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Messages By: wobbly99

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September 28, 2005, 1:28 pm PDT

Walk in my shoes for 20 years, Mr. Cruise

 I've had fibromyalgia for almost 20 years with all its awful consequences. Add myofascial pain syndrome and degenerative joint disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative disk disease and the result is a life in excruciating and often exquisite, debilitating pain. 

People must realize that you have to shop for a good knowledgable Dr. who is expert in your particular problem and is willing to work with you to find coping solutions where cures aren't available. My Drs always discuss meds and their side effects and carefully follow my progress whenever a med change is in order. Patients are ultimately responsible for their care and must participate in the healing process - you just can't lay down and wait for help. Get a second opinion or a third. Be aware of  side effects and efficacy. All medicines are dangerous if not properly used. An activist attitude, good Drs, and a very supportive pair of kids have gotten me through what is often hell.

Time and happenstance will eventually catch up with  Mr. Cruise and I hope he has the good sense to get the best medical care he can find. He's going to need it. If he can get through cervical spine surgery without opioids I'll eat my computer.
 
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September 28, 2005, 3:54 pm PDT

Ever heard of a spinal tap?

Quote From: hepzibah

I don't know where you get your information, but no one can check the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine in the brain until an autopsy is done. Frankly, I'd rather not have to have an autopsy just to check my neurotransmitter levels.
A spinal tap is always available if there is any doubt of an analysis of a chemical imbalance in the CNS but psychiatrists can diagnose these mental health disorders without going to that painful extreme. Your friendly family doctor has no business prescribing psychotropic drugs without an exam and diagnosis by a psychiatrist and all other possibillities of a physical component have been excluded. If your family physician won't take those precautionary steps get yourself a better doctor.
 
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September 28, 2005, 3:57 pm PDT

You're doing the right thing.

Quote From: rlr2much

I am sitting here holding my 4 month old baby while he cries because his tummy hurts.   He has reflux and has just spit up a entire bottle all over,  so should I deny him meds? 

  

With my 9 yr old I prefer him to be able to sit through school and get a good education.   With my 4 month old I prefer he not be in pain and be able to eat and grow properly.    Really, what IS the difference? 

  

RR 

 As long as you are working with your pediatrician and following his/her instructions you are doing fine.  Use your own good judgement and ignore the hysteria.
 
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September 28, 2005, 4:03 pm PDT

Drug histeria kills people.

Quote From: robinmom3

HI my name Is Robin and I currently take a number of different medications for the treatment of bipolar disorder and I was very upset with this women saying that we are over medicating the world. I will have you know that I could not function from day to day without my meds. There are days that I still can not function with them. I am a rapid cycling bipolar and also suffer from post tramatic stress disorder. You have no right to tell the world that they dont need there meds I tried to go off my meds and I paid the price my bipolar disorder became much worse and I must take more medications because of it. So dont sit there because of your one time experience and tell the world that they should not take there meds. Do you know how many bipolar people that would here that and would take that advice and may end up dead. SO dont think you are a doctor and know it all if you want to be out there giving the advice go to school and then see what you think. Robin
 Robin, I completely understand and support what you say. You must stay on your meds which may help you lead a relatively "normal" life.  Remember that 40% of people with bipolar disorder end up commiting suicide and I think the hysteria about drugs is a contributing factor. It's hard enough living with a brain chemistry problem but getting put down for it is inexcusable. Pay no attention to the hysteria, work with your doctor to balance your meds and to learn to better cope with your condition. Don't let the drug hysteria effect you.
 
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September 28, 2005, 6:42 pm PDT

Overmedicating America: Stupid Title

 Nobody can treat "America." You can only treat individuals. Generatlizations are dumb since they apply to nothing. Medication alone is not a panacea for any health problem, physical or mental. Mental health and physical health are part of a whole and all patients need to be aware that diet, exercise, rest, stress management, fresh air, and sunlight all play a part in maintaning well-being and are your best allies in coping with chronic conditions. If depression is your problem you will also need guidance with diet and physical activity can help improve your chances of coping successfully with your condition but first you will need medication to get you on your feet. if you are in pain you need enough pain medication to function but then comes the work of trying to improve your general health every day. Knowing your body and your meds is critical and ignorance is no excuse. If you can read this bulletin board you have access to all the information you need to evaluate your treatment and your medications. Learn about the disease, the condition, or the syndrome, and find out what treatment alternatives there are, shop for doctors, and don't eat pills just because somebody says so. Take charge of your life and health. Only you know what works best for you.
 
