Posts by granitefalcon26

wearybison35 said:Look, I'll admit I don't live on some remote island or out in the middle of nowhere, but that doesn't mean I'm some blind New Yorker who can't see past the streets of Manhattan or Arlington...
The reality is that most Americans live in big cities or suburbs close enough to urban centers where there's actually decent healthcare available beyond just a local GP... those isolated spots you're talking about are relatively rare and pretty sparsely populated anyway...

As for the pay, like @quant7 mentioned, it’s low for everyone in the public sector, though it's roughly proportional to what they make abroad... The real kicker is that our doctors—well, a huge chunk of them—are working themselves to death because of the massive staffing shortages... And honestly, if you ask me, there really ought to be a much more significant gap between what a doctor makes and everyone else working in the public sector...

Exactly. That’s the whole point. I’m basically on call 24/7, thirty days a month. You know what that means? I’m glued to my phone like a clingy girlfriend. There are so few of us left. I can't even take a vacation if I actually wanted to. They literally have to post a job opening just to find someone to cover for me while I'm away.

Henry James3 said:Lol, you’re unbelievable. Let’s try this one more time—maybe we'll actually get somewhere. If you’ve got a baseline of like $3,000, then I should be sitting at maybe $1,500 or something—that's just how the math works everywhere. Like, out here, a doctor makes $5,000 while my field pulls in about $3,000. So, there you go. $2667Look, I’m at a level 5 here—do you even get how a market economy actually works? You can't just hand things out like they do in the European Union, especially since we're in a country that doesn't have the resources to pull that off. But man, you're still being stubborn—which is honestly the worst part. And let's be real, you guys won't be working in the private sector anytime soon. It isn't moral, it isn't normal, and at the end of the day—it's just a massive conflict of interest.

We’ve got a serious shortage of doctors over here, which is exactly why we need to pay them more. That’s just basic market economics at work. When supply is low and demand is high, prices go up—it's not rocket science. The medical profession should be no different.
Joining the European Union means borders are opening up, and honestly, that changes everything. We’ll have the freedom to work wherever we want. But here's the catch: if we don't start paying our professionals what they're actually worth, we aren't going to have any doctors left. Eventually, hospitals will be staffed entirely by immigrants from all over the world. If that's the kind of healthcare you're looking for, then hey, maybe you'll finally be happy.
No biggie. You’ll still be stuck waiting six months for that checkup anyway.😁
I’m planning to go fully private. That way, when I need medical care, I won't have some random stranger from overseas treating me. It’ll finally eliminate any potential conflict of interest.☕

Henry James3 said:Where, oh wise medical expert, did I actually say everyone needs identical pay???
Seriously, please quote me on that. All I said was a doctor starts at maybe $7k-$8k while I'm pulling $4k-$5k. And hey, that's fine—no complaints here. But you can't tell me you should be making $5,000 like they do in Germany. Because I'm not making $3,000 like my colleague over there. But you guys don't get it. You can't have those massive European Union wages while the rest of us are stuck with the American average. Why is that so hard to grasp?
Or better yet—working at the hospital, teaching at the university, AND running a private clinic... you think that's all fine too? Please, man, get it together.

I never said doctors needed a $5,000 salary, but the base pay should be at least $3,000, not $1,000.
Well, why didn't you just finish medical school then? You could be teaching at a university and running a private practice. If we were actually making $5,000, nobody would need to work privately anyway.☕

Henry James3 said:Just a guy keeping it real. Respect.
Because, let's face it, like 99% of med students or doctors think they're the smartest people on the planet. Like they're some kind of supermen. And they always blame the system for everything. But what I hate most is that: "We aren't paid enough; doctors in Germany make like 500k!" Well, newsflash—we aren't the only ones underpaid in this country!!! I feel underpaid compared to someone in my field working in Germany, too. But they don't care, because they're "doctors"...👎

I guess we'll all just end up in a communist society then, where doctors and laborers make the exact same amount. No biggie. Let's just equalize every single paycheck.👎
Not everyone can be a doctor. Plus, the level of responsibility is totally different, and let's be real—the job isn't easy. If you think everyone should earn the same, maybe you shouldn't have skipped medical school. 👎

I think there might have been a typo in your message! It looks like you were trying to say "toward" or maybe something else entirely? Either way, I'm all ears—feel free to clear that up and let me know what's on your mind! kaže:
So, you seem to think that any random person can act as an internist, while GPs are expected to be walking encyclopedias who know everything under the sun. Look, a GP has to be able to handle just about anything—especially if they're stationed out in rural Montana or some remote island where help isn't exactly around the corner. When you're far from a major city hospital, you don't always have a specialist waiting in the next room. There aren't many places like that, at least not around here in the States.
Honestly, this isn't just my take—it’s how most people see it. There's this general feeling that family doctors aren't exactly top-tier, and frankly, I get why. A huge number of patients get sent off for endless specialist appointments when the GP could have easily handled everything right then and there. It feels like a lot of unnecessary runarounds.

