Posted by JohnX on October 24, 2001, at 11:46:43
In reply to Re: Looking for some advice before I see the psydoc, posted by Hattree on October 24, 2001, at 8:42:16
Thanks for the backup.I would like extend my appreciation to all
the practicing physicians who may be reading my posts
amd who are skilled in their art and work well
with patients. This is a combination of brilliance,
compassion, and persistance that few doctors much
less human beings have, and I have great respect
for these pdocs.I still recommend the following advice, and I
hope others may agree. Not following this advice
cost me some valuable treatment time as I was
referred to one of the best pdocs in my town with
a 3 month waiting list but opted for the quicky
appointment, and then couldn't get to see the
good pdoc as he stopped taking appts.My advice and it still stands, is to find out
through the rumor mill , and a good general
practitioner is an excellent source, who the
finest pdocs in town are. Pdocs and other medical
specialists are like fine restaurant. The parking
lot is always full. (You can actually use this
parking lot trick as a guauge in a new town as
to where is a good restaurant to eat).Anyways, go ahead and make the far-out apointments
with the top-tier recomendations but still pursue the
earlier appts. If you are lucky the 1st doctor
will be good. This would occur if by chance their
was a cancellation and a slot opened, you some
how begged your way in the door or used a connection,
or the pdoc is fresh from school but an intelligent
person buildling a patient base.The reason this is complicated for JG is I believe
JG is not the typical patient and will probably
work better with a more reputed pdoc (as I have).
Its a catch 22 that the 1st pdoc with an open
appointment is likely not to be the "best restaurant".
So a lot of people will experience frustration with
their 1st doctor but might hit gold with a later
doctor. That's why its good to go ahead and book
the appts that are months away with the good doctors
you can always cancel them if things work out with
your initial doctor.Does anyone agree with me on this philosophy?
Regards and good luck
-john> Find a doc who came of age in the early seventies :).
>
> Seriously, if at all possible shop around till you can find a well-informed, open minded doc you can trust. You know you're not an easy prozac 'n go case.
>
> > Thanks for the advice John. I think you're right about just informing him of what was working and staying away from the extended details of my drug use history. The pdoc is already aware of some of the brief details of why I am going to him, but not much.
> >
> > Only problem I'm going to have is that I don't have any prescription for selegiline, I never did, and I've never seen anyone for any of my symptoms. I was simply buying various meds from overseas and domestically, experimenting and reading everything I could find on drugs, and then modifying my approach as needed. Many of my drug choices were illegal. Unfortunately I decided to help a friend struggling with similiar problems, got him out of alcohol+cocaine addiction, but then he slipped up, the police found out, and they seized everything I had. Obviously I have slipped back into the depression that I was previously doing quite well against. Avoiding the legal details, I am now just trying to get a psychiatrist to prescribe what I found worked for me.
> >
> > Still, I think you are right on how I should approach this. Would you, or anyone else, agree that if he does not choose to go with the selegiline (if he happens to be one of those pdocs that thinks that any MAOi (especially one he's never heard of likely) is the last line of defense before ECT) or a similiarly non-sedating choice, that I should find another Pdoc?
> >
> > Also, I can see the logic in not telling the doc my drug history on the 1st few visits, but if I were to, why would that lead him to believe I was neurotic? Not trying to disagree with you, just trying to follow the line of thought.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > JG
poster:JohnX
thread:81980
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011015/msgs/82184.html