Honestly, I have been so pissed off lately at my situation with my psychiatrist.
I honestly was taken by surprise at her true colors - the ugly truth is starting to come out with her.
About 2 -3 months ago my psychiatrist told me during an office visit, that she would be eliminating the Lamictal dose that I am taking, if I ever decide to go on Abilify again - prescribing me 2 antidepressant medications could prove to be harmful to my well being, possibly inducing Mania or serious anxiety in me - she seems to understand this.
Fast forward to a couple of nights ago - over the phone she decides to prescribe me Abilify but never mentions eliminating the Lamictal like she said she would months ago.
I was concerned, so I call her up and leave a message - she never returns my phone call -2 days later, I call her up again (today) and leave a pleasant but urgent type message, letting her know that I am concerned about my mental health, and let her know my concerns about taking the Lamictal with the Abilify - I mentioned that she was against the idea of prescribing me both meds, months ago. I asked her nicely if she would call me up later on today at some point - she never called me back, so this is 2 days now.
I have left an important message before with her, concerning my meds, and she never returned my phone call.
It seems that this woman does not like to be ‘bothered’ by her patients - My concerns are real and rather important - I dont want to swing into a psychotic or mixed psychotic manic state!
I plan on calling her again tomorrow - or Monday - I am in a bit of a hurry as the Abilify is due to arrive in the mail any day now, and I need to start it at some point!
I mean I am leaving her messages telling her that it is important and my mental health could be at stake, but this is the second important message and no answer back from her!
Does she even ■■■■■■■ care!?!? I cannot keep calling her, I dont think - is there a point where I stop?
I dont plan on taking the Abilify and Lamictal together - because she was against it months ago!
At this point if she does not call me back at all, and I cannot reach her - what would you do in my shoes?
Is it unreasonable for me to be looking for another pdoc, if she doesnt call me back at all?
This is unheard of - I never experienced this before - I am beyond frustrated at this point
hi don’t panic its been new year probably hasn’t got her work hat on?
keep taking what you have been taking up until now don’t start the new med change until you’ve spoken to her and try not to panic. tc
Remember to breathe. I do understand the frustration all too well. But sometimes it comes down to lack of doctors. Overall you’re relatively stable (although you might think otherwise) So you’re not high on the priority list with your doctor. With the holiday season it does add to the confusion. So might be a case of hanging in there until next week. Try not to go to extremes but it might come down to a judgement call from yourself. I think your doctor trusts you to make any judgement calls and one reason why she’s not getting in touch.
That’s too bad she’s not returning your phone calls, but I do have to say, it’s rather nice of her to give out her phone number. At the place I go to, we’re not allowed to call our psychiatrists. But if I were in your shoes, I would talk to my case manager (if you have one?) and tell her I’m concerned with my medication and would like an appointment to see the psychiatrist. She pulls some strings for me, and gets me in sooner. Maybe you can do that and go in and talk to her that way, and if she tries to prescribe you the Lamictal, probably don’t pick that one up from the pharmacy, because you’re not on a court order, right? If she is so adamant about you taking the lamictal and you don’t want to, I would see someone else at that point. Hope you get this all figured out Wave! Take care.
Tomorrow go to the drug store and pick up a bag of nice chocolates that can be dispersed around the staff at your doctors. Talk to the receptionist and be friendly and jovial. They can get the ear of your doc in a way that will be more pressing for her to answer. You need to get them on your side. This is what my dad did at the hospital I was at and it isn’t bribery if you eat one of the candies too.
Are you comfortable with going there yourself? Do you have someone in your family who can act as an advocate?
An in person visit will go over better than any more phone calls. Get someone you trust to do it who has a gregarious personality.
judgment call noun
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Show up at the office with Nutella smeared on your face and say you soiled yourself.
That will get her attention.
I’m sorry I am in a silly mood.
It’s just the holidays, it’s been New Years and crap. Come Monday everyone will have to get their ■■■■ together. Party is over for me too. GRE and reading for my lab come Monday.
@Wave, I am really sorry for you to go through this, and I do know from experience the anxiety you are feeling, but getting yourself all worked up is not going to do anything. Remember it is a weekend now, and I seriously do not think you will be getting a phone call on a holiday weekend unless it were a life and death situation. It could be that she took the holiday off and left someone to cover, who knows nothing about your case, so simply decided to wait until your pdoc returns. I am so sorry you will suffer all weekend, but try to keep yourself occupied and do exactly what you said, do not take both until you know for sure how she feels about it. My heart goes out to you, hang in there.