You've got it wrong. You're living in a bubble. We have plenty of places just like that all over the country. ☕
Every island out there is totally cut off from the mainland. Plus, the entire region only has one single hospital to rely on. I won't even get started on the rest of it.
The real issue isn't just that doctors in those big metropolitan hospitals don't seem to be putting in the effort—it's the systemic flaws that allow them to get away with it.
I’m back to my old conclusion: you can find someone acting like a doctor in any hospital, even if they don't have a lick of training.
It’s one thing to have an internist who doesn't know how to resuscitate a patient, or a surgeon who can't spot an acute abdomen, even when all the lab results are sitting right there on their desk. But honestly? Do we really want to go down this road?😉😁

brightlynx39 said:Major respect to the medical field, though there are certainly doctors out there who don't deserve the title. Still, it's important that they hold that MD degree regardless.

It's the same story with any job you pick. Nothing more, nothing less. We really shouldn't paint everyone with the same brush. 😉

wearybison35 said:🤦
I honestly can't wrap my head around anyone actually thinking this way...

I'm currently grinding through med school myself, and I have to say, I totally see where some of those points in the OP are coming from—specifically regarding the sheer amount of arrogance you run into from both certain doctors and even the students... It’s a real thing too, like, during our freshman orientation, they basically drill it into our heads that we're part of the intellectual and social elite, which is a one-way ticket to becoming an insufferable snob...
As for which major is objectively the hardest, nobody can claim they know for sure with 100% certainty, but let's be real, most of us in medical school firmly believe it's either the absolute toughest or at least top three... It's definitely brutal, but I'd argue that any high schooler with even a passing interest in the sciences can make it through... At the end of the day, finishing med school is more about pure grit and stubbornness than raw talent, unlike something like architecture where you actually need a specific creative spark...

But look, on the flip side, I know plenty of colleagues who are going to be incredible physicians and genuinely good people once they finally get that degree... Honestly, those types make up the vast majority of the student body, and just because most people's only interaction is with a GP whose main job seems to be churning out referrals doesn't mean that everyone else—like the internists, surgeons, pediatricians, OB-GYNs...—is incompetent...

You've got a skewed perception of family practitioners again. Check out my previous post.
A doctor working in a big city hospital might just be anyone, but being a doctor in a small rural town requires incredible knowledge and skills that big-city specialists don't necessarily need. 😉

brightlynx39 said:I’ve always felt that a fancy title or a degree doesn't actually define who you are as a person... Sadly, I've run into someone exactly like that before.

I'm right there with you on this one. 👍

Chris Nelson26 said:It’s just small-town pettiness... you see it all the time in those tiny rural towns, where people show up to their doctor appointments carrying homemade cheeses, farm eggs, chickens, and all sorts of random grocery store stuff...😁

And then there’s the nurses. People bring them boxes of chocolates or candy assortments, apparently thinking it’ll make them act a little nicer toward patients. Honestly, even that gets on my nerves...

I mean, come on. It’s a job. They get paid to be there, and half the time we’re talking about life and death matters... what kind of logic is it that you actually need to bribe a doctor just to get them to do their damn job??

Besides, most of these general practitioners don't know anything... I have respect for surgeons and specialists, obviously—that’s not an easy gig...

But hey, there are plenty of other professions I respect just as much. So yeah, I'm totally immune to that whole "doctor charm" thing...😁

That's a total misconception. Being a GP in a small town is actually incredibly tough. You don't have a major hospital right next door to send someone to immediately. You have to be an expert in everything and handle a ton of different tasks, including minor surgical procedures.
Nowadays, the family medicine specialization is actually one of the hardest paths you can take. For instance, on the board exams, you have to be an absolute expert in internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, and neurology. They grill you on every single detail. First, you take a massive written exam (you need a 75% just to pass), then comes the practical portion and the theory. If you fail even one part, you're back to square one.
During residency, you rotate through every clinical department and pull overnight shifts in the ER. Then you have a year of postgraduate specialty training. You've got 40 different exams to clear. To wrap it all up, you take a comprehensive final test and an oral exam in front of a three-person board.
Yeah, that specialization is pretty brutal.

