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Dr. Jennifer Nagode
Psychiatrist
Dr. Jennifer Nagode is a top Psychiatrist in , . With a passion for the field and an unwavering commitment to their specialty, Dr. Jennifer Nagode is an expert in changing the lives of their patients for the better. Through their designated cause and expertise in the field, Dr. Jennifer Nagode is a prime example of a true leader in healthcare. As a leader and expert in their field, Dr. Jennifer Nagode is passionate about enhancing patient quality of life. They embody the values of communication, safety, and trust when dealing directly with patients. In , , Dr. Jennifer Nagode is a true asset to their field and dedicated to the profession of medicine.
Dr. Jennifer Nagode
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Has my mother's illness affected my wife?
I think that you know that the answer is yes. I can't help but wonder why your wife is the sole caretaker of your mother and you are not involved at all. I don't know what realities READ MORE
I think that you know that the answer is yes. I can't help but wonder why your wife is the sole caretaker of your mother and you are not involved at all. I don't know what realities you face that prevent you from being more involved in your mother's care, but I highly recommend that you shift your priorities if at all possible to make that happen. Unless, of course, you are particularly unskilled at being with your mother and your presence and participation with her makes her worse off than if you are not involved! In any case, your wife needs what is known as "respite care," in other words, someone else to care for your mother so that she gets a break from it now and then.
She probably needs a daily break (for a couple of hours), a weekly break (for a half or whole day), and some vacation breaks (a whole week at a time to take a trip away every few months). If you can't take over for her and there are no relatives or friends that can step in, at least for the longer breaks, there is a service covered by insurance whereby a family can check their loved one into a nursing home for the week to be cared for while they take their "respite." If you do not help your wife get some respite, then you will end up with two women in your family who will be incapacitated and need someone to care for them. She should probably also get evaluated by a mental health professional to make sure she is not having even more serious trouble than you suspect.
Dr. Nagode
She probably needs a daily break (for a couple of hours), a weekly break (for a half or whole day), and some vacation breaks (a whole week at a time to take a trip away every few months). If you can't take over for her and there are no relatives or friends that can step in, at least for the longer breaks, there is a service covered by insurance whereby a family can check their loved one into a nursing home for the week to be cared for while they take their "respite." If you do not help your wife get some respite, then you will end up with two women in your family who will be incapacitated and need someone to care for them. She should probably also get evaluated by a mental health professional to make sure she is not having even more serious trouble than you suspect.
Dr. Nagode
Can schizophrenia be treated?
There are no guarantees in life for anything, but I am happy to report that there are excellent chances, such as in this case. Most people who take their medication for schizophrenia READ MORE
There are no guarantees in life for anything, but I am happy to report that there are excellent chances, such as in this case. Most people who take their medication for schizophrenia have their symptoms controlled. The key is to keep taking the medication even when your symptoms go away. A lot of people mistakenly believe that because their symptoms go away, then they don't need the medicine anymore, sort of like an antibiotic. But the medication doesn't cure the schizophrenia, it only controls the symptoms, and if you stop the medicine, then the symptoms come back. The biggest problem with schizophrenia medication is usually managing the side effects. It is especially important not to gain more than a few pounds, and to have your doctor monitor you for diabetes and cholesterol problems. The second issue (much more rare these days) to come up is restlessness or motor tics/twitches/stereotyped movements/cramping. The other super-important aspect of managing schizophrenia is to stay completely away from street drugs and alcohol. Other people can recreate with these substances and have no problems, but people with schizophrenia are extremely vulnerable to getting de-railed by these substances. The healthier the lifestyle you lead (good kinds of food, good amounts of exercise, plenty of deep, restful sleep, and staying hydrated), the less trouble your schizophrenia will cause in your life.
Can a psychiatrist help with my memory loss?
Yes, a psychiatrist is an appropriate specialist to consult for your mother's memory loss. There can be many different causes of memory loss, and most of them can be treated by READ MORE
Yes, a psychiatrist is an appropriate specialist to consult for your mother's memory loss. There can be many different causes of memory loss, and most of them can be treated by a psychiatrist. The most obvious one that comes to mind might be some sort of dementia. If she has dementia, then either a psychiatrist or a neurologist would be an appropriate treatment provider. However, conditions such as depression and anxiety can cause significant problems with memory, and those are best treated by psychiatrists. In addition, overuse of certain medications or alcohol can interfere with memory, and if your mother was to be reluctant to change her behavior pattern using these substances, a psychiatrist is better suited to work with her on the issue. There are certain more rare neurological conditions that can affect memory, but a psychiatrist would recognize these and make the appropriate referral.
The final answer is that you can start with either a psychiatrist or a neurologist, and either one will refer you to the other as needed. However, the odds are more likely that if you start with the psychiatrist, you will not have to go to a second doctor. In either case, it is best to double check with the physician before you make the appointment if they are willing to treat dementia if that should be the final diagnosis, as not all practitioners feel comfortable doing so. There is a specialty called geriatric psychiatry whose members are well-versed in treating anything that comes up in elderly populations.
