[jtassar93]

Can someone please help me in any way possible? I'm finally okay enough and I want to find a new doctor. I have to go through a certain insurance so that makes it hard.

I can't find anyone around here. Everyone is either too far away, doesn't specialize in what I need, or is in the same building as my current doctor and has terrible reviews.

Do I take a chance with someone in the same building with multiple bad reviews or do I write the longest, most in depth note about all the things I'm dealing with right now and give it to my current doctor in hopes that he will actually read and listen this time? I am so lost.

No notes. Don't rehearse. Just go on in with an open mind and accept that not everyone will like or dislike the doctor.

Let the doc do his/her job. They respect people more that listen to therapy/advice. Play dumb

[jtassar93]

Originally Posted by 2ISAB

No notes. Don't rehearse. Just go on in with an open mind and accept that not everyone will like or dislike the doctor.

Let the doc do his/her job. They respect people more that listen to therapy/advice. Play dumb

You don't understand. I cannot go in without having everything written down. I will dissociate and forget. Or panic and lie.

I'm not going to play dumb. I want some actual help.

[jtassar93]

Plus all the hospital doctors and such always let me write things down. It's the only way I can get it out.

[still_crazy]

doctor reviews online are only somewhat helpful. especially with shrinks...all it takes are a couple highly motivated, pissed off patients to smear a doc's online reputation. not that all the ratings are useless, just...take it with a grain of salt.

personally, if you're in intense suffering right now, id make an appointment with a doc your insurance is OK with, and go from there. If he or she is awful, go elsewhere next time.

do you have any self-pay shrinks where you are? we have a couple in a city kinda nearby, and I've been thinking about it. Kinda $$$, but the docs who don't deal with insurance charge less than self-pay for docs who do insurance (I'm guessing they don't need as much staff?), so...yeah. maybe that's an option for you, too?

[jtassar93]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

doctor reviews online are only somewhat helpful. especially with shrinks...all it takes are a couple highly motivated, pissed off patients to smear a doc's online reputation. not that all the ratings are useless, just...take it with a grain of salt.

personally, if you're in intense suffering right now, id make an appointment with a doc your insurance is OK with, and go from there. If he or she is awful, go elsewhere next time.

do you have any self-pay shrinks where you are? we have a couple in a city kinda nearby, and I've been thinking about it. Kinda $$$, but the docs who don't deal with insurance charge less than self-pay for docs who do insurance (I'm guessing they don't need as much staff?), so...yeah. maybe that's an option for you, too?

Right now I'm just looking for a psychiatrist first. I've been reading reviews for several over the last 3 hours. Most of them have at least 25+ reviews totaling to like 2/5 stars. I read everything everyone says. It makes me nervous. I want someone who will listen to me and actually care.

I have an appointment with my current doctor tomorrow. That's why I didn't know if I should go for it and see if he cares. Or 'wakes up' to what I'm really going through.

I have no idea what self-pay shrinks are. There aren't a lot of options close by and I don't have the money either unfortunately.

Thanks for replying.

[still_crazy]

hi. self-pay shrinks are shrinks who don't do insurance. you pay at the time of service. if you have insurance, they'll provide you with something to see if you can get reimbursed, but they don't the paper work. the + there is that there's greater confidentiality, they usually have more flexible hours, and they seem (around here...) to lean more towards talking along with the drugs. the - is...well...out of pocket costs, obviously. having said that, the ones around here charge less for their services than paying out of pocket with most shrinks, probably because they don't have the same sort of office staff.

i hope things get better for you. im kind of looking around, too, and...wow. psychiatry is a hot mess right now, or so it seems.

Originally Posted by jtassar93

You don't understand. I cannot go in without having everything written down. I will dissociate and forget. Or panic and lie.

I'm not going to play dumb. I want some actual help.

I meant playing g dumb as in to get the help you need. I find that going into a new doctor it really does help if you're more suggestive to abandon everything in the past and simply start fresh. I've been in and out of doctors in the past because I wasn't accepting a new culture. Sorry for misunderstanding and and I wish you a pleasant transition.

[jtassar93]

Thank you still crazy, I'll look into that.

It's okay 2ISAB. I can't start fresh because I have no idea what is going on. I keep track of everything by writing it down. I tried to start fresh once awhile ago and was given a completely wrong diagnosis and ended up manic and back to my old doctor. They didn't know what was going on with me because I didn't provide enough information. That's why I write.

[Wild Coyote]

Yes, see your current doctor. Write everything out in detail. Let's all hope he "wakes up" to what you need.

It just may work out!


WC

[jtassar93]

I hope so. I'm going to spend an outrageous amount of time on this note. I hope he reads it all and takes me seriously. I'll post tomorrow afterwards.

[Wild Coyote]

I am glad you are up for trying again. You are worth the time and effort.
I hope he comes through for you.

Looking forward to reading about how it went and how you are doing.


WC