letter to pdoc

I wrote a letter of what I was suffering through to my Pdoc once. It was a huge cry for help. But I guess I cried for too long, cuz after he read for a couple of minutes he put it down and said he didn't have time to read it.

Since then I don't bring a lot of written stuff to pdoc. If I do I make it short and sweet--like a short list of symptoms.

Anybody else have this experience?

No!!! And HOW RUDE!!!

How is he going to get a good understanding by stopping part way through

Most docs dislike anything that challenges their routine...oh no the patient wants a voice in their treatment! I think appointments are now so short that the docs can't do more than a surface treatment of us. Lists of symptoms accommodate the doctor's weaknesses well....

I've never tried to take anything written to the pdoc. He doesn't listen anyway. He schedules 2 patients for every 10 minute time slot and then still sometimes has add-ons in there as well. He sees a crazy number of patients but I know if I took something in I had written he wouldn't look at it. It would take more time than his appointments allow. Honestly, I think there are really very few pdocs who truly take an interest in their patients. He's clearly only in it for the money. Sorry yours was so insensitive to your needs at the time.

WOW--that is awful your doc didn't even take the time or have the interest to read your letter. That's part of the reason I go to a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She spends 1 hr. w/ me at each appt. & will stay with me longer, if needed.

I also write to her as it is helpful for her as I express myself better w/the written word & writing things down helps me to focus & get clarity. I usually send it in the mail well before my appt. so she has time to read it before my appt. She finds it helpful to read what I send her as it gives her insight into what is going on w/me--which is supposed to be the point! How can she effectively treat me if she doesn't know what the heck is going on?

Bleah, that's rude.

I do think this is a reflection of the times, though, at least in the U.S. Doctors of all stripes are drowning in paperwork, much of it from insurance companies who are all too happy to make the process difficult so they can reject claims on technicalities. It seriously cuts into quality time with patients. (Not starting a debate on healthcare--just my observation on where things stand.)

I really like my psychiatrist, but I can't imagine her having the time for anything written, except maybe some bullet points.

Fortunately, my insurance does pay for a separate therapist, who I can dump on for 50 minutes at a time.

How long are your psychiatrist appointments, Berries? Any chance you could add a therapist/counselor for more in-depth talk time?

My therapist doesn't want to (or doesn't have time to) look at anything I bring in to a session, so it usually just stays in my bag. The one time I tried, he just glanced over it and handed it back. He just wants to talk about what's going in, not read about it. I'm better at communicating through writing...even when I'm hypomanic or whatever this is at our last session. I was like a pinball machine of ideas and stories and I don't know if any of it made sense. He wanted to see pics on my iphone of the people I was talking about, but that's it. Must be a visual/auditory type who prefers verbal communication. I prefer written communication and am almost totally visual. I don't listen very well, but if I try really hard to focus I can usually get by. Now I feel guilty that I don't listen to my mate half the time. It's something I need to work on. I'm never quite "all here."

I hope the p-doc I'm seeing soon will appreciate my charts. I don't expect her to care about my journals so I'm not bringing them. It's just like, I want the right medication already!! So read over my **** when I'm not there or something.

But it's true that they are all swamped with insurance crap and too many patients. It's kind of sad that the people who need the most help often get the least.

I can totally relate to that!!! Don't have a mate. But live with my mom and she says I'm in my own little world most of the time and don't listen to her.
She is RIGHT!
I feel guilty too, thinker.