[comicgeek007]

I saw him for the second time.ever today. He still won't let me talk to him directly outside of 10 minute appointments. He's CONVINCED I'm just really.depressed and i'm not crazy enough to be bipolar and my mood swings mean NOTHING. I was about ready to cry during the apt because I couldn't get him.to understand how disruptive this lack of sleep and inability to sit down and shut up and horrible racing thoughts thing is. He switched me to abilify instead of seroquel because abilify is more for major depression and crap. He thought the doc in the hospital was a moron because she's american. Even though she saw me and talked to me WAY more than this pompous ***hole. He wants me to bump up my Zoloft because I'm "so depressed"!

[comicgeek007]

I don't think he even ready file before I came.in!

[emgreen]

In addition to being effective in tandem with antidepressants, Abilify is also an atypical anti-psychotic used to treat bipolar, & other disorders. Having been on both, I can tell you Abilify has far fewer side-effects than Seroquel, so you might look at it as being a good thing he didn't raise your dosage. Why are you so intent on having a "label." Here's the low down on Abilify from RxList:

Schizophrenia

ABILIFY is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia. The efficacy of ABILIFY was established in four 4-6 week trials in adults and one 6-week trial in adolescents (13 to 17 years). Maintenance efficacy was demonstrated in one trial in adults and can be extrapolated to adolescents [see Clinical Studies].

Bipolar I Disorder

Acute Treatment of Manic and Mixed Episodes

ABILIFY is indicated for the acute treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder, both as monotherapy and as an adjunct to lithium or valproate. Efficacy as monotherapy was established in four 3-week monotherapy trials in adults and one 4-week monotherapy trial in pediatric patients (10 to 17 years). Efficacy as adjunctive therapy was established in one 6-week adjunctive trial in adults [see Clinical Studies].

Maintenance Treatment of Bipolar I Disorder

ABILIFY is indicated for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder, both as monotherapy and as an adjunct to either lithium or valproate. Maintenance efficacy was demonstrated in one monotherapy maintenance trial and in one adjunctive maintenance trial in adults [see Clinical Studies].

Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

ABILIFY is indicated for use as an adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Efficacy was established in two 6-week trials in adults with MDD who had an inadequate response to antidepressant therapy during the current episode [see Clinical Studies].

[comicgeek007]

I'm not intent on having a label. I'm intent on having the doctor listen to me and not discount what other doctors have said because OBVIOUSLY he knows better because he's barely ever seen me and he's not a 'stupid american.'

he didn't even tell.me.how to switch meds! If that isn't a problem I don't know what is.

[bunnifoo]

Is there another doctor you can go to besides this one?

It sounds like you might have better luck just randomly calling psychiatrists/

[emgreen]

Originally Posted by comicgeek007

...I'm intent on having the doctor listen to me and not discount what other doctors have said because OBVIOUSLY he knows better because he's barely ever seen me and he's not a 'stupid american.'

he didn't even tell.me.how to switch meds! If that isn't a problem I don't know what is.

I'm just guessing the fact you state that he thinks your previous pdoc is a "stupid American" stems from your own racial bias rather than the doctor's words.

In addition, patients have a responsibility to ask doctors questions if they don't understand. Why didn't you ask how to switch your meds out? I'm no pdoc, but 100 mg Seroquel isn't a huge dose, so switching out immediately shouldn't be a problem...At least this was my personal experience.

[comicgeek007]

Originally Posted by emgreen

I'm just guessing the fact you state that he thinks your previous pdoc is a "stupid American" stems from your own racial bias rather than the doctor's words.

In addition, patients have a responsibility to ask doctors questions if they don't understand. Why didn't you ask how to switch your meds out? I'm no pdoc, but 100 mg Seroquel isn't a huge dose, so switching out immediately shouldn't be a problem...At least this was my personal experience.

He asked if she was American. I said yes. He IMMEDIATELY started to go on about why he's right and she was oh so.very wrong.

[Moose72]

Aren't you American? Why could he have acted his way if so?

[comicgeek007]

Well, he seemed to think any mood swing or racing thoughts I was describing were non existent. I have no idea. whatever his real reason for discounting a doctor that knew me a whole.lot better than he did just seemed entirely unprofessional. Why should it matter if she was american? Why did he even ask?

[Moose72]

Maybe he just doesn't believe in bipolar in the first place.

[emgreen]

Originally Posted by comicgeek007

Why should it matter if she was american? Why did he even ask?

Perhaps he knew the doctor at the hospital & questioned her professional judgement, or saw you as being in a mixed/depressive episode. Again, however, Abilify is a treatment for BP, so I don't understand what the issue is.

[hamster-bamster]

He should have treated you better.

