![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 2 to 26 of 26. Go back in thread:
Posted by Mair on March 16, 2002, at 21:20:15
In reply to How do you confront a bad psychiatrist?, posted by spiroll on March 16, 2002, at 20:25:20
Lisa - is there some particular reason why your have to keep seeing this psychiatrist? Are you on an HMO or other plan that limits you to him?
It's a bad situation you are in to be intimidated by a physician that you are otherwise so dependent on, and you definitely should not have to feel like this guy disapproves of you. Let us know if changing pdocs is not an option.Mair
Posted by spiroll on March 16, 2002, at 21:35:08
In reply to Re: How do you confront a bad psychiatrist? » spiroll, posted by Mair on March 16, 2002, at 21:20:15
No - I am not stuck with him, I have a good insurance plan (for a few more months anyway) I can see whomever I'd like, but I live in a very small town - traveling is a problem - I live on an island outside of seattle, wa - so I'd have to take the ferry to the city which scares me and costs over $30 round trip.
I can see someone else though - I could get someone to drive me. This pDoc is two blocks away.
-Lisa
> Lisa - is there some particular reason why your have to keep seeing this psychiatrist? Are you on an HMO or other plan that limits you to him?
> It's a bad situation you are in to be intimidated by a physician that you are otherwise so dependent on, and you definitely should not have to feel like this guy disapproves of you. Let us know if changing pdocs is not an option.
>
> Mair
Posted by trouble on March 17, 2002, at 2:41:44
In reply to Re: How do you confront a bad psychiatrist?, posted by spiroll on March 16, 2002, at 21:35:08
Hey Lisa,
Let me say upfront that I'm the kind of person who believes in sticking it out, that's just my personal bias. I had to respond to you tho, b/c
it sounds like we're seeing the same psychiatrist. He's a vain, intolerant, flamboyant, arrogant, irritable and swaggering megalomaniac, a sharkskin Chulo, w/ the harshest mouth I've yet to hear this side of the penal colony. It's almost a carichature, Doctor Gangster, he's quick and he's mean and he revels in it, no apologies or holding others responsible for causing his moods. Pshaw, as if any mere mortal could.But out of 24 doctors he's the most therapeutic male I've had. He is also the only pdoc I ever had who outright threatened to fire me. I've been fired by half his predecessors, but they never called it that, they lied and said they were leaving town or I was untreatable. But that first year, no, it was awful, I'd come home and cry, feeling totally victimized, insulted, devalued, objectified, belittled, picked on, uncared for and, well, you get the drift. I stayed w/him on the advice of three therapists, all of whom warned me not to take his jerkhood personally, he gets better the longer you know him they said, and that helped. I'm glad I stuck it out, b/c along w/the psychopharm he does good therapy, I've seen him go bam bam thru 10 schools of technique in 30 minutes time, one minute it's cognition, then Freudian, then he'll do a Gestalt technique, and something I recognize Carl Rogers said, OR Neitzsche, Hemingway, Bridgette Bardot, whatever he deems appropriate at the time, and any therapist who has that preponderance of knowledge at hand is IMO worth the hammer-blows, which are mutual now, 'cause I'm not gonna lay down for that shit anymore and he can't blame me for that, himself having been my shining example.]
I ended up getting what I need. Everyone's different, whatever ya need you need, perhaps this pdoc's helping you discover more about that, by doing so much of what you don't. Or maybe he'll offer you a chance to embrace your own annoyingly vast and complex humanity. Someone's got to, I mean if not our psychiatrists then who gets to take a shot at that? I need this kind of intense advocacy, I want to see him fight for my spirit like it meant something. I haven't met many nice people who have that kind of passion.
But as mentioned, I enjoy the process of hammering it out, only you can decide what feels best for you.
take care,
trouble
Posted by Zo on March 17, 2002, at 3:07:15
In reply to Re: How do you confront a bad psychiatrist?, posted by trouble on March 17, 2002, at 2:41:44
> Or maybe he'll offer you a chance to embrace your own annoyingly vast and complex humanity.I am going to be covered head to toe with tattoos of lines I want to remember forever.