Donna Wood52 said:I am not generalizing. Far too many women have lost their babies during childbirth because of medical negligence—simply because doctors are stubborn, burnt out, or just plain indifferent.

A slip-up? A woman loses her child; that isn't some minor "error" to her. And then, to top it all off, these cases get swept under the rug. There are plenty of these incidents—it's not just about "if you mess up once." 🤷

That’s not a common occurrence. You know that yourself. If it were, women would be having babies in Austria instead.
Why are doctors on edge? Because they're completely burnt out. They're working endless shifts with almost no time off. Our healthcare system is basically in a state of collapse.
Do you really think doctors only mess up here?
In the USA, a private clinic once amputated a perfectly healthy leg from a patient. And yet, nobody thought to declare all doctors in the USA incompetent because of that one disaster.🙄

Donna Wood52 said:I’m sorry you’ve walked away with that impression, really, but I’m simply sharing my own experiences along with those of others.

Don't get worked up now! 🙂

You can't paint everyone with the same brush. It’s just become this trendy witch hunt over here lately. 🙄
It doesn't matter how many lives you save; the second you make one tiny mistake, they're ready to crucify you.🙄

Sarah Wood8;25109903 said:It’s honestly sad how the average hypochondriac seems to understand medicine better and can often land on the right diagnosis before the doctors even get a chance.
]It’s honestly sad how the average hypochondriac seems to understand medicine better and can often land on the right diagnosis before the doctors even get a chance.
Doctors are usually just straight-A nerds who don't actually grasp the concept, which is a shame. Being a doctor is one of the most responsible jobs out there, but it usually just boils down to them being full of themselves...[/B]
Just like that news story yesterday where a woman complained about stomach pains, they told her she was making it up, left a tool inside her, and then tried to cover it up once it came to light.
In my opinion, people like that don't deserve to be doctors.
The issue isn't even just about leaving the tool behind; it's their reaction to her pain and the total lack of effort to send her for an X-ray, plus the attempted cover-up at the end. People like that simply CANNOT be doctors.

No big deal. If that's the case, why go to a psychiatrist? Go see a herbalist and let them treat you instead.🙄
I could say the exact same thing about economists. We have plenty of them handling exports, yet we can't see the end of this economic crisis. Our economists are completely incompetent.
And what can you say about lawyers? Just pretentious nerds—starting with Obama—and we have everything else except a real rule of law.☕

Donna Wood52 said:Absolutely horrific! This is exactly what I’m talking about.

I once went to see a gynecologist to ask about birth control because I was worried about side effects, and he basically called me a narcissist. He nearly kicked me out of his office—just some old jerk.

And don't even get me started on all the cases where those gynecologists lose patients' babies due to pure negligence. Or how some procedures are performed without any general anesthesia. 😕 😕 And let me tell you, that hurts like hell. Even a cat gets general anesthesia for a neutering.

Then there was this one time I saw a dermatologist—believe it or not—$100 she charged me full price even though I wasn't even in her office for ten minutes. Plus, she was incredibly rude and unprofessional. 👎

I had a similar experience with another dermatologist; $83 I was only there for five minutes, but he was in such a rush that as I was walking out, he was practically flirting with the nurse.

There are plenty of cases like this...

I’m not saying every single one is incompetent, but there are far too many who are.

Most of your topics are boring and stupid anyway, yet here you are posting on the forum again.☕

Sarah Wood8 said:It’s honestly pathetic how your average hypochondriac usually ends up knowing more about medicine than actual doctors, often diagnosing themselves before a professional can even step into the room.
Most of these physicians are just straight-up nerds who don't actually grasp the fundamentals, which is a tragedy. Being a doctor is arguably the most responsible job out there, yet it usually boils down to people being nothing more than arrogant pretenders.
It reminds me of that news story from yesterday where a woman was complaining about abdominal pain, only for them to dismiss her as a liar—then they actually left a surgical tool inside her and tried to cover the whole thing up once it came to light.
In my opinion, people like that have no business holding a medical degree.
The issue isn't just the fact that they left an instrument inside her; the real problem is their dismissive reaction to her pain and their complete lack of initiative to even order an X-ray, followed by that blatant attempt at a cover-up. People with that mindset simply CANNOT be doctors.

