I had been on Sertraline for probably 5 years, and all of a sudden the side effects just multiplied. I went cold turkey off of it, and have found an herbal that works just as well. I just haven't met with my doctor, because I go once a year and that was last December.

I like my doctor - she's very down-to-earth. She also supports the natural remedies. I have gotten with her about the medicines for my gallbladder stuff (the lack thereof, but no decrease in liver production).

Of course I listen. I pay him well enough to take his advice. He's a professional and I appreciate that.

But as an RN, (case manager for home care and hospice) I'm probably one of the worst to use my own advice first. I talk to my doc probably every couple of weeks about one of his patients that I'm caring for, so I get "free" advice for myself too at that time.

I give my patients lots of advice, and lots of them try things their own way before they try my way. It usually ends well, and continue I great relationship with them, even after the acute phase is over.

I listen and then research everything I was told. Then go back and ask the questions I want to ask. If your Dr. gets peeved you research online about a medical concern then change Drs.

I don't go to a doctor, unless it's a specialist, I use a FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) I love Lori to pieces, and what I usually end up doing is listening to her advice, and then using my own common sense and knowledge to decide whether or not I want to follow it. I will sometimes use the internet to research...and almost NEVER use the advice I get from the net until I've talked it over with Lori...

That's great that you look for info, but also check with your health care provider. There is so much out there and she will help guide you to the sites that provide medically sound info. You are definitely an informed consumer of health care info, and an active participant in your health care. :thumbup:

My doctor and I discuss things, I may do more research and then we can discuss it some more. She is very open to hear my concerns, and offer alternatives, too.

My Dr is like a good friend in the respect that she sits & listens to me & will willingly listen to me and talk with me about my concerns. So yes I do listen to her advice & take it. But not until we do discuss it. If I do research something after I leave her offc. & feel the need to go back to talk it over with her, I do & she is open to what I have found & will discuss what is best for me. I love my Dr. She has the attitude that I know my body better than anyone. She just helps it to function at its best if she can.

Oh - I listen alright just like I listen to all those commercials on tv that says to tell your doctor you need this prescription or that one. We are living in a "just say no to drugs" society, but there are ads everytime you turn around saying you nEED a certain drug. More deaths and negative interactions are caused by prescription drugs than illegal ones. Natural eating is the key - yes, there are SOME ailments that can ONLY be controlled with meds, but you have to learn and be aware of all side effects and interactions and MUST have a knowledgable doctor.

I'd have to go to the doctor to listen to one! lol! Dh has to just about hog tie me and drag me kicking and screaming to go. I've either had them have the "god" complex and totally dismiss all talking things over or have less knowledge about herbs and things than I do. If its an emergency I can't handle I'll go but for normal stuff no way. Did I also mention that just the mention of going to the doctor is enough to send my bp sky high? My bp that has been controlled nicely by herbs for ohh....11 years?

After being involved with the medical field for so many years I listen, but I JUDGE for myself what is best. I read up a lot and I question. I have a doctor now that supports natural remedies over pills. I like that. What i DO NOT listen to my doctor about is his orders to WALK and cut down on FAT!!!! LOL LOL I'm sorry I just cannot follow thru -- even though I tell myself to listen to him!!!!

I usually try to listen to the Dr. or NP I also try to inform them on everything I am using to see if anything interacts. I give lots of advice when asked and sometimes when not asked, (I am a nurse also). I usually research on what has been advised or prescribed. The hardest to hear is you have to lose weight or things aren't going to get better. don't I know that already. I hate going to the Dr and then hear You're an RN so you already know this, no I don't or I wouldn't be here. OK enough ranting and back to exercising..................................

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I PMed you. Unless you absolutely cannot wean yourself down - and maybe your herb is doing that - you can have some adverse effects that will not start until your body is completely rid of the drug. This can take weeks.

A phone call to your doc will not cost that much.

I do listen to my doctor; and he listens to me also.
He sounds like the same kind of doc as the one Gramof6 has. We are so fortunate to have someone like that!

Denise, Isn't that the truth! Yes we might be an RN, but this is me, and I have done everything I know to do about this issue, and wasn't able to see any improvement or I wouldn't be here. :D My doc is a sweetie, he knows if I am in his office as a patient (I used to fill in at his office), then I am sick! I am bad, I only go to the doc when I am half dead and can't keep bookin'....ummmm, don't tell any of my clients that :oops:

I do listen to my Dr. More importantly, he listens to me too and he always takes the time to explain things to me. In the past I've had some bad Drs. but luckily I found a great one. :-)

Most Drs. take the drug reps info about what the drug will or will not do. Few of them will research the new drugs throughly, they depend on the drug company to do that for them.