Posted by KB on March 17, 2002, at 13:39:18
In reply to How do you confront a bad psychiatrist?, posted by spiroll on March 16, 2002, at 20:25:20
If you're so uncomfortable that you're avoiding hom or lying to him, then I would definitely find someone else. The $30 transportation fee is tax-deductible (as is 12 cents a mile by car).
you might also consider writing him a letter about why you feel like you can't continue working with him, just so he knows how he's coming across.
Posted by Mair on March 17, 2002, at 14:22:39
In reply to Re: How do you confront a bad psychiatrist?, posted by KB on March 17, 2002, at 13:39:18
Lisa
I agree with KB. If you enjoy mixing it up like trouble appears to, that's one thing. However, if you're lying to him and trying to think of ways to avoid him and worst of all, thinking that he's really not listening to or validatiing what is important to you (about the weight), then he really doesn't sound worth it. Maybe you could talk to your internist about another referral. Also, if you're just seeing this guy for meds and not for therapy, then it's not like you're going to have to make that longer trip all that often, at least once you're stabilized.
I think it's pretty important that you be able to feel that your pdoc is working with you to come up with a good treatment plan that you can both buy into. That spirit of cooperation just can't be there if one person doesn't think he needs to heed the concerns of the other.
Just my opinion
Mair
Posted by spiroll on March 17, 2002, at 15:14:18
In reply to Re: How do you confront a bad psychiatrist?, posted by Mair on March 17, 2002, at 14:22:39
Thank you KB and Mair...
I'm not so much into mixing things up. I will talk to my family doctor on Tuesday and just be brutally honest and explain the entire situation and my feelings and get her input. That's what I'll do...and you are right, he's a med doctor, not a talk therapist, I'll find a new one that I don't have to see every three weeks just for refills. And $185 every three weeks. I think he's abusing my situation. Don't psychiatrists generally give you several refills without having to go back?
I don't feel like he's working with me, I feel like ... well, like he isn't listening at all, even when I DO get to say something.
I hate feeling like this, like I'm "not responding" to drug therapy, because some of the symptoms DO go away (except with Celexa it got much worse) and then I feel like such an ass for needing a xanax refill, I feel like it makes me a person who is suspicious in some way. I am SICK of being fat, sick of having nightmares, all I want to do is be ABLE to lose weight and to sleep through the night and occasionally take a xanax if I have a panic attack. Is that so much to ask?
Not asking for a miracle cure pill, I'm not afraid of "doing the work" or whatever. I just could do without the mean doctor.
:(
Thanks...thanks for responding...
Lisa
Posted by Gracie2 on March 17, 2002, at 15:48:10
In reply to Re: How do you confront a bad psychiatrist?, posted by spiroll on March 17, 2002, at 15:14:18
Good for you, I hope you stick with your plan to find a new psychiatrist. The way I see it, we don't pay all that money to be abused (directly or indirectly through insurance). Besides advice and medicine, we need a little compassion...
However, your general physician will probably be reluctant to prescribe psychiatric medication, although she might do so in the interim while you are waiting to see a new pdoc, and hopefully she'll be able to refer you to a good one. Psychology is a specialty just like orthopedics or oncology, and usually your family doctor does not have the training to prescribe long-term psychiatric medication. You must also understand the reluctance of any doctor to prescribe benzos
or other addictive drugs.
Good luck-
Gracie
Posted by trouble on March 17, 2002, at 16:24:12
In reply to Re: How do you confront a bad psychiatrist?, posted by spiroll on March 17, 2002, at 15:14:18
Hey Lisa'
Dis I undesrsatnd that right, that he makes you pay for an office visit for the same refill every month, and you don't have a history of suicide attempts? I'm freaking out I can barely get my keys straight on the keyboard here! I've never heard of that, he''s ripping you off! My pdoc sees me every 3 weeks and gives me 5 refills on every drug thtat isn't a controlled substance. I'd write that letter, write two, and complain to the attorney general while yr at it, and no friend, what yr asking for is not at all too much.
