[elevatedsoul]

i have pdoc appointment tomorow that i have been waiting for (patiently) 6 months
im only taking zyprexa and seroquel right now and im wanting to change them to latuda and get back on klonopin
i dont know how to tell my pdoc this
i usually dont say much when i see him because of my anxiety

im praying that the words will come to me easily and that i dont get anxious/confused during the meeting like usual

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Let us know how it goes!

[HALLIEBETH87]

Sometimes I practice what I want to say that way I kind of have it in my mind, ready to go.

[Nammu]

One option would be writing it down and just read it or have him read it.

[raspberrytorte]

Yeah. Take notes with you.

I feel physically sick with anxiety about my appointment tomorrow too (mine is with a new pdoc, so I hope I like her).

[Sesiley]

I have an appointment tomorrow too. I'm hoping to get on a new antipsychotic antispasmodic fix my medications from where my last doctor switch messed it up.

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[CopperStar]

Know your reasons for wanting the changes. That will be your main thing. A pdoc can argue about medications and take the "I'm the expert" stance on that, but they cannot argue against what you experience, only you know that much.

[Shadesofdark]

Just write him a letter. if you cant read it just give it to him. Explain why you want to stop your currant meds and why you think the new ones would be better. Be ready to discuss it with some notes if you need them. Good luck!!!

[elevatedsoul]

i have stopped quite a few meds on my own since i last saw the pdoc...
i hope that he isnt aggravated by this...

i stopped trazodone because i've been sleeping too much
when i stopped trazodone the Restless legs went away so i stopped taking propanolol(which he gave for the RLS)
i stopped taking the Strattera because it was giving me nausea and headaches

now i want to get off seroquel and zyprexa
thinking that latuda would work better for my symptoms

also i want to talk to him about trying vyvanse

im so nervous and feel like i have so much i need to talk to him about its making me so anxious

[Capriciousness]

I have gone through so many pdocs trying to find one that will actually listen that I am so over it. They are there to serve us. I knew the meds I wanted and just made sure I got them.

Say your reasons for wanting the meds you want and don't back down. I mean be open and everything to what they say and safety and all of that but also trust your gut. Especially since you have been waiting so long.

if he doesn't mention the drugs you want, ask about them. if he says know ask him why. then question his reasons. then reiterate your reasons for wanting them. sometimes you have to say things like "i don't think you understand what I am saying...or how much i am suffering... or how bad my anxiety is... etc"

It is a partnership, they aren't in charge of us.

it is easy to get flustered and not be able to say what you need to say when you need to say it.

practice, write it down.

i say practice holding a stone or pen or rubber band or something so it jogs your memory when you look at it.

make notes to make sure you hit everything you wanted to say about it.

they see a lot of patients. we aren't first on their list. but we are first on our list.

[BlackSheep79]

Totally agree with everyone about writing it down. I do it sometimes when serious issues are going on so my pdoc can get the whole picture.

[wiretwister]

good luck ....

Writing it down is good.

I have terrible social anxiety, so my Doctors appts always scare me to death. I hate them with so much of a passion.

Best of luck.

I agree, write it down. Use as few words as you can. If you can, take someone with you. I know I have had Pdoc's that are dismissive because they thing your reasoning is 'off'. Having someone else there adds weight to what you are saying.

Take charge of your mental health. It's your life, and it's worth fighting for

[simon007]

If you feel nervous about seeing your doc then the doc is obviously no good. A doc should understand your condition and should not make you feel nervous in anyway. Get rid of him and ask for another doc.

[Crazy Hitch]

I sometimes take notes, maybe you can take a sticky note and simply say, I'd like to discuss the possibility of changing to these meds with you, whilst passing him the sticky note ...

I hope for you that the appointment is okay and that you manage to express your point of view and let your pdoc know your thoughts and feelings about the meds that you are on and your views on changing to the new ones.

Let us know how it goes!

Originally Posted by simon007

If you feel nervous about seeing your doc then the doc is obviously no good. A doc should understand your condition and should not make you feel nervous in anyway. Get rid of him and ask for another doc.

How ridiculous!

I have always been nervous about pdoc appointments - regardless of good or bad pdoc. What a stupid statement to make. I have fantastic pdocs now who I see weekly and I still get nervous.

