In limbo

I have figured out what I want to suggest to my pdoc as far as meds, exploring additional or different diagnoses, etc. I took a few quizzes from here and mailed print copies and a note explaining that I want to make sure we cover these topics, because I tend to get flustered and distracted and not get everything accomplished. I made sure my husband can accompany me to my appointment... which isn't till next week. I got all motivated to DO, and now it's done and I'm lost, waiting.

Hello phrick

You've done the right thing. I do the same thing with my doctor because I just forget what I need to say.

I have agoraphobia and I have to take sometimes 2 xanax an hour and a half before I leave to be non-panicky and ok enough to leave the house. I get flustered and I forget everything I need to say.

It's taken me 2 years to remember to get my follow up for MS. I've been getting worse and worse and last week I was chair ridden and then bed ridden in excrutiating pain and all sorts of auras and neuro symptoms happening without siezures. It was that bad that I finally remembered and wrote it on my list.

It really is a good thing to have done because the doc can now work through them one by one with you, and he can earn his fees instead of just sitting and nodding at you.

Great work, now find a hobby, like watching the funny animal videos on youtube

Rhiannon

Well done. I never remember what I wanted to discuss with my doctor. I have to be dying to even get myself to go these days. I wouldn't mail them though. Take them with you. You are lucky to have a supportive husband. Keeping a journal can also help you organize your thoughts and eek out subconscious behaviors that you'd otherwise keep hidden from yourself. It helps to explain your most difficult feelings to an impassive, non-judgemental piece of paper.

You are not alone! I have mini or major anxiety attack at even the most routine of appointments.
The result, creates a strong sense of failure as I say to myself "Why did't I ask this that or the other...?"

Having the freedom to focus on getting to the appointment without the added stress of trying to remember what to to bring up for discussion is much less tiring and even can makes the issues seem less difficult during the appointment.

Between appointments I write the questions as they come up, and bring my folder to the appointment. Keeping all the information including articles in one place, and reviewing notes from previous appointments helps to see progress.

Bringing someone else is very useful.
One time the Dr. was not getting into the detailed answers that I as an information seeker require for comfort and my friend spoke up and said in a most substantial voice " I have known Gently1 for a long time and she is not morbid." Then the answers started coming.

My folder helps with the waiting as I know that I can get on with what I would normally do, as I am as prepared as I can be and the then all I have to do is show up! Limbo is not always a bad place to be! Celebrate that you are ready.

Thanks all of you .

Something else I should have done would have been to print out my Mood Tracker each day and keep it in a folder. I thought I'd be able to access them after the fact, now that I find I can't (aside from the number scores only) I'm kicking myself. Live and learn, and print from now on right!

thanks barelysmile,

I did end up mailing them several days ago but I also kept copies for myself. I've been keeping up a fairly detailed journal at my "home" site and on the backs of the pages, as well as doing the MoodTracker every evening. Like I said above i only wish I'd printed all the Mood Tracker sheets as I completed them! Oh well !

I also print mood tracker, but as I track weekly, I print the graph, and bring it to my appointment for my file.
A pattern has shown up; as depression increases, anxiety decreases, when depression decreases the anxiety increases. Only in the last 3 weeks have I had sucess with getting the medication on track, now I look to see the scores improving in all catagories.

Eventually I imagine I'll scale back to weekly - for now though daily is good as I'm rapid cycling rally bad AND trying to track anxiety, OCD and ADD symptomology too because we are hopefully going to begin exploring those disorders as comorbid issues, since in 7 years since dx bipolar I've never been stable longer than 3 months in a row (and honestly I question that as a protracted hypomania anyway). If in 7 years and countless med changes and dose adjustments we haven't achieved any kind of normalcy, something else surely must be contributing and it's time to find out what that is!