Also, and I may get in HOT WATER on this board for advising you of this, but I know what it's like to be desperateed to lose weight, and the appetite suppressant I use for that is foolproof, and LEGAL, but it's dangerous, god I can just see IsoM hit the roof when I say this but Ma Huang, aka ephedra took off 20 lbs for me once in 2 months and gave me the bounce and energy of a 3 year old. It's at drugstores. If you don't abuse substances and can stick to the recommended dose it may be worth trying. Also, weight loss clinics associated w/hospitals may put you on a controlled substance as an appetite suppressant and provide a weekly support group for people struggling w/ weight and body issues, we have 2 in Austin, I went to one and the doctor was responsible about prescribing the right meds and dosage w/regard to the psychotropics I was on at the time, I lost 26 lbs. in 3.5 months. If your appetite is out of whack it can undermine your social life, self-esteem and feminity, f8ck up yuor nutrition and make you feel like a hog every time you put a bon-bon in your mouth. I used to have an elephantine eating disorder, spend an entire day going from one fast-food joint after another, consume as much as 12-15,000 calories in one sitting then wish I was dead until the next binge. None of my doctors addressed the problem, but I became proactive, did my "work" and my weight has been a steady, voluptuous 150 lbs. for the last 3 years. I once weighed over 200 lbs, so I know something about what you're going through, unless I'm blowing this out of proportion, so to speak, then please forgive me, I don't mean to catastrophize a problem for someone else just b/c it was a catastrophe for myself. Guess my hot-buttons on fire today! Anyway... I know you can find a doctor who specializes in obesity to join your team and take all your issues seriously.
Finally, there are books and magazines and websites galore that praise the larger woman and provide practical beauty and fashion tips to keep you walking w/ yuor head held high, I can give more details if you're interested. Women come in all sizes, there are days you just have to keep repeating that to yourself over and over, and quit calling yourself fat, you zaftig, Rubinesque, Amazon Goddess, Marilyn Monroe was a size 14!
Pullin for ya,love, trouble
Posted by spiroll on March 17, 2002, at 16:56:37
In reply to refills, dieting, posted by trouble on March 17, 2002, at 16:24:12
Hi Trouble...thanks for the post! I have absolutely no history of suicide attempts, actually, i just have occasional panic attacks and this pdoc says I have depression, too, but I'm not so sure I'm depressed about much other than that I'm overweight. I was always so thin until I took antidepressants for the panic attacks, but I rarely have them anymore, thus the occasional xanax. Now I have slid to general anxiety disorder which means I'm just a heap of nervous energy, jumpy, scared shltless every second of the day, more like I feel on the verge of a panic attack at all times. I have gained over a hundred pounds since I started taking antidepressants...and I'd be so happy to be 150 pounds. I know that's a healthy weight - i had my children and even after that only weighed 130 and was strong and healthy, but two months after I started imipramine for panic attacks I gained ... forty pounds I think. It was ALOT.
I have tried the products with the Ephedra in several forms but always am so afraid of the racing heart thing - but I am going to mention it to my doctor and ask her if it's okay to continue taking it. I mean, I just had a brain MRI for a different medical problem (Meniere's Disease=dizziness) and I've had scads of heart tests done and I'm physically very healthy - but still so afraid that the ephedra is going to kill me.
My problem is that I don't eat enough I think. I don't know. That sounds stupid. I religiously track my food intake at a website called fitday.com and I never seem to even hit 1800 calories. Yesterday I thought I pigged out and only got to 1100 calories. I rarely eat before seven pm and yet my weight just keeps SOARING, but not as bad now that I stopped taking antidepressants. My all time high was 250 but I've gone down to 230 now. I'm killing myself trying to lose weight - I don't mean that literally, just I'm working so hard and nothing is working and I KNOW it's because of still having the damn antidepressants in my system.
