Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I think I have doctor Robin Miller, who is a
Board certified internal medicine doc and an author of quite
a few books, including Heel Now Time to Unsick Yourself
with the twenty first Century Guide to Wellness.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
So, doctor Miller, do I have you?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
You have me? I am here?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Yeay, all right?
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Sorry, I would have gotten you a little sooner, I thought,
I think in my brain I was waiting to see
a picture of you.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
But anyway, thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
And from time to time I've mentioned on the show
that I think one of the excellent changes that has
happened in modern, very very recent cultural changes is that
it's been it's become okay to talk about mental health challenges.
And you know, as we're a month ish from Thanksgiving
and the beginning of the holiday season and all, I
(00:50):
thought it would be really interesting to have you on
the show to talk about mental health challenges heading into
the holidays.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
And especially for older folks.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Some of my listeners are older folks, and many of
my listeners have parents who are older folks.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Who might fit into this conversation.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
So, with that overly long introduction, why don't you jump
in with how you're thinking about this issue.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Well, you know, older people have taken care of people
their entire life, and one of the reasons they may
not like talking about mental health issues is they may
feel the need to be strong for their elderly parents
and their adult children, because we're often sandwiched between those.
(01:31):
In addition, some people feel as you get older it's
normal to feel.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Depressed, which it is not.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
And the older generation has trouble talking about their feelings,
not their physical problems, but their feelings.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Oh believe me, I'm Jewish.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
I know about older people talking about their physical problems.
Oh so I know what that's about. So I want
to focus on and we've got about eight minutes here,
and I want to focus on two main strands with you.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
One is for the.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Older folks who might be listening, or for people whose
parents are you know who we're talking about here. What
do we do to support them in a time where
we think of this maybe as a happy time and
maybe your dad or mom, who's maybe eighty years old
right now, would be struggling. So what can we do there?
And then I want to talk to you with you
about gene site. But let's do the first thing first.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Okay, First of all, notice that they're struggling.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
If there's change in appetite, change in sleep patterns, they're
not getting out as often as they used to, they're
the same clothes as the last time you saw them.
Notice that they may be struggling. And this generation, particularly
women feel often feel invisible, as if they don't matter,
(02:51):
and that people aren't noticing them or listening to them.
So the most important thing we can do is listen
to them, engage them, ask about their past history, have
them tell you stories, and then if they're depressed and
they want medication, get them to their providers and look
(03:12):
into gene site, which is genetic testing.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
So I know a little bit about gene site because
many years ago one of my kids was having an
issue where it seemed like this could help, and in
fact it did help, and I think it's a fascinating
thing overall. So can you explain gene site in the
macro and then talk about how it can help with
(03:37):
the issue we're talking about today.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Yes, So, gene site is a genetic test. It's done
with a simple cheek swab, The results come back very quickly,
and Medicare pays for it. And what it does is
that we all have genes that code for enzymes in
our liver where medications go through. And what gene site
(04:01):
provides is information about how medications are metabolized. So some
medications are metabolized slowly, and if that's the case, there
will be side effects that it may not work. Others
are metabolized quickly, so you may need more of that
medicine or the normal metabolizers may be a better option
(04:21):
for that patient. So it gives you a roadmap on
what medications may be best, and it's a great, great tool.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
You know, I was talking with a friend of mine
who actually it falls perfectly into this category.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I was talking with a friend.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Of mine who has had some struggles with depression and
had gone to you a few different therapists, psychiatrists, and
had gone through a handful of different psychoactive, you know,
antidepressant medications that didn't help, and then took this gene
side test and the gene site said, you know, this
(05:03):
entire category like SSRIs or something probably won't work very
well for you. Try a whole different category of drug.
And he did and it worked and a pretty remarkable thing.
And I think this is very much what you are
getting at today, right.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Yes, it is really remarkable and it takes away some
of the trial and error and helps point you in
the direction where the person will achieve the most.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Benefit for medication. And it is amazing.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
You know how they can go through the same category
of medicines and they won't work. And that's the reason.
Genetically they're not programmed.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
For it to help.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
So who does the testing and how do you get
this testing done?
Speaker 4 (05:51):
So a provider will order it, the patient can do
it themselves and send it in. Results come back usually
within forty eight hours. As I said, Medicare pays for it,
so it's very quick.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
So as you follow as we head into the holidays,
is it sort of urban legend or a real thing
that somebody who might be prone to depression, let's say
an alderly person who might be prone to depression maybe
more likely to be suffering at this time of year?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Is that a real thing?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
And if so, why it's a real thing because you know,
loneliness happens around the holidays, especially if you're not with
your family, or if you're with your family and it's stressful.
