I thought my doc would be supportive...

[ratana]

I had an appointment with my doc yesterday and chickened out. I just don't know him very well and the last time I tried to talk to a doctor about my drinking she said to go a 7 AM AA meeting because "that's all there is for treatment." I have two friends who take topa for migraines and I thought I could tell him I am still getting migraines (I used to get them terribly but haven't for several years) but I also hate to lie and it would really suck if he prescribed something else! I am thinking about just ordering it online and then going in after, has anyone done this? Of course, after I canceled my appointment yesterday I proceeded to drink six or seven cosmos in the evening. And I take 2700 mg of kudzu, so obviously I need to something different.

[myra]

Like a different doctor? There are many who are open to the meds and alternate methods of treating addiction. Wish we had links to them on this website.

Good luck to you.

[ratana]

Originally Posted by myra

Like a different doctor? There are many who are open to the meds and alternate methods of treating addiction. Wish we had links to them on this website.

Good luck to you.

THAT would be really helpful. I am in the San Francisco area and I would love to know about docs here I could talk to, there must be quite a few but I have done some internet searches and just seem to get traditional 12-steppers when I dig deeper.

[Laurav]

What about interviewing the doctor beforehand?
In my younger years I had put up with some real lame doctors so when I fired my last one 5 years ago I decided to meet with potential doctors and interview them to see where the best fit was.
When you think about it your relationship with your doctor is fairly intimate. They see all your bits and pieces , know your skeletons .

[ratana]

That's a neat idea, but I can't imagine my insurance is going to pay for me to go to a bunch of different doctors so that I can interview them, and I guarantee that they will bill me for their time. How did you do that?

Anyway, I like my new doctor, but I have only seen him twice so I just don't know him well enough to foretell what he'll say about topa or any non-12 step treatment. But I rescheduled the appointment for Monday and I'll have to see if I chicken out and tell him I get migraines.

[IAD]

Almost there.
Your Doc was'nt much of a jock strapp, huh ? They don't give people like us much support.
We're old drunks to them.....that's why we need support groups like this one. Keep hanging in thier...we'll get through this together ! IAD !

[Laurav]

Ratana,
My dr ofice has an open house to meet the doctors.
What about a phone consultation? Call the dr office and see what they have to offer as far as meeting with the doctor or at least on the phone?

[Its a miracle]

I think that the medical industry is using AA and the “recovery” industry as a cop out. I went that route (expensive session based treatment) and I will bet that most in my group relapsed just as I did.

Alcoholism is not about a lack of character or religion – it’s about brain chemistry. Combined with willpower - Topamax is allowing me to abstain and have a better life with or without FDA approval.

An initial 30 day trial of generic Topamax can be had without prescription from Buy generic Topamax (Topiramate) online / Anti Convulsants / Prescriptions - for less than $100 (US) with shipping. I started with 25 mg a day and increased 25 per week up to 100 mg which is where I am at now. Side-effects can not be ignored – but in my case they did diminish over time. Best of luck to all.

[juniperbelle]

I agree with you about AA being merely a cop out for the medical and recovery industry. I am a believer, and I think belief helps greatly in recovery, but I don't think it is the only basis for recovery. What about pedophile priests? Don't they have enough faith to avoid molesting children?

Anyway, after many doctors telling me to go to AA (which I can't stand), I bargained with my current pdoc and asked to trade alcohol for Ambien (zopidem tartrate). She agreed, and it's working so far. My drinking is strickly to escape (sleep), never to socialize, so this works out okay for me. When I get the 3am crazies, I take a pill instead of a drink and can usually go back to sleep.

However, what I'm doing is trading one drug for another, just like with topa and alcohol. If that's the best I can do, so be it. If anyone is afraid of topa, maybe you can use Ambien instead. It has no side effects that I can tell. Just a thought...........

[lookingforfreedom]

yes...........and I was so apprehensive to talk about it. So she told me I needed to see a psychiatrist. I'm sorry you had the same experience.