Yes, the doctor wants to see me every three weeks - he says he feels that if I go longer I won't be able to handle things. I have really good insurance, maybe that's why he likes to see me. I don't know - I admit that I'm not the smartest person but it doesn't seem right. I say that because I ... well, i am just an average person, I'm a mom, work at home, I don't have mood swings, I don't have any extremes - I'm just what I consider "normal" other than the damn panic attacks and anxiety. How would I not be able to "handle things?" in my life if I wasn't seeing him? I'm not a porcelain doll, I'm not that fragile.
I sometimes feel like he is trying to talk me into feeling more like shlt.
So you think I should write a letter to him - because i was just thinking of never going back, just kind of letting him disappear into my past. My hope was that my family doctor could cover my meds, but whoever said that about them being reluctant to do that for psych meds, I guess that's a problem I'll have to address. With a new pdoc I guess. Again, I don't know.
Thanks for writing, you've given me alot to think on.
Lisa
Posted by Mair on March 17, 2002, at 21:31:18
In reply to Re: refills, dieting, posted by spiroll on March 17, 2002, at 16:56:37
Lisa
I think you have the right idea discussing all of this with your internist even if it is unlikely that she will prescribe meds. If she's worth anything, she will have some sense of who the good and not so good pdocs are, and how a good one should relate to you.
In spite of what trouble said, I think different pdocs have different theories and practices about refills. My current pdoc gives me upteen refills so my need for meds has nothing to do with how frequently I see her. My last pdoc kept me on a very short leash for a long time - I sometimes had prescriptions that were only 10 days, and this too without any suicide attempts although it was definitely an ocassional topic of discussion. It wasn't a big deal getting refills, because he was also my therapist and I saw him very frequently. After he stopped being my therapist, he'd handle all the prescription stuff over the phone. I know there are some drugs that you can't do that with, but I don't think xanax is one of them, because i ocassionally use it myself and I'm pretty sure my doc has always just called it in for me. Keep us posted on what your family doc says.
Mair
Posted by LiLi80 on March 17, 2002, at 21:45:30
In reply to How do you confront a bad psychiatrist?, posted by spiroll on March 16, 2002, at 20:25:20
You are supposed to be getter better not worse. Pdocs are everywhere. get a new one. Call and make a few appts/interviews. You are interviewing them. You have to feel comfortable with them. Yeah it may seem that you need a pdoc and he thinks you need him, which is true, but pdocs need patients too. I told my pdoc recently that if he was the only person I went to , I would have offed myself a long time ago. I think that made him think about returning my phone calls on a timely manner. There is no reason to see a pdoc that treats you worse than you already felt before you stepped in the door. If you dont like him , get rid of him. If he says some crap about you not wanting to get better or he's the professional or wants to admit you, then merely tell him that he can scare you all he wants , barbara walters just eats this wronged patient stuff up. If he laughs at this comment, just start reciting the names of local newspapers that you plan on writing editorials to. Still laughs at you, hand him a ripped out page from the phone book that clearly shows LAWYERS written on it. He will get the hint. You cant get better unless you trust the people that is treating you. Once you dont trust them anymore they are useless to you, and you need to change pdocs. Peronally I think you should make a complaint to his boss or the psych association in your state. You control your treatment not him. I dont care what he says , you can always go to another doc. If he threatens hospitalization, you can always call a judge (call any laywer you will be out in 72 hours) and say that you chose to leave his care to seek a different pdoc. The judge will not choose his side if you are just seeking a different doc and not just stopping treatment. Dont let pdcos scare you into being treated. The sad truth is that this guy probably barely graduated with a degree, cause its obvious that he doesnt know what he is doing.
