[crazy_tim]

First I want to apologise for the long post, I have reached a point in my life that I need to get my life under control I have my first child on the way and I want to give myself the best chance to get my life back in order before the bubs comes along in late June 2013 so please bare with me.

I am 25 years old, I have a very loving partner who has 2 boys (9 & 6) from a previous relationship which I have taken in as my own, we have been together for 5 amazing years, my pride in life is my boys & I would do anything for them but my own issues are starting to get in the way, the best way i can describe myself if fractured. I have been unemployed for the past 2 years & I have taken the role of house husband however after bubs comes along I will need to be working, most likely full time.

I come from a strong family history of mental illness, my mother has bi-polar, brother & uncle have aspergers. I was initially diagnosed with bi-polar after ticking almost every symptom on the list 5 years ago but seem to have being showing signs of it since 14, I assume it is mixed & maybe rapid cycle forms. I was seeing a psych for 2 years whom trialled me on a myriad of medications, epilim, saphris, luvox, lexapro & seroquel (all of which turned me into a dysfunctional zombie with no quality of life) Vallium & temazepam (no effect) xanax & stilnox ( intolerable to others & some hallucinations)

However I’d like to think I’m smart & I am university educated and generally functional. I have been self medicating with marijuana on and off over the last couple years & I seem to be completely in control when doing so which leads to a happy family unit. However I have since moved to a small town in country Victoria where psych docs are limited (6 month appointment wait) & so is marijuana supply.

Over the last few months I have not been coping, spending most of my days crippled by high anxiety & depression which leads to exhausted & slightly cranky evenings & sleepless nights (on average 4-5 hours per night) which in combination with years of self neglect which have led to me needing to get dentures & severe back problems (degenerative disk disease & stenosis) which leaves me in excruciating pain most of the time.

My partner is a nurse and she has just informed me that a great new gp has just arrived in town I want to see him & I want to make the best impression on the doctor as possible but am nervous as he might just blow me off thinking I’m just looking for drugs.

I don’t know what to do and am at the end of my tether, I don’t want to let my family down and need to get on top of things, could anyone offer me any advice on meds or how to approach doc without being pre judged as I feel I have been so many times before. I am currently on no medication & can’t go on like this for much longer, Thank you for your time.
Tim

[Trippin2.0]

Hi and Tim Firstly, if you're looking to continue using MJ as treatment, I would honestly recommend lying! Tell the new gp you've been using capsules! Assuming that's a viable lie of course Seriously, I'm sure capsules cant make you seem like a pothead Uhm... Other than that I gots nothing Heehee, I hope someone can help incase I haven't

[wing]

Hi Tim,

Using weed is self-medicating and understandable since you're off meds. I would be honest with your GP and come clean with the symptoms your having and your med history. It's all complicated and you want to start from scratch with a new doc.

If he isn't comfortable managing your psych or back problems, maybe a referral from him would get you in faster.

[BuggsBunny]

The way I usually approach a new doc is to tell them what I've been doing, and ask them what they think I should do now. Be willing To stop the MJ, and say so, if you choose not to lie about it. (Personally, I'd lie, too.) I don't go in telling them what I want them to do, as that has a tendency to tick off some docs. I ask them what they want me to do. I have found that many times what they want me to do agrees with what I want. (new med, dose change, etc.)

Be open to new ideas and give yourself time to get used to the new docs personality. He may want to see you more than once before prescribing anything heavy duty.

Good Luck!!