[A Red Panda]

I've got an appointment next week to see my GP. I've been taking sertraline for the past month, and it's time to check-in about it.

Thing is... last time I went I had a meltdown and didn't make too much sense - but my clearest statement was going "I'M NOT MANIC!" when she started to ask me questions about mood. It was in a panic, so I denied any possibility of bipolar even though it's a definitely possibility for me.

I did, then, go to talk to a psychologist, and he brought up bipolar before I did - and he told me that when I'm at my doctor's I need to get a referral to a psychiatrist.

I'm sooo terrified of it. It was so hard to go there the first time (I've avoided it for over 10 years!) and now to have to go back? and then to a psychiatrist too? That'll be 2 doctor visits, 2 psychologist visits, and 1 psychiatrist visit in a shortish period of time. Ugh.

I think I just needed to say that outloud right now.

If bipolar disorder is a possibility for you, definitely get in with a psychiatrist. Do you have to have a referral to go to a pdoc on your insurance plan? If not, just bypass the GP. If so, could you just speak to the referral person in his office to see if they can give you the referral without an appointment with the GP? Sometimes they'll work with you that way.

[A Red Panda]

I'm Canadian, so I think things work differently here.

I also live in a very isolated community; I don't even know if there is a psychiatrist who resides here! The psychologist I went to (through work) only comes up once a month for a few days. I don't know how it would be for a psychiatrist - I might have to make a 9 hour trip out of town to go to one! So... going to the GP is the best/easiest route to take as I'm sure she'll know what all needs to be done.

[Raging Quiet]

Good luck and take care x

[Perna]

I don't think your GP thought you were manic or they would not have given you an antidepressant as that could bring on mania if you were bipolar; he was just checking to make sure you were not. I imagine the check-in now is for blood levels, to make sure you are physically okay, etc. I would mention the psychologist's comments, see what your GP thinks and then decide from there whether you wanted to go to a psychiatrist or keep working with your GP. The psychologist is not a doctor and does not know you well/your history, etc.?

How has the sertraline done? Is it working? Are you less anxious/depressed, are your symptoms better or worse?

[A Red Panda]

I know they didn't think I was manic at the time - I'd had a bit of a break down and then paniced when they asked those questions. haha. I was trying to avoid talking about the issue.

The psychologist effectively knows me better than my GP. I'd been to see my GP once before (for a pap) and we did not talk about anything of substance. My GP doesn't know much at all about my family history, as I don't know too much about my family's history.

Since being on sertraline my sleep schedule has gone to almost non-existent. I've had loads of energy and had a few days where I was NO where near acting like myself.. and the past week I've been quite down some days and quite happy others. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster since starting the sertraline!

It doesn't help that by the time I was finally able to get in to see the GP (I'd had to wait a month) I'd came out of the depression I'd been in for a few months when I called to make the appointment. So... if it's had any effect at all on that I won't have seen it. I just know that I'm not sleeping much, not eating much (have to remind myself), and been super energetic. And I started my period a week early (I am on birth control) and this is day 7 - normally my cycle lasts for 5 days, and has NEVER started before it was supposed to!

Gonna be a busy appointment! But... I've got notes and things with me so that if I do have a freak out... I've at least got stuff on paper.

Appointment is today though. I've bribed myself by booking a hair appointment afterwards.