Posted by kazoo on March 17, 2002, at 21:58:30
In reply to GET RID of him! » spiroll, posted by LiLi80 on March 17, 2002, at 21:45:30
Posted by KB on March 18, 2002, at 14:42:39
In reply to Re: refills, dieting, posted by spiroll on March 17, 2002, at 16:56:37
You can also report inappropriate doctors to the American Medical Association and to your state's licensing board. He won't lose his license for one complaint, but it will put him on alert.
Posted by Gracie2 on March 18, 2002, at 19:18:00
In reply to Reporting doctors, posted by KB on March 18, 2002, at 14:42:39
I've already given my opinion, time for another doctor, but I forgot to say that a good pdoc in my opinion will take into consideration the stress you have about losing weight. Products with ephedra do work well but may heighten your anxiety, so I would start slowly, say half a pill.
Also you can't take the things if you have high blood pressure (like me), I too would like very much to lose weight but not at the risk of having a stroke (she says as she lights a cig).
If you do start with a new doctor don't make a big deal out of the Xanax as some doctors may interpret this as "drug-seeking behaviour", then you're screwed. I would merely mention that it helps.
-Gracie
Posted by trouble on March 18, 2002, at 22:22:58
In reply to Losing weight, posted by Gracie2 on March 18, 2002, at 19:18:00
>
>
> If you do start with a new doctor don't make a big deal out of the Xanax as some doctors may interpret this as "drug-seeking behaviour", then you're screwed. I would merely mention that it helps.
> -Gracie
Hi Gracie,
I always wonder if I'm being too sensitive by waiting til I have the psychiatrist in my clutches, b/c it never feels right to demand narcotics on the first day. This tip ought ease my concerns w/ being unneccesarily considerate.thanx!
rouble
Posted by ST on March 19, 2002, at 4:36:25
In reply to refills, dieting, posted by trouble on March 17, 2002, at 16:24:12
Lisa,
Hi! OK, this guy's a loser. You shouldn't have to see him once a month - just every few months for a med check up. Sh*t, I have had suicidal tendencies in the past and my doctor doesn't make me see him every month. I see him now like every three or four months! This sounds like blackmail to get $$ out of you for the visit or something. And he sounds sick and sadistic. He should be impartial and objective, not yell at you!I gained a lot of weight on Celexa and am now on Effexor. It has helped with the weight gain, as it revs you up and suppresses your appetite in the initial stages.
It sounds as though you're not giving your body enough to eat. It's going in to starvation mode and so is hanging on to every bit of weight (fat). I don't know your weight and height, but you probably should be eating somewhere around 1300-1800 calories a day to lose weight. And of course, eating the right kinds of food (fruits, veggies, whole grains). Good luck and please let us know what happens!
Sarah
Posted by spiroll on March 19, 2002, at 4:50:56
In reply to Re: refills, dieting, posted by ST on March 19, 2002, at 4:36:25
Thanks so much Sarah, I will keep you posted. I can't believe the support I've gotten here, it's been wonderful. Thanks for the Effexor / Celexa mentions - did Effexor make your thoughts race or give you nightmares? Just curious...did you not gain weight with it at all?
I've been told about that starvation mode before - i can't imagine that you'd get so fat from doing that..I have been eating like this for years though - so maybe everyone is right, I guess I ought to start eating.
Yesterday my calories were 774, fat was 18, carbs were 119 and protein was 21. I'm 5'6" tall. I really need something to get my self into a more active mode. Antidepressants really seem to drag me down so far...like to a crawl. Effexor didn't do that for you?
Well, thanks for responding, i read your post with great interest. :)
lisa
Posted by Mair on March 19, 2002, at 21:44:00
In reply to Sarah, posted by spiroll on March 19, 2002, at 4:50:56
Lisa
Maybe it's not the ADs that are dragging you down but the lack of sustenance. It's hard to have any energy when you're starving yourself to death.
