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Bipolarchic14
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Default Apr 19, 2021 at 08:48 PM
  #1
My most recent psychiatrist I’ve been seeing for like seven months because I had lost my work insurance and my APRN wasn’t able to see me.

Literally every single session I talked about how I had lost my job and how it was affecting my mood. I had a session with him today, and I mention the fact that I had gotten my job back. He was like oh you lost your job.

To add insult to injury while I was switching back from one insurance to my work insurance I had a little bit of a gap so I didn’t have enough medicine so I was trying to use less of it so I could stretch it further for a month. He said that I should have called him and let him know that so that he could’ve tried to help me. This was the same guy that three months ago when I told him I was losing state insurance Told me that if I had to cancel my last appointment just let him know without offering any guidance whatsoever on how to safely taper off medication or how to get meds when losing insurance.

So after my session today I called my APRN let her know I got my job back and now I have an appointment with her in a month and a half. Very happy to have her back. It really raises the question, whether you’re better off having no mental health assistance or assistance with somebody who is subpar.
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Default Apr 19, 2021 at 09:11 PM
  #2
In the US, at least, psychiatrists are, indeed, medical doctors who receive the same basic medical training as any other doctor. They simply choose psychiatry, as opposed to another specialty (orthopedics, OBGYN, etc.). I've always had good luck with my pdocs, but your mileage may vary. Perhaps psychiatry is more of an "art" since it's more difficult to read someone's mood, as opposed to an EKG or MRI, but they receive four years of med school training just like any other doctor. Just saying...
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Default Apr 19, 2021 at 09:26 PM
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Though I do agree with you about the minimal amount education, experience also plays a huge role. You can have your medical degree but until you have a sufficient amount of experience you’re just not going to be as good as somebody who has been in the field a while. . And those who do have experience tend to move away from state run facilities and go more in the direction of private practice because you earn more money this way. My experience with psychiatry, is via one facility. They just don’t hire experienced people and the people don’t seem to care.
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Default Apr 19, 2021 at 10:02 PM
  #4
I've had a good experience with a teaching hospital. To be totally fair my pdoc moved there from private practice so I have an attending and my dr doesn't change every year or two. But my experiences with the system there have been very positive and people know a lot because they are either in training and required to know vast amounts or they are teachers who have to impart lots of information. The bad thing is getting a resident unwilling to say "I don't know". And like I said I know if you have a resident your dr may change every year or two. (Although I know some community MH programs change that often too).

I know it can be very hard to find a pdoc. I'm still waiting for a call back from one pdoc's office that said they'd call when they had an opening. It was 18 years ago. I'm thinking they maybe aren't going to call . But because i didn't get in there then I wound up with my amazing pdoc I've had the last 18 years instead.

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Default Apr 20, 2021 at 03:04 AM
  #5
Today I was reading an article written by a Czech about how foreigners are shocked by Czech doctors being cold and terse, UNLIKE American and British doctors. My reaction? Um...Plenty of American doctors are cold and terse, too. Many American doctors see you as a number, or more accurately a dollar sign, and feel the more patients they can get in and out of the office, the more moolah they can make. In any case, I have already found a most lovely psychiatrist in Czech Republic. I'm sure there are far from lovely ones. I've had far from lovely ones in the US, as well as a couple true gems. It does seem that older doctors in the US tend to be a bit more giving and intuitive than the younger ones, with exceptions. It may be true that some older Czech doctors are not as friendly, perhaps given the past communist times. In the end, I think it is an individual issue. You've got caring types and not so caring types everywhere.

My suggestion to anyone looking for a new psychiatrist is to do online research on them. Obviously online reviews can sometimes lean to the negative, because often only disgruntled types review. However, sometimes patients of true gems review, too. I found my current Czech psychiatrist by seeing glowing reviews with keywords like "caring", "sad he moved", etc.

I don't know where you live, but I realize some areas of the world (including in the US) have limited doctor options. And then insurance exacerbates that, since there are so many providers and doctors pick and choose which ones they accept. That truly must change! There's actually a little issue with that where I now am, but not nearly to the degree as in the US.

