I feel a big crash coming..........

A little of two years ago I finally sought help for my depression (after I admitted to my wife about a number of suicide attempts).

Dr "A" gave me some meds. They did not help. Try med "B" - it did not help either. He stuck me (against my will) in the nuthouse for a lovely six day stay. Then he claimed that I dropped him as a doctor (which I didnt) and then refused to see me.

So on to Dr "B". She tried meds "C" and "D". No luck. She took a new job in a far away city.

On to Dr "C". He wanted to do electro shock. I was not sure. Before I could convince myself HE left for another job.

The next one was not even a doctor. She was a physcians aide or something. Basically she just read from a chart. You tried meds A,B,C,D. How about E?

Gee there is a confidence builder. One of my therapist recommended another doctor in a whole different hospital system in my community. Okay, I made the switch. The first thing he did was a cheek swab test that would see what meds my body would most like respond well to and which ones they would not respond well to.

* side note - why the hell is this not the FIRST thing doctors do?

Finally - some comfort with a doctor. The meds.... I was not so sure if they are working or not (just been on them about 8 weeks).

Guess what I get in the mail yesterday. A notice that my latest doctor has taken a new job and is no longer available.

ARE YOU F____ING KIDDING ME???

I guess I can take a hint. God simply does not want me to ever get better.

Fine.

[chromegirl]

That is incredibly frustrating. Were any of these doctors psychiatrists? They are really the medication experts. I did not get real help until I asked to be referred to the Mood Disorders clinic at my local hospital where I was seen by an actual psychiatrist, not a GP.

Please don't give up, as frustrating as it might be. It is not a message from God or anyone else. And keep posting, there are people here to support you

All were psychiatrists except for that one physcians assistant.

[gayleggg]

It's frustrating to go through so many. I went through quite a few before I found one I liked. One I went to, when I got there the office name was the "lithum cilinic". At this time I have only be diagnosed as being depressed. Something told me I would walk out of the with a prescription for lithium. I did. Tried him and it for about a month and went feeling to find someone new. That was the worst one but I had plenty more before I found one that actually fit with me. Keep trying. It will be worth it when you find the right one.

[SeekerOfLife]

Oh UM you sound so frustrated. When I started my therapy, my first one left. (unknown why). My second therapist went back to college far away. My third therapist took a new job in another city. But I did not actually get very far into therapy with any of them. I am now on my forth therapist.
Have you considered that the switch may be a blessing in disguise? You dont want a doc who is not going to be there for you!
As long as you are moving forward and not backward it is progress. Please dont give up on yourself. You deserve the best care. Throw aside "care" that is not helping you.

[ToeJam]

The first thing he did was a cheek swab test that would see what meds my body would most like respond well to and which ones they would not respond well to.

* side note - why the hell is this not the FIRST thing doctors do?

Never heard of that being done before.

Really sorry to hear about the upheaval. Had a similar experience but with T's on our NHS system... "well, this will be our last session... I'm off to London"... happened 3 times right in the middle of 'treatment' and so I had to start all over again, with a new person, building a new profile, different ideas.

Drove me nuts.

Reason I went private.

[Fuzzybear]

UM, I'm sorry you keep getting jerked around. It seems like I can't stick with a provider for long either. I'll be starting on my 4th psychiatrist in about a year's time now - - not by my choice. One closed his practice, and the other two moved out of town. Some consistency/continuity would be nice, huh?

[Rohag]

Sad, discouraging and worse...

(Asking self:) Why are doctors leaving Wisconsin?

On the matter of the cheek swab, this is from the Bipolar Disorder section of the Mayo Clinic website, "Why Choose Mayo Clinic":

Latest diagnostic and treatment options. Getting the right medications for your needs is crucial. Mayo providers use blood tests or cheek (buccal) swab tests to help determine how your genes might affect your response to various antidepressant drugs, which you take in addition to mood stabilizers. ...

It's impressive that at least one of the hospitals in your area has started to exploit genetic analysis.

Originally Posted by Rohag

(Asking self:) Why are doctors leaving Wisconsin?

Two of the three did not leave Wisconsin, just my area. The other one went to a very well known university (out of state).

[yumi]

Wow, I've never heard of the cheek swab thing...hmmmmm

I'm truly sorry you are struggling so much. Sadly, it is all too common you're not alone.

Hugs

[TheOriginalMe]

Sorry you are having such a hard time getting the treatment you deserve. Psychiatric services are the poor relation the world over, seems no one cares enough to improve the system wherever we are.
I can't even get a psychiatrist appointment in the UK. I'm having major problems with meds, my GP is at the limit of his prescribing knowledge, I'm getting more depressed and the NHS says I can't have treatment. No money for private, after all, over the past 28 years I've paid the equivalent of £72,000 in National Insurance contributions so why the **** should I pay for private, I already have to do this for dental treatment.
At least PC is here and we can provide continuity of support, even if our healthcare providers don't give a flying fig about continuity of care.
Sorry for the whinge I'm in a bad place tonight.

[waterknob1234]

I am so sorry you have been through all of this. It's hard to keep changing doctors and therapists. Starting all over each time. I've had trouble with meds too. I am on med #3 for depression in one year's time and it is not working. Hang in there. You are a good person and you deserve better. I know God has not forgotten us, even when we can't feel His presences.