Wellbutrin is another AD which is sometimes associated with weight loss. I lost alot of weight after i got to a certain level and had been on it for awhile. Unfortunately, some people find it activating - so if anxiety is a big problem, it may not be for you. Actually anxiety is sometimes a big problem for me and I don't know whether its the WB or not, but if it gets out of hand I can generally counter that, as you do, with some xanax as needed.
Mair
Posted by ST on March 20, 2002, at 4:28:48
In reply to Sarah, posted by spiroll on March 19, 2002, at 4:50:56
Hi!
Effexor does sometimes make my thoughts race and
I have vivid bizarre dreams that keep me in bed way past the time my alarm goes off. I just don't want to get out of bed. I have to finish the dream..it's so real. Often it is weird, scary stuff I'm dreaming about, too. But for all this mind racing stuff, I'm exhausted most of the time. And no, I haven't gained weight with it. It actually has helped me to lose weight.If you've been eating so few calories for a while, your body has adjusted to that small amount and you will gain weight if you eat what would be a normal amount for your height and weight. Don't mean to scare you!! But you really should consider raising your caloric intake slowly. Like raise it daily by 50 calories for a while. Add 50 extra calories for the next 3 days, then add 50 more for the following few, etc....try to find out what would be the "normal" amount for you to consume and work up to it. If it's good, healthy food, you won't gain weight. How much do you weigh? (if you don't mind...)
Good luck! Let me know what happens!
Sarah
> Thanks so much Sarah, I will keep you posted. I can't believe the support I've gotten here, it's been wonderful. Thanks for the Effexor / Celexa mentions - did Effexor make your thoughts race or give you nightmares? Just curious...did you not gain weight with it at all?
>
> I've been told about that starvation mode before - i can't imagine that you'd get so fat from doing that..I have been eating like this for years though - so maybe everyone is right, I guess I ought to start eating.
>
> Yesterday my calories were 774, fat was 18, carbs were 119 and protein was 21. I'm 5'6" tall. I really need something to get my self into a more active mode. Antidepressants really seem to drag me down so far...like to a crawl. Effexor didn't do that for you?
>
> Well, thanks for responding, i read your post with great interest. :)
>
> lisa
Posted by mair on March 20, 2002, at 7:37:08
In reply to Re: Sarah, posted by ST on March 20, 2002, at 4:28:48
Lisa
You might consider asking your internist to hook you up with a nutritionist. I know a therapist who regularly does that for her patients.
Mair
Posted by spiroll on March 20, 2002, at 15:02:52
In reply to Re: Lisa, posted by mair on March 20, 2002, at 7:37:08
I wanted to thank everyone for their support - Mair and Sarah and everyone, I forget all the names and probably messed up on Mairs...sorry. :(
Okay, the family doctor was so upset about my psychiatrist that she decided that it was not a good day to do my internal, can you believe that? She was appalled at the things I was telling her, how my quality of life has just gone to zero with this guy and so she picked up the phone HERSELF and made an appointment for me with a woman who is a friend of hers but is also a psychiatric nurse practioner, so she is going to give me talk therapy and then make med recommendations to my new doctor (who I'm just thrilled with.) She was so nice to me that I literally cried.
She also set me up with a nutritionist, I showed her the print out of my food diary, it has the totals of where my calories come from and where they get burned, and the breakdown of evrything I eat and do...she was so helpful, and she said from the looks of it, like you said Sarah, I'm in starvation mode and can't go on like that. The new panic doc (nurse) appointment is for Monday - she actually gave up her lunch break to see me, like a favor or something for my doctor, I just can't believe how nice this lady is. Anyway, the nutrionist is set up for April 7th, the day after I get back from a cross country trip to visit my family (and make arrangements for moving to Virginia.)...now I feel like I've found the most supportive, kind, generous and caring doctor in the universe and I am moving in a few months, but maybe these next few months will make a big difference, I feel good about it, I feel like there's hope, really - maybe there is!