I love my doctor. He listens to me, and I listen to him and follow his advice, because we have a trust relationship. He is my physician, but also prescribes my bi-polar meds, so its important to me that he not only knows his drugs, but that he knows me and what kind of impact the drugs are having on me. I've had some really bad psych docs in the past, and they're the ones who typically prescribe the meds, and they only talk to you for about 10 minutes 4 times a year, and can't remember you from session to session. Trust them? I don't think so! I talked to my physician and asked if he could do the prescribing for me, and we agreed on how to go about it. He sees me more often, and certainly LISTENS to what I have to say, unlike the high-and-mighty psychiatrists, whose job is to push the latest pills. So, yes, my current doc is a real keeper, and I follow his advice. That's not to say that I don't do research on my own, because I do, and then discuss it with him. He doesn't mind at all, and seems to like a pro-active patient who is involved in their own care.

I try to. My one doc (internal medicine) and I get along great. Shes my main doc. The doc for my diabeties basically dropped me because I lost insurance. I don't go to the heart speacilist like I should, because I have to pay out of pocket and just can't afford to. Right now he is refusing to give me my meds till I see him. I don't know what they expect me to do! I also have a hubby who has said that I prob don't need most of my medicine, and its like pulling teeth to convince him I need to go. Sometimes its just too overwhelming!

I shudder when I think of all the harm done by some of the net site advice. Be sure that you check out who is giving the advice. Anyone can put any thing on the net and people will follow their advice, As a CETN, I was often offered handsome somes to " do a study" using certain products, but using the companys end results. I would be published and an endorser of the product, regardless of the actual results. I almost fell for it, then I realized I was being manipulated. Also don't waste your doctors time and your money, if you are not going to follow the advice he offers. It does not always work, but don't you owe him the respect to let him know, it might help the next patient if you let him know how you responded. As much as we want it to be, medicine is not an exact science. Didn't mean to lecture but I'm sure that you can tell that this is dear to my heart. Take care and good health.

"somes" should read sums. Shame on me!

I agree with you stitchinwitch. My hubby would to! The doctors give a lot of medicine when simple lifestyle changes could help!

I wonder where you got the statistic that says more people die and have negative reactions from prescription drugs than from illegal drugs?

Some of the drugs are given with good intentions, but if you do not research it and educate your self, you may be killing yourself, slowly. I am a nurse in a nursing home. Some of these elderly think it is there God given right to take as much meds as they can wheedle out of the Doc. (status symbol - you need to hear them discussing all there meds and how much is wrong them them because they are on so much) I read somewhere that big drug co. said there is no money if you are well, no wonder they advertise in all these commercials. I could go on about this...I am into the herbal stuff due to the side effects of modern medicine.

I listen but may not do what he tells me after I do my own research. :lol:

i had my galbladder took out 3 years ago and ever since my body just swells on and off all the time...do u have any of this problems...i asked the doctor and all they did was put me on water pills which dont help...i worry over my liver all the time mainly cuz i dont eat very good to much fat im sure...i had it checked last year it was fine...what natural meds do u take for ur liver...

MooMoo.... I would suggest going to Vitamin World or some Vitamin specialty store and asking them for help in which herbal product to take. I have tried some over the years and found some that trully benefit. I keep taking those and discard those that do not seem to help. Google on the net for something like herbal remedies for liver problems. Herbal products have been arond in one form or another for over 1,000 years, while modern medicines been arond a short time.

thanks for the info i will do that

Unfortunately the only information out there is what comes from the pharmaceutical company. Most companies are reducing the size of their sales groups or eliminating them all together because with the internet, the information is available to any one any time. Is excellent to listen to your Dr, but is important to remember that he/she is human too and we all have some personal responsibility about our health. Also, some people don't follow the main piece of advice you should remember when seen a Dr. Tell EVERYTHING. Your Dr needs all the information to make a decision, and if we don't tell them everything, they can't. We want to believe our Dr is perfect, but he/she is not.

I listen to my Dr, but if I was to follow every piece of advice I would be dead. When my thyroid gave me trouble, the Dr listened to the EMT that took my history, and since they guy thought that the depression symptoms were the most relevant, they wanted to give me antidepressants for a month and if there was no change, do a thyroid test. I told her NO! I wanted the blood test first and if my Thyroid was fine I would take the drugs. The next day I was called to rush to the ER because my thyroid levels were the worst she had ever seen. Of course, I didn't go because if had waited this far, another day was not going to kill me. The next day I started treatment. You have to be your best advocate.

Milk Thistle!!!!!

I try to listen to my Doctor, because it cost a lot of money to go, and if I am going it is for a good reason, so yes I do what I am asked unless its not working. then I call and let them know it is not working so they can change it. God bless. Penny