# Thanks, For the "Advice" Dr. Matrix **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 17, 2005, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-the-advice-dr-matrix/299740 "2005-04-17T07:00:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-the-advice-dr-matrix/299740/61 "2005-04-21T06:37:50Z")
> [@kinoons](#): > > Okay here is where I get to complain about running out of meds…How the hell does this happen? I mean come on, it dosen’t sneak up on you. So you’ve _never_ forgotten to call the pharmacy to re-order your meds when you’re supposed to? You don’t have insurance that won’t let you get refills until a certain number of days have passed? Of course, they won’t actually _tell_ you what that number is, nor will they tell you that you can’t refill that prescription yet, until you’ve gone to the pharmacy and been in line for half an hour. You’re never too busy or too tired or just forget after work to go to the pharmacy and stand in line? ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-the-advice-dr-matrix/299740/62 "2005-04-21T09:53:14Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > So you’ve _never_ forgotten to call the pharmacy to re-order your meds when you’re supposed to? You don’t have insurance that won’t let you get refills until a certain number of days have passed? Of course, they won’t actually _tell_ you what that number is, nor will they tell you that you can’t refill that prescription yet, until you’ve gone to the pharmacy and been in line for half an hour. You’re never too busy or too tired or just forget after work to go to the pharmacy and stand in line? Hea, we’re not talking about the antibiotic used to treat an ear infection here, it is the medicine this person takes every day for quite some time now to ensure they can be a functioning member of society. Anyone who chronically takes medicine for a long term knows that they cannot be without it, and if they are, there are consequences. Being too busy or too tired to get the medicine that they must have is an excuse, and a poor one. I’m sorry that you have this health care need (for whatever reasion, I’m not going to single out those who have hypertension or diabetes because they are overweight) but you have it. Time to live with it and take responsibility for your own health. Zoe – > [@](#): > > That’s like asking a diabetic why he has blood sugar problems. Well that would depend on why the diabetic is having the issue. Illness, changes in diet, changes in stress, changes in weight, the list goes on. Any number of things can cause a change in someone’s blood sugar. Being out of medicine is one of them. Being out of medicine is the only one that I’ll pin directly on the diabetic. Same issue, you have known you need this medicine for quite some time, nothing changed this week, so take responsibility for yourself and get it. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-the-advice-dr-matrix/299740/63 "2005-04-21T22:16:03Z")
> [@Monocracy](#): > > I am not a doctor of any sort. Then maybe you should refrain from offering medical advice. :wally ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-the-advice-dr-matrix/299740/64 "2005-04-21T22:25:52Z")
**Tuckerfan** , I know this has been said before, but, quite honestly, it’s time for you to beat feet. Abandon the car, abandon the trailer, abandon everything. Use the money that you are about to squander on trying to hold together an irretrievable situation to buy a bus ticket somewhere else. Take a suitcase with some clothes; leave your computer and whatever else at your dad’s - packed up and ready to ship; take a Sunday help wanted section from the city you have bought your bus ticket to. A city with good job openings in the trade you know and like. Sometimes a man has to cut his losses and start again - seems to me that is the best thing you could do. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-the-advice-dr-matrix/299740/65 "2005-04-21T22:40:21Z")
**kinoons** , you missed the point entirely. The part of your body which is responsible for remembering to order medicine (the brain) is the very part which is affected by depression and the medication for depression. That’s how it differs from other illnesses. _Think_. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-the-advice-dr-matrix/299740/66 "2005-04-21T23:53:26Z")
And apparently, Zoe, you missed mine entirely as well… Making the mild assumption that while on the medication the person who is suffering from any mental illness is able to function with some semblance of normality, the argument that they are not normal is mute. That’s why they are on the medication in the first place. Hea, like I said before, I’m sure its not easy. It must suck depending on a medication for the rest of your adult life due to some healthcare issue. But, lets relate this to something we can all understand. If someone starves to death because they don’t have any food, they have no one to blame but their self. Even if you are flat broke there are ways to get food. Food is required for your continued existence on a daily basis. Medications of this nature need to be viewed with the same attitude. People often do whatever it takes to get something to eat. Now, I’m not advocating knocking over a grocery store to get food, no more than I advocate robbing a pharmacy for some lithium. Some people have to write themselves notes to remember to buy food, some get someone to help, others stick to a strict schedule and never, ever, change it. In extreme cases, these people turn to charitable organizations to get something to eat. In any case, they get the job done. These medications need to be regarded with the same attention to detail. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-the-advice-dr-matrix/299740/67 "2005-04-22T00:08:50Z")
Dad? Is that you? I’m sorry, but even if I planned out my life in 15 minute increments (as you apparently do), there would still be unforeseen events which would cause **all** those plans to have to be thrown out. I am experiencing just one of those events **now.** I _did_ have a reserve of meds, and was working on getting an even larger reserve built up, _when circumstances beyond my control_ caused my life to hit a minor tailspin and I am handling it to the _best of my ability_. If you don’t like how I’m handling it, _that’s your problem, not mine._ ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-the-advice-dr-matrix/299740/68 "2005-04-22T02:09:28Z")
**kinoons** : Making the mild assumption that while on the medication the person who is suffering from any mental illness is able to function with some semblance of normality, the argument that they are not normal is mute. [/quote] You went wrong in your first sentence. Your assumption is not is a _wild_ one and in error. Various medications for depression have differing side effects and the state of mind of the person would depend on the medication, the dosage, the length of time the patient has been taking the medication, the illness itself, the individual person. If medications allowed everyone with mental illness, in this case depression, to function "with some semblance of normalcy, then people would never have a permanent disability as a result of depression. (And I think the word that you are looking for is _moot_.) > [@](#): > > Hea, like I said before, I’m sure its not easy. It must suck depending on a medication for the rest of your adult life due to some healthcare issue. But, lets relate this to something we can all understand. If someone starves to death because they don’t have any food, they have no one to blame but their self. I don’t really think that we can all understand blaming people who starve to death for their own demise. But if that is your level of reasoning, I am wasting my time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-the-advice-dr-matrix/299740.md?page=3)