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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TheOutsider on November 28, 2004, at 15:53:00
I'm desperate to find a decent doctor in the UK to treat my social anxiety, someone who will prescribe something other than SSRIs.
Has anyone got any experience/recomendations? I'm getting so frustrated!
Posted by denise1904 on November 28, 2004, at 16:17:43
In reply to Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by TheOutsider on November 28, 2004, at 15:53:00
Hi,
Whereabouts are you, I managed to find one at the Priory who wastn't so arrogant that he wouldn't let me suggest things to try. He at least let me try Nardil which none of the other ones would let me try. He wouldn't let me try stimulents though.
I actually liked him but not sure if it was because the ADs started to help which may have tinged my view a bit.
Anyway his name was Dr Patel at the Woodbourne Priory in Birmingham but I had to see him privately as I don't live in Birmingham.
I also went to see one in London at the priory but I'll try and dig out his name for you if you like. He supposedly specialised in psychopharmacology and seemed fairly liberal in his approach.
Denise
Posted by TheOutsider on November 28, 2004, at 17:24:31
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by denise1904 on November 28, 2004, at 16:17:43
Hey Denise
You've been really helpful! Thanks for the information.
I'd like to know the name of the doctor you saw in London if thats okay.
Are you currently taking Nardil? How is it working out for you? Does it help with social anxiety, if you have any?I saw a Dr Soutzos at a Priory hospital in London last week.
To be honest I'm not sure what to make of him. He seems like a nice guy, and is fairly open minded compared to most UK docs, however he didn't seem to have much experience with social anxiety, and he also seems to be very biased towards new meds. He put me on Effexor XL which I'm not to happy about, as I don't think its very effective for social anxiety.
Maybe if I have more appointments with him he'll be willing to try different sorts of treatment.
Or maybe I should go to a completely different doctor.I currently live in Cambridge but will travel anywere in the country to get decent treatment (I once traveld from York to Bath and back in a day!)
Posted by jclint on November 29, 2004, at 12:37:00
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by TheOutsider on November 28, 2004, at 17:24:31
Denise, I currently see a doc at the Woodbourne Priory :) After being with an 'adolescent' psych there for a couple of years I'm now with someone else.
Outsider, I can empathise with your sit although it seems I've found someone a bit more liberal. At the Woodboune 2 years back I was prescribed effexor also, I think its quite the drug of choice at the moment. I'm almost off now (about 20mg a day), and it has made me realise that it helped my anxiety without my realising. It certainly helped my depression. If I was in your shoes, I would at least give it a trial. I would try a highish dose - I was up to 150mg and in hindsight it was helpful. However it wasn't the ONE for me, I still had a lot of anxiety (but as I said, not too much depression). I'm in a bit of a mess at the moment, I'm not coping too well without the buffer Efexor gave. And nothing to try until the 18th at the earliest... it is depressing but I'm holding on the thought that I'll be on my way in a couple of weeks.
Despite my posts about UK benzo-phobia etc etc, I haven't really had problems with other types of meds. My old psych (the adolescence one), was perfectly willing to prescribe Nardil for me. Perhaps foolishly I transferred as I wanted to try clonazepam (oh how blind I was!), and it now looks like I'm going to start Nardil 3/4 months later. But I guess what I'm trying to say is, out of two psychiatrists I've seen, neither was not willing to prescribe MAOIs. After my initial apathy about my docs, I'm feeling relatively positive.
Is there no chance of your current doc prescribing MAOIs? I know neither of mine would be comfortable prescribing it first-line, so maybe if you give Efexor a trial he would be willing. After all, docs don't want to prescribe a traditionally 'dangerous' drug if a 'safe' drug could sort them out to the same extent. I've gathered there is little acknowledgement of specific disorders in the UK - eg, manic depression instead of BPI/BPII, etc. Neither of mine have treated me specifically for 'social anxiety', just 'anxiety'. Its frustrating sometimes, but comforting at others because I think I prefer my unique symptoms to be treated.
I could talk for ages on this stuff, I feel I am in a similar boat to yourself (although there is the chance my boat will be sailing soon :). Take care
John
Posted by jclint on November 29, 2004, at 14:57:59
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by jclint on November 29, 2004, at 12:37:00
Please babble-mail me if you want to talk privately at all mate :)
Posted by TheOutsider on November 29, 2004, at 15:40:17
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by jclint on November 29, 2004, at 12:37:00
Thanks John for your encouraging message.
I'm begining to feel that I am not so alone as I first thought I was.
Funnily enough I was in a similar situation to you with your intial refusual to take Nardil.
I had the oppitunity to try Effexor months ago, instead I resisted and was put on Clomipramine for my troubles!I would like to contact you on babble mail, but I don't know how it works!
Posted by jclint on November 29, 2004, at 16:38:10
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by TheOutsider on November 29, 2004, at 15:40:17
If you click on my name above, 'posted by jclint' etc... it should take you to a page where you can write a message.
