[puzzclar]

SO question for all, have you ever changed doctors and then have they wanted to change the diagnosis? What did you do if the fit for Doctor is not correct? Any advice would be helpful.

Hello, puzzclar. I have seen a lot of psychiatrists. Invariably, the new one sees something different than the former(s). If I did not connect with the psychiatrist/psychologist/therapist, I stopped seeing them or asked for a different one. Some of the professionals withdrew. I guess they thought my socks did not match my hair or something.

When the ill want to get better, having to change professionals and start over is frustrating. Treatment requires a joint adventure to achieve a good result. While some of my adventures were not that good, I learned something from all of them.

Much of treatment for illness is trial and error. You are about to begin another trial. I wish you well.

P.S. - After a while I did not care what my diagnosis was as long as I was getting better. Of course, shy one that I am, I never argued with a professional about the diagnosis.

[puzzclar]

Well for me, he wants to change it to Bipolar, instead of Major Depressive Disorder which is what I have currenly as my diagnosis. I'm just fustrated sence he wants to do Pscyholgical testing, and I don't want to spend the time just to have something different that fits the medication. I'm just so fustrated!!!

puzzclar, have you told your doctor how you feel?

[little*rhino]

if you feel in your heart that he is wrong, that your original diagnosis was correct then i would recommend seeking another opinion. Your wellbeing and health are what matters and most of psychiatry is subjective, so don't just go with the flow.

There would be no reason to hurry into a new diagnosis unless you were in some form of psychotic emergency, which isn't the case.

Testing might help establish a more accurate diagnosis, but i have to ask... was your former treatment meeting your needs? If yes, then why would it need adjusting? Remember, the goal of all of this should be to make your life as functionally "normal" as possible, or to the extent that you feel ok with. It's always a trade-off, so you may not get what is ideal, but you have to decide what works for you.

are you in therapy as well? Gotta say, personally, that i don't think meds alone are ideal for most... a combination of types of treatment will maximize the results. No medication will fix the maladaptive coping structures that people create to cope with their issues during depression, etc.

personally i had to walk away from my pdoc... all he had was a hammer so all he saw were nails. In the end, i don't have a DSM disorder at all, i have an endocrine problem that created mental health symptoms. If i had just listened to him forever i would still be on needless meds. But that took a lot to break out of that... i trusted him over the voice in my own heart.

hope this helps... good luck

Originally Posted by puzzclar

Well for me, he wants to change it to Bipolar, instead of Major Depressive Disorder which is what I have currenly as my diagnosis. I'm just fustrated sence he wants to do Pscyholgical testing, and I don't want to spend the time just to have something different that fits the medication. I'm just so fustrated!!!

[shaggy dog]

Hi puzzclar I've only had 3 psychiatrist since 1985 but I've had 6 different diagnosis, with each Dr changing it twice. Although I've been tagged with the various labels, I've had very few medicine adjustments. I've always been told that my changes in diagnosis where simply for insurance purposes. Don't know if that part is true or not though. shaggy

[sugahorse1]

I have only been seeing a psychiatrist for just over a year now, and am already on my second pdoc.
The second changed the dx, but I tend to agree with both of their dx's, considering my situation at the time. I need a doc that I can relate to, be honest with and who will listen to me too.
Otherwise I have no issues with changing docs - unfortunately this can be a time consuming and expensive exercise

[little*rhino]

most of psychiatry is arbitrary... remember that folks. It's opinion based... only a very limited number of diagnoses have criteria/symptoms that can be measured or tested. Anyone can walk into a pdoc's office and say they hear voices and boom - you get a dx of schizophrenia or similar. Think about that for a second.. how many docs are taking the extra time to assertain whether the patient hears auditory hallucinations that appear external to them, or if they think they are hearing internal voices, or whether they have an medical anxiety disorder or munchausen(sp?) in which they are confusing the normal internal dialogue we ALL have with some kind of psychosis?

it is disturbing that the area of medicine with the least amount of diagnostic testing available to it is also the most likely to jump to conclusions... *sigh

and no offense meant... just saying that in the instance of mental health problems, one needs to be more vigilant over the diagnosis. Question everything and educate one's self.

no one should be changing a patient's diagnosis on the basis of insurance... that is fraud and malpractice. The diagnosis IS whatever it is... and changes can affect treatment and future medical decisions.

[Skully]

I changed pdoc's not to long ago. The only issue I have with the new pdoc is that he doesn't believe I am ADHD and Bipolar II. He thinks it is just Bipolar II. It is annoying because I have been treated for ADHD most of my life.

[splitimage]

I'm now on my 3'rd official pdoc, and also saw a 4'th when one of my regular pdocs was on extended medical leave. Of the 3 permanent pdoc's all have agreed on my official Dx. The fourth temporary one, tried to Dx me as borderline, simply because I used to cut - never mind that I didn't meet any of the other criteria. I pointed that out to him rather firmly so it never made it into my files. At the same time, he made one of the most useful med changes I've ever had, which was upping my risperidone from 2 - 3 mg. It made a huge positive impact.

All my pdoc changes have been made out of necessity. My 1'st pdoc took a new job as a program director, and no longer was able to see patients outside of her program. My 2'nd pdoc moved cities, to become head of psych at a hospital. My current pdoc was assigned to me, by the psych hospital when my last pdoc left. Can't say I'm wild about him, but he's super competent and really knows meds, which is what I need in a pdoc.

Changing pdocs can be a very frustrating process and finding one that's a good fit is hard.

One thing I believe very strongly about is that we our are own best advocates and that it pays to be informed. I've researched the heck out of every diagnosis I've been given and really research each new med I'm prescribed before I'll take it. It doesn't make me the most popular patient at times, but they're my neurotransmitter's that are being messed around with, so I want to know what's going on.

--splitimage

How are you doing, puzzclar?

[puzzclar]

I still don't know what to do, but I'll talk with someone on campus soon. But besides that, I'm doing terible. I think I may just sleep for a little bit to get strenght back up again. Ya Last night was terible, I had a major anixeity attack, with full body shaking, and I"m really sore. But I am working on getting some treatment help, so I can hopefully tell someone of what happened. inside my head. There are people around me that want to know what it was like, but I'm just not comfortable talking about it just quite yet.

But ya, I'm doing terible. and not having luck on finding someone.

Hope your luck changes soon, puzzclar.

[puzzclar]

My luck has changed. i can only be on now for a few minutes a day, because that's all the time I can let my self. But I will be looking for a new doc, but until that time, I am just calling the old one for help. Most of this is just me learning how to live again. But I know I can re-learn how I used to live 5 years ago, and make my days better. I just hope that some of you learn how important it is to never give up hope.

[shaggy dog]

It seems like you are on a rollercoaster ride puzzclar. Thank you for the message about never giving up hope. It sounds like you adhere to that advise also. I hate that you had such a big anxiety attack and I hope you get the proper help and care you need to get your life back. shaggy

Be well, puzzclar.

[puzzclar]

I am gettign help. I am on the waiting list for the Counseling Center, but I should get in with in the week. (that's the hope) I am doing things that I are really me! which I believe that is helping the most. I have been understanding my homework, and getting things done. Infact, I'm getting out of this small town to go to a meto area for the week end. I'm SOOO EXCITED!!

[sugahorse1]

I changed pdoc's and don't think the new one is right either...