God, I feel like maybe there really is a way out of this - I won't have to see my old pDoc again, I feel like a million pounds just got lifted off my shoulders! She was so appalled at how he's been treating me, I mean - just livid! It was so reassuring!!
Anyway, I will keep all of you posted and Sarah, I weigh 230 pounds. I can't wait to talk with the nutritionist and figure everything out and maybe there's a way for me to lose weight and be on medicine that helps, wouldn't that be just wonderful??
Thanks so much for being here for me...
Lisa
Posted by mair on March 21, 2002, at 16:54:49
In reply to Re: Lisa, posted by spiroll on March 20, 2002, at 15:02:52
Lisa
Your post was refreshing good news. It's always wonderful to hear about something that works out well - it sounded to me like you really needed a break and I hope this helps turn things around. Please let us know how things go with the nutritionist and the psyche nurse. Good luck.
Mair
Posted by ST on March 24, 2002, at 3:52:27
In reply to Re: Lisa » spiroll, posted by mair on March 21, 2002, at 16:54:49
Yay! Such good news!
Yes, it's kind of a bummer that you're moving after finding a great doctor, but look at this way: these next few months will teach what to look for in a good doctor. Then you'll be prepared for your new city.
I'm so glad you'll be seeing a nutritionist. It actually can be exciting to start a diet/exercise program; it's like a challenge for yourself and you will feel so good about yourself and proud with each pound you lose.
It's going to feel weird eating "so much" in the beginning, but believe me, your body will be thankful and reward you.
Good luck! Let us know what happens!
Sarah
Posted by spiroll on March 26, 2002, at 1:35:54
In reply to YAY!, posted by ST on March 24, 2002, at 3:52:27
Okay, I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life.
I went to the new psychiatric nurse practicioner's office today and within 90 seconds of my talking to her she handed me a printout of bipolar disorder and said she thinks I have a mild form of it called hypomania .... I've been researching and reading all night on the Internet and I'm not so sure that I fit that bill. i don't have ups and downs...just downs...I mean, I have panic attacks and depression, I know that, but not erratic mood swings.
Anyway, she did spend an hour with me before officially saying that was her diagnosis, she prescribed Topamax starting at 25mg's and I'm to work my way up to 100mg in 20 days.
I hate medicine ... I hate swallowing a new pill, I'm so scared of them. But I did take it tonight. I'm thinking ... God - what should I do? Should I wait and see if the medicine works, ... but what would it work on if I don't have mood swings - she said it is used for chronic pain and weight loss (ALRIGHT!!!) and migraines, too - so even if I don't have type 2 bipolar disorder (which she called it, also) it won't kill me, right?
I'm so scared that I just took two xanax.
The lady was really nice and she did refill my xanax prescription without giving me a hassle, she even put a refill on it so I wouldn't have to worry about it for a while. That was a huge relief.
I also got a call from my family doctor today, you remember I had that bloodwork done? Well, she said my testosterone level was really high, 128 (the psych nurse said it was supposed to be between 30 something and 68) and now the GP wants to check me out for polycystic ovaries. I've read on the internet all the symptoms of that and I don't have alot of the symptoms, some but not alot. I'm so scared of all of this, it's so much to hear in one day.
It's all just so much to take in - I could be really seriously ill and when will I know? What does all of this mean? Why in the hell would my testosterone level be so high???? That's just weird. I know you can take birth control pills to control that, but the psych nurse told me today that I can't take birth control pills with this Topamax because then it doesn't work.
So, that's what happened. Now I've got alot more to think about than just having a crappy psychiatrist - now I'm wondering if I should go to him and tell him I went to this new lady and tell him what she thinks is wrong with me and get his opinion, but of course, then I think he'd be really mad at me for going "above his head" so to speak.
Well, thanks for listening, thanks for your support through the past few days, it's helped alot.
Still confused....
Lisa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.