[Smileonmyface]

I'm asking because since I had my third baby I've had worsening depression. My ob/gyn happened to notice it first, and since his birth I have seen him regularly every few months. Granted another time I also had my annual exam, but he told me to come back to follow up with a painful sex issue I had. I went back today but I don't really know why I did. The cream he prescribed helps with the pain, the fact that I don't enjoy sex anymore is a purely emotional issue. I didn't really expect him to do anything about it. I even said I feel like I am wasting your time, but he assured me that it was good to see me even if it was for the feelings stuff. He talked to me a bit about my depression issues and told me I should come back in the fall. Is it unusual to find help in a doctor outside of the psychology realm? Does anyone else do this? I feel silly going back when I am not having a baby and don't have a gyn issue. And yet it comforts me to do so.

[Yzen]

I get similar help from my acupuncturist. I originally went to her because I was very fatigued and wanted to try an alternative after visiting several medical specialists. She immediately recognized my anxiety and depression within a few minutes. She talked for over an hour with me about my mental condition on that first visit. I couldn't believe how much time she spent with me (she would leave the room to do a treatment and return to talk with me). It was great therapy but not from a therapist. I still visit her, but she has gradually spent less time talking to me and moves right to the treatment.

[fruitbat22]

My primary prescribes for me but I honestly think that you would get the best treatment from someone who specializes in the field.

[Fuzzybear]

I don’t.. I haven’t found the local doctors helpful

[mikzsan]

I do , but mainly to get on top of any physical issues that may be contributing to mood, e.g. hormone testing etc. A lot of Drs here, while they know a bit, aren't comfortable taking on psych patients if the medication regime or issues are a bit complex.

[Rose76]

Please don't feel silly. Feel blessed. What a good doctor this man is! Help and comfort are where you find them. Don't assume a pdoc would treat you more effectively. I've had some dismal encounters with some pdocs.

Your ob/gyn demonstrates a sincere interest. He sounds trustworthy. In my early twenties, I was cautioned by my gynecologist against placing too much faith in psychiatrists. He was right. The specialty of psychiatry attracts a wide range of persons with startling variation in competence. As a patient and as a healthcare worker, I've met some real loser-pdocs. In no other medical specialty have I seen so much incompetence manage to go unchallenged. There are residents training in psychiatry who picked that because they were afraid to pick anything else, or washed out of something else. Some disciplines are found congenial by those following the path of least resistance. For instance: In college, I never met a math major who didn't have some real talent and enthusiasm for what they were studying. On the other hand, psychology seems to attract any number of directionless students who envision themselves as having a gift they don't have to prove.

There are good pdocs who make some good calls. I've benefited from a few helpful consults with good pdocs. But you're just as likely to walk away from a pdoc consult with a bogus diagnosis and some poor advice. By way of evidence, I've gotten an assortment of diagnoses from a variety of pdocs. This is so not an exact science.

If seeing your ob/gyn makes you feel supported, I'ld continue doing so for now. He's been in the trenches with women facing all kinds of tough problems - physical and emotional. He's racked up all kinds of gritty experience and likely has gained some wisdom applicable to your situation.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Rose76

Please don't feel silly. Feel blessed. What a good doctor this man is! Help and comfort are where you find them. Don't assume a pdoc would treat you more effectively. I've had some dismal encounters with some pdocs.

Your ob/gyn demonstrates a sincere interest. He sounds trustworthy. In my early twenties, I was cautioned by my gynecologist against placing too much faith in psychiatrists. He was right. The specialty of psychiatry attracts a wide range of persons with startling variation in competence. As a patient and as a healthcare worker, I've met some real loser-pdocs. In no other medical specialty have I seen so much incompetence manage to go unchallenged. There are residents training in psychiatry who picked that because they were afraid to pick anything else, or washed out of something else. Some disciplines are found congenial by those following the path of least resistance. For instance: In college, I never met a math major who didn't have some real talent and enthusiasm for what they were studying. On the other hand, psychology seems to attract any number of directionless students who envision themselves as having a gift they don't have to prove.

There are good pdocs who make some good calls. I've benefited from a few helpful consults with good pdocs. But you're just as likely to walk away from a pdoc consult with a bogus diagnosis and some poor advice. By way of evidence, I've gotten an assortment of diagnoses from a variety of pdocs. This is so not an exact science.

If seeing your ob/gyn makes you feel supported, I'ld continue doing so for now. He's been in the trenches with women facing all kinds of tough problems - physical and emotional. He's racked up all kinds of gritty experience and likely has gained some wisdom applicable to your situation.

Very thoughtful post. ^^^^^ Thank you, Rose76!


WC

[Wild Coyote]

We have a local university health system. Primary care doctors will often take over prescribing psych meds in this region. However, they do not always understand the nuances of various mental health conditions, nor the nuances of various meds. There are some outstanding exceptions though and they know when an additional psych consult is needed.

Ideally, we'd be treated by very competent practitioners in every field. I know in this region, we have a very alarming shortage of pdocs.

To the OP of this thread, I am very impressed you have had hormone testing!
It's too often overlooked.

Do whatever works for you!

WC

[Rose76]

I agree W.C. I had a PCP who told me I couldn't keep getting an opiate pain killer, unless I stopped taking a benzo that a pdoc prescribed. He said he would give me a week to get off the benzo. That shows some real underappreciation of the potential for withdrawal symptoms when getting off a benzo. My pdoc knew better.

On another occasion, I was complaining of weird anxiety at night. A PCP referred me to a sleep study clinic. It was a pdoc who figured out this "mental" symptom was totally due to anemia. That gave me new respect for pdocs. I say pick as many brains as you can. The most helpful psych med I've ever taken was prescribed by a PCP. A dozen other drugs prescribed by pdocs were useless. I think pdocs have gotten way too in to polypharmacy, putting people on elaborate cocktails to where it becomes indiscernible what drug is doing what.