So what now? Are we supposed to crucify every single doctor out there? Every profession has its fair share of bad actors, including medicine. 🙄
Medical errors aren't common, but when they happen, they usually can't be undone. That's exactly why being a doctor is such a heavy, high-stakes calling.

I honestly think women who stay in these situations have a very specific psychological makeup. Some of them try to play the Mother Teresa role, thinking they can actually fix things or change their partner. They always fall for the same old excuses from the abusers. The reality is that American institutions won't lift a finger until a formal complaint is filed. And that rarely happens, especially when kids are involved. Most women just endure the bullshit for the sake of their children—especially if she’s working a low-wage job and knows she couldn't afford to support them on her own.
Plus, once they finally split up, those abusers almost never pay child support.
Our society is just stuck in such a backward mindset. Unfortunately, I don't see things changing anytime soon. 😢

dustyangler2 said:So I’ve been on Effexor for almost two and a half months now and honestly? Still nothing. Like, zero effect so far! Personally, I thought Faverin was great, and Lexapro worked pretty well for me too...

Does anyone have experience with other serotonin reuptake inhibitors that aren't total garbage? I feel like they just work better for me than those dual-action ones😁

I don't quite get why you're switching things up. If Cipralex or Fevarin actually worked for you, why did your doctor change your prescription in the first place?🤷

Nicole Nelson77 said:Don't try to act like a doctor here...🙄

Most people start feeling the effects of antidepressants after about 4 to 5 weeks.

Wellbutrin is one of the most popular
and frequently prescribed antidepressants globally. It works on two fronts—dopamine and norepinephrine—though its impact on dopamine is twice as strong
compared to its effect on norepinephrine. Originally, it was even intended to help people quit smoking because it blocks nicotine
receptors... .........

Just a little bit of copy-pasting from some depression forum and you think you're an expert...🤣

http://www.depression-forum.com/thread/9065.php

It's rare for a "standard" psychiatrist to prescribe Wellbutrin since many patients don't really need it, which is why it isn't typically covered by Medicare.
Neurohormones are deeply interconnected, and by stimulating dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, you risk disrupting acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and other hormones... unknown interactions occur, and that's why psychiatrists tend to be extremely cautious.

That’s just not how it works. Medicine isn't math—there aren't any universal rules. I'm speaking from experience here.
The attacks might decrease, but they probably won't stop entirely.

Nicole Nelson77 said:Don't try to act like a doctor here...🙄

Most people start feeling the effects of antidepressants after about 4 to 5 weeks.

Wellbutrin is one of the most popular
and frequently prescribed antidepressants globally. It works on two fronts—dopamine and norepinephrine—though its impact on dopamine is twice as strong
compared to its effect on norepinephrine. Originally, it was even intended to help people quit smoking because it blocks nicotine
receptors... .........

Just a little bit of copy-pasting from some depression forum and you think you're an expert...🤣

http://www.depression-forum.com/thread/9065.php

It's rare for a "standard" psychiatrist to prescribe Wellbutrin since many patients don't really need it, which is why it isn't typically covered by Medicare.
Neurohormones are deeply interconnected, and by stimulating dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, you risk disrupting acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and other hormones... unknown interactions occur, and that's why psychiatrists tend to be extremely cautious.

That med is a newer antidepressant. It only came out last year. It's made by GlaxoSmithKline, so it's not prescribed very often. That's why I did a little digging online.
It works similarly to Effexor. Apparently, it has fewer side effects. Effexor is a generic product and is covered by Medicare, which is why psychiatrists prescribe it way more than Wellbutrin. Though, if I'm being honest, it's actually worked better for me because I have fewer relapses than I did on Effexor.
When it comes to Effexor versus Wellbutrin, experience shows that taking these alone without an SSRI doesn't really lead to clinical improvement for patients.😉

Nicole Nelson77 said:Don't try to act like a doctor here...🙄

Most people start feeling the effects of antidepressants after about 4 to 5 weeks.

Wellbutrin is one of the most popular
and frequently prescribed antidepressants globally. It works on two fronts—dopamine and norepinephrine—though its impact on dopamine is twice as strong
compared to its effect on norepinephrine. Originally, it was even intended to help people quit smoking because it blocks nicotine
receptors... .........

