Made another pdoc app

My pdoc is a bit intimidating to me. But he has excellent qualifications and knows what he's doing. I've tried 2 others, but still come back to him because something irritates me with them.

So - I haven't been to see him in a while. I got my script 6 months ago and I've just gone monthly to the chemist to fetch my meds. Script has now expired. I could have asked for another one to be sent, but decided to set up an appointment. I guess the main reason is that I have noticed much clearer cycles, and definitive patches of hypomania (only lasting a few days) plus I had a sever meltdown 2 weeks ago that I thought was going to land me in hospital.

Now - how often do you see your pdoc personally? And what for? Do you have regular "check-up" meetings to see how you're doing? Even if things are fine? I'm already a bit nervous about this, and it's only in mid October!

When I lived in a different part of the country I saw the pdoc weekly when I was extremly unwell,this would then progress to fortnightly over a period of 3months then eventually when I could convince the pdoc I was o.k. every 3months then that would finally drop off to every 6months yay.

I see my P-doc every 6 weeks.... I have to go to him every 6 weeks then to my GP every month so I can get my meds. Unlike you guys in America etc my GP issues me with my Prescription. Psych just tells me to carry on with my meds or changes them and then emails my GP who then issues me with a new Prescription. Its a bit of a bothered since I read on here most of you guys just have to go to Psych for your meds.

Hope your doing ok Suga!!

Hi Suga.
I'm glad you have been able to see a clear pattern in your mood cycle.

It has been every 4 weeks for the last year, and then 10 weeks this last time, but I had to go back early because of unremitting psychosis. Back to 4 week visits again - she wants to watch me like a hawk, but agreed to let me stay out of hospital for now.

At first when I was going through a med change, every other week. Then every 6 weeks, we're g0nna start doing the 3 m0nth thing as of next m0nth...

Fantastic news, Trippin

I go every 3 to 4 weeks. We're still working on my med combo and I haven't had a prolonged time of wellness so she wants to be in close touch.

4 to 6 weeks unless I am doing badly. Then more often. I find the closer the app are the less likely I will be hospitalized. Glad you made an app, hope things start clearing up.

I'm glad you made an appt., suga, and those are very good reasons to do so.

My visits vary a fair bit. When it's bad, it's every week. When it's medium, it's every 2 weeks. The longest I've gone without (this one) is 2 months --just once, recently, but I should have been going. She lets me call it, thinking I am pretty good about it (though the recent 2 month span indicates elsewise(!), because by the time I finally did, she was right freaked out by how bad I let it get).

Previous therapy was a few years back. That was every week for most of a year. It was really bad. In a really bad place, then misdiagnosed and mismedicated (by GP). Then ex's insurance cut me off. Went a couple of years w/o any. Not good. I very nearly didn't make it.

What for? Various reasons. Don't be nervous (ha! from someone who always is... ) and let us know how it goes, ok?

I am seeing mine, urgent care appoints which means I see a nurse and she reports to my pdoc who steps in for a couple of minutes to confirm med needs, every two weeks right now because of med changes. I am scheduled right now for every 3 months because my pdoc is overloaded with patients (some pdocs left and all the others had to pick up the load). But I never make it more than 6 to 8 weeks and end up in urgent care.

So - for those of u that go a minimum of every 4 weeks, is it just to see how your meds are going, or therapy as such? My pdoc doesn't do therapy. Just asks how I am and how I've been - then suggests med changes. He then gives me a script.

Was still quite hypomanic last night, but took a klonopin, and afrer an anyways stressful day, I managed to fall asleep. Until 4AM when I woke up with a splitting headache!! Migraine

My pdoc doesn't do therapy but wants you to see a therapist. I see mine every week or every two weeks depending on how I'm doing.

My pdoc doesn't do therapy either, but she will listen to me if I have things to say. I see my T each week and more if I need it.

I keep forgetting in answering a lot of questions that I should be clearer. My situation is a little different. I go to a PMHNP, so she does both therapy and meds management.
It's good in that there's no communication issue as it's all one person. For me, the reason though was the practicality of a "two-fer" so to speak, as I have no insurance and erratic income (which essentially just got cut by 1/3. Fun.). I get a substantially discounted rate and she's not a clock-watcher, so it works out really well for me. She is very nice.
(Previously I had had the more usual situation of Pdoc and T)

So, why would I even bother seeing my pdoc - it's now been 6 months - when I could just get another script?

Like many people here, the frequency of my visits depend on how well I am doing. At one point of severe depression, which was constantly bordering crisis, I saw him weekly, though that was only the one once. Generally it's once a month to one every three months. Right now it's every 6 weeks.

My pdoc will do therapy when I see him, and the meds are not the crux of our therapeutic relationship. For the first year I saw him, I completely refused to take meds. Still, therapy once every 6 weeks doesn't work all the time and I have see psychologists and social workers for therapy.

I do know, however, that I can book emergency sessions with pdoc as necessary.

I see my Pdoc every month. I'm not very stable so this gives him the opportunity to keep a close eye on me. Also, my meds haven't stabalized me so we continue to tweak them to see what will/won't work.

Good point re: seeing a Pdoc for an appt.. How do you feel your meds are working for you? If not so great, it'd be good to go with the Pdoc appt. you set up. If they're fine, yeah, you could just call in for refills. Is your thinking now that your original reasons would be more appropriate for a T appt.? I know you haven't been seeing one for awhile (unless I missed an update). How do you feel about that?

I find that my pdoc can often spot mild depressions or the beginnings of manias alot better than I can. He doesn't do therapy but asks enough q to get an idea of where I'm at. Also we have tried alot of meds and I see him often (at least every 4 weeks) when I am changing meds or when things are not good. When things are good I will go up to 3 months or so without a visit.