[jtassar93]

I’m on the search for a new pdoc. I haven’t been very luck with my last 2. My current one is very nice and all that. She listens and gives me as much time as she can, but it doesn’t help. She’s quite new to her profession (she says) and is not as experienced as other pdocs. She was able to handle all my symptoms and meds for awhile but my last visit she told me she was at a point where she didn’t know how to best help me and referred me to go see some doctors at a university in a city a long drive away.

My doctor before her was okay. He had experience but he didn’t have time. And he didn’t tend to listen to everything I had to say. It just ended up a big mess with him.

So. I’m currently scheduled to see my current pdoc still to get the same meds I’ve been getting for months. I plan to schedule my appointments as far out as I can while I find a new pdoc.

Some doctors say I have schizoaffective bipolar 1 and some say I have bipolar 1 with psychotic symptoms. Along with general anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, ocd, and major depression.
I’m looking to find a new pdoc who has experience and can handle all of my problems.

I’m 26 and still live at home. I have my mom’s insurance and I’m also on Medicare.

I don’t know where to start looking. Or how. I read reviews of doctors online and always find the bad in them and decide they’re no good.

I know my post is mostly a long thing of info. My question I guess is how I would go about finding a good pdoc? I want a chance at new meds and treatment. They have to be close, my mom doesn’t want to drive that far.

[Wander]

I cannot help you find a new pdoc as I live in Australia but I do understand what it is like going through pdoc after pdoc and still not finding the right fit. For me it took 18 years (with breaks of no doc's) and seven pdoc's to finally find the fantastic one I have now (started with him two years ago). There were so many different reasons why the others were not a good fit including; severe incompetence, religious fanaticism on their part, ones that just didn't even care or try to help, one that was too overwhelmed with my presentation etc etc. It is so hard to handle when even the 'experts' can't seem to help.

Now I have a great pdoc who can handle my illness, BP 1 with psychotic features, rapid cycling, mixed features, and all that come with it, my confidence and self-esteem have improved. This is not your fault. Unfortunately there seems to be many more bad pdoc's to good ones. Keep searching. I really hope you find the right one soon.

jtassar93. I know how hard it is to find the right fit with a mental healthcare provider. I got lucky with my psychiatrist, but have struggled finding therapists. I had some doozies, some pass muster ones, a couple that lasted only one to five sessions, and a few good ones that I had to leave for reasons beyond my control.

I imagine where you live and your insurance plays a part in the ease or difficulty finding a good provider match. Are there just few psychiatrists near you?

I hope you can give a chance to a psychiatrist that maybe you're unsure of, but doesn't immediately turn you off. A person can surprise you.

My psychiatrist worked for years at a psychiatric hospital and Intensive Outpatient program before focusing solely on his private practice. I think he really did see patients with challenging needs because of that. Maybe that may be someone to look into? Have you ever attended an IOP/PHP? Maybe they have a recommendation?