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Looks like the safest approach to managing health conditions in the US whose treatments involve politically-sensitive drugs is to obtain a diagnosis, so you kno

Looks like the safest approach to managing health conditions in the US whose treatments involve politically-sensitive drugs is to obtain a diagnosis, so you know what's wrong with you, and then to manage your own treatment using gray-market pharmaceuticals. If it's for pain, I would seriously consider just not treating it. Health care in the US is already such a shit-show that I would seriously consider moving out of the country if I developed a serious condition requiring constant treatment. I certainly won't have any expensive procedures done here.

bp_throw 10y ago
I'm Canadian and I have done this. After trying to deal with bipolar disorder for years I decided I'd finally try medication. I'd seen psychologists off-the-record before to diagnose. Seeing how family members have been treated for having mental issues makes me afraid of getting an official treatment. So I source lamotrigine (Lamictal), titrated myself up and seem to be doing OK. I saw a psychiatrist under an assumed named to verify my understanding of things (hint: unfortunately, most of their psych treatments are guesswork and playing medical roulette). I was a bit nervous as this medicine can make your skin die and fall off (SJS), so I found a private dermatologist to go to just in case. Fortunately it's working fine for me. No more days spent moping in bed. And no official diagnostic that I'm not sane. Costs me about $2000 a year. Small price to pay to not be treated like a child and having my volition called into question.
- DenisM 10y ago
  > Seeing how family members have been treated for having mental issues makes me afraid of getting an official treatment. How were they treated? Seems surprising to me, given how prevalent mood disorders are.
hammock 10y ago
And what happens when they discover the drugs in your home?
- vinceguidry 10y ago
  Who is they, why are they in your house, and why are they looking for drugs specifically? Nothing about the course of action I described would put you on the state's radar. Sure, if you start sourcing black market pharmaceuticals, then you have to take extra steps to be cautious, but the grey market is generally safe.
kranner 10y ago
> If it's for pain, I would seriously consider just not treating it. Up to a point, surely.
morganvachon 10y ago
> If it's for pain, I would seriously consider just not treating it. That's great in theory but not in practice. I would say to treat it with physical therapy if possible, rather than taking painkillers (as I posted elsewhere in this discussion, I avoid any drugs if possible, OTC or prescription) but sadly that's simply not the answer for everyone. There are some kinds of pain that no level of physical therapy can address, pain so debilitating it could make one suicidal. I suffered that kind of pain when I was a teenager battling cancer, and I had no choice but to take the painkillers my doctor prescribed just to be able to function. I don't ever want to feel that kind of pain again, obviously, but I also don't ever want to take that kind of medicine again if I can help it. To this day I struggle with back pain left over from the bout with cancer (and I'm nearly 40), but I deal with it through exercise, posture, and willpower, rather than giving in to a cycle of addiction. I sympathize with people addicted to painkillers, and I wish there was an easy solution for everyone.

bp_throw 10y ago

I'm Canadian and I have done this. After trying to deal with bipolar disorder for years I decided I'd finally try medication. I'd seen psychologists off-the-record before to diagnose. Seeing how family members have been treated for having mental issues makes me afraid of getting an official treatment. So I source lamotrigine (Lamictal), titrated myself up and seem to be doing OK. I saw a psychiatrist under an assumed named to verify my understanding of things (hint: unfortunately, most of their psych treatments are guesswork and playing medical roulette). I was a bit nervous as this medicine can make your skin die and fall off (SJS), so I found a private dermatologist to go to just in case. Fortunately it's working fine for me. No more days spent moping in bed. And no official diagnostic that I'm not sane. Costs me about $2000 a year. Small price to pay to not be treated like a child and having my volition called into question.

DenisM 10y ago
> Seeing how family members have been treated for having mental issues makes me afraid of getting an official treatment. How were they treated? Seems surprising to me, given how prevalent mood disorders are.

hammock 10y ago

And what happens when they discover the drugs in your home?

vinceguidry 10y ago
Who is they, why are they in your house, and why are they looking for drugs specifically? Nothing about the course of action I described would put you on the state's radar. Sure, if you start sourcing black market pharmaceuticals, then you have to take extra steps to be cautious, but the grey market is generally safe.

kranner 10y ago

> If it's for pain, I would seriously consider just not treating it. Up to a point, surely.

morganvachon 10y ago

> If it's for pain, I would seriously consider just not treating it. That's great in theory but not in practice. I would say to treat it with physical therapy if possible, rather than taking painkillers (as I posted elsewhere in this discussion, I avoid any drugs if possible, OTC or prescription) but sadly that's simply not the answer for everyone. There are some kinds of pain that no level of physical therapy can address, pain so debilitating it could make one suicidal. I suffered that kind of pain when I was a teenager battling cancer, and I had no choice but to take the painkillers my doctor prescribed just to be able to function. I don't ever want to feel that kind of pain again, obviously, but I also don't ever want to take that kind of medicine again if I can help it. To this day I struggle with back pain left over from the bout with cancer (and I'm nearly 40), but I deal with it through exercise, posture, and willpower, rather than giving in to a cycle of addiction. I sympathize with people addicted to painkillers, and I wish there was an easy solution for everyone.