[*Beth*]

My pdoc is staying out of her office until further notice. The staff isn't even sure yet how we can refill prescriptions, since there is no back-up pdoc. There's just my GP and she's horrible about psych meds because she says she doesn't feel confident about prescribing them. I have one med that working really well (Trilefon). Last week pdoc told me to increase it, but that's not on the label.

I'm kind of panicking, not to mention sort-of angry that she's doing this. Is anyone else in this situation, as far as no pdoc in office? If so, what are you doing?

[Nammu]

I already don't have a pdoc so my internist prescribed everything, I have refills for months and if a refill runs out the pharmacy contacts the docs office and gets a refill by electronics. So med wise I'm fine. Don't know how your pdoc could do that to people tho. She should at least volunteers to have phone sessions and call scripts into pharmacies! That's just wrong.

[Fuzzybear]

Kinda yes. There is no help in this forest (irl)

safe hugs to all

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I already don't have a pdoc so my internist prescribed everything, I have refills for months and if a refill runs out the pharmacy contacts the docs office and gets a refill by electronics. So med wise I'm fine. Don't know how your pdoc could do that to people tho. She should at least volunteers to have phone sessions and call scripts into pharmacies! That's just wrong.

Hi Nammu, I'm glad you don't have the stress of having to deal with med refills.

My pdoc had chemo last year, so perhaps she feels her immune system is compromised. Okay, I get that. But she worked all through her chemo. Now she just disappeared, not a word. It seems to me that she could, from home, call the patients she has scheduled each day, touch base with us, find out where we are as far as meds.

I guess I'm just feeling betrayed and let down - and scared.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by BethRags

Hi Nammu, I'm glad you don't have the stress of having to deal with med refills.

My pdoc had chemo last year, so perhaps she feels her immune system is compromised. Okay, I get that. But she worked all through her chemo. Now she just disappeared, not a word. It seems to me that she could, from home, call the patients she has scheduled each day, touch base with us, find out where we are as far as meds.

I guess I'm just feeling betrayed and let down - and scared.

When I read this, I do feel your pain.

I do wonder if your pdoc is okay? Especially since she had continued to work through the chemo. It seems different that she would just disappear?

That said she might let staff know so they explain to clients.

I hope you do hear something helpful!

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I guess I'm just feeling betrayed and let down - and scared.

I'm sorry you're experiencing those feelings. I also don't understand why you havent' heard anything

I can relate to feeling betrayed, let down and also scared when let down (and actually dropped..) (more than once) by ''providers'' irl....

I hope you hear something helpful soon

[sophiebunny]

My psychiatrist closed his office but is doing telemedicine. He's still rounding at and running the psych unit he works at.

[Fuzzybear]

[wiretwister]

my pdoc has " left for the duration" , but they fit me in with a different pdoc today and I will be changing to him . . . . I explained my concerns about rxs and such so he wrote extra rx for me . . . I lucked out big time , however there is no toliet paper to be found in my city anywhere . . . .

Originally Posted by BethRags

My pdoc is staying out of her office until further notice. The staff isn't even sure yet how we can refill prescriptions, since there is no back-up pdoc. There's just my GP and she's horrible about psych meds because she says she doesn't feel confident about prescribing them. I have one med that working really well (Trilefon). Last week pdoc told me to increase it, but that's not on the label.

I'm kind of panicking, not to mention sort-of angry that she's doing this. Is anyone else in this situation, as far as no pdoc in office? If so, what are you doing?

Hi BethRags. Honestly, I can't understand why you, and surely other patients, are left in the lurch. I guess if your pdoc was severely ill, or somewhere abroad, I could understand, but I'm assuming you don't know that. I do know that some states in the US have different rules about telemedicine. I think that's silly that some psychiatrists and therapists can't proceed with their work (and helping patients) from home. My psychiatrist has called in prescriptions for me from his home. Though I almost never have called his cell phone, he does offer it for emergency contact.

As I wrote above, I'm assuming you don't know why your pdoc is totally incommunicado. Do they just not care about patients? If that is the case, what kind of human being are they? If it is the case that they are sick or abroad (or in one of the states that disallow telemedicine), they should plan for backups and/or all states should allow telemedicine. This crisis shows how important having such contingency plans are. It's 2020. Not 1950.

My psychiatrist is still available and I'm sure he'd call me back within 24 hours, if I called him in real need of something. He was supposed to go to Europe in about four weeks, but I'm really unsure that that plan is still a go. He usually has a backup psychiatrist for his patients, but not for a short trip. Usually only for his longer summer vacation, which is usually 6 or so weeks.

I had a video session with my therapist today. It worked out well. I don't see why I couldn't have the same with my psychiatrist, if in-person appointments were a bad idea.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

When I read this, I do feel your pain.

