How to discuss meds with pdoc?
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| Wed, 06-01-2005 - 8:02pm |
Hi, sorry to pop in with yet another question...but I have a pdoc appointment tomorrow afternoon, and I'm wondering what's the best way to go about discussing a change in meds. I know that's a really general question...it's just that I've been feeling so awful lately and getting pretty desperate, but the last time I saw her, I felt like I wasn't very effective at communicating that, and she didn't make any changes.
I'm trying to control my tendency to ramble (ha!)...so I figured I might just post a link to my roll call post in case anyone really wants to know more detail...not much new since then, except my back is so painful (for no "good" reason) that I can hardly sit up straight...doesn't help things...oh well...
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhbipolar&msg=9134.5
Thanks for reading and for always putting up with me...sorry for the many questions!
Rose
Edited 6/1/2005 8:03 pm ET ET by rosa444

Rose,
I just wanted to encourage you not to feel intimidated about discussing a medication change with your pdoc.
Morgaine, thank you so much...I really appreciate all the time you must have put in to write such a caring and detailed post! I'm also impressed by the questions your pdoc asks you each visit...I guess my pdoc and I do discuss some similar issues, but she doesn't seem to have a standard list of questions like that.
I think the biggest issue with mine right now, which I think I failed to mention in my last post, is the fact that my pdoc has not diagnosed me with BP and seems to be treating me only for major depression. It is true that I've been depressed for the majority of the time she's been seeing me...but even when I try to tell her about the "other" times, she seems to kind of dismiss them.
Of course I don't want to give my pdoc the impression that I'm looking for a specific diagnosis (which I think she may suspect...especially since I'm a med student and know some of the diagnostic criteria for BP)...but I honestly struggle with these bizarre ups and downs and irritability which my current meds don't seem to be treating.
I was on lithium for a while as an "augmentative" treatment for the depression, and I seemed to do pretty well on it...only went off when the side effects got to be too much at a therapeutic dose.
Thanks also for your comments about the intensity of our lives...that's a good way to look at it, and I'll try to change the attitude I now have about it. Whew, another long post, sorry...really, after this week I'll start a new job and won't have nearly as much free time, so these lengthy posts really will become less frequent! :)
Rose
Ugh...I'm so sick of hearing myself whine and complain (and I'm sure everyone else is too) that I'm going to mostly refrain this time...basically, though, I tried my best to get my frustrations and difficulties across to the pdoc, and her only comment was, "well, you look good to me...we're not going to change anything."
Then I tried to make it even clearer by describing my near-attempts at self-destruction...her reply, "well, what do you expect me to do with that information?".
True, I would be frustrated too...nothing seems to be working. OK, complaining over...I'm tempted to pretend it's bedtime and take a short-acting sleeping pill...will try not to, though.
Thanks for listening,
Rose
Edited 6/2/2005 5:48 pm ET ET by rosa444
My family doc assured me I was not one of *those* bipolar people - after all, they're really nuts ROFL.
"well, what do you expect me to do with that information?".
You've got to be kidding.
{Warning: trigger below...sorry}
Thanks, that makes me feel a little better, that maybe I'm not the only one who thought that was a bit inappropriate. I don't think changing doctors is an option, though...I'll have to think about what to do. She did recommend a therapist to try (I don't currently have one), so I guess that may have been her solution, if she doesn't want to function as a therapist. And this therapist is male, which is good because for some reason, I've had better luck with male therapists in the past...don't know why?
Oh, another thing, when I told her I was thinking of changing from med to vet school, her reaction was, "well, you HAVE always been indecisive...I doubt that's going to change anytime soon!". Thanks...
And on the family situation...I think I really hurt my mom's feelings earlier today...long story...but that doesn't help things...keeping her at least minimally happy is usually my top goal (although I think I may resent her some for "forcing" me to stay alive when that's rarely my desire...sorry to mention that). OK, I said I wasn't going to complain...oops yet again...
I did just take a sleeping pill (it only lasts a few hours), so things are already getting fuzzy...I don't want to become some kind of druggie or anything, but at times like these I just want to escape, the mental and also the physical pain (my back is still killing me...ok, sorry, shouldn't say "killing" me :) oh well)
Thanks so much for the support and caring...it means a whole lot to hear that from you. I typically try to avoid sentimentality and gushing and that sort of thing...but I do want to say that you all are such a source of strength and support for me...I don't know what I would do without you, honestly. OK, that may be all the gushing I can manage right now! Oops, screen is getting blurry, guess it's time to try to take a nap...good "night" for now, and thanks again,
Rose
P.S. she did give me a new prescription for a sleep med that would last longer than my current one...since basically I will not sleep at all without any medication, and only a few hours with my current one. But to me, not being able to sleep isn't usually a symptom of depression (at least it hasn't been for me before...when I'm depressed, I sleep all the time). Oh well...yikes, now I've caught the hiccoughs, maybe I won't be able to sleep after all, lol!
Edited 6/2/2005 7:44 pm ET ET by rosa444