Please help! Should I get a new dr.?

I'm taking a poll on whether I should change pdoc.

Let me explain how this started. I was in terrible shape when I received my dx 3 years ago. I was dx'ed at my local mental health facility. Fast forward to now, in which I'm still being treated by the same company, just at a different facility in a different county. The clinics use the same doctors.

Now, my problem is this. They won't f'in listen to me about my meds. I have freakin' terrible paranoia, anxiety, and insomnia, and I have discussed this twice with the same doctor, and once with another doctor.

The clowns still won't change or add anything to my meds. I am pissed.

I now have Medicare. Would it be in my best interest to find a private psychiatrist that accepts Medicare and drop the dr. at the clinic? I could stay with the clinic for the therapist because I like them.

SO, WHAT DO YA'LL THINK? SHOULD I FIND ME A NEW DR.?

See, I've been tied to the same facility since my dx and I had no insurance so it was the only way to get help. I'm scared I will piss them off, such as my therapist getting pissed and dropping me because of getting an outside dr. I don't know what to do. I just want a dr. that listens, understands, and tries, instead of one that just writes refills. Please help me with your suggestions. I was close to calling my t and blowing off on her about the dr. visit today. To be quite honest, I'm about ready to report this prickhead dr. to Medicare because I think he's wasting their money.

I have Medicare also. It's effort to find new docs but it is well worth it. My mental health is too precious to waste my time with docs I don't like and aren't meeting my needs. Get busy (is my advice) and exhaust every doctor you can find who takes Medicare.
You should find a pdoc and a T who takes Medicare. Neither of them needs to deal or know the other at all.

I too always had state, or no insurance and my resources are very limited. However I still had good, and bad pdocs. But if my complaints are going through and being unaddressed, I'd ask to see another pdoc if you can. I understand their might not even be one though so be as assertive as possible. Tell them you are thinking about switching docs and that your issues are important to you. Yea, I'd be pissed too.

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The doctor works for you and not the other way around. I'm not sure how medicare works, but I would make the effort to find a new doctor.

It doesn't sound like you have a therapeutic relationship with your pdoc. That's usually a good time to end, although be sure that's how you consistently feel (sometimes I get irritated with mine and think I should see someone else but it's always situational).

Your therapist should not have a negative response and if she does then she's a problem as well. You have the right to choose your providers.

You don't owe them anything for the financial assistance when you needed it. I feel extra loyalty to my therapist's office for the same but have to remind myself that I still can move on or do whatever is right for me and it's not supposed to feel guilty (although I sort of would).

I can relate. I'm in the process of finding a new pdoc because my current one doesn't listen to my concerns.

It took me 9 months just to get medication for my anxiety, even though I was diagnosed with GAD by 3 different psychologists in the past. (i.e., it's well known that I have GAD, and there's no disputing it.) But even when my pdoc gave me medication, he only gave me 15 pills. He told me to make them last an entire year. I was like, "uh, what?"

I also have ADHD, but he refuses to give me any medication for my concentration. Go figure.

That's the kind of BS you shouldn't have to deal with. No one should have to deal with it. That's why I'm opting for a new pdoc... because I need to do this for myself. Even though my pdoc is really nice to me, he's also really awful at what he does.

You definitely need to do the same. You're not getting any better when your pdocs don't listen to you. You also don't want to end up in a situation where you get worse.

Do this for yourself. Change pdocs. You need to get better, and the reality is, you're not going to get better on your own. You need a pdoc who cares for you and listens to your concerns because that's the only was you're going to get better.

I agree with the above. Get a new pdoc and keep your old tdoc since you like them.
You get to voice your concern to the tdoc, anger frustrtion with them that is what they are there for!
I would start calling pdocs to see who accepts medicare. It could take a while to find someone.
good luck
bizi

Talk to your therapist about this situation and see if he will advocate for you, or stay with you if you make the change. This way you should benefit all the way around, or at least know what to expect.

^^^^ Ditto.

make sure you get scripts and refills, it could take a while to get into a new psych doctor.
bizi

What have you decided to do?
bizi

You deserve a pdoc who listens and is willing to look at different meds if the ones you are on are not working or have too many side effects. Even if your not happy with them they should listen, it's your quality of life that's supposed to be their main concern not what easiest for them.

Don't burn the bridges but do look for a pdoc that accepts Medicare, it might be a long wait that's why I suggest you don't burn the bridges until you've seen the new pdoc no matter how tempting it might be to tell these current Pdocs where they can go.

Do talk to your T about this, he/she might be able to get the dialogue going with the current docs or at least tell you what would happen if and when you find a new pdoc.

good advise!

Nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. I don't know enough about your history to advise changing, but getting another set of eyes on things is never bad advise in cases like these. I never know if it's me or them who is the problem. It can get confusing so I understand your dilemma.

I got a new pdoc bc the one I had would not take me off zyprexa. Said we couldn't increase trazadone. I'm down from 15 mgs of zyprexa to 2.5 mgs and I'm on 550 mgs of trazadone. Sleeping fine. He was wrong. I've lost 15 lbs and hope to lose more. He was an actual psychiatrist and my new Dr is a psych nurse. But she's better and younger and really knows her stuff. I'm also on Invega now with no side effects. Soon I'll get off that last 2.5 mgs of zyprexa.

If you're not happy, find someone new....

I think it'd be a great idea to call around and find another doc. Don't worry, at all, about pis**** anyone off.

You should have a say it what your meds are, or are not, and what doses you are comfortable taking, or not comfortable taking.

yes zyprexa causes weight gain and is useful in emergency situations as needed, not for maintenance med.
IMO
bizi

Yea you should