[wiretwister]

My pdoc will not give me a ad,, I have asked I have pleded I have begged...would it be so bad to go behind his back and ask my gp to rx it,,I am sure she would....she can see what he rxs but pdoc can not see what gp rxs...lexapro caused my last "issue",, but I can limit the amount this time...and now I know what to look out for...I just want to move off flatsville....

[gayleggg]

If you are not satisfied with the way your pdoc is handling your situation maybe you could look for a new pdoc instead of going behind his back. Because that just seems like it wouldn't be in your best interest. He can't treat you if you are not being honest with him. At least, that's the way it seems to me.

[wiretwister]

to be truthful I really like my pdoc and I am a little scared to have to "try out " a new pdoc,,if I do not get along with the next one do I just keep shoping around,, I could get a reputation and find it hard to get any pdoc....and get stuck with just whoever is left..jmo

[jacky8807]

I feel you my friend
I just want straight up prozac and its a no this no to that
I love my pdoc but i also thought about going to another regular doc to get it
My pdoc told me this story of a patient who did just that and then had worst manic episode of his life thought he was running for president left his wife left his good career moved to another state and then ended up arrested for fighting with ppl who didnt think he could be president.
But its like that happens to only a few ppl i think out of many idk

[wiretwister]

everyone always says you must be your own advocate,, how is this any different..I tapered off my ap without my pdoc knowledge,, once I was off it for two months I told him and he was ok with it...sometimes I think we know our needs better than a 15 min ever three month pill pusher does...jmo I am sorry if I sound harsh..I do not mean too..

[Moogieotter]

Hmmm.. It took me a while to find the right doc, but I'm in a big city with dozens or more options. If you are Bipolar Depressed and Lamictal is not addressing it as much as you need, your pdoc should offer some solution. Maybe Lexapro was not the answer. Other SSRIs can help w drepression with less uppity for you possibly. Paxil was a more calming SSRI for me.

Outside of the SSRI game, Trileptal and maybe Mirapex are common treatments for Bipolar Depression. Is he offering no options at all? He should have some ideas other than being stumped just sticking with Lamictal.

PM me as needed. Good luck!

moogs

[wiretwister]

Originally Posted by Moogieotter

If you are Bipolar Depressed and Lamictal is not addressing it as much as you need, your pdoc should offer some solution. Maybe Lexapro was not the answer. Other SSRIs can help w drepression with less uppity for you possibly. Paxil was a more calming SSRI for me.

He should have some ideas other than being stumped just sticking with Lamictal.

PM me as needed. Good luck!

moogs

ty moog...

[HALLIEBETH87]

Is it meds causing dullness or are you chasing mania?

[jacky8807]

Ehhhhhhhhhh
Good question for wire and it makes me think
Im not chasing mania per say because that leads to very bad things for me
Im chasing more of a "hypo" advantage
The rest of these meds stabilize on somewhat of the lower side

[jacky8807]

And talkibg to a psych P.A. at my work she said the general preference is for bp patients to stabilize on the lower side reducing any risk of mania at all costs
I told her that us bp patients would prefer not to stabilize on the lower end thank you very much lol

[wiretwister]

Originally Posted by jacky8807

Ehhhhhhhhhh
Good question for wire and it makes me think
Im not chasing mania per say because that leads to very bad things for me
Im chasing more of a "hypo" advantage
The rest of these meds stabilize on somewhat of the lower side

I just want to feel something..to be alive.. to "enjoy" the sun on my face..my pdoc says he WANTS me to be slightly DOWN..and I am...my I want to kill myself has been gone since summer but nothing has replaced it... I go thru the motions ever day,,, wake,work,sleep only interrupted by eating.....not what I call a satisfing life....and my sex life non-existant for last two years.....at least with the sui I felt something...

[HALLIEBETH87]

I'm sorry :/

[wiretwister]

I don't mean to be such a downer, I just want things to be better, I want (need) a better reason to get up everyday...

If you are stable, but depressed stable, They can usually add something else.

[wiretwister]

Originally Posted by ValentinaVVV

If you are stable, but depressed stable, They can usually add something else.

but so far he has been unwilling to thus my question about using my gp to rite rx

I completely understand your situation. I have just been "going through the motions" for years. Yes, it started way before I was dx bipolar. Treatment has done little, and now I'm less functioning than I previously was. I seriously have very little left to get me hanging in. If you knew my miserable life you would understand. Heck, you're still functioning by working which is a "huge" positive. So hold your head high for that. Something great may be hiding just around the corner for you.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Does your GP know you see a pdoc? Cause usually they aren't going to prescribe psych meds when you see a pdoc.

