RE: Prozac......

[Guest guest]

Dear (V)

I'm going to splatter the pubic board briefly but will write privately

about more detailed stuff if you want.

>> Are there many of you taking Prozac or any other

anti-depressant/anti-anxiety drugs?<<

I don't know about " many " but the many I've know have taken the

same/similar since before surgery -- only a small amount of people began

taking a psyche med after surgery -- not to mix the drugs up they do very

different things.

>>Are you also getting counseling?<<

Yes, I've seen a weekly therapist since well over a year before I had

surgery and continue to see him and plan to continue to see him.

>>I have been thinking about getting some counseling but wonder if he/she

would want me to take Prozac or Paxil.<<

Therapists and counselors (the same) and shrinks are totally different --

they prescribe medications... My therapist is a Ph. D. but not a doctor and

can not prescribe meds -- most therapists/counselors can't -- if a

medication, short term / long term / would help you would have to see a

doctor about it -- hopefully PCP's don't prescribe psyche medication (that's

just an opinion)

>> I just wanted to get an idea of what you are going through out there. I

don't want to be medicated. I know I am dealing with issues created because

of losing the weight. I am aware that because I am thinner I don't settle

for things like I did. I want to work on achieving what I always dreamed

about but thought was impossible.<<

And a 1000 other issues -- just dive in... IMO, it is the best thing I've

done for and by myself and I did it BEFORE I even thought about WLS but my

issues were much the same then as now -- only now I am learning to deal

with feelings as well as the rest of the stuff.

>>> I know I am not unique in my feelings. I think part of my frustration

is figuring out what I need to do to work on what I want and to prioritize

my goals.<<<

I cut that part because it isn't my place to " analyze " what you said

~smile~ just wanted to add that a good therapist (and you can interview them

before choosing one for yourself...) will help you set your priorities in

order of what you really want to work on first and by knowing your whole

list can generally help better by seeing where all the issues criss/cross

each other anyway.

>>>I hope doctors are not trying to medicate us instead of working on

issues. Many primary doctors are prescribing these anti-anxiety drugs but

they are not the right ones to work on the issues with you.<<<

Most PCP's don't prescribe the psyche meds... as I said above that is done

by a psychiatrist who also doesn't work on the issues with you -- that is

done by a therapist / counselor person who doesn't / can't prescribe

medications but might suggest them if s/he feels strongly they might help

during the time of what you are working through. The medications are usually

a choice for the individual. They are not a crutch or a cop-out if one

chooses to help themselves by choosing to use one or more that makes doing

the work on the emotional stuff much easier -- and then you have chemical

depression which is " who knows what " in our already chemically disturbed

bodies... and on and on... most people I know who are on medications are

also in therapy of the right choice for themselves.

hugz,

~denise