hi. ive seen my pdoc twice but he is usually late and so I only see him for about ten mins three times a year. so in half an hour he has given me bipolar then got annoyed cos I didn't want lithium or anti depressants, and then at my next appointment I told him im happy cos ive stopped shoplifting, and then he gave me borderline personality disorder. I told his locum about the shoplifting which lasted for about two months. I assumed pdoc would have read her notes but evidently not. he was also annoyed about a neuro giving me lamictal, like he thought only he should provide drugs. he said my moods are labile cos I got a bit upset bcos the neuro had lied about my mums description of my seizures, however I think its normal to be upset about that. he said "she flirts constantly with men and doesn't have very good relationships." this is weird since a) I don't flirt with men and don't know where he got this from unless he thinks I flirted with him, which I didn't attempt to. and b) he has never asked me anything about my relationships.

basically since the neuro lied about my mums description of my seizures, im getting thoroughly fed up of it, and I don't want this pdoc lying to make it sound like I have bpd, which having read about it, I don't think I have at all.

what can you do if you don't agree? can you confront the pdoc? should you confront him? ive read that once they've said bpd, if you say anything they don't like they can just write letters saying youre crazy and its part of the condition.

I don't feel it would be any good going to my gp, since docs all seem to stick together anyway and tbh my depression and anxiety has improved so much I just don't feel like I even need the attention of a pdoc. just don't know how to get rid of him, and whether I should confront him, or what I should do?

[unlockingsanity]

How did you get your Pdoc? Was it a referral by your family doctor or did you find him yourself?

From what you've told us, I'd be concerned. Is 10 minutes the usual time for Pdoc's in your area? Did you ever have an "intake" interview with your Pdoc or an assistant of your Pdoc where they asked you like a million questions?

It's hard to get a real view of ANYONE in 10 minutes, let alone of someone who you see only 3 times in a year and of someone who you don't read corresponding notes about.

I'd either ask him for more time, an explanation for a his diagnosis and comments, or look into seeing someone new.

Warning signs (in my opinion) include an inability or a refusal to work with other healthcare providers. If your doctors aren't working together, then it's not to your benefit.

i kept returning to my doctor with anxiety and he wudnt help me, eventually he said i could have counselling, and the counsellor asked how long i have felt depressed, and when i said "about 15 years" we talked abit more and she said i have had depression too long for her to help me, and so she wrote to my doc requesting that i see the pdoc. the intake interview was with his locum doctor. she left after two meetings and so now i have to see him. i thought he would have read her notes but seems like he hasn't since he knew nothing of my short term shoplifting habit. he is usually about 20 mins late but always says "we'll have to be quick" and never makes up the time, so maybe i should be able to see him longer but cant since he is always late.

[anilam]

Change Pdocs?

I'm not sure what you meant by this

ive read that once they've said bpd, if you say anything they don't like they can just write letters saying youre crazy and its part of the condition

Are you afraid of not being taken seriously if BPD?

no i just don't think he has spent enough time with me to make such a diagnosis, and having read what bpd is, i just don't feel that anything about it matches me, im not angry, i don't get upset easily, i don't have abandonment issues, none of that. i think if anything his original bipolar diagnosis was more accurate

Is it at all possible to find a different pdoc? This one doesn't sound particularly competent if he's jumping to diagnoses that fast and apparently inaccurately. I'd try to see someone else or at least get a second opinion.

[anilam]

I think- but I'm NOT a professional- that nearly anybody would benefit from a therapy- BPD esp. if I'm not mistaken (I don't have BPD but it has been discuss here a lot) there are no meds for this, just some for the symptoms (anxiety, depression...).
From what you wrote I'd change Pdocs immediately- I would not pay to be treated this way and potentially mismedicated :/

[unlockingsanity]

Originally Posted by cally

i kept returning to my doctor with anxiety and he wudnt help me, eventually he said i could have counselling, and the counsellor asked how long i have felt depressed, and when i said "about 15 years" we talked abit more and she said i have had depression too long for her to help me, and so she wrote to my doc requesting that i see the pdoc. the intake interview was with his locum doctor. she left after two meetings and so now i have to see him. i thought he would have read her notes but seems like he hasn't since he knew nothing of my short term shoplifting habit. he is usually about 20 mins late but always says "we'll have to be quick" and never makes up the time, so maybe i should be able to see him longer but cant since he is always late.

I had the same thing initially with my doctor, too, until I okay'ed my therapist to contact him and then I got a referral to a Pdoc. I know that my GP only refers to one particular Pdoc, so I wonder if that is the same for you?

Can you find your own therapist who would be willing to be a part of a treatment team with your Pdoc? I'd also consider calling your Pdoc's office and voicing your concerns and ask if you can have a longer appointment to discuss the issues. The worst thing they can say is no.

i don't feel like i wana see any pdoc. seems like a waste of time. feel

[unlockingsanity]

Originally Posted by cally

i don't feel like i wana see any pdoc. seems like a waste of time. feel like all ive really got is social anxiety

But you said you'd been depressed for 15 years?

i don't know dude. i did have depression for ages, but you know, some people just have bouts of depression. lamictal helped so that wud suggest bipolar. im just fed up of it, and feel like i would rather take my meds and not see any docs right now

[unlockingsanity]

Originally Posted by cally

i don't know dude. i did have depression for ages, but you know, some people just have bouts of depression. lamictal helped so that wud suggest bipolar. im just fed up of it, and feel like i would rather take my meds and not see any docs right now

You said someone different gave you the lamictal right?