[HALLIEBETH87]

The fact you live only 35 mins from me is so cool btw

[wiretwister]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

Does your GP know you see a pdoc? Cause usually they aren't going to prescribe psych meds when you see a pdoc.

she knows,,she gets notes on every thing he does,,she gets them from the insurance co..she would,,she has always helped me help myself..we have a great relationship for the last ten plus years...

[wiretwister]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

The fact you live only 35 mins from me is so cool btw

I thought it was upsetting for you..

[HALLIEBETH87]

Nope. Did we talk about it before? I was a bit paranoid..

My p-doc said an anti-depressant can be added if it doesn't make you manic.

[BipolaRNurse]

I hear ya jacky! I'd much rather stabilize on the higher side, please and thank you. :-)

[~Christina]

I think alot of things factor into a pdoc decision(s) or thoughts.

For instance.. (I am not using anyone's situation as an example )

How long has Pdoc and Patient worked together.
How long has the patient been " stable" as in, not flat on the floor or a hole through the roof.
How many "crisis's" in say the past 12 months
Is patient gaining any skills in Therapy
Can patient apply coping skills when needed
Does a patient have good healthy support system

As you state.... over all you like your Pdoc, well that says alot, really.

I think side stepping and putting your GP in the middle and he/she not aware of it ? I think that just playing dirty and will cause your GP to distrust you (yeah try and get a pain med out of them even if your arm is hanging half off after that) or more likely he/she will flat out give you 30 day notice to find a new GP , yes that can and it does happen plus its legal. ( If your GP would be willing to give a known Bipolar I patient an AD well then she should report back to medical school to be honest, as she should certainly know better than to play with that kinda fire)

Maybe your GP will never know ? Sure that's possible, but if you go zooming and go through the ER , well a copy of your ER visit will typically be sent to your GP and your Pdoc, unless you or family doesn't answer that pesky question of " who are your Doctors" and "what medications are you on "and you just happen to go to an ER you haven't been to before. Sad thing is when we are usually a total mess we can't think to remember who we tell what too.

No personally I would not chance it as finding a good decent pdoc is about as hard as finding a good fitting bra , a car payment that you can "really" afford and a free trip to Vegas, all in the same week.

Yes be your own best advocate, Go armed with a history of yourself.. as in .. Okay in the past X months/years I have gone haywire X times due to "situational" or maybe "med induced" X amount of times. Make sure you can rattle off all the meds and med changes that have taken place in said time and how they effected you.. Yes ! seems like a truck load full of information to gather and process , right? Okay this is what your Pdoc has to do , for you and how many hundreds of patients.

He/she can't possibly know all the in's and out's like you can.

If you can go in armed with knowledge and a time line it will help you show that indeed there is room to wiggle.

I see your Bp I and only med you have listed is 300mg Lamictal? Is that the only medication across the board your taking, no other medications Your GP doesnt prescribe you anything, If Lamictal and Vit D is your only medications, then when was your last complete blood work done? Thyroid has a shifty way of going sideways that can be the cause of depressive feeling, Hormone levels too. Any Benzios? Yep they depress the system plus loads of allergy meds and lord knows even benedryl can drag a mood down if your drug sensitive, Again this is all info you can "present" to your Pdoc

I know most Pdoc's tap out lamictal at 300mg but I see many will go ahead and hit 400mg in hopes that it can nudge someone up enough.

I'm certainly not a Pdoc , but I have been around the block many times and I have worked for Doctors of all sorts my entire life, So I understand what my Bipolar looks , feels and acts like for the "most part" but I also know how Doctors often think.. "Do no harm" Yep that , 3 words. No decent Pdoc likes to see one of there patients need IP or want to hear that they harmed themselves, So they do often Err or the "safer" side, or what they think is "your" safer side, but they are not you...

So if going in armed with all kinds of information doesn't get he/she to sit up,take a chance make a change or at least "consider" a possible change. Ask if you can both agree to give it another 30 days and then revisit it. If your Pdoc shuts you out and says " Nope, see you in 3 months" Yes ,then you need to find a new Pdoc.

Anyway , I rambled a lot I am sure, Just things to consider

[wiretwister]

thank you Christina,, I must have hit a nerve and I am sorry...I have been stable since summer however quite low...since this started I have had racing intrusive thoughts (upped lamictal), ready to die depression (upped lamictal) all on the low side....I quit my geodon and after the fact was oked by pdoc..I have had one up (happy) day in the last two years..became addicted to xanex and it did drag me further down have since quit it..I am slowly (especially now) sinking down lower and really don't know how much time I have left...I just need help...