Last edited by Soupe du jour; Apr 20, 2021 at 03:17 AM..
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Default Apr 20, 2021 at 07:44 AM
  #6
I've had my fair share of ****** and fair pdocs. Some making me more unstable then naturally. My first pdoc missed BP in both myself and my husband. Next couple missed the scizo part. Most of them miss the anxiety part. It's slowly coming together but it's been 14+ years since my first BP diagnosis. Granted I haven't been the best patient but it shouldn't have taken 9 years to try an AP, even if I was pushing back against meds.

I've had 1 pdoc that I got along with well all the others I've been lukewarm about. So only 1 I would call in an emergency. I've grown considerably the last 6 years but I don't feel they can really help me when things go bad. By my current pdoc I'm always told I should have gone to the ER but if he read my file he'd know I won't go willingly even if it's not a psych issue. The fact that I'm left to my own devices for 3 months at a time leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

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Default Apr 20, 2021 at 07:57 AM
  #7
I worked at a psych hospital for years and most people end up there because of poor care by doctors in the community. There was a story in the news a few years ago about a guy who went psychotic and went to the hospital trying to get admitted for hours. They said he was fine and then he drove his car the wrong way on the interstate and killed 5 people.

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Default Apr 20, 2021 at 08:20 AM
  #8
So Sorry for the bad experiences! Hugs! i agree with the other wise and wonderful posters about being a matter of individual therapists i think. It can take time before finding the right one and the best possible fit for yourself but i do think it is possible if one tries to look everywhere he/she can. It seems like you've been able to find a good one after that one at least. i think it is best to have at least some doctor to assist you unless he/she is activately damaging you and your mental/physical Health of course to answer your last question. Sending many safe, warm hugs to ALL of you, @Bipolarchic14, your Families, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!
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Default Apr 20, 2021 at 07:35 PM
  #9
The APRN I have to prescribe psych meds is great. I have just never been able to find a good psychiatrist. Psychiatrist I’ve seen have been from this one clinic. So it is possible that I’m not making a fair assessment!
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Default Apr 21, 2021 at 12:52 PM
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I've seen no less than 34 pdocs in my life (so far). A few were excellent, 2 were real jackazzes; most ranged from good to quite good. Kinda like hair stylists. Psychiatrists actually have twelve full years of education (and direct experience), so are some of the most educated MD's. Something I have discovered is that the pdocs I paid were much worse than the pdocs I've seen at no cost, like the one I see now (I'm on disability, so no cost). Go figure.

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Default Apr 21, 2021 at 01:09 PM
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Where I live, there's a dire shortage of psychiatrists. Apparently psychiatry is among the lowest paid specialties in medicine, so students graduating from med schools sometimes choose to do their residencies in other areas of medicine. The plus side, however, is the fact that pdocs who aren't associated with hospitals generally don't have to be on call to the extent other docs do. Family life must be easier for them. I guess it's a trade-off.

In my experience, all the pdocs I've had over the years seem to view their jobs as "a calling." They've genuinely listened to & cared about me as a human being. I'm probably very fortunate, though. The things others have posted make me realize that's not the case for everyone.
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Default Apr 21, 2021 at 08:16 PM
  #12
I am glad this has been your experience. I wish I had a similar experience. with that said, the APRN that prescribed my psych meds is great. I am fortunate to have her.
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Default Apr 21, 2021 at 09:19 PM
  #13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bipolarchic14 View Post
...the APRN that prescribed my psych meds is great. I am fortunate to have her.
I'm not familiar with the term APRN (is that a UK designation?). What does it stand for? Psychiatric Registered Nurse, or something similar? If so, I must say I always had good luck with a NP (nurse practitioner) for general health purposes. She always took extra time to ask questions & make sure my issues were addressed & understood.
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Default Apr 22, 2021 at 04:26 AM
  #14
Advanced practice registered nurse. My particular one actual was responsible for developing the children’s psychiatric hospital program in our city. She is literally the only mental health professional I consistently trust through all episodes. My physician recommended her to me.
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