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Old Oct 25, 2012, 03:44 PM
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tnlibrarian tnlibrarian is offline
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Member Since: Nov 2011
Posts: 278
Have any of you switched to a new psychatrist and been happy with the results?

I've become quite unhappy with the doctor I'm seeing. Starting out she was great. You could contact her any time by cell or the office number, she kept up with what meds you were on, did stuff like safety contracts if you didn't want to be admitted, asked if anything was going on that seemed to be worsening your symptoms, etc. Now she's only in the office for a few hours twice per week and is unavailable most of the time other than that. When you have an appointment you might sit there for thirty minutes before she even shows up to start seeing people. Usually I end up sitting there for at least an hour before getting seen. At times I've sat there for two hours or longer waiting to be seen. Her husband is supposed to keep up with the finances and he doesn a terrible job. We were having problems with our insurance and he kept telling us there was no balance to pay. Last time I was in we suddenly had a $270 balance. He's letting us pay it in 3 installments of $90 but it's a financial burden that could have been avoided. He refuses to bill people because "it's too much trouble".

She has reached the point of asking the patient what meds they are on, the doses, and what do they think should be tried next in terms of meds? She asks me what meds I've tried instead of actually looking at my chart. When I told her I was still having hallucinations she went down a list of meds and asked what I wanted to try. Um, I'm the patient. How the hell am I supposed to know what med to pick from the list? She also no longer has practicing privileges at any of the area psych hospitals except for the one for the poor, noninsured and homeless. Call me a snob but I don't want to be admitted there considering I do have good insurance that will pay for admission into a good private facility or a state facility.

Given all of this, I think it's time to look for a new doctor. Would you guys also look? If so, are there any questions you make sure to ask a doctor you are considering seeing? Thanks!
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Becca

Bipolar 1 with Rapid Cycling and Mixed States
Wellbutrin 150 mg
Lamictal 400 mg
Geodon 40 mg
Ativan 0.5 mg