What should happen at your p-doc appointment?

Without going into confidential details, what happens at your p-doc's office?

I feel like mine hasn't done any work for me. All was done in the psych ward.

He is dismissive of my concerns and says, "You're doing great, see you in two months. No changes."

It is like a script every time. I think he looks at my folder before I go in and he says to himself, "Ah, an easy one."

(I suppose it is time to look for a new p-doc, but according to the doctors and staff at the psych ward, this guy is the end-all, be-all of p-docs.)

Hmm...from what I have read here, most everyone has a therapist and a separate pdoc. So I don't know if what I say is the same as most everyone else's experience. My pdoc is my therapist. (We are very short on both around here and I attempted to go to Community Counseling for my therapy and the person I was assigned to was the same age as me and made me incredibly uncomfortable. Not only did it really seem like he didn't care, he actually made an appointment with me and then didn't even come to work that day, nor call and tell me or try to change the appointment. I left a message for him that day and he never even tried to contact me.) Anyhow, so my pdoc very kindly decided to do my therapy. So each appointment I go and we discuss what's going on with me in pretty good detail. He remembers most everything I have told him (to a degree) and is very perceptive and always seems, if nothing else, to care. He doesn't just try to get me in and out and always, especially if things are bad for me, gives me more time if I need it to talk to him. We discuss ways I can make my life easier, tactics for tackling my problems...etc. If he just did the cursory glance at my file and said, "alrighty, see you next time", I'd be devastated and would most definitely wouldn't go back. But I don't take rejection well at all. All that being said, if he doesn't make you feel comfortable and act like you are important to him, I would find someone who does. (I hope you have some options near you.) Oh ya, and of course, he monitors my meds and makes changes when necessary, but we usually save the last few minutes of the appointment for that...

Does your pdoc ask you any questions? Does he listen to your concerns? How long are your appointments?

The only questions he asks me are, "Is there anything coming up that concerns you?" and How's ig going with the kids; what are their names again?"

My appointments last 15 minutes.

I love my therapist. (Not in a transference type of way, lol) He takes time to listen and I sometimes feel as if I am his only client. He will take extra time if I need it. His appointments generally last an hour.

I'd say your pdoc stinks, but that's my opinion. I have the need of someone way more supportive. Does he do a good job as far as managing your meds?

I am not sure, considering both of my med changes were done in the hospital. The first time I went it was because p-doc put me on Topamax which sent me into a weird suicidal episode. He had told me to stop taking it and that he would prescribe new meds the next time I saw him (a month away). I ended up in the hospital. The second time, it was because Trileptal (which had been prescribed for me at the hospital) wasn't working on its own and he wouldn't add anything or change anything before going on vacation. I ended up in a suicidal depression again and went to the hospital because his back up p-docs wouldn't see me or prescribe anything over the phone.

Yikes! I would try to find another doctor. He doesn't seem to care very much about you or your health.

My pdoc is the same. Every three months for scripts, that's it. I get the "how are things" lines but if I had a problem he'd refer me to the therapist. I just go in for about 15 minutes, if that, and I'm out.

My p-doc is whoever the state psychiatiry unit decides to pair me up with. They always ask if I am OK, I alway complain about the weight gain and ask for advice, they always ignore me. Now the dispenser of medication (another p-doc) who tests my lithium levels call me and gets on my case in a nice way all the time. He is a fatherly type who bears the name of a viking explorer and makes it sound like my getting poked with needles take a huge load off his poor tortured mind
Right now, aftera few bad experiences, I am happy just to have the contact I have and I really am not that interested in much of a relationship with these guys. I would lke them to just answer my only question

I'm realistic. My pdoc is there to manage my meds. I have a tdoc for therapy. My appointments with my pdoc last about 10 minutes. The way he does things is that he has his patients fill in a mood screening and a list of questions before we go in. The questions are about how things have been since the last visit. What questions would I like to have answered. What problems I am having with meds, etc. He can glance at that pretty quickly and have a good feel for how things are going as pertains to medications. He's easy to get in to see. He always returns phone calls the same day. He's good with the meds. He consults with my tdoc when he thinks its necessary. I really can't complain.

my p-doc appts are pretty much the same. she asks how the meds are working. asks me to hold out my hands (to make sure there are no tremors) then writes my scripts and sends me away. if i mention any troubles she will usually say... make sure you tell t about that.

That sounds like exactly what I am looking for. I suppose I could just let my T take care of the "feelings and issues" and be in contact with my p-doc if necessary. I guess I am just looking for a p-doc who takes care of me a little more. I don't think I am going to find that around here since there are maybe three who accept my insurance.

I don't know why this is so hard.

As far as I can tell BNLsMOM, it seems like you are sufficiently unhappy with your pdoc to warrant you finding a new one. I mean you can always try a new one and see and then go from there. If you're not having a good working relationship with this one, no matter how good he's supposed to be, it's probably worth trying one of the other 2 you can go to. My pdoc sucks and he's supposed to be some kind of bipolar expert. I'd be trying a new one if I wasn't moving in about a month. Good luck with this... I know you've been struggling with your pdoc now for a while.

my pdoc does therapy too so my appt are long ones and i can talk about things for longer. A pdoc shouldn't say your doing really well and write a script. They should take a little bit more time to see how things are.