(((((((((((((((((wave))))))))))))))
kitty
First of all it seems that my nerves seem to be more shot, since coming down way low on the Risperdal, Maybe its withdrawals - maybe not. But I have not been myself lately.
Secondly, this is the last time that I openy ask for advice for myself on this site - I will be PMing certain people
Thank you @Kittycat - @metime - @YakDip - @dandydinmot - for your sound advice
I expected more from you @mortimermouse - Narcissism must be a bitch to have.
I finally have decided not to take the Abilify until I contact her - in a couple of days, maybe Teusday I will call her and leave a message on her phone, asking for another earlier appointment to discuss my medication situation.
If I do not hear from her at all - and I get no response, I will be seeing another psychiatrist at this point.
She is a private psychiatrist and there is no excuse for this kind of dismissive behavior.
All of my pdocs in the past got back to me at least within the following day - Not calling back a patient with valid and important medication related concerns is pure negligence, there is no excuse for it - no one is that busy.
Happy New Year to all
@Wave
I always admire how aware you are of what meds do what to you. I’ve been trying to pay more attention to that sort of thing so I can better advocate for myself as I grow up.
I completely understand your frustration… I didn’t know she was private. I know the public health doc’s get really rushed off their feet.
I can imagine this is a huge set back in trusting her. Me personally… considering it is the holidays… I might be inclined to get her one more try and ask why she doesn’t use the phone. But that’s just me.
I also rely on the pro / con list. If the con list is longer then the pro list… it’s time for a new doc.
Good luck in what ever you decide. I hope you feel better soon and this gets worked out on Monday.
@SurprisedJ Thank you always. You are and have always been a positive, and helpful member of this site.
The lowering of the Risperdal for whatever the reason is making me a bit on edge - I am going to give it some more time, allowing me to think thing through on this.
I have decided to allow her the chance to call me back and give me something - I realize that she is busy, but even busy doctors call back their patients at some point.
I will not act impulsively on this, I tend to do this sometimes under pressure - but if she does not get back to me after the third message, and I allowed for some time to go by - I will have no choice other than to see another pdoc…
I really dont see any other options here.
Part of the job duty of any doctor is to get back to the patient, especially when a medication or medical issue is an issue.
Anything less would be pure Negligence -
Thanks again J - you are a class act!
maybe if your stable with the medication your on, dont bother taking the new medication if your concerned and politly tell her that i was anxious about my well being the next time u get in contact with her.
@Wave - i think you have made the right choice in waiting to hear back from her before switching over/adding a medication etc. i understand your concern and your anxiety over this! i think she may be busy over the holidays but i also feel that she is in a field where her work also affects others and it upsets me that she hasn’t been able to get back to you for whatever reason. i mean, mental illness and concern etc. don’t stop over the holidays! it’s not like you’re calling on christmas!
but i say what you are doing is right - keep on the same path, then when you finally get a hold of her you can switch it from there.
Yeah, under pressure or some stress, I tend to fall to pieces and over react!
Good sound advice - @iamoliviar - Thank you - I will keep on the same path
I know how that goes as my last psychiatrist wouldn’t even see me for appointments and was trying to put me on new medications, before she put me on same-day sick. I switched practices and so far it has been much better.
I am not certain about what you can do in the short term, I am sorry. In the long term I hope you can find a psychiatrist who is as focused on your recovery as you are. This one obviously doesn’t take your health as seriously as you do. I realize it’s the holidays, but your concerns are bang on valid and should have been addressed by now. I don’t think it speaks well to the professionalism of your current psychiatrist that they have gone unanswered.
When you’re a doctor and you’ve got a med-compliant, recovery focused patient, you bloody work with them! (One would imagine, at least.)
Maybe with the holiday this week she wasn’t in the office and went on vacation? But it surprises me that she wouldn’t be checking messages while she was out or had someone filling in for her, if that is the case. I know with my own med problems this week the clinic was closed on New Years Day and my message never got past the receptionist about getting samples. Wave, I’d try and get through to her again next week. I don’t think I would necessarily jump ship so quickly over this. You should talk to her first and see what was going on before you make any decisions to leave her.