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September 28, 2005, 8:03 pm PDT

Drug hysteria

Quote From: cingular

Tom Cruise has nothing to do with the fact that we are over medicating here in America, Its a shame that People can not take their personal feelings for Tom Cruise or his film ratings or most of all his religious or personal beliefs and set that aside and focus on the topic of this subject, THE FACTS, the topic is OVERMEDICATING!!! 36 million people or more are on drugs, people have been lied to, there has been a huge cover up by the pharmaceutical companies, they knew that these drugs cause death and many many other problems and they hid the truth, the FDA hid the truth, right now most of these pharmaceutical companies are paying people off left and right, this is not a matter of who should or should not take antidepressants but should the people taking them at least know the truth about the clinical trials, it is not a small percentage of people who have horrible effects from these drugs, its more then we thought, these drugs are very very dangerous and i thank people like TOM CRUISE who went out and took a risk that people would not really like what he said, but he stood up and spoke the TRUTH, not his opinion, we need more people to stand firm in the FACTS. not opinions. I am not a Scientoligist, this is not a religious issue, I am a victim and I deserved to know the truth. I am alive and I plan on telling as many people I can how dangerous these drugs are.
 All drugs kill, as do aspirin, alcohol, sugar, fats, vitamins, and donuts. At least prescription drugs come with labels and are packaged with fact sheets. Ask for them at your pharmacy and READ them. Question what you take.

I submit that the reason we take so many medications is that we live longer but not necessarily well. With longer life come the maladies that attend aging. Should we remain vigilant that our medications are pure and fully tested? Of course. Would we choose to suffer needlessly from mental health diseases when treatment exist? Of course not. Psychotropic drugs have allowed patients to be free of custodial care, a euphemism for insane asylums, and function as productive citizens.

Ranting of conspiracies is both uninformed and pointless.
 
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September 28, 2005, 8:13 pm PDT

The Stigma of Mental Disorders

 People with mental disorders are stigmatized by the ignorant people around them who do not understand the ramifications of having a brain with a mind of its own. "Get over it," is the unkindest cut of all to people already in fear of carrying the stigma of a mental disorder. Mr. Cruise's ignorance laced with contempt for menal illness is unfortunatelly rampant in our society.
 
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September 28, 2005, 8:16 pm PDT

Conspiracy theories?

Quote From: cingular

5 years ago that fine print did not tell EVERYTHING they knew of these drugs,  its because of people like tom cruise and myself who have been fighting at the levels of congress FDA and drug companies,  thats what people want to belive is that its all in the package insert...BUT ITS NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!             they hid the truth!!!!
 Who is or are "they"? What have "they" hidden? Why did "they" hide "it"? Where did "they" put whatever "it" is you speak of?
 
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September 28, 2005, 8:44 pm PDT

Custumizing the Med regimen

Quote From: missbilly

My son has been on medicine since about 1992 and from day one there has always been a very long sheet in the bag saying everything that could happen including that it can affect the liver. Nothing was ever hid about Ritalin or any of the ADHD drugs. He is also on Catapres for his impulsiveness and that has also always had everything on its fact sheet about the sideeffects and if it can harm any organs inside. No two people are going to react the same on the same prescription. One person could be perfectly fine while another person takes it and either gets sick from it or is allergic. Theres nothing they can do to stop those.
 You make an excellent point. Medications, where all else fails, along with other supportive therapy can be very successful in treating persistent mental disorders. As our bodies change through time care must be taken to ensure that the drug therapy works properly. It requires caution, diligence, and careful observation for efficacy and dangerous or undesired effects. Medication must be tailored to the individual and not everything works for everyone. Medications do fail. For me acetamenaphin, common tylenol, is useless and I once found that an NSAID made me severly depressed, a very rare side-effect of the drug. I was taken off immediately and the depression lifted. By the way, aspirin is the most common NSAID which taken for protracted periods of time will cause stomach disorders and possibly ulcers. Preservatives which allow medications to retain their chemical composition and thus be effectively distributed can cause allergic reactions in some people. Adhesives on medication patches can also cause allergic reactions. The best defense against the misuse of medications is diligent parenting.


 
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May 14, 2006, 8:57 pm PDT

The Spoiled Brat

Quote From: lady535di

Dr. Phil, Dr. Phil, Dr. Phil, I could have told you this was going to happen.  What good alcoholic or addict doesn't like to be lavished with gifts and be the center of attention?  If that would have been me on your show, I'd have never stopped drinking.  You can't reward someone for bad behavior & expect good behavior.  It's about time Brandon take responsibility for his actions.
 Brandon is a spoiled brat whose been allowed to get away with anything he wants by his enabling family. Now he's in jail where he belongs with the other junkies. Let him stay there. It's time this boy got  a taste of the consequences of his actions. He's headed for prison and if he survives he might change his mind about using drugs when he's middle aged and he finally figures out that he's wasted his life. Time this boy pay some dues. No sympathy for this kid or his family here. They should have dealt with him firmly back in the sandbox days. This boy's had no boundaries. Jail is the end result of overindulgent parenting but he's now an adult and has nobody to blame but himself. He's chosen crime and he belongs in a cage with the other criminals. Enough already.

Wobbly
 

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