(no subject)

[urbpan]

I made a doctor's appointment finally. The doctor they selected for me is older than the last few--I google-stalked her and discovered that she graduated as an undergrad in 2006. I can't expect her to tell me that I'm "not overweight" (the last nice thing a doctor told me) but hopefully she'll prescribe me some albuterol inhalers. It's a shame they changed the propellant (something to do with the ozone layer), I don't think the new ones work as well. They should check to see what those CFC propellants are doing in our lungs, that shit felt nice.

Will I have the courage or time to bring up mental health issues? I have diagnosed myself with mild anxiety/depression/rage issues, which most people don't see, except for my ravaged fingernails and hefty recycling contributions:



And then there's the possibility that they'll discover some other interesting ailment with their routine tests! High cholesterol? Enlarged prostate? Is my asymmetrical body hair a symptom of anything?

Comments

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

NPR had a really interesting discussion today re depression/anxiety/mindful meditation. You might enjoy it if you can get the podcast from the website...I think the programming was on 3p ish today. Not sure if it was Science Friday or not...

[sinnamongirl.livejournal.com]

Oh man, if you ask about the body hair, report back! I have asymmetrical body hair as well. I keep forgetting to ask about that the rare times I see a doctor.

[didotwite]

i'm intrigued by both of you. i'm not sure that mine's NOT asymmetrical. 0_o

[sinnamongirl.livejournal.com]

My problem seemed to start after I switched birth controls so I'm assuming a hormonal imbalance of some sort? Or the Italian genes are kicking in slowly and randomly... But it's weird that there's obviously more hair on the left side of my body.

Except the hair on my head which lately I've been scared is thinning. Or migrating down to my chin. It's getting ridiculous.

TMI

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

My body hair didn't really come in until my 20s and since then it's never stopped coming in in new places. I have a patch on my lower back on the left side only, for example. Every once a while I find a single hair mixed in with the others--on my arm for example--that is two inches long, or white.

Re: TMI

[sinnamongirl.livejournal.com]

I get one of those long hairs now and then too! Maybe it's just natural body hair but we're so used to unnaturally sculpted hair that it's concerning? Could be a social issue rather than a health issue?

[uneko.livejournal.com]

Please bring up your mental health issues. You're the only one who can help you.

My best friend has been fighting with depression for .... a few years. She denied it a long time. Then she tried to hide it, tried to "man up" and hide it. The best thing she did was finally ask her doctor for help. I have my best friend back. it's wonderful <3

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

good luck. please do bring up mental health issues. self-medicating with alcohol is tempting and tasty, but won't help in the long run. You might even want to get a sleep test done, because sleep apnea can contribute to weight gain, tiredness, asthma and all sorts of bad brain stuff.

[urb-banal.livejournal.com]

I think it is a good idea to go to the doctor. But if she is an idiot, keep looking for a doctor until you find a good one.

My doctor had a brain tumour and now she just wants to talk about herself when I go for an appointment. She missed taking my mother's blood pressure! She put me on the hormone that someone who had cervical cancer should not take...

I have to find a new doctor.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

i've had mixed luck with mental-health professionals (being a brain weenie myself may or may not help). what are you hoping for? the thing that they're best at is prescriptions, or talk therapy if you want that route. those are a pita to trial, but when they work they can be awesome. it's easier to trial real-life things by yourself imho (exercise, light boxen, making your life suck less).

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

Please I beg you bring up the mental health issues. Chronic stress places a huge strain on the body and it may be doing things to you that you don't realise. More, it may make the doctor give you inappropriate medication if they're not aware of all the facts.

Signed
The Voice Of Experience

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

ask for a stress test please

[gigglingwizard.livejournal.com]

Aside from whatever mental health issues may be motivating you to drink, the drinking is a health concern in its own right. If you actually are addicted to alcohol, that problem could persist even if you resolve whatever issues prompted you to start drinking in the first place. So while you're right that you need to address the underlying cause(s), it may be that they also want to treat your alcohol abuse as a separate condition. Best of luck.