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Jun. 10th, 2010 01:33 am"You can't have any more."
Guppy winces slightly. He hates going to the GP. He feels like he ought to handle his own medical problems. He also had an idea that this was the answer he was going to get.
"It's not like I'm taking the valium every day." he says.
"No, but you can't have any more, Dr Sandhu, you'll get addicted. You had withdrawal symptoms when you were on it regularly before. You might not be having panic attacks very often, but you're still having regular problems with anxiety. I think it's time to try something else."
"You want me to go on SSRIs?" Guppy asks, though it's not really a question. He knows that's the next step. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors - antidepressants.
"It's entirely up to you." The GP replies. "But I think you should try it."
"Will it affect my performance?" Guppy asks.
"It might." the doctor admits. "It might not. If it does, or you have problems with the side effects, we can just taper it off. You will eventually become dependant though, and if you stop suddenly you will go into withdrawal."
"How quickly? What if I get into a long shift or a majax?"
"We can make sure you're on one that doesn't need taking at exact intervals. Long half life. It may take a couple of weeks to kick in, but with a bit of luck, you could be very much less anxious by the time that second baby comes along."
Guppy listens to the side effects. If he can manage to find one that won't affect his performance, it doesn't sound like anything he couldn't cope with, and they should disappear in the first month as the drug kicks in.
"So if I take these and they work... will that be it? No anxiety?"
"I don't think anyone lives entirely free of anxiety." The doctor says. "Some find the treatment very effective, some do not, some in between."
Guppy thinks about it for a long moment.
"Okay." he says. "I want to try it."
***
He's half scared to admit what he's committed to by the time he gets home. If he gets side effects, it could be bad timing with Frogspawn stuck on bed rest. But when he admits what he's agreed to, she smiles and gives him a big hug, though he has to crouch to sofa height .
"If it gets you into remission, fantastic." she says gently, running her hands through his hair. "If it doesn't, we'll cope. It doesn't sound like the side effects are likely to totally incapacitate you, and I can still do a lot of things from here."
In demonstration, she obediently flicks the Wii remote to serve her ball for Alex, who is standing transfixed in front of the television. He makes an excited little 'Ee!' noise and starts wildly waving the remote to hit it back.
"I'm scared." Guppy admits, leaning his head in to her touch. She chuckles slightly, not unkindly.
"That's kind of the point sweetie." She flicks the remote. "About time we got you sleeping through the night."
"Hey!"
"Also, if I don't get out of this sofa, I'm going to die of DVT even if I don't give birth early. Can we go buggy shopping? I promise not to bounce or do anything dramatic."
Guppy has to admit she has a point. And if she was to give birth now, there's a good chance the baby would be okay.
"All right. We'll go to that nice place with the sofas so you can have a sit if you need it."
Frogspawn finishes the game with Alex, then they set off in the car. Like everything associated with the birth, they've been acquiring new items very slowly. Each one takes Alex a bit of time to get used to, especially the things that affect him. Sharing a buggy with his new sibling is going to be a challenge.
They wander around the shop, looking at the options, letting Alex look at them too to see if he takes to any. Eventually they find one with the second seat behind the first - adjustable from having the newborn on top to the toddler behind Alex's seat. Having the baby where Alex can't see or be touched by them sounds like a good plan.
"Okay, time for some child psychology." Guppy whispers to Frogspawn, getting a packet of Pingu stickers out of his pocket. He sticks a couple to the inside of the fabric, where he can take them off if this doesn't work without marking the pushchair.
"Look Alex, this is a special Pingu buggy." he says, showing the toddler. "And it's extra special because you get to ride in the front, and your sister will ride in the back."
Alex isn't sure about that last bit, but he's very keen on the Pingu part.
"We will say goodbye to your old buggy, and this will be your new buggy to share with your sister. We will stick lots of Pingu stickers on it when we've bought it, and you can help."
Alex climbs up and sits in the buggy. Suspension, cushioned seating, nice footrest... this could work. Perhaps there are some advantages to this 'baby coming' everyone is talking about.
