[story237]

I will summarize from my livejournal posts (nolacontender if you want to see it there):

LOVE lamictal. On it for 2.5 months. LOVE IT. No sexual side effects, no uncontrolled hunger, did I say I LOVE IT?

Problem as of this Tuesday past: A Rash behind my ears, swollen hot numb ears, some facial puffiness - rash nowhere else, no anaphylatic symptoms. I go to the clinic and see the nurse. She calls doc, doc says STOP THE LAMICTAL!! I cry, and cry and cry. I go see the doc today for a scheduled appointment and here's how that goes:

So not only did he %#@&#! me off about taking me off the Lamictal which despite my protests I had anticipated. He said "Well you need to see a dermatologist"
Me: "If you find me one that will see me with no insurance and no income to pay them, I'll be happy to go see a dermatologist."
Doc: mumble mumble well, heh heh uh.. might be some cost involved.. mumble (no, "Yes, we'd be happy to assist you since it's our office who's insisting you go..)
Me:??? So um... (crying) what are you going to give me, medication wise now?
Doc: (and I quote, literally) "I'm not going to give you ANYTHING until you've seen a dermatologist. Period."
Me: "....??.... So... Let me get this straight... until *I* find a dermatologist that's willing to see me, you're not going to give me any medication at all??" (remember this for later in the rant)
Doc: "Yes"
Me: (Way uncharacteristic but hey) *gets up, kicks the front of his desk (oh so accidentally you know) lean over his desk and say venomously, "YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU SUCK, YOU JUST SUCK." - turn with a huff, slam his office door hopefully hard enough to disloge all pictures and his most undeserved name plate, walk down the hall, slam the waiting room door and leave the site.

<font color="red"> You tell ME - how a MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, a PSYCHIATRIST who is LICENSED can tell a MENTAL HEALTH PATIENT with BIPOLAR DISORDER who isn't even STABLE on meds yet, who has a HISTORY of SUICIDE ATTEMPTS and SUICIDAL IDEATION prior to this miracle of LAMICTAL that he is TAKING AWAY -------- that he will not give her ANY medication, period. Then say, ta ta, have a nice day, good luck finding a specialist by the way, see ya when I see ya. </font>

I plan on speaking with the agency director. I've already vented heavily to his nurse, my case manager and the affiliated crisis center.

Oh, and FWIW, I even went to the ER tonight to see if THEY could do something for the damn rash since it will be gone by the time I see --- or IF I see a dermo. That was a joke. A shot in the butt and ta ta, see ya. Must be the day for impersonal, uncaring service. Full moon maybe, who knows.

[drummergrl]

Okay story237:
don't worry. The rash you're thinking of is normal, but the drug may not be suitable for you. It may be too strong a dose. Find another dr. if you can. Sometimes, the rash comes across the face in a butterfly like pattern, like you get with lupus. They say if that happens you need to discontinue the drug. It may or may not mean that you are sensitive to it. There's lots of others out there that may work just as good or better for you. Don't panic. If you get worked up you'll throw yourself into an episodic manner that could cause you to be hospitalized. Relax, calm down.
I know the feeling of frustrations, but there are other drs. too. If you are concerned, go find another primary care physician. Let him deal with the other dr. Try it.

[ibujari]

:yeah:

My pdoc said to discontinue immediatly if I began to develop a rash. It's probably Stephen-Johnson Syndrome.

i think we need to be pretty careful about diagnosing other poster's medical problems.......remember, when someone is upset and scared, our advice might be taken literally and i don't think we can diagnose here online. even a doctor, online, shouldn't be telling people flat out what the med is doing or not doing.........xoxoxo pat

p/s/ your doctor sounds like a huge jerk. you need to find someone else asap. even request a different one at your clinic.......

did i understand that you were given a shot in ER? has it helped?

[jenniferever]

Story 237 you are my hero. Seriously, way to go with the doc. There is WAY to many bad doctors out there, from what you said, this guy should be sent to the big house and should never see patients again. I hope that you find a better one! I am on Lamictal, and really really fear the rash thing. I am on week 5 of the titation, and no rash yet...so we will see. The first sign of anything like a rash and I jump ship (stop taking it).

I hope you feel better!

[kimmydawn]

Y'all have put really good supportive advice here based on your own personal experiences. That's what make a support site so great.

I'm so sorry that it worked out this way for you...NOT FAIR FOR YOU.

I can see taking the frustration out on the dr because I think he should have a plan to do his job.

OK, sure we could say...he's in a catch-22. if he continues to treat knowing there's a rash a person could do badly and he'd could be sued or loose his license. If he doesn't do something the patient suffers. That's that and he has to protect himself and the patient.

However, is that that? If he's prescribing the drug, should he have the training and knowledge to know the rash that could be indicative of something dangerous possibly occurring?

It's his responsibility, I think, to KNOW the dangerous rash or have at his access (and not at the responsibility of the patient) to tell that it's from the drug. This drug is known for a tell-tale rash that could say something not good is going on. HOWEVER, a dr. prescribing it should have the means to know, I think. If not, don't prescribe it?

So, I can see why he wouldn't allow more to be taken until it was sure what the rash is, but I think it's HIS responsibility to know the rash for HIS PATIENT'S TREATMENT.

In one sense I applaud him for not taking chances and being sure. It says something about him. However, I think he should dot the I's and cross the T's if he's going to prescribe a certain drug for therapy. After all, if the rash is due to the drug it's not the illness doing it and you need another specialist, it's the drug that he's already the specialist for. Should the buck stop there?

I don't know how it works legally, of course, but it makes sense to me that a doctor should be able to work a treatment that they're prescribing.

This happened with my brother and he was seeing a p'doc with our local community mental health center...free of charge for indigent. Well, he got a rash and the p'doc immediately knew it and pulled him off of it. They had to try another med, but he knew the situation and worked it.

I hope that made sense...lol

KD

[January]

Hi,

After two years on Lamictal, I developed the Stevens-Johnson rash. I had seen a dermatologist and two other Drs before I saw my pdoc. She immediately took me off Lamictal and it magically cleared up. I had it all over my face, hands and wrists by the time I got to her, but it had started on the face and went up next to my ears.

I think your Dr. was very mean to you. I'm so sorry this has happened. I hope the Director of the clinic will help you.

Jan