It can be for all kinds of reasons. But definitely
the holidays will accentuate depression and loneliness.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Yeah, I mean, without intending at all to sound sarcastic,
because you know, I'm not making light of anything. I
often talk about social media or Facebook in particular, as
a whole bunch of people showing you how much fun
they're without you, and do you Is that kind of
(07:04):
the dynamic that can happen around the holidays where you
know somebody is maybe alone in their home or alone
in their nursing home, and they know that all these
parties are going on, but they're there, and it accentuates
the loneliness that way.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
And again it goes to that invisibility thing where you're
feeling invisible and no one cares about you, and you're
watching on TV and everyone's happy, or you're looking outside
and everyone's celebrating and there you are. So it's really
important to talk about it, get help, and if with medications,
have that gene site test done?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
All right, we're about out of time, but I want
to end with a listener question. This is from a
listener named Linda who just texted this in, who says,
it seems like there's not much conversation about single, childless
older people and what they face at the holidays, and
Linda says that's me.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Well, Linda, I mean one thing you could do is
start looking at groups, support groups that you.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Can join, something you enjoy doing.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
You could, you know, join a church choir, you could
join a group that does you know, volunteer work in
the community. You don't necessarily have to have children or
a family. You can create your own and sometimes it's
more fun to find your own and choose your own
than what you have.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Yeah, I agree, I mean, Linda, I think the thing
to do is I mean we talked. I use this
language more more often talking about my kids, but we
tell them to find their tribe, and I think that's
true of people of people of any age. All Right,
so Doc, I'm out of time, but I'm gonna ask
you another question because there's another listener question.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I think it's really important this time of year.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Anything you want to say about seasonal effective disorder?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Oh yeah, start early life boxes help.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Usually you start noticing it around August when the light changes,
so get on it quickly.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
And that's another thing. If you need medication.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Gene site can be quite helpful to find the right
medication for you, and seasonal effective disorder, like anything else,
could get worse around the holidays when it gets particularly
dark as well.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
So address it, don't ignore it.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Doctor Robin Miller, Board Certified Internal Medicine DOC, author of,
among other things, Heal Now time to unsick yourself with
the twenty first Century Guide to Wellness. Doc, you're a
great guest. Thanks for being here. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
Thanks for having me, and if you have any questions
go to gene site dot com g E N E
s ight dot com.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Yeah, and folks, I will tell you that that test
actually made a difference for a member of my family.
Not this issue, but on an issue, and I'm a believer.
Gensite dot com. Thanks, doc, appreciate
Speaker 3 (10:05):
It, Welcome, Thanks for having me.
I think I have doctor Robin Miller, who is a
Board certified internal medicine doc and an author of quite
a few books, including Heel Now Time to Unsick Yourself
with the twenty first Century Guide to Wellness.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
So, doctor Miller, do I have you?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
You have me? I am here?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Yeay, all right?
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Sorry, I would have gotten you a little sooner, I thought,
I think in my brain I was waiting to see
a picture of you.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
But anyway, thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
And from time to time I've mentioned on the show
that I think one of the excellent changes that has
happened in modern, very very recent cultural changes is that
it's been it's become okay to talk about mental health challenges.
And you know, as we're a month ish from Thanksgiving
and the beginning of the holiday season and all, I
(00:50):
thought it would be really interesting to have you on
the show to talk about mental health challenges heading into
the holidays.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
And especially for older folks.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Some of my listeners are older folks, and many of
my listeners have parents who are older folks.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Who might fit into this conversation.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
So, with that overly long introduction, why don't you jump
in with how you're thinking about this issue.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Well, you know, older people have taken care of people
their entire life, and one of the reasons they may
not like talking about mental health issues is they may
feel the need to be strong for their elderly parents
and their adult children, because we're often sandwiched between those.
(01:31):
In addition, some people feel as you get older it's
normal to feel.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Depressed, which it is not.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
And the older generation has trouble talking about their feelings,
not their physical problems, but their feelings.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Oh believe me, I'm Jewish.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
I know about older people talking about their physical problems.
Oh so I know what that's about. So I want
to focus on and we've got about eight minutes here,
and I want to focus on two main strands with you.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
One is for the.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Older folks who might be listening, or for people whose
parents are you know who we're talking about here. What
do we do to support them in a time where
we think of this maybe as a happy time and
maybe your dad or mom, who's maybe eighty years old
right now, would be struggling. So what can we do there?
And then I want to talk to you with you
about gene site. But let's do the first thing first.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Okay, First of all, notice that they're struggling.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
If there's change in appetite, change in sleep patterns, they're
not getting out as often as they used to, they're
the same clothes as the last time you saw them.
Notice that they may be struggling. And this generation, particularly
women feel often feel invisible, as if they don't matter,
(02:51):
and that people aren't noticing them or listening to them.
