OT - 2nd opinion

There has to be a doc out there who is doing research. How can that information be found?

Well, Marisa, I do and don't agree with you. If you recognize a potential mental health problem, my recommendation is to see a psychologist, a specialist in how your thoughts work. The psychologist can recommend a doctor who specializes in how the brain works, physically, which is a psychiatrist who can also prescribe drugs. After all, most doctors don't work with psychology all that much (after all, it's all in your head). They are Physicians! Not doctors for people who can't explain things that respond to medicine and the knife. They're often snobbish.

On the other hand, the family physician or generalist is also the first line of defense, and can recognize signs to be checked out by a specialist. And where you're dealing with cancer, which often has psychological reactions, those doctors also can usually give you some general guidelines, recommendations, and referrals.

I think a psychologist is the best bet with a psychiatrist to do the medical part. Unfortunately, many medical plans will send you to a psychiatrist because psychiatrists are also physicians. And they usually have those psychiatrists just run you through a mill with very mediocre "managed" care.

To look into this in the least impactful way, I'd just talk to your family doctor.

Tina

Sorry if I said it in sort of a goofy way... I am not recommending seeing a psychiatrist instead of a psycologist, but if she is dead set against therapy but feels she would benefit from medications I would rather she went to a psychiatrist for the medications then a PCP, if that makes sence. A good psychiatrist should recommend therapy with a psycologist or social worker or whatever if they feel it is warented, and I think it is more likely that they would do so then a PCP would. They also would explain why a lot better. Just based on my own experience.

marisa2

Christ> Well, Marisa, I do and don't agree with you. If you recognize a potential

Actually, I've been told that the chemo causes a chemical depression. That's probably what I'm suffering from. I know what you're saying about the PCP. They prescribe according to what the drug reps tell them, which is not always totally accurate. Dana has had some extensive training and continues to do as much reading as she can find, but she was not even pre-med in college. Her degree is in International Politics, which means she can argue the paint off the wall, but all medical training has been on the job.

Thanks for your concern, Marisa.

Cheri (Bubbee to Emily and Nathan)

There are many clinical trials being done on new chemos and a lot of that information is on the web. My biggest hesitation is that they want you off all other chemo for a certain amount of time (1 month up to 6 months). If my cancer is still growing while I'm on chemo, what will happen if I go off? I'm scared to death to do that. If at some point, the onc says that he doesn't think any more chemo will help me, that's the time to look at clinical trials, IMO.

Now, could you explain that to my brothers?

Cheri (Bubbee to Emily and Nathan)

Not goofy at all. We just have slightly differing preferences. That I have a very good PCP, an outstanding psychologist, and have very rarely had insurance, gives me a different experience base.

Tina

Cheri...I'm so sorry you were ambushed. It smacks of unprofessionalism to me, but then, I'm that way.

Hugs, and best vibes for you...for all good things for you...

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

Thanks LC.

Cheri (Bubbee to Emily and Nathan)

~~ Sooz To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. ~~Joseph Chilton Pearce

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@aol.comstars (Cheri2Star) :

] Her ]degree is in International Politics, which means she can argue the paint off ]the wall

you have all my sympathy!!!!!!!!!!!