Guppy winces slightly. He hates going to the GP. He feels like he ought to handle his own medical problems. He also had an idea that this was the answer he was going to get.
"It's not like I'm taking the valium every day." he says.
"No, but you can't have any more, Dr Sandhu, you'll get addicted. You had withdrawal symptoms when you were on it regularly before. You might not be having panic attacks very often, but you're still having regular problems with anxiety. I think it's time to try something else."
"You want me to go on SSRIs?" Guppy asks, though it's not really a question. He knows that's the next step. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors - antidepressants.
"It's entirely up to you." The GP replies. "But I think you should try it."
"Will it affect my performance?" Guppy asks.
"It might." the doctor admits. "It might not. If it does, or you have problems with the side effects, we can just taper it off. You will eventually become dependant though, and if you stop suddenly you will go into withdrawal."
"How quickly? What if I get into a long shift or a majax?"
"We can make sure you're on one that doesn't need taking at exact intervals. Long half life. It may take a couple of weeks to kick in, but with a bit of luck, you could be very much less anxious by the time that second baby comes along."
Guppy listens to the side effects. If he can manage to find one that won't affect his performance, it doesn't sound like anything he couldn't cope with, and they should disappear in the first month as the drug kicks in.
"So if I take these and they work... will that be it? No anxiety?"
"I don't think anyone lives entirely free of anxiety." The doctor says. "Some find the treatment very effective, some do not, some in between."
Guppy thinks about it for a long moment.
"Okay." he says. "I want to try it."
***
He's half scared to admit what he's committed to by the time he gets home. If he gets side effects, it could be bad timing with Frogspawn stuck on bed rest. But when he admits what he's agreed to, she smiles and gives him a big hug, though he has to crouch to sofa height .
"If it gets you into remission, fantastic." she says gently, running her hands through his hair. "If it doesn't, we'll cope. It doesn't sound like the side effects are likely to totally incapacitate you, and I can still do a lot of things from here."
In demonstration, she obediently flicks the Wii remote to serve her ball for Alex, who is standing transfixed in front of the television. He makes an excited little 'Ee!' noise and starts wildly waving the remote to hit it back.
"I'm scared." Guppy admits, leaning his head in to her touch. She chuckles slightly, not unkindly.
"That's kind of the point sweetie." She flicks the remote. "About time we got you sleeping through the night."
"Hey!"
"Also, if I don't get out of this sofa, I'm going to die of DVT even if I don't give birth early. Can we go buggy shopping? I promise not to bounce or do anything dramatic."
Guppy has to admit she has a point. And if she was to give birth now, there's a good chance the baby would be okay.
"All right. We'll go to that nice place with the sofas so you can have a sit if you need it."
Frogspawn finishes the game with Alex, then they set off in the car. Like everything associated with the birth, they've been acquiring new items very slowly. Each one takes Alex a bit of time to get used to, especially the things that affect him. Sharing a buggy with his new sibling is going to be a challenge.
They wander around the shop, looking at the options, letting Alex look at them too to see if he takes to any. Eventually they find one with the second seat behind the first - adjustable from having the newborn on top to the toddler behind Alex's seat. Having the baby where Alex can't see or be touched by them sounds like a good plan.
"Okay, time for some child psychology." Guppy whispers to Frogspawn, getting a packet of Pingu stickers out of his pocket. He sticks a couple to the inside of the fabric, where he can take them off if this doesn't work without marking the pushchair.
"Look Alex, this is a special Pingu buggy." he says, showing the toddler. "And it's extra special because you get to ride in the front, and your sister will ride in the back."
Alex isn't sure about that last bit, but he's very keen on the Pingu part.
"We will say goodbye to your old buggy, and this will be your new buggy to share with your sister. We will stick lots of Pingu stickers on it when we've bought it, and you can help."
Alex climbs up and sits in the buggy. Suspension, cushioned seating, nice footrest... this could work. Perhaps there are some advantages to this 'baby coming' everyone is talking about.
