Hello all,
here is an update and also I need more advice.

So I had my appointment with the new psychiatrist. Filled out paperwork, worksheets, questionnaire, etc.

The doctor was friendly, but not overly talkative. Neutral, which is fine with me.

Here is where I have a hang-up...
He is aware that I am paying out of pocket ($200 first consult, $125 each apt after). Today we viewed my history and former doctors. What irritated me was that he spent lots of time going over and asking questions about my history that I had just spent 30 minutes writing on endless forms. "When were you first diagnosed with anxiety/depression?" , "Well, 2009." "Ah, and who diagnosed you?" ,"Dr Castiglioni." I felt like saying, "Look at the paper in front of you and I did a very detailed timeline! Regardless, each doctor is different, so I went with it.

What got me is that what is debilitating to me is Panic Attacks and Anxiety. Which then spirals into depression, and throw in some manic episodes and there's my mental life. Instead of talking about the Panic Attacks and anxiety which I am on nothing for now (Well, nothing for anything, Thankyou BlueCross BlueSheild...crooks), he focused on my Bi-Polar diagnosis (no problem, I figured one way or another we would get to each). When I told him that I was on Lamictal 200mg and Latuda 40mg before I had to stop them due to trippling in cost, he balked and began lecturing on that Latuda is "not needed" and only for psychotic episodes, etc. And, I quote, "Lamictal, if used in big doses, going up to possibly 400mg, can work for both the mania and depression."

Then, and I was a bit shocked I didn't know how to respond, he said, "And, so that will be all the time we have today. I would like to see you back next week. We will start you on 25mg of Lamictal and work from there."

So...Here I am. Still have Anxiety...spoke nothing of Panic Attacks...And have a prescription for Lamictal 25mg that he said, "I needed to get filled immediately and take it within the next 2 hours." I did. What have I got to lose?

I don't know guys.....
Maybe I was expecting too much? Maybe I am not giving him a chance.
What is your reaction/thoughts? I'm just confused and want to go back to when I had everything straightened out. Stupid American healthcare.