talking to my doctor

spowers · Post by **spowers** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:24 am

I've been going to the same psychiatrist for probably 9 months or so. I've gone through a few before that for various reasons. I like this guy well enough; he's nice and all. But it seems like he brushes off what I'm saying. I've told him I can't sleep or that when I do, I rarely sleep well. I have nightmares. I feel depressed. But he hasn't changed my meds, and that's what makes me think he's not really listening. I know meds won't do it all, but I shouldn't get suicidal, right? I mean, the meds should bring me up at least that much. I've been on the same meds for close to 2 years, and I just don't think they're right anymore. What can I say to him to get him to listen? I go back tomorrow.

h.beth · Post by **h.beth** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:45 am

Tell him what you just told us. That'll get the ball rolling, I think. Some doctors don't listen to patient that are not "on them" when they are "messing up". You have to tell him as many times as needed until he does something about it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:46 am

Tell him you want to change meds. Tell him you feel he isn't listening to you. Ask him why he won't switch your meds. Maybe he'll tell you something you didn't know and that will help you. If he doesn't listen then find a dr. who will. Remember you have to be selfish when it comes to your health.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:25 am

Originally posted by Posa:
Tell him you want to change meds. Tell him you feel he isn't listening to you. Ask him why he won't switch your meds. Maybe he'll tell you something you didn't know and that will help you. If he doesn't listen then find a dr. who will. Remember you have to be selfish when it comes to your health.

I had the most awesome doctor in Columbus. When I moved almost 3 hours away, I still made appointments with her, she was that great. But she stopped doing private practice, and I live in such a small area that my choices of doctors is really limited. Add to that my stupid insurance doesn't cover every doctor, so I have to go where they say I can go. This is the only place I can afford right now, and really it still costs too much and we have trouble paying for it, even on a sliding scale. We make "too much" money apparently. That was another great thing about my previous doctor, she talked to me too instead of just prescribing medications, and she charged me the least her practice allowed ($130 for 15 minutes). And she'd only charge that much even if I needed to talk for an hour. Now, on this stupid "sliding scale" I don't pay as much, but I guess I feel like I don't get the same quality of treatment, which doesn't seem fair.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:00 am

Tell me to get lost or worse. I deserve that. Just want you to know I'm sorry for the pain you are feeling and sorry if I have caused any of it.

I agree with what Posa has said. You know the next step to take and your doc doesn't seem to get it. Go with your gut, listen to the doc, but make the final decision yourself with your gut. Don't rely on the doc completely to make the decision for you. It's okay to make mistakes, as long as we are the ones in charge of making the decisions.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:05 am

I talked to him today, and he said I need to talk to my therapist about ways to get motivated. I know I need that, but I also need to not be considering suicide. I told him that I sleep a lot and not well and all that, and that I skipped class, which is what brought up the motivation thing. But there's a difference between not wanting to go to class and considering driving my car off a bridge on the way to class. Then he said maybe I should be hospitalized if I'm thinking that way. I can't afford that though. We hardly make our bills now, and we "make too much money" to qualify for cheaper healthcare. Insurance only covers so much.
He did change my meds to Paxil. I can start taking it tomorrow (since I already took my morning pills today). He said I should be able to just stop taking the zoloft and wellbutrin, then the next day take paxil. I'm worried about withdrawal stuff though. He said it shouldn't be too much of a problem, and I do go back in a month, but does anyone else have experience with this med and/or going off the others?