good experiences other people have had with a GP. I posted this thread originally so any people with untreated depression/anxiety have a better understanding of how experiences with a GP can be positive step towards recovery.

All your thoughts are most welcome

Thankyou for taking the time to read my thread

Kind thoughts

Paul

[MarkJT]

Shred & Paul, well i got home and tried to figure out why and all i can come down is that i had a few weeks off holiday and as i wasnt using my brain as much i was overflowing with brain juice (mental energy) so had to wait until it went to low status before i went to sleep.

Unreal that your new workplace being a good environment - that is just so massive in regards to an employees mental health. Enjoy the buzz!!

Time and strategy - this is chess not checkers and you are getting real good.

Mark

[blondguy]

Hey Shred & MarkJT, you are are fortunate to have a proactive GP. They have a better understanding of playing chess and not checkers as they used to when I was in my 20's

To read that you are having some peace in your new workplace is great as our environment whether at work or at home is a huge platform that we can use to heal more effectively. I was taught years ago that my staff came first and everything else is secondary....(Including the revenue flow)...You are with a seriously decent company 🙂

I have a close friend that has sleep apnoea and she is exhausted the next day. I am trying (without nagging) to suggest that she tries the CPAP treatment as she stops breathing several times a night.

If I can ask you Shred...is CPAP a good management tool or if you have any better advice for me it would be appreciated so I can make a better suggestion

My best as always

Paul

[MarkJT]

Gents, to go slightly off topic - may i ask what you do with the GP as opposed to the psych?

I have not seen the GP for my PTSD related matters at all, purely psych work.

Interested to learn!!

Mark

[Shred1106]

Hey there-

For sleep apnoea the gold standard treatment is CPAP but the machine must be individually setup specifically for that person and an annual check on the machine including data download is essential. You can even get sleep apnoea tests now done by yourself at home! You don't need a referral to a sleep clinic and they will allocate a sleep specialist to view your results! They even send all your data to your GP! So the test is extremely important to see what is going on with your sleep pattern and affects how the machine is set.

On another note my latest blood tests show that my Vitamin D levels are shockingly low. Did you know that although Vit D can be gained from being outdoors you still may not have enough in your system?.It is linked also to depression. So, my Gp has started me on Vit D tablets and we will reevaluate close to Xmas.

Big night tonight with awards night so I'd better go...I don;t even want to go out I am that bushed and feeling crappy! Still....

[blondguy]

Hey Everyone! Shred, thanks heaps for your advice on CPAP.....I had no idea that the sleep apnoea tests can be done at home too.....My friend is being treated for 'Adhesion's' after a gall bladder removal...I am just trying to help with her exhaustion after she stops breathing off and on during the night...Your advice is greatly appreciated Shred.

Vitamin D....Thats an interesting point as I remember too that is linked with depression. I havent seen Vitamin D tablets...as yet... as I only take Blackmores Executive B Group supplements which work really well but where can I get Vitamin D supplements?

You are stronger than I am (seriously) to go out on an awards night after what you have been through Shred..You are very strong. Thankyou for taking the time to help out! Please let us know how the awards night went 🙂

Hey Mark (the JT kind) I always had visits with my psychiatrist and psychologist and never gave any mind to my GP many years ago........until I realised that my GP had an active interest in mental health....to my shame...I never really 'listened' properly to him and my other GP at the time...a crackerjack female GP as well.

Just a quick example if thats okay....I said to my GP in the late 1990's that I was having trouble socializing and she replied "are you happy on your own and reasonably contented?" .....I replied yes as I dont mind my own company..She then replied..."then why are you so worried about something that isnt relevant to you in this moment?"

My GP actually stopped me from catastrophising about having difficulty socializing and I walked out feeling 100% better and let my psychologist do the fine tuning 🙂

My point being....My female GP stopped me from worrying about something that I had no control of at the time.

To have a GP to put out the fire of me catastrophising was a gift. I had great sleep and peace of mind as a result off a simple sentence of logic from a GP that has a strong focus on mental health.

Thanks heaps MarkJT for the re-direct to the thread topic too 🙂

My kindest

Paul

[Shred1106]

Hi guys

Just in reply regarding the CPAP - find a local organisation like Healthy Sleep Solutions to set your friend up with a test.

Vitamin D you can buy at a chemist over the counter.

Awards night was exhausting - another year down! and to make matters worse came home only to go to bed and wake up three hours later because the power went out in my suburb! (It sets an alarm off in my CPAP machine).

Hope fully later today will catch a few zzzs as have a fair bit on this morning before I can rest. Lowering my antid dose today to the lowest it can go and will stay on that dose till I see GP again in about ten days.

My GP is terrific.Takes the time to go through the list of questions I have and then we write a plan on paper so I have something to refer to if I can't remember the specifics of what we've organised! It includes small goals we are working toward and backstops if something goes pear shaped. Complimented by psychologist who I discuss issues with and my psychiatrist who does the antid and anti anxiety med stuff.

All in all I am fortunate indeed to have such a team.

Looking forward to heading away for a few days late next week- change of scene and good friends...

[MarkJT]

Gents, now i get the GP and psych matter. Fantastic that you have that all around team working for you. Making use of the services available to get you back to tip top condition. Love it.

It is brilliant that you went to the awards show last night. That is some serious courage and drive to do that. Yes you are bombed out but gee, what an accomplishment.

Interesting with the Vitamin D test. Let us know how you go with that. I guess so many people think that as they are getting outside in the sun then all is good...perhaps not!!

Mark

[Shred1106]

The problem has arisen in Australia because we now must use sunscreen because of melanoma- kind of a catch 22 really. However, we know a lack of Vit D can lead to brittle bones and fatigue which adds to my insomnia.Will keep you posted..

Again folks, thanks for your ongoing support...

A rude shock with the temperature today...tried to nap but was not successful. Hopefully that means a better sleep tonight!

Getting the antid's out of the system and, as I reduce, it is giving me some side effects. Oh well, a day at a time..

[blondguy]

Hi guys

Thanks Shred for the info re the CPAP matter. It gives me a starting point

I dont blame you for feeling exhausted after your awards night but serious congrats for you for having the strength and determination to get in there. I used to have corporate event nights just a few years ago and I was a wreck the next day. Probably the adrenaline pumping during the night which would exhaust anyone.

You are a trooper where the AD's are concerned Shred. I know a few people that have come off them and they had the annoying side effects as well.

I hope your week is good to you 🙂

Paul

[MarkJT]

Can't say i have ever thought about that - the use of sunscreen blocking the Vit D intake. Makes sense though. Of course we live where the Ozone is cactus!! Do'h.

The fatigue thing is a hard one though. I am heaps fatigued all the time but i always thought it was because it takes so much mental energy, otherwise known as brain juice, to keep myself even and controlled.

Thinking i might go get the Vit D levels checked!!

Mark