Jennifer Nagode, M.D., Ph.D.
The final answer is that you can start with either a psychiatrist or a neurologist, and either one will refer you to the other as needed. However, the odds are more likely that if you start with the psychiatrist, you will not have to go to a second doctor. In either case, it is best to double check with the physician before you make the appointment if they are willing to treat dementia if that should be the final diagnosis, as not all practitioners feel comfortable doing so. There is a specialty called geriatric psychiatry whose members are well-versed in treating anything that comes up in elderly populations.
Jennifer Nagode, M.D., Ph.D.
Is negative thinking a disease?
Sorry this took so long to get back to you.
Negative thinking by itself is not a disease, although it is not healthy for you and can put you at risk for other diseases, even a READ MORE
Sorry this took so long to get back to you.
Negative thinking by itself is not a disease, although it is not healthy for you and can put you at risk for other diseases, even a shorter lifespan! However, it can definitely push you towards depression, or be a an early sign of depression, especially if it is not your normal way of thinking. One of the treatments for depression we have is teaching people positive thinking habits such as looking at a glass as half full rather than half empty, i.e., concentrate on what you have rather than on what you have lost. The disease of depression is a constellation of symptoms that include other things than negative thinking, such as changes in mood (sad feelings,) or ability to enjoy things (not able to have fun anymore or a tendency to socially isolate yourself,) or changes in sleeping or eating patterns, or self-esteem getting low, or thoughts that life isn't worth living, or not being about to concentrate, make decisions, or remember things. It is often accompanied by increased worrying, although not always. If other things are changing for the worse besides your negative thinking, it is probably worth a trip to your primary care provider to get checked out for depression.
Jennifer Nagode, M.D., Ph.D.
Negative thinking by itself is not a disease, although it is not healthy for you and can put you at risk for other diseases, even a shorter lifespan! However, it can definitely push you towards depression, or be a an early sign of depression, especially if it is not your normal way of thinking. One of the treatments for depression we have is teaching people positive thinking habits such as looking at a glass as half full rather than half empty, i.e., concentrate on what you have rather than on what you have lost. The disease of depression is a constellation of symptoms that include other things than negative thinking, such as changes in mood (sad feelings,) or ability to enjoy things (not able to have fun anymore or a tendency to socially isolate yourself,) or changes in sleeping or eating patterns, or self-esteem getting low, or thoughts that life isn't worth living, or not being about to concentrate, make decisions, or remember things. It is often accompanied by increased worrying, although not always. If other things are changing for the worse besides your negative thinking, it is probably worth a trip to your primary care provider to get checked out for depression.
Jennifer Nagode, M.D., Ph.D.
I think I started binge eating. Is it a mental disorder?
Your symptoms are definitely not normal and are very concerning. There is no way to tell if this pattern of eating and weight gain is the result of a mental disorder or an endocrine READ MORE
Your symptoms are definitely not normal and are very concerning. There is no way to tell if this pattern of eating and weight gain is the result of a mental disorder or an endocrine problem, without a thorough medical evaluation, an interview with a lot of questions about what other symptoms you might be experiencing, and lab tests done. I strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment with your primary care provider as soon as possible.
Jennifer Nagode, M.D., Ph.D.
Jennifer Nagode, M.D., Ph.D.
Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking Zoloft?
There is no particular interaction between Zoloft and alcohol, unless the Zoloft makes you feel sedated. Then any sedation from alcohol might be accentuated since you are already READ MORE
There is no particular interaction between Zoloft and alcohol, unless the Zoloft makes you feel sedated. Then any sedation from alcohol might be accentuated since you are already sedated from Zoloft. Don't forget that the maximum recommended drink limit for women is 2 drinks per day. A drink is defined as 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1 oz of hard liquor. And, of course, better on a full stomach than on an empty one.
The two big no-no's to avoid combining with alcohol are opioid substances (such as Vicodin, Percocet, codeine, morphine, OxyContin, fentanyl, heroin, methadone, Suboxone, etc.) and/or benzodiazepine anti-anxiety medications. The latter include lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin) and temazepam (Restoril.) Both benzos and opioids can have a lethal interaction with alcohol and with each other by shutting down the breathing center in the brain.
Jennifer Nagode, M.D., Ph.D.
The two big no-no's to avoid combining with alcohol are opioid substances (such as Vicodin, Percocet, codeine, morphine, OxyContin, fentanyl, heroin, methadone, Suboxone, etc.) and/or benzodiazepine anti-anxiety medications. The latter include lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin) and temazepam (Restoril.) Both benzos and opioids can have a lethal interaction with alcohol and with each other by shutting down the breathing center in the brain.
Jennifer Nagode, M.D., Ph.D.