So why do you want those particular meds? Have they worked for you in the past? Why do you want ON klonopin? I've spent years convincing my pdoc NOT to give it to me as I do not want addiction issues but they keep giving it to me... I have never had a situation where I have had to ask for particular meds, they offer them more than freely IMO. If they dont perhaps you are not showing them how severe your symptoms are?

Good luck with your appt. Be honest with doc and hopefully you will find a good med combo.

[tanto]

I hope all goes well for you... I'm anxious to ask for diff meds as well, including klonopin... very bad rep with that one... but buspar or vistaril aren't cutting it... my first med combo was prozac+klonopin... after years of trying different meds, it's the only combo that worked decent enough along lithium. You know you best... like the others say, write down what you need to say and your reasoning... you can't afford to leave your points at the door!

[elevatedsoul]

thanks all
my pdoc is ok.... i like him, i just get nervous because meeting with him is so important

i usually take notes but i've been thinking about this for so long its all "Locked" in my mind

i've been on and off klonopin for a few years now, taking breaks from time to time from it and now feel like i want it back so i can have it for "emergencies"

i havent tried latuda or vyvanse but i've read alot of good things about them...
i read that latuda has a "procognitive" effect and i could really use that
also read about vyvanse helping with ADHD alot and is hard to abuse (which is good for me)

im getting ready now, going to shower and try to relax for a couple hours before my appointment

thanks again and i'll report back with how it goes!

im excited

Best of luck to you. Meeting new docs is always tough but it will be okay. Just jot your thoughts down on paper, and remember to breathe when your nerves get high! Good luck!

[elevatedsoul]

Ughh!

i saw my pdoc today and nothing changed
im still taking seroquel and zyprexa, although im going to stop taking the zyprexa on my own because of lumps in my chest, since they arent worried about the lumps im just going to stop it on my own

i dont mind seroquel(400mg), i have adapted pretty well to it and think that it helps a bit with the depression so i'll keep taking that Although i am tired all the time

i told them the medicines i stopped taking and he "officially" took me off them

we talked about stimulants and apparently at the clinic i go there are rules.... you cant take benzos and get a stimulant...
you cant drink alcohol or do drugs
and there are drug tests that come with stimulants
also im diagnosed with substance abuse disorder so that factors in...
they said this is something we can "revisit" later, and the dr mentioned a drug that takes away urges to drink alcohol
(i dont want to take any drug that is going to make me sick if i decide to drink a beer)

have any of you ever heard of such rules over being prescribed stimulants?
im disappointing and my next pdoc appointment is in november

[Edgar's Mom]

Originally Posted by Supanova

How ridiculous!

I have always been nervous about pdoc appointments - regardless of good or bad pdoc. What a stupid statement to make. I have fantastic pdocs now who I see weekly and I still get nervous.
.....
I have never had a situation where I have had to ask for particular meds, they offer them more than freely IMO. If they dont perhaps you are not showing them how severe your symptoms are?

My pdoc is absolutely lovely and I also still feel nervous before appointments. Probably because of all of the years of crappy interactions with doctors who treated me as though they didn't take me seriously. Even though the last three docs I've had (I move a lot) have been wonderful, I drag that baggage with me.

I also take my hubby to my appts with me, which I started 4 doctors ago when I had a male doc I was very uncomfortable with. Where I live, there is no choice about who you see. I was lucky to have any doc at all. So I started brining hubby with me, and right or wrong, this boosted my credibility with my docs.

As for meds, I feel the same way. I feel that my struggle is to keep the meds down to a minimum. I've been offered meds I do not want and try to communicate that in a way that doesn't come across as compliant.

[Nammu]

I don't think I've ever been on a stimulant, so I have nothing on that one. The pain clinic I went to had a lot of rules but I think they were mostly federal rules. I had to get blood tests all the time.

I saw me Pdoc today too, he was concerned but ok that I stopped the latuda. We talked about my history and agreed I should stay on the ambien and lamictal.

[cashart10]

It is the law that you must be drug tested every 3 months that you take a stimulant. I take Vyvanse. I'm sorry that you feel you didn't get far with your pdoc. I know it feels awful! How long do you have to wait before you have to "revisit" this? 6 months?