HI

I haven't blogged in a few weeks, so I thought I should, even though I don't really have anything important to say.

Hmmmm....So I've been working at a family medicine clinic for the past 5 weeks. I went into FM thinking that I'd get bored with the sore throats and the diabetes and the hypertension, but I've actually really enjoyed this rotation. I've been there for the birth of two babies, one c-section and one vaginal (drugs please!), and I've seen a ton of different things from warts to minimal change disease, catatonic sleep disorders, autism, and someone my age recovering from a stroke.

I'm really kind of surprised at the number of patients that I see who are on anti-depressants. If I had to guess, I would say that upwards of 60% are on them. And while some are on them for generalized anxiety, panic disorders and chronic pain, a good number are on them for, well duh, depression. Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely a fan of any medication that can make you feel better and function like a normal human being, but I wonder if some emotional stresses in life are necessary, or even good. We had a patient recently who was on an SSRI over the summer because she was going on vacation with her in-laws. Um, yeah. Really? Really? This just seems a little ridiculous. We were created with emotions for a reason. Some things should make you sad, some situations should make you anxious. It is unsettling to me that there are so many people out there facing life with a drug-induced faux-happiness because they decided they didn't want to deal with a normal life situation. Again....I totally support those who take any sort of drug for actual problems: depression/anxiety/OCD or otherwise. In-laws don't count.

Something else I find slightly upsetting. Kids are now getting a vaccine for chicken pox. Okay, so medically speaking this makes sense, but chicken pox is a right 0f passage for Pete's sake! It was such a big deal when I was a kid. I remember my mom trying to get me exposed over the summer so I wouldn't miss any school. She made me share some pumpkin ice cream at Maggie Moo's with Megan Amos when I was about 6 because Megan was infected and my mom thought that it would be a good time for me to get sick. That strategy failed and I didn't get the chicken pox until third grade. But it was exciting! The pursuit of chicken pox.....finally seeing that first pock mark....watching as they spread....trying desperately not to scratch them.....counting my pocks in an attempt to one-up my friends. Then sharing my tales of battle, "I had 'em bad in my throat! Had to eat popsicles all day." "Oh yeah, well my mom counted 5,000 on my back alone!" I would imagine that I am not alone in my fear that we are somehow disservicing today's youth by sheltering them the experience of chicken pox. It's like a first kiss or learning to drive a car....not necessarily the best experience of your life, maybe even a little painful, embarrassing or dangerous, but necessary and memorable. Okay....now I've worked myself up into a tizzy. Where is my Xanax? (This is the funny thing....I actually have some in my kitchen. But I haven't taken any. Thanks Rach.)