Finally switched pdocs, what a relief!

Impossible to find a replacement during covid and now it's mostly nurse practitioners available here in Phoenix. Where did they go?
I hung on longer than I should have with a man pdoc because he was double board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology. He was never very helpful. During covid, he upped the dosage of my individual tablets WITHOUT TELLING ME. A former pdoc in the same practice did the same thing to me once. On both occasions, I hit something with my car. I keep telling docs that I cant have too much tegretol because it gives me word loss: cant finish sentences struggling for the word that I would have known a couple years ago. Stress makes word loss more likely for me, but I know the tegretol plays a big part.
Anyway, I found a woman, which I prefer. I really like her personality and I think she will be willing to double as my therapist as well.
Tomorrow, our second session, I will dive into my most serious issues and that will give me a better take on her.
One of the reasons I didnt like my former pdoc is that he is with Banner, a huge chain in Phoenix that does not respect HIPAA (patient privacy-even for psych issues- at all). Because I am my ex's medical advocate, I know all the doctors and surgeons I have to deal with will not cooperate with me at the same level if they know Im bipolar, 3 degrees or not. You would think doctors would know better, but tho people are understanding depression better after covid, I think because of mass shootings, stigma is alive and well for bipolars. Wish me luck!

Wishing you good luck with your new pdoc!!

I really hope it works out for you... let us know how your second session goes including how you feel about her as a therapist/


I am without a pdoc right now but need to find one.


May I ask what reason did you give or how did you explain to your new pdoc about leaving the old one?

It seems in my case, no one wants to take me on now as they think I'm a problematic patient for having left first pdoc.

@luvyrself I hope your new pdoc turns out to be the good fit you think they will be!

Hope all turns out well for you 😊

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--Write up all you info in a professional way (database or at least meds you have used with what result, bio, mental illness family history, timeline of your episodes.
--Would you be interested in emailing back and forth with me? The best bipolar group are online here. There's one left but covid has flared up again.