pdocs - arg!

Am I alone in my battle, or is there just no such thing as a decent pdoc? Either one that cares, one that knows the game, one that is available, just a nice person...?

Or are they really just after the money?

I'm having such a hard time finding one I can get on with. Running out of options in my city...

I have a T I love and trust and feel she cares... So why can I not find a pdoc that's the same???

This is making me very anxious and worked up - frustrated I was handed this illness to deal with

The T doesn't know anyone she can recommend that you might like by association?

hmmm, went down this road before. She used to work with one, but they had a fall-out. Then she recommended another (That she'd heard of), and I couldn't work with that pdoc.
So, now I need to find my own.
But it's important that my T and pdoc can talk, so I need my T to be part of the decision.

Although I haven't needed to find a pdoc, I do know the challenge of finding a doctor with whom I feel I can trust. It is challenging. I have spent a lot of time 'interviewing' health care providers and was coming to the conclusion that I may never find one. Finally I did but it took a lot of time and effort. Hang in there - someone will finally be the one for you.

I would find one you could just tolerate; doctors don't have much time for patients anymore, they have to see so many; it's taken me a good 3-4 years to work out a good relationship with my primary care doc but it has been worth the time. I don't think it's like T's where you look for one that you get along with as a priority but rather one you can "shape" into what you want/need :-)

well, i get on really well with my T and my primary doctor.
Just made an appointment back with my first pdoc I ever saw. He diagnosed me Major Depressive Episode, gave me anti-deps which just made me suicidal, then saw me in hospital after I OD'd, took most of my meds away and had no real battle plan. So I never went back. Now I need to explain to him that it definitely was NOT an episode, or if it was, it was part of Bipolar.
Tell him my dx has now changed to Bipolar, with possible BPD too; and that I've been medicated accordingly. Not sure how that's going to go down, lol!

I've been lucky, I've had 4 pdocs and 3 were good.

My first pdoc was a complete disaster - she basically wrote me a script with 12 repeats on it and then proceeded to disappear for a year, couldn't get a hold of her to get an appointment. Turns out she was sick but wouldn't admit it and get someone to cover her patients, so she just left us all hanging.

pdoc 2 was wonderful - I loved her she actually did talk therapy as well as meds management.

pdoc 3 was great - she was my IP pdoc when I was last IP, very approachable and friendly and very practical.

pdoc 4 is my current pdoc. I'm slowly warming up to him. He's strictly meds management, so I only see him for 20 min appointments, but the 20 min. are always useful as he's really focussed on practical coping skills. Plus he's the most thorugh of all my pdocs in terms of monitoring my blood work, liver function, and heart, which I find reassuring. Only downside with him is he has all the therapeutic warmth of a dead fish.

--splitimage

Love it; like my primary care doctor only mine tries to seem warm by being "hearty" and shaking your hand, etc.

I can relate to the "therapeutic warmth of a dead fish' part - lol
I wish I could handle it a lot easier to just walk into the appointment, discuss what I need to say, and walk out with my script. I need to understand and accept that this is their role.
I think I may also arrive at the appointment, knowing beforehand what I think I should be prescribed, and getting upset when the doctor says otherwise. Now that really is a stupid outlook to have.

I would still make sure you understand why they prescribe what they do instead of what you would like to be prescribed. It doesn't do them any good to prescribe you something you aren't behind/might not take properly, etc. It all might be an argument the first few times but eventually you get to respecting each other's knowledge (he of your own body and what works for you and how much you have researched particular meds, etc.) and interested in working together and learning from each other. When I have a problem I bring in scientific information/studies and hand them to him and he looks it over and tries it my way. They don't have time to keep up to date on everything so if you see something in the scientific literature you think pertains to YOU, by all means bring it to his attention.

Hi Suga,

It took me almost a year to recognise my Rx Pdoc is very good. I see her once a month and mostly meds. Before then I was annoyed more often than not. Once I started feeling some patience on my part, I have learned to pay attention and make notes of SAs', and moods/ energy other changes, so she has something to work with.

I make notes as they come up no matter how small, other wise I would forget and waste time at the appointment. Forgot to mention pain in finger tips- like nails into the tips, and extreme ringing in my ears on Cymbalta and Pristiq. Nervous at appointments and finger did not hurt a the time.

She is warm, but my T is coming from a hospital day program, so her comments - relate to meds, she encourages my involvement with decision making, and has time for questions.

Best yet she replies to phone calls the same day, if working, of if urgent when not working. My Doc referred me to her as she is very good with anxiety issues.
The down side is for me is only one med change at time, so my impatience shows. But now I can understand why you only change one thing at a time so you do not have to guess what is doing what. That just is common sense. I had to learn.

My hospital Pdoc is the head of 'my team' and is the responsible person that the T, and Nurse T, report to, and they get together weekly and review my 'progress'. She would report to my Rx Pdoc if necessary. Once out of the day treatment program I will have my RX Pdoc to provide treatment.

Hope you find someone soon that you can work with.

G1

It is sooooo hard to find a pdoc that you can work with and have a mutal respectful relationship with. I hope you can find another one soon you need a new one!

