[JustMelancholy]

This is my first post here so let me say hello to everyone

Now here is my problem, I have been Bi Polar all if not most of my life that includes severe depression and anxiety and the occasional if not sometimes frequent panic attacks.. I've been on the same Medication off and on for more than 20 years, and I have been seeing Doctors since I was at least 10. So that gives me 30 years of experience of being a psych patient. I just recently moved to a new area and leaving my old one behind including my previous doctor to which I was with for a successful 4 years.. He was a good doctor and I really hated to lose him because of my move.

I hate meeting new doctors, I'm Disabled and on Medicaid.. Most doctors I meet these days are not interested in continuing the previous medications I have had great success with (Remeron, Sequel, and Klonipin). It's usually they start out with putting me back on Prozac or Zoloft, with Depakote or Lithium. I can go on and on about the side effects I end up with, it's how do I meet a new doctor and not come off as begging or demanding where I know I'm going to lose and end back up as starting all over and taking a year or more to finally get him to realize in the end I should of started with in the first place.

I'm not a very effective speaker, my mind wanders and my brain acts like its spaghetti when put under the grinder.. I have been doing this all my life but it never gets any easier.. I'm right now in the middle of a severe anxiety attack.. my heart is pounding, it's hard to breathe, and I just want to go to sleep. So please forgive my rambling.. When I walk into a Doctors office I tend to be very intimidated, and I have developed over a time a very dislike for certain Doctors who I have had the worst experience with..

I'm trying to find alternatives, but the state I live in doesn't really provide help, Medicaid here keeps hanging up on me and keeps giving me deferring, me. I have signed a disclosure agreement at the facility I'm going to be going to so my medical records could be requested from my previous doctor, but I doubt they will have it by my first appointment.. I have to sit in his office for the first visit for about an hour and that place seems to give me the creeps.. My last doctor was fantastic, I immediately knew I could trust him, but I have been looking at reviews of soon to be Psychiatrist, and they are a mixed bag. How do I walk in, and walk out with the meds I need and have been on most of my life? I'm getting too old to play spin the doctor..

Thank you for listening to my rant.. I'm just an hysterical mess.

[Skeezyks]

Hello JustMelancholy: I'm sorry you are in this most difficult situation. From my perspective, I think the short answer here is to take someone with you who can act as a support person / advocate. Beyond that I don't really know. I do know how intimidating doctors can be. It can be really tough when you're in there alone.

Is there any possibility of getting a letter from your previous pdoc outlining what has worked for you & supporting the idea of keeping you on the same med regimen? Such a letter could possibly be faxed to the new pdoc with a copy mailed (or e-mailed) to you.

I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral… from the Skeezyks! I hope you find the time you spend here to be of benefit.

PsychCentral is a great place to get information as well as support for mental health issues. There are many knowledgeable & caring members here. The more you post, & reply to other members’ posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are social groups you can join & chat rooms where you’ll be able to connect with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) Lots of great stuff! So please keep posting!

[Victoria'smom]

I would make a list of medications you've been on and your reactions to them and what you're currently on.

[JustMelancholy]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Hello JustMelancholy: I'm sorry you are in this most difficult situation. From my perspective, I think the short answer here is to take someone with you who can act as a support person / advocate. Beyond that I don't really know. I do know how intimidating doctors can be. It can be really tough when you're in there alone.

Is there any possibility of getting a letter from your previous pdoc outlining what has worked for you & supporting the idea of keeping you on the same med regimen? Such a letter could possibly be faxed to the new pdoc with a copy mailed (or e-mailed) to you.

I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral… from the Skeezyks! I hope you find the time you spend here to be of benefit.


PsychCentral is a great place to get information as well as support for mental health issues. There are many knowledgeable & caring members here. The more you post, & reply to other members’ posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are social groups you can join & chat rooms where you’ll be able to connect with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) Lots of great stuff! So please keep posting!

I already have all my previous bottles of Medication, I have signed a disclosure agreement and listed my previous doctor in order to release my records to the new one.. Things I have done every single time I walk in.. I write down everything so I don't sound like I'm in a panic. Perhaps I'm over thinking this.. However this doctor I was told was strict and he is listed as an addiction specialist.. I found this facility through making half a dozen calls starting from calling Medicaid it's self.. Where I live there is not much choice.. I have had 2 interviews at the facility and the 3rd one will be with the doctor.. The last Indian/Hindu doctor I had as in ALL previous, (not to come off as racist, that is not my intent) doctors like him was being forced to take what HE thought I should take, ending up as a Prozac zombie as it always does.. and the doctor I had previous to my old doctor, we got into a disagreement with my treatment, he felt I was malingering, and when I called him a quack, I left his office and the police were waiting at my door when I got home, this was 4 years ago... He out of spite tried to have me institutionalized.. I'm quite intelligent when I'm able to focus so I was able to talk my way out of that situation.. I have had my fair share of doctors that abuse their position.. I just want to be back on what works for me..

I have all said documents, I guess I will just have to wait until I go in... I am still looking for other doctors.. I much prefer someone I can connect with.. The reviews of this doctor I'm going to see, though he graduated from Yale.. with my already said trust issues.. I may come off as arrogant or pushy.. I'm just not interested in therapy anymore as my case worker has been trying to force on me.. (Been in and out of therapy for 30 years) I just want to balance myself, accept that I'm not going to get any better and keep myself from getting worse.. Having no insurance sucks.. lol

[JustMelancholy]

Edit: Since I'm new around these parts, it's going to take a while for my replies to be viewable, thank you to those who have replied..

[MickeyCheeky]

Can't you change doctor if you don't like the one you're going to visit? I'm not sure but I wish you good luck!

[*Laurie*]

Welcome to PC