So I go to the doctor with my intestine popping out of my belly...

[johnnie]

And I end up with a prescription for Zoloft :wtf:

I have an umbilical hernia (which I mentioned on here not long ago) and so I go to the doctor for the first time in years. He looks at my belly and basically says "Yup, that's what it is, here is a name of another doctor. Then he makes small talk with me, I tell him once in a while I have trouble sleeping. I have had bouts of insomnia since I was a small child. He says. "I'll give you some stuff to help", and he writes me prescriptions for Zoloft and Ambian.

I have to say, it's kind of funny to me. Lordy, where were these doctors when I was younger? I would have sprained my ankle every other week. :)

[MissMillie]

1. It's kind of nice that the doc

checked in with you about your whole health rather than just passing you off to a surgeon.

I had an umbilical hernia repaired a few years ago. It's day surgery, but you'll be sore for a couple of weeks. Avoid pepper in the first week of recovery--a sneeze will make you see stars.

[johnnie]

2. Well, I'm a new patient of his

So, yeah I'm glad that he took the time to ask about me. I just didn't know they hand out meds like that. I haven't been to the doctors really since the age of meds started.

[kiraboo]

3. Zoloft (w/out Ambian) is like speed to me.

I can't stand the feeling!

[johnnie]

4. I took the Ambian last night

Waited an hour for it to hit me. I got a little groggy and went to sleep. They say to allow 7-8 hours of sleep so I went to sleep at 11. I woke up at 5 in the morning wide awake and couldn't go back to sleep. I had to sit around for 2 and a half hours before I could leave for work.

I thought those were supposed to knock you out. :shrug:

[kiraboo]

12. I think the effect of Zoloft is so powerful that without Ambien

you'd have trouble sleeping for two hours. After a while, though, that effect will probably wear off. Give it a few weeks.

[Magrittes Pipe]

5. Yay! Drugs!

[johnnie]

9. Yeah

They hand them out like candy. :shrug:

Who'd a thunk it?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. So will he refer you to a surgeon, if it (hernia) gets bigger/worse or

starts causing you much pain? :shrug:

[johnnie]

7. Yeah, he already did

He said to get it taken care of sometime before the end of summer.

[grace0418]

8. Be careful with Ambien. I know two different people who had strange things

happen while taking it. One woman woke up in her front lawn, not having any idea how she got there. The other woke up in bed but completely covered in food. Neither of them have been known to sleepwalk before. I actually laughed out loud when I heard these tales, but in reality something really serious could happen.

[johnnie]

10. Yeah, I have heard some things too

I don't know if I am going to use them much. The one last night didn't do anything really. I fell asleep, but not all night.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

11. My doctor in college

Used to pull out pre-filled out prescription cards and ask me which ones I wanted.

Ahhhh...the simple joys of free college-level public health...good times!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. My dear johnnie....

I am really happy to hear that you are taking good care of yourself!

I want all of my friends to live long and prosper!

:hug:

[johnnie]

15. Thanks Peggy

But now I feel guilty..lol.

Ok, well, I am trying to take a little better of myself. After 41 years I guess it's time. :hi:

[dysfunctional press]

14. i had surgery for an umbilical hernia a few weeks ago...

i showed it to my doctor at my regular appointment...he had me come back a week later to see a surgeon who comes by the office once a month...one week later i was having the surgery- in and out of the hospital in one day, about two weeks of recovery, not being able to shower or swim.
all better now.
btw- the surgeon was a dead ringer, voice and looks, for jackie mason.
ambien is great stuff, too.
(btw- do you know how ambien got it's name? it's "am" for morning + "bien"- spanish for 'good' = "good morning", because it doesn't leave you waking up all groggy.)

[KitchenWitch]

16. Thing is, they do not hand out the good stuff like that.

[Whoa_Nelly]

17. Do your homework re: Ambien and Zoloft

Ambien search:

http://tinyurl.com/opjwd


Zoloft search:

http://tinyurl.com/rjk5a

[hedgehog]

18. I don't know about Ambien,

but those of us who have had to take Zoloft for serious depression don't have any idea why you'd want to take this drug. It's not an upper or downer. Generally speaking, if the SSRI does nothing but make the depression go away, you're very lucky. Usually there is some side effect involved.

[johnnie]

19. Well, my point was

I didn't say I was depressed, the doctor assumed I was and wrote me a prescription. Although in reading about it, I see it it used for many more things than just depression. So, who knows? Maybe he knows something I don't know.

[pitohui]

20. maybe he's just an idiot

my mom's doctor was one of those who assumed that anyone complaining of tiredness and pain must be depressed, she almost died because the cause was not depression to be covered up by an SSRI but blockage of major arteries that required bypass surgery to save her life

your doctor actually knew that you are facing surgery but he thinks it's the time to be handing out drugs with major psychological effects like zoloft and ambien

i'd get a new doctor

seriously

one day his attitude of "you must be depressed if you have a perfectly normal concern" is going to get somebody killed

[hedgehog]

21. I second that remark.

What would you think if you told the doctor you were hungry and needed to pee and he sent you home with a prescription for insulin? Depression is too serious to diagnose and treat in such an off-the-cuff manner. It makes me wonder what treats the pharmaceutical rep has been dropping off. Tickets to Hawaii maybe?