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Healthy Horizons

Laurie Lupold

You Have the Right...

When we are ill be it mentally or physically we put faith in our physicians to prescribe for us the necessary medications to make us feel better. I put such faith in my doctor beginning eight years ago. For those eight years I gained terrible amounts of weight and developed a severely discomforting case of tremors. Tremors which became so intense I couldn't hold a cup of coffee without spilling it. I continued to bring this to my doctor's attention. His response was to put me on an additional medication to control the tremors. The medication failed.

This past several weeks I have been off all medications due to a missed appointment as a result of a severe illness. My tremors have decreased immensely. In fact, the only time they are noticeable is when I am excessively nervous about something which to me is a substantial improvement.

While I could call in and have the doctor write me out scripts for my medications until I am able to see him, I have to ask myself is it worth going through those traumatic tremors again? My reply would have to be no.

So I sit here at risk of a severe downfall because the doctor doesn't consider my needs as an emergency as a result of my questioning the quality of the medication he prescribed. To me this is unjust treatment. To me this doctor is suggesting that I don't have the right to govern my own body. The tremors in themselves are not my only argument. It has been brought to my attention by other mental health professionals that their opinion was that I was being over medicated because very often I would not respond to life around me, I would simply stare off into space.

Now that I have discontinued the medication I am more alert, responsive and in control of what needs to be done. While the medication used to treat my condition of bipolar might have decreased the severity of the mood swings it was not as successful as I'd hope it to be given the side effects. Other medication, which included an anxiety medication, depression medication, and sleeping aide were also unsuccessful. Why should we have to take medications which show us no credibility?

The answer is we shouldn't. Only we know what progresses within our own bodies and our doctors should be adherent to our responses to the treatment they suggest. We must take it upon ourselves to insist that they hear what we are saying to them and respond in a caring and professional manner.

Be prepared when next you visit your doctor. Talk to others in your situation about their treatment and its success. Research any forms of medication which others might suggest. Go in prepared with a summary of these medications and suggest that one of these medications might better suit your needs.

If, at this point the doctor is still unresponsive to your needs you have every right to terminate your relationship and find another health care professional. Hopefully it will not come to this but it is your body and you have the right to feel healthy and whole with it. Though no one can guarantee happiness, having a medication that works will certainly guarantee better health. Myself, I'd sure be happier if I was healthier.