Just a little bit of copy-pasting from some depression forum and you think you're an expert...🤣

http://www.depression-forum.com/thread/9065.php

It's rare for a "standard" psychiatrist to prescribe Wellbutrin since many patients don't really need it, which is why it isn't typically covered by Medicare.
Neurohormones are deeply interconnected, and by stimulating dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, you risk disrupting acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and other hormones... unknown interactions occur, and that's why psychiatrists tend to be extremely cautious.

Nice Google search skills. 😂🤣

crimsonheron80 said:Thanks for asking. 🙂

I started on Xanax. For sleep, I've been using Melatonin. As for the antidepressants, I decided to stay put until I can see a psychiatrist. My thoughts aren't quite as dark anymore—likely thanks to the Xanax. I even took 6 Melatonin last night.😍

That is honestly pretty scary. You're playing a dangerous game here. Are you trying to end it all? The recommended dose is 10 mg for really bad insomnia. In extreme cases, maybe 15—definitely no more than 20 mg.
If you took six 5 mg pills, that’s 30 mg of Ambien. I really hope you didn't take six 10 mg ones. That would be 60 mg.😲😲😲
You could seriously wreck your liver. You could even face heart or breathing failure in your sleep. 😲

amberdriver85 said:What’s everyone’s experience been like with Wellbutrin?
I was on Lexapro for a few months, and after about two months at two and a half pills a day, I felt relatively okay. Based on my psychiatrist's advice, I tried tapering down to just one Lexapro a day after two months, but things started going downhill fast. I ended up bumping back up to the 2.5 dose, but even after another two months, I wasn't feeling any better, so my doctor suggested switching over to Wellbutrin 300.
The initial transition was absolutely brutal, but I've been on it for a month now and the worst of it has passed—though I still haven't noticed any actual improvement in my mood.
How long does it usually take before you start seeing real results? 😢

Wellbutrin is one of the newer antidepressants on the market. Just keep in mind that for any antidepressant to actually kick in, you usually need to be on it consistently for at least six months. That said, there’s no magic formula here—just because it works for one person doesn't mean it'll work for everyone. There are no universal rules when it comes to this stuff.😉
Wellbutrin is definitely one of the most popular options out there.
Even the most highly prescribed antidepressants out there work this way. It hits both dopamine and norepinephrine, but it actually has a much stronger effect on one than the other.
It’s all about that dopamine versus norepinephrine balance. Originally, though, it was actually designed to help people quit smoking because it works by blocking those nicotine receptors.
It works on the receptors similarly to how Zyban does on the market. Honestly, it’s one of the more potent antidepressants out there, and its effectiveness is right on par with...
Effexor seems to have a lower relapse rate for depressive symptoms when you compare it to... Effexor.
It’s pretty common to see this used as an add-on therapy—basically acting as a "boost" to your main antidepressant, most often when paired with an SSRI.
So, basically, if your psychiatrist thinks what you're on isn't cutting it, they might suggest adding an SSRI to the mix alongside your current antidepressant.
To put it simply, if we don't see any progress, the next logical step is to add an antidepressant from a completely different class to the mix.

ironfox222 said:ANYONE KNOWING ANYTHING????
my boyfriend's been having manic episodes and he's in the psych ward for the third time now. he was on Zyprexa and some other stuff before but it didn't seem to work, so now they've got him on Lithium. i did a little reading but i'm still lost on what it actually does and if it'll even help him. what's the big difference between those two meds?? also read that lithium can be lethal in high doses... how much is too much? like, is it dangerous if he just takes one too early or if he actually misses the mark on the dosage??

For manic-depressive psychosis, Lithium carbonate is usually the go-to choice. It can definitely be dangerous if someone takes too much. That's why doctors always insist on checking serum Lithium levels once a week when you first start treatment.
Usually, they'll get the therapy started while he's still in the hospital.
I copied some info here about what can happen during Lithium toxicity (overdose):
Early signs of toxicity include worsening stomach issues, muscle weakness, trouble with coordination, or feeling foggy and lethargic. As the toxic effects ramp up, you might see ataxia, dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, heavy tremors, muscle spasms, and increased amounts of diluted urine. If blood concentrations climb above 2-3 mmol/l, things get serious—disorientation increases, and it can lead to seizures, coma, or even death.
So, bottom line: follow the psychiatrist's instructions to the letter and make sure he goes to all his Lithium level checks.👍