I guess I got lucky, I really like the pdoc I have now. I think she really cares. The only thing that bugs me is that I can't call her. I can call her office and talk to the receptionist, but that's it. If I have a question I have to tell the receptionist, the receptionist then talks to my pdoc, and then the receptionist calls me back with the answer. That's the only downside.

Suga, except for the fact we live on different continents I would happliy recommend my pdoc. He is fantastic! While I only see him for med management I can get a session's worth of therapy in a 15 minute med check. He listens to me and is willing to respect the fact that I know my body and it's reactions better than anyone else. He also keeps a close eye on blood sugar, etc.

Thanks everyone.
Going back to my first pdoc. A male - not sure how that'll go down with me, but anyway.
He's very professional and I believe he knows what he's doing.
Just going to be a bit awkward walking in and going: Hi, 2 years ago I came to see you, severly depressed. You diagnosed me Major Depressive Episode, sent me to hospital for 3 days and then discharged me. 6 weeks later I was back, following an OD attempt. Thereafter I didn't see you again. I went to see another pdoc (I don't think I'm going to mention that part) and have since been diagnosed and treated for Bipolar. I see a T weekly, and she thinks I may also be suffering from BPD. So, how can you help me?

Lol

Not sure he's going to go along with the bipolar diagnosis in the first place. I do hope I will be able to contact him as needed to discuss side effects. I wasn't really aware of this need when I first saw him. I do know he has an e-mail that he checks regularly.
Oh well, can't be much worse than what I'm in now!

There are definitely great caring p'doc's in the world. I went for a second opinion to one and something inside just clicked.

Your therapist should understand the need to find some-one who you can be comfortable with.

Don't give up. They are out there.

My T is very understanding that whoever I do see, I need to be comfortable with.

Sugahorse, will your insurance pay for a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner? If your case isn't too difficult, with several complicating diagnoses in other body systems, then a PNP would probably be very able to fill your needs. They tend to have a more holistic view and be good communicators, plus they don't charge as much. Just an idea to help you broaden your search....

What do you mean your T needs to be part of the decision? How will that work? Will she provide you with a list of names? Will she interview the person you choose to make sure she likes the person? I'm just not sure how your T will be part of your decision....

I agree. A decent doc will appreciate your trying to understand what it is you are putting into your body and its possible effects. Sugahorse, you said that sometimes you arrive knowing what you want them to prescribe and then get upset when choose something else. I think if you go in with an open mind, that would be helpful, but also the doc should be able to answer your questions thoroughly and explain why what you suggest is not the best option. I am working in a hospital now, and part of my job is to explain the meds to patients right before they are discharged. Yesterday, a patient had several questions about the meds he was being sent home with, and I was happy to answer them. Many patients don't ask any questions (well, they often feel like c**p so I certainly understand if they sit there just wanting me to shut up ). But I realized yesterday when the patient asked me meds questions, that I really appreciated it. It is his right to know all about what meds he is supposed to take and my responsibility to make sure he gets that information.

So please keep trying to find a pdoc who will explain his meds recommendations to you. You deserve that information, and your feedback helps the doctor make the best decisions for you.

When you do go see a new pdoc, be sure to tell him your current meds and if you like what any of them are doing for you, be sure to communicate that. Sometimes a new doc may want to start from scratch, so if you want to maintain a current med or keep it but tinker with it more, be sure to let him know. You don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Thanks Sunrise.
While i know meds are important for me, my T is the centre of my recovery. I have to trust her to allow therapy to work. And in the same way, I'd like to go to a pdoc she can work with too, so they can consult about me if necessary.
That's my take on it.

I'll def tell my pdoc what meds I've tried, which have helped, which havent, and which I've hated.

I have been through a few Pdocs. I have been seeing one for a couple of years now. He is very good. Very sensitive and responsive. It used to be that we focused mostly on medication. Now, I sometimes leave without my questions answered about meds or meds dont come up because I am not changing anything. He want to analyze me and let me talk. I'm more than happy to talk and get another viewpoint than my therapists'

Had an interesting session this week. I have been struggling with a migraine. I asked him to dim the lights. It was late after noon. As our session ran into the sunset hour, by the end it became quite dark in his office. His face started to become quite dark. I felt so relaxed with him, more so than ever before. I told him that the next day. He thought that was interesting. It was like removing a barrier for me. We didn't have to deal with each others expressions I guess. Anyways, I think he's a peach. And did I mention very handsome.

I'm on the hunt for a new Pdoc, again... This will be my 4th in as many years... 1st one wanted me to do ECT again even tho I have bad memory loss from it, 2nd one was just a complete ditz and totally unorganized. The one I have right now, changes his mind about what meds he'll let me have from week to week. I am trying to get in to the Mayo Clinic to see a psychiatrist there, but whether or not they'll take me depends on my current doc writing a letter to them, so we'll see if that actually happens....

I would share my Pdoc... she rocks... except that she can be hard to get into because she over extends herself. But, she overextends herself because she cares and wants to help. The commute to her office would be a bit pricy though
She is warm, nurturing, family oriented, listens... Last time I went in all in a panic and she just leaned across her desk and said "you're scared, you are going to be OK, I am not going to let you down, I promise". Then I proceeded to use up a good percentage of her tissues!