I do wonder if your pdoc is okay? Especially since she had continued to work through the chemo. It seems different that she would just disappear?

That said she might let staff know so they explain to clients.

I hope you do hear something helpful!

I've started wondering that, too. It's not like her to be unreliable. But yes, some explanation would be reassuring.

[*Beth*]

I'm starting to wonder if Wild Coyote is onto something...maybe my pdoc is sick. She's always so fiercely dependable. A clear plan of how to handle refills would be really nice, though.

[scatterbrained04]

Mine switched my appointment this week to telemedicine.

[~Christina]

I think many providers are trying to set up a way to best help there patients. Sure maybe they should have figured out a plan earlier.

Im sorry your going through this, I agree with WC advice

I have not called my clinic to see how they are going to manage this difficult time yet, I am sure the phone is ringing constantly..

If my clinic can do teletherapy( which I doubt) I can not do that because my internet does not have the capability. I do not get enough cell service at home. I have to drive half way to town to get enough of a signal.. So I am just going to hurry up and wait, Its possible my clinic might send out a text of instructions?

Its such a trying time, I know that your worried, Im sure your Pdoc will figure how best to manage your care

[Fuzzybear]

hugs

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I think many providers are trying to set up a way to best help there patients. Sure maybe they should have figured out a plan earlier.

Im sorry your going through this, I agree with WC advice

I have not called my clinic to see how they are going to manage this difficult time yet, I am sure the phone is ringing constantly..

If my clinic can do teletherapy( which I doubt) I can not do that because my internet does not have the capability. I do not get enough cell service at home. I have to drive half way to town to get enough of a signal.. So I am just going to hurry up and wait, Its possible my clinic might send out a text of instructions?

Its such a trying time, I know that your worried, Im sure your Pdoc will figure how best to manage your care

I don't have a way to do tele-anything and I have never figured out how to connect my phone to the internet

[Wild Coyote]

Just checking in on you.

I just heard from my pdoc. She is alone in private practice. She had quickly found a HIPPA compliant site where she will conduct her business.
I went to the site and it looks interesting.

i had forgotten that the alternative set up HAS TO BE HIPPA compliant. That complicates things a little.

Is there anyone you can ask about how your doctor is doing or where she is?

I hope you will hear something soon.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I don't have a way to do tele-anything and I have never figured out how to connect my phone to the internet

Yes there are many of us that wont have a ability to do online so I am sure there will be phone calls to keep things on track

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Just checking in on you.

I just heard from my pdoc. She is alone in private practice. She had quickly found a HIPPA compliant site where she will conduct her business.
I went to the site and it looks interesting.

i had forgotten that the alternative set up HAS TO BE HIPPA compliant. That complicates things a little.

Is there anyone you can ask about how your doctor is doing or where she is?

I hope you will hear something soon.

Thank you, WC I'm seeing my T tomorrow (same clinic as pdoc)...hopefully someone will have news on my missing pdoc...

[Wild Coyote]

I am hoping you'll get things sorted out today!

If you have a smart phone and internet access I think someone can talk you through the phone to internet connection. It's not very complicated. It's just a matter of knowing what to do.
The first thing you'll need is: the name of the network and the password.

Just about every phone has an online manual, too. I often need to refer to manuals with the techie stuff here. My H used to do it all.
I think we can help out with getting your phone connected to the internet.

Good luck today!!!

[sarahsweets]

Cant your doctor send the rx's electronically? That is what mine does, even with the adderall. When I went through a period of agoraphobia like 10 years ago my shrink would have phone consults with me and call in my meds.

Originally Posted by BethRags

My pdoc is staying out of her office until further notice. The staff isn't even sure yet how we can refill prescriptions, since there is no back-up pdoc. There's just my GP and she's horrible about psych meds because she says she doesn't feel confident about prescribing them. I have one med that working really well (Trilefon). Last week pdoc told me to increase it, but that's not on the label.

I'm kind of panicking, not to mention sort-of angry that she's doing this. Is anyone else in this situation, as far as no pdoc in office? If so, what are you doing?

[Wild Coyote]

Checking in on you. Was hoping you'd heard something helpful.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Checking in on you. Was hoping you'd heard something helpful.

Thank you so much WC

My pdoc finally turned up yesterday! Strange. Maybe she was seriously freaking out and it took her a few days to get herself together. Her behavior concerns me, but hopefully she's back on track. I have a phone appointment with her today.

[Wild Coyote]

Cool! Happy for you! I was just stopping in to see if you had heard that phone calls are now approved for telemedicine. It looks like you already know this!

[*Beth*]

Whew. Yes, she called and sounded calm and okay. I was starting to worry about med refills. She sent refills over to my pharmacy and they can deliver tomorrow. I have another phone appt. with her in a week.