Cool to hear how you get along with the effexor :)
Posted by Keith Talent on November 30, 2004, at 7:19:47
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by jclint on November 29, 2004, at 16:38:10
Hi,
I'm about to move to Britain in a couple of days (London). Is it at all possible to find a decent psychiatrist who would be prepared to treat me on the NHS? One hears some horror stories on this board of ignorance and rudeness, Fawlty Towers style. I really hope the reality is better,
Keith.
Posted by ed_uk on November 30, 2004, at 7:30:25
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by Keith Talent on November 30, 2004, at 7:19:47
Hello Keith,
All the psychiatrists that I've seen have been pleasant... but their knowledge of psychopharmacology and psychological techniques has never been impressive! I've never seen a private pdoc, only NHS ones. I'm sure your (new) GP would be able to refer you to an NHS psychiatrist.
Ed.
Posted by Keith Talent on November 30, 2004, at 11:42:29
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by ed_uk on November 30, 2004, at 7:30:25
Thanks Ed,
But first I have to find an NHS GP!
Posted by ed_uk on November 30, 2004, at 11:55:34
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by Keith Talent on November 30, 2004, at 11:42:29
Hi,
Hopefully finding a GP shouldn't be too difficult!
Regards,
Ed.
Posted by TheOutsider on November 30, 2004, at 16:35:58
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK? » Keith Talent, posted by ed_uk on November 30, 2004, at 11:55:34
You should not have any problem finding a GP in the UK.
The problem you will face will be with the Pdocs.
Assuming your GP gives you an appointment you will probably have to wait at least a couple of months, don't expect to be overawed by their competence when you do see them either.
If I were you I would look into going privately, thats what I've done.
Posted by denise1904 on December 1, 2004, at 12:02:18
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by TheOutsider on November 28, 2004, at 17:24:31
Hiya,
Sorry, I've been through my old notes and things and can't find the details for that psychiatrist who dealt with psychopharmacy and treatment resistance but I think his name was Dr Rayner but I can't find him on the priory site anymore. I'll keep looking though.
Have you tried going to http://www.prioryhealthcare.co. and then doing a search on consultants according to what they specialise in, you can do a search on all consultants who specialise in depression, anxiety or whatever it is you suffer from and then narrow it down even more to their other specialities. trouble is you have to go privately if you're not in their area.
It's really difficult finding a psychiatrist in the UK. The first one I saw in the UK in the national health seemed totally disinterested and seemed more depressed than I, the second one on the NHS couldn't speak English, the third consultation I had on the NHS was with somebody who I think was the proper psychiatrists assistant, he couldn't speak English very well and kept nipping out the room to get things checked out from the proper psychiatrist I think.
I then decided to go privately and Saw a Dr O'Brien at the priory in Birmingham who had a lot of passion and encouragement but was quite arrogant and didn't like me trying to tell him anything, then he left and I tried going to see a Dr Suleman in Leam Spa who was completely cautious about everything, so then I went to see this Dr in London but I decided it was too far to travel everytime I needed to see somebody. Finally I got to see Dr Patel in Birmingham who I like but he wouldn't prescribe stimulants or Wellbutrin.
The trouble is you don't really know what they'll do or how they'll treat you until you have a consultation with them and at £150 a time it can work out quite expensive shopping around if you don't have insurance.
What I will do now is try going on the NHS again and then keep going for consultations until I find somebody I trust and respect.
Denise
Posted by denise1904 on December 1, 2004, at 15:46:00
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by Keith Talent on November 30, 2004, at 11:42:29
Keith,
Like Ed said you shouldn't have a problem finding an NHS doctor in the UK just ask some of your new neighbours in your area who they are seeing and if they are any good.
But the only way to get referred to a psychiatrist on the NHS within a couple of weeks is to tell your doctor your suicidal which I had to do but I was at the time. Otherwise you'll probably have a long wait.
Denise
Posted by denise1904 on December 1, 2004, at 16:21:50
In reply to Re: To the Outsider, posted by denise1904 on December 1, 2004, at 12:02:18
Hi (what's your name ?)
One more thing, if you want to try an Maoi then Dr Patel was the only psychiatrist who would let me try one (although I didn't like it in the end).
To get an appointment with Dr Patel then ring his secretary on 0121 6782027.
Denise
Posted by TheOutsider on December 1, 2004, at 17:06:56
In reply to Re: To the Outsider - One more thing, posted by denise1904 on December 1, 2004, at 16:21:50
> Hi (what's your name ?)
>
> One more thing, if you want to try an Maoi then Dr Patel was the only psychiatrist who would let me try one (although I didn't like it in the end).
>
> To get an appointment with Dr Patel then ring his secretary on 0121 6782027.
>
> DeniseIn answer to your question my first name is Thomas, any variant on that is fine by me.
I'm really greatful for the information you've given me, as it is expensive sifting through doctors!
Might I ask what it was you didn't like about Nardil?
This is the end of the thread.
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