[wisewoman]

Okay I have seen this come up in a few different places about how it's best to go to a pdoc for meds and of course that makes sense. However, I have several barriers and I would like some feedback.

1. I am so afraid of new doc and people in general. I love my doc, she is awesome. She doesn't know as much as she should to be giving me the meds but...

2. I can't find anyone around my rural location that I am not professionally involved with. Finding a pdoc for anyone here stinks.

3. I am afraid a pdoc will over do it and I will be even less functional then what I am now.

My T knows a pdoc who she is trying to get me to see but I am wondering if I could just get that doc and my g.p to talk and consult? I can't take more anxiety right now.

What do you think?

[lenjan]

I certainly understand your concerns, but having done it both ways, I can assure you that there is NO substitute for a pdoc. They're the ones with the training to understand the meds that are specifically for mental illness. GPs usually just hand out whatever antidepressant they have enough samples of and don't know how to handle any more than that. My GP wouldn't have clue one about finding the combination of meds my pdoc has! In fact, I have a friend who's a nurse at a family practice clinic, and the clinic doesn't even stock most antidepressants, much less any other psych meds. They just don't know enough about them.

Pdocs also can provide a little extra therapy, although if they're sneaky like mine, you don't realize they're doing it. :-)

I wouldn't want you to do anything that makes you really uncomfortable, but my 2 cents is -- trust your T and try the pdoc.

Candy

<i>There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed. -- Peter Sellers</i>

[dexter]

Some GPs don't know much at all about depression and may even be against the idea of a pdoc because they don't understand what a pdoc can do for you.

Others are very knowledgeable about it and can help you find a pdoc. I was fortunate as my doc prescribed Zoloft for me and told me that was just to help me out immediately and that I should find a therapist and pdoc to continue with.

If your GP understands what is needed for mental health issues then maybe you can start by talking to her about it, since you are already very comfortable with her, and she can help you get started with a pdoc that she thinks may work well with you and make you more comfortable seeing him/her.

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--http://www.idexter.com

[Butterfly_Faerie]

Doctors wont over due it. There use to figuring out the doses and what kind of medication you should be getting.

Why is it hard to find another doc? Can your current one reccomend someone for you to go see?

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>