Until you find a better p-doc, put some trust into the pharmacist, who is not going to have a racial bias, etc. Ask the pharmacist how to titrate down on Seroquel (I agree with Emgreen that with the dose of 100mg, you can probably just stop at once) and how to go up on Abilify.

If the pharmacist is unable to answer your question, let the PHARMACIST deal with the p-doc on your behalf.

That should spare some of your mental energy.

Read up on the side effects of Abilify, so you would recognize them if they hit you.

[ultramar]

Originally Posted by comicgeek007

I saw him for the second time.ever today. He still won't let me talk to him directly outside of 10 minute appointments. He's CONVINCED I'm just really.depressed and i'm not crazy enough to be bipolar and my mood swings mean NOTHING. I was about ready to cry during the apt because I couldn't get him.to understand how disruptive this lack of sleep and inability to sit down and shut up and horrible racing thoughts thing is. He switched me to abilify instead of seroquel because abilify is more for major depression and crap. He thought the doc in the hospital was a moron because she's american. Even though she saw me and talked to me WAY more than this pompous ***hole. He wants me to bump up my Zoloft because I'm "so depressed"!

Aside from the racing thoughts, etc., are you feeling depressed? How people experience depression can really run the gamut, including insomnia, even mood swings. I'm not saying your psychiatrist is right, though, at all. Mostly wondering if you think depression might be part of the picture.

(As an aside, it sounds like you live outside the States? I think American psychiatrists in some other countries have the reputation of over-diagnosing. Not saying he's right or wrong not to agree with that doctor, just that that might be where he's coming from, he might be prejudiced in that respect).

Maybe if you start a mood journal and share it with him? It can be hard to express ourselves as well as we'd like in such a short appointment (and more so if it ends up being contentious), so maybe if you write things down and bring it to your next appointment, it will be helpful. Good luck.

[comicgeek007]

Originally Posted by ultramar

Aside from the racing thoughts, etc., are you feeling depressed? How people experience depression can really run the gamut, including insomnia, even mood swings. I'm not saying your psychiatrist is right, though, at all. Mostly wondering if you think depression might be part of the picture.

(As an aside, it sounds like you live outside the States? I think American psychiatrists in some other countries have the reputation of over-diagnosing. Not saying he's right or wrong not to agree with that doctor, just that that might be where he's coming from, he might be prejudiced in that respect).

Maybe if you start a mood journal and share it with him? It can be hard to express ourselves as well as we'd like in such a short appointment (and more so if it ends up being contentious), so maybe if you write things down and bring it to your next appointment, it will be helpful. Good luck.

I do live in the US. I'm going to a pdoc in Mississippi where I go to college but the other doctor was in Maryland where I live and went for spring break.

I think it's at least part of the picture. I have a lot of days where I'm really really depressed, a lot of days where I'm hyper - psychotically happy or raging angry and can't just sit down and shut up, and a few days where I'm neither and can actually get a lot of things done (hyperness usually gets so bad I can't settle down to do ANYthing).

I have a mood journal, but he didn't want to hear about my moods. He was just certain I'm super depressed. I don't think I'm going to have another apt with him because of a few reasons, not just how I feel about him. Money is a big part of it, too, and next semester I will qualify for free (or at least a heck of a lot cheaper than $50 for a ten minute session!) pdoc and T apts elsewhere.

Even if Abilify does end up working, it's just the principle that he didn't seem to want to hear about anything that contradicted his preconceived notions about me - even if they came form another doctor who saw me for a lot more time and saw just how horrible my mood swings can get (I almost threw a table at her once and she's also seen the super happy hyper and the really depressed, too).

[hamster-bamster]

Agreed, and the p-doc's unwillingness to see your mood journal does not look right, either.

[comicgeek007]

Maybe I'll actually get to sleep tonight so I won't sleep through another of my classes. >_< Ranting and raving wore me out, anyway

[BlueInanna]

Asshat for sure. I hope Abilify helps you, it is pretty much a standard bp med. it made me worse I was even more ancy irritable and suicidal when on it. This guy may have some malpractice history and is gun shy or he has concerns about these meds are intense. Could be a lot of things, many docs don't dx bp til they see you for years. Idk but sounds horribly frustrating

[comicgeek007]

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

Asshat for sure. I hope Abilify helps you, it is pretty much a standard bp med. it made me worse I was even more ancy irritable and suicidal when on it. This guy may have some malpractice history and is gun shy or he has concerns about these meds are intense. Could be a lot of things, many docs don't dx bp til they see you for years. Idk but sounds horribly frustrating

ugggh! I'm sorry that happened to you! I'll be sure to look out for that. Unfortunately I couldn't find if there was malpractice history since the info isn't collected by healthgrades in Mississippi.

[newtus]

howd u go from maryland to mississippi?

[comicgeek007]

Originally Posted by newtus

howd u go from maryland to mississippi?

College. I like it here better than MD, anyway.