What about picking someone who is JUST a therapist (not a Pdoc)? Maybe they could help you through what help to do or don't need.

yes ive been told on the nhs (as im in England) you cant have a pdoc and a therapist. i would rather have a therapist. thanks you're being really helpful. its nice that you're taking the time to reply

[unlockingsanity]

Originally Posted by cally

yes ive been told on the nhs (as im in England) you cant have a pdoc and a therapist. i would rather have a therapist. thanks you're being really helpful. its nice that you're taking the time to reply

Can you just dump the Pdoc and see a regular therapist then? Maybe they could help you more than he is in his 10 minutes. The NHS is time limited and has CBT type therapy right?

No problem with the commenting - I just hope it's helpful!

yes i had cbt originally. but the counsellor there suggested a pdoc since i could barely speak due to anxiety. this is sorted now though. doc said you cant have both pdoc and cbt at one time. i don't know if you can just dump the pdoc but im certainly gonna try.

Originally Posted by cally

i don't know dude. i did have depression for ages, but you know, some people just have bouts of depression. lamictal helped so that wud suggest bipolar. im just fed up of it, and feel like i would rather take my meds and not see any docs right now

Lamictal is also used to treat depression sometimes; it isn't exclusively for BP. It is actually an anticonvulsant that was found to work well as a mood stabilizer, particularly for people who deal primarily with depression.

[dumburn]

Originally Posted by cally

yes ive been told on the nhs (as im in England) you cant have a pdoc and a therapist. i would rather have a therapist. thanks you're being really helpful. its nice that you're taking the time to reply

You are entitled to have what you NEED, I have no idea who they all were but I was seeing 5 different people in the mental health team at one point. Can you try contacting your local PALs (patient advice and liaison service) they should be able to help you with the imediate issues with your pdoc and advise you on the services provided by your local mental health team

[IndieVisible]

I wish 60 minutes would do a story about how many psychiatrists are nothing more then script writers and guessers lol.

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by cally

he said "she flirts constantly with men and doesn't have very good relationships." this is weird since a) I don't flirt with men and don't know where he got this from unless he thinks I flirted with him, which I didn't attempt to. and b) he has never asked me anything about my relationships.

I call this shaping the patient into the most convenient diagnosis. This means run!!!!!!

Originally Posted by cally

what can you do if you don't agree? can you confront the pdoc? should you confront him? ive read that once they've said bpd, if you say anything they don't like they can just write letters saying youre crazy and its part of the condition.

Don't bother with this doctor. He seems very careless and unwilling to listen. If you do confront him it will only strengthen his clinical impressions. Note: he is misusing the BPD diagnosis.

[ultramar]

I would double-check about not being able to see a therapist and a pdoc at the same time on the NHS --I've heard of people on the NHS have both and it stands to reason.

I know bipolar (and assume BPD) take a long time to diagnose. Bipolar is a very difficult diagnosis to make and the pdoc really needs to take the time (even months) to get to know you and perhaps witness episodes.

As Chris said, Lamictal isn't just prescribed for BP -it's known to be helpful for depression alone.

Now that your anxiety has lessened (from what you said), perhaps you could participate better in therapy. If I were you, I would drop this pdoc and get into therapy. If at some point it seems the therapy isn't enough and you need to see a pdoc, you could get another referral to a different one. Best of luck.

yes thanks, this all sounds good. I will ask my regular gp about seeing a therapist. that's good about lamictal. I know its helping anyway

i am a bit concerned that if I say I wont see him again, the last diagnosis will be bpd and then it will say that I decided not to see him anymore. docs seem to always support each other and will come to their own conclusions, but not sure if that will matter at all. not gonna see him again anyway whatever happens

Originally Posted by cally

i am a bit concerned that if I say I wont see him again, the last diagnosis will be bpd and then it will say that I decided not to see him anymore. docs seem to always support each other and will come to their own conclusions, but not sure if that will matter at all. not gonna see him again anyway whatever happens

Only if you choose to forward your records to the new pdoc . . . You don't have to do that. (Unless keeping your records private is not an option where you are?)

[dumburn]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

Only if you choose to forward your records to the new pdoc . . . You don't have to do that. (Unless keeping your records private is not an option where you are?)

That isn't an option with the NHS, your records follow you everywhere and anyone who needs them (and has the appropriate access levels) can access them, they are kept on a MASSIVE electronic database.
(This can be a gift or a curse, my current pdoc is has referred to dmy history going more than 10 years, 3 house moves to different corners of the county and about a dozen pdocs ago, very confusing when a stranger has a better knowledge of your history than you)

Unless of course your decide to register with a new GP under a false identity and re-enter the system that way, I suspect that involves a little more effort than its worth.

CALLY: I read somewhere that borderlines have a high dropout rate when it comes to their treatment, so that isn't the best option if you want this wiped from your records.

Psychiatrists working in the NHS are always part of a larger mental health team, who will have a manager of some description. This is the person you need to speak to if you feel you are being badly treated by members of their team, and tbh it really does sound like your being treated like crap.

i doubt it will ever be wiped. maybe i'll suggest to him and to my gp that I don't feel I need his services anymore