So the most important thing we can do is listen
to them, engage them, ask about their past history, have
them tell you stories, and then if they're depressed and
they want medication, get them to their providers and look
(03:12):
into gene site, which is genetic testing.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
So I know a little bit about gene site because
many years ago one of my kids was having an
issue where it seemed like this could help, and in
fact it did help, and I think it's a fascinating
thing overall. So can you explain gene site in the
macro and then talk about how it can help with
(03:37):
the issue we're talking about today.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Yes, So, gene site is a genetic test. It's done
with a simple cheek swab, The results come back very quickly,
and Medicare pays for it. And what it does is
that we all have genes that code for enzymes in
our liver where medications go through. And what gene site
(04:01):
provides is information about how medications are metabolized. So some
medications are metabolized slowly, and if that's the case, there
will be side effects that it may not work. Others
are metabolized quickly, so you may need more of that
medicine or the normal metabolizers may be a better option
(04:21):
for that patient. So it gives you a roadmap on
what medications may be best, and it's a great, great tool.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
You know, I was talking with a friend of mine
who actually it falls perfectly into this category.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I was talking with a friend.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Of mine who has had some struggles with depression and
had gone to you a few different therapists, psychiatrists, and
had gone through a handful of different psychoactive, you know,
antidepressant medications that didn't help, and then took this gene
side test and the gene site said, you know, this
(05:03):
entire category like SSRIs or something probably won't work very
well for you. Try a whole different category of drug.
And he did and it worked and a pretty remarkable thing.
And I think this is very much what you are
getting at today, right.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Yes, it is really remarkable and it takes away some
of the trial and error and helps point you in
the direction where the person will achieve the most.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Benefit for medication. And it is amazing.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
You know how they can go through the same category
of medicines and they won't work. And that's the reason.
Genetically they're not programmed.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
For it to help.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
So who does the testing and how do you get
this testing done?
Speaker 4 (05:51):
So a provider will order it, the patient can do
it themselves and send it in. Results come back usually
within forty eight hours. As I said, Medicare pays for it,
so it's very quick.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
So as you follow as we head into the holidays,
is it sort of urban legend or a real thing
that somebody who might be prone to depression, let's say
an alderly person who might be prone to depression maybe
more likely to be suffering at this time of year?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Is that a real thing?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
And if so, why it's a real thing because you know,
loneliness happens around the holidays, especially if you're not with
your family, or if you're with your family and it's stressful.
It can be for all kinds of reasons. But definitely
the holidays will accentuate depression and loneliness.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Yeah, I mean, without intending at all to sound sarcastic,
because you know, I'm not making light of anything. I
often talk about social media or Facebook in particular, as
a whole bunch of people showing you how much fun
they're without you, and do you Is that kind of
(07:04):
the dynamic that can happen around the holidays where you
know somebody is maybe alone in their home or alone
in their nursing home, and they know that all these
parties are going on, but they're there, and it accentuates
the loneliness that way.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
And again it goes to that invisibility thing where you're
feeling invisible and no one cares about you, and you're
watching on TV and everyone's happy, or you're looking outside
and everyone's celebrating and there you are. So it's really
important to talk about it, get help, and if with medications,
have that gene site test done?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
All right, we're about out of time, but I want
to end with a listener question. This is from a
listener named Linda who just texted this in, who says,
it seems like there's not much conversation about single, childless
older people and what they face at the holidays, and
Linda says that's me.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Well, Linda, I mean one thing you could do is
start looking at groups, support groups that you.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Can join, something you enjoy doing.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
You could, you know, join a church choir, you could
join a group that does you know, volunteer work in
the community. You don't necessarily have to have children or
a family. You can create your own and sometimes it's
more fun to find your own and choose your own
than what you have.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Yeah, I agree, I mean, Linda, I think the thing
to do is I mean we talked. I use this
language more more often talking about my kids, but we
tell them to find their tribe, and I think that's
true of people of people of any age. All Right,
so Doc, I'm out of time, but I'm gonna ask
you another question because there's another listener question.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I think it's really important this time of year.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Anything you want to say about seasonal effective disorder?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Oh yeah, start early life boxes help.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Usually you start noticing it around August when the light changes,
so get on it quickly.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
And that's another thing. If you need medication.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Gene site can be quite helpful to find the right
medication for you, and seasonal effective disorder, like anything else,
could get worse around the holidays when it gets particularly
dark as well.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
So address it, don't ignore it.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Doctor Robin Miller, Board Certified Internal Medicine DOC, author of,
among other things, Heal Now time to unsick yourself with
the twenty first Century Guide to Wellness. Doc, you're a
great guest. Thanks for being here. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
Thanks for having me, and if you have any questions
go to gene site dot com g E N E
s ight dot com.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Yeah, and folks, I will tell you that that test
actually made a difference for a member of my family.
Not this issue, but on an issue, and I'm a believer.
Gensite dot com. Thanks, doc, appreciate
Speaker 3 (10:05):
It, Welcome, Thanks for having me.
The Ross Kaminsky Show News
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