[BlueInanna]

Originally Posted by comicgeek007

College. I like it here better than MD, anyway.

I love Mississippi ! Hey check other states if you have a feeling, they move states for the reasons :/
And the Abilify ... You'll know pretty fast if it has that nasty reaction on you, I roughed it out for weeks torturing myself. But it seems to usually help others I think I'm an exception with it really? Wishing you good luck with it

[ultramar]

Originally Posted by comicgeek007

I do live in the US. I'm going to a pdoc in Mississippi where I go to college but the other doctor was in Maryland where I live and went for spring break.

I think it's at least part of the picture. I have a lot of days where I'm really really depressed, a lot of days where I'm hyper - psychotically happy or raging angry and can't just sit down and shut up, and a few days where I'm neither and can actually get a lot of things done (hyperness usually gets so bad I can't settle down to do ANYthing).

I have a mood journal, but he didn't want to hear about my moods. He was just certain I'm super depressed. I don't think I'm going to have another apt with him because of a few reasons, not just how I feel about him. Money is a big part of it, too, and next semester I will qualify for free (or at least a heck of a lot cheaper than $50 for a ten minute session!) pdoc and T apts elsewhere.

Even if Abilify does end up working, it's just the principle that he didn't seem to want to hear about anything that contradicted his preconceived notions about me - even if they came form another doctor who saw me for a lot more time and saw just how horrible my mood swings can get (I almost threw a table at her once and she's also seen the super happy hyper and the really depressed, too).

It sounds like she's not listening to you. Or on the other hand, simply disagrees with you even having listened to you. I've posted this a couple of times, but my current psychiatrist wouldn't diagnose me bipolar (even though I had been previously) until he himself witnessed a manic episode. I think it can be a very difficult diagnosis to make and some doctors want to make that determination on their own. I still don't understand the 'American' thing -you live here, the other doctor was just in another state, not a different country.

Maybe she thinks the more hyper moods aren't lasting long enough, maybe she thinks the whole picture put together suggests depression, including the agitation.

The only solution I can see is either seeing someone else, or, if you think it's worth it, continue to try to communicate with her. Since you threw a table at her once, as you say, maybe the relationship isn't going to work out and you need to start anew elsewhere. But you might ask her why she thinks the hyperness and agitation are part of depression, not hypomania. Clearly she thinks this is the case, I think it would be important to know why, how she sees the whole picture. But if she won't communicate, then I guess you'll have to move on.

Good luck and I hope the Abilify helps!

[comicgeek007]

Originally Posted by ultramar

It sounds like she's not listening to you. Or on the other hand, simply disagrees with you even having listened to you. I've posted this a couple of times, but my current psychiatrist wouldn't diagnose me bipolar (even though I had been previously) until he himself witnessed a manic episode. I think it can be a very difficult diagnosis to make and some doctors want to make that determination on their own. I still don't understand the 'American' thing -you live here, the other doctor was just in another state, not a different country.

Maybe she thinks the more hyper moods aren't lasting long enough, maybe she thinks the whole picture put together suggests depression, including the agitation.

The only solution I can see is either seeing someone else, or, if you think it's worth it, continue to try to communicate with her. Since you threw a table at her once, as you say, maybe the relationship isn't going to work out and you need to start anew elsewhere. But you might ask her why she thinks the hyperness and agitation are part of depression, not hypomania. Clearly she thinks this is the case, I think it would be important to know why, how she sees the whole picture. But if she won't communicate, then I guess you'll have to move on.

Good luck and I hope the Abilify helps!

I ALMOST threw a table at the doctor in MD and DID curse her out on one occasion, and she's seen basically the full range of emotions, but not my 'actual' pdoc, he's only seen me for 20 minutes ever and doesn't want to hear about anything other people have seen

I really can't communicate with him. I only get to do so through my T and she doesn't really like to play messenger. My T really cares, but she isn't really helping and so as soon as I qualify, I'm switching to another T and pdoc.

Thanks! I didn't flip out today, so maybe it'll work.

[~Christina]

WOW .. yeah you just need a new Pdoc ....

I may be mistaken .. but didn't you post on here somewhere saying that if you are diagnosed Bipolar in Maryland you would lose your drivers license? Maybe switch your license to Mississippi so that worry would not exist?

fact remains you just need a New Pdoc Now! not months from now.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

WOW .. yeah you just need a new Pdoc ....

I may be mistaken .. but didn't you post on here somewhere saying that if you are diagnosed Bipolar in Maryland you would lose your drivers license? Maybe switch your license to Mississippi so that worry would not exist?

fact remains you just need a New Pdoc Now! not months from now.

Wow...

yes, indeed, in MD you need to report the BP DX to the state

Customer Self-Report of a Medical Condition

they say their goal is to keep the drivers on the road, but it sure seems scary...

Is it possible to have 2 licenses?