I really need a new pdoc, but all the good ones are 45 mins away (assuming no traffic).

Do you think 45 mins is reasonable? My current pdoc is 30 minutes away.

How far do you drive to see your pdoc? How far would you be willing to go?

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I drive 2.5 hours each way. It is totally worth it.

I live in a really rural area which is part of why I drive so far and partly it's because I moved and my pdoc moved and that was the overall result. But it also has to do with where I go is truly excellent and I tend to go to that hospital for anything besides primary care.

[pirilin]

You really come out with a lot of ideas.

I was driving 500 miles round trip. Until I did no more.
The other was a shrink to the stars. This is one the hope of the poor.
I drive 1hr rt. She introduced me to the wonderful world of lithium.
Other than that, I'm very cunning and they both prescribe what I want.

2.5 hours? 500 miles round trip? Makes 45 minutes sound like nothing lol

Now I'm ashamed.

I thought 30 mins was a lot... because my primary care physician is 5 minutes from my house.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

It just has to do with circumstances. Like I said I don't have many (any?) choices nearby and the pdocs closest to here that I know of I have encountered professionally and know they do things I don't want. There's a city about an hour away where I see my therapist (and where I lived when I started seeing my pdoc, also in that city). But I had a terrible experience with a pdoc there and ultimately decided I need someone who specializes in hard to treat cases, which my pdoc does. When my pdoc moved practices (and I moved) I could have tried to find someone else but the truth is that nobody is going to treat me the way she does (b/c she remains aware that I am hard to treat, have a very difficult form of bipolar, etc). So I've stayed with her. And in pay-off I get an hour to an hour and a half a month with her, email contact, my pdoc works for the same hospital system where I go IP so if I'm IP she's still involved in my care, and I have someone managing my really complicated med situation. She also does things like make sure every possible option was tried before clozaril which is really important to me (but she did not keep trying meds that she knew wouldn't work or would just have a repeat of movement disorders since I've had that several times).

All I can say is that she's worth it. I don't know how many pdocs are, but she is.

Since you are in Boston if I were you I'd be heading for some of those top hospitals there. McClaren? Something like that? It's even higher ranked than my hospital which is very high (and I also think that matters). I won't go somewhere not ranked fairly high and that isn't a teaching hospital b/c that combination seems to produce drs who are really up on what is going on.

He's about 30 miles away -- in city driving -- so it can take anywhere from half and hour to an hour to get there depending on the traffic.

[gina_re]

I used to drive 45 minutes to see mine. I think it was about 90 miles round trip. When I moved I wasn't in a rush to find a new pdoc, so I continued to make the drive to see him. It was worth it at the time, since I didn't want to take my chances on another one. Plus explaining my history all over again is a pain.

[fishin fool]

I think 45 minutes for the right pdoc is well worth it.
Try and make a day of it. Go out for lunch or do some
sight seeing.

[Crazy Hitch]

I used to drive 45 minutes to see a pdoc once because she was great. Worked out well for me at the time

[scatterbrained04]

I'd be willing to drive up to an hour.

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[Woolly Bugger]

I don't have a car, so I have to walk. It takes me about three hours each way. At first I thought it was an inconvenience, but I've gotten used to it. I'm looking around for a psychiatrist that is a little closer. Anything under two hours each way would be a godsend.

2 miles would be ideal. Live-in might be optimal. How far might I drive depends on the Doctor not sucking and various other important factors.

[seoultous]

I am lucky to have a 15 minute commute to my pdoc's office but I would drive an hour to see him. He's the best in the area.

[MusicLover82]

My p-doc is so good, I would drive several hours to see him if I had to. It would be totally worth it if it meant the difference between your sanity and instability.

[*Laurie*]

I drive 30 miles (60 round trip) to see my pdoc. I thought that was a lot, but reading this thread I see it isn't very far.

[Standup2me]

45 minutes each way

[otherg]

I won't drive more than 20 to 25 minutes. I have to believe that I won't be out there in the world for long when I'm depressed--that I can make it there and back without incident. If I were stable all the time I wouldn't care. I know that's not happening.

I'm driven (a family member drives me - I don't have a license) an hour. I see him every other week.

[lilypup]

I drive only about 15 minutes.

But if I had to, I'd fly somewhere to see someone that could help.

[Phoenix_1]

When I lived in a small town I traveled 90 minutes to see a great pdoc. It was totally worth it. Now I live in a bigger city and it's 2 hours on the bus to see my new pdoc. He's a great pdoc. Again totally worth it. I spent too many years with pdocs who spent only 2 minutes with me. "Here's your prescription. Next."

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[SingDanceRunLife]

I wouldn't even consider someone more than 30 minutes away. Before I got set up with my current pdoc, I was still seeing the one who diagnosed me when I was away at school, and he was just over an hour away -- totally not worth it, especially since he was the 10 minute tops appointment type.

I also don't drive which makes it a little more difficult and take a little bit longer, but with my current pdoc it's about a 10-15 minute bus ride and the bus stop is like 2 blocks away from her office. If I had stayed with the pdoc who was treating me last year, it would be 2 buses, and a total of about 30-35 minutes.

[boogiesmash]

I keep forgetting what pdoc means but my psychiatrist is about 45 min away while my psychologist is 15 min away.

If I had my blue bicycle back, I might be able to bike a few extra miles. Sadly, someone stole it, so I'm sticking with my live in.

[boogiesmash]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

If I had my blue bicycle back, I might be able to bike a few extra miles. Sadly, someone stole it, so I'm sticking with my live in.

Ironic that this thread was started by blue bicycle

Ironic is life in a song.