I met with my pdoc yesterday.
I had prepared myself a bit...thinking about what I wanted to say.
I have been overwhelmed and dysfunctional. staring off into space. Unable to get things done. I told her I felt that it was due to the many years that I have been on meds that there was nothing she could do to help me that I just need to accept it.
I told her I cried twice over the holidays with my sisters over a stressful situation. I told them that I was worse. They were sympathetic.
I tried to do something relatively simple on the computer with jeff, I had asked him to help me figure out my airline tickets. I could not do that, jeff did it for me. I still have yet to buy the tickets, i don't think I am able to go with work.
Yet I feel I need to go on this trip.But I am afraid of traveling alone...would try to meet up with my sisters and then take a taxi together to the condo an hour away from the fort lauderdale airport to pampano beach.
My pdoc replied that she believed that Since I was in menopause This was the reason I was having these symptoms. She spent a great deal of time with me. She asked about me trying to see that counselor she had recommended last visit and I told her I called and she charges $120 an hour. I have a $4K deductable. We also talked about me not being able to say no. I agreed to see a couple of new clients who live an hour away on a saturday in a couple of weeks. The daughter told me that she makes the trip 3 times a week. pdoc said she was manipulating me into seeing her folks. I will go once to see how involved it is getting there, it is rural, town called iota.
She suggested all of the self care things that I really need to do to take care of myself.
lose weight,(up 20 pounds since august total 33 pounds since 11-1-15) watch my drinking, exercise, do cross word puzzles, maybe try natural hormones, she did lab work checking my testosterone levels last time and it is low so she suggested I get with my primary doctor and see if they would prescribe testosterone for me. (She said it could make me more aggressive, gee great) I need to see a gyn for my pap so maybe I can talk about that then with her. I also need to have my mammo and bone density test done.
She said the klonipin was to blame for cognitive function decline. I told her I did not want to change meds "we tried to do that last year and it was a disaster".
So in the end she was very supportive and theraputic and spent time with me, so I appreciated her. She wants to see me again in 4 months.
bizi

I'm very glad that your pdoc was "very supportive and therapeutic" during your visit. It seems like that is something you really needed, and I'm really glad that she was there for you
I like her a lot more now.

It sounds like she had some good ideas.
The therapist she picked out for you is very expensive. If you're interested, I'm sure you could find another one who charges less. Usually they will give you a break if you are paying out of pocket because they get a low reimbursement from insurance companies.

I know that she said she wants to see you in 4 months, but I'm sure if you want to see her sooner she would accommodate you.

I rechecked my notes about the therapist in particular. she charges 25 dollars more if she has to file through insurance. that stinks! But then again I wonder what her contracted rate is???? hmmmm
I just told jeff that I wanted to increase our monthly contributions to the health savings account for a total of $300 a month extra.
He balked and then I reminded him that I wanted to go into counseling....
sigh
I have been in therapy before, has not really helped but am willing to try again.
bizi

When you buy your plane ticket you can request a wheelchair.

The airline will get you through security and changing planes and so on.


(They provide the wheel chair person without asking why you need the help.)

M

Sometimes the objective of therapy can just be to have someone to talk to who can provide some feedback and help you cope with some issues in the short-term

Does Jeff realize you are having a hard time, even if he doesn't know exactly why?

I get a "long" session (40 min vs. 20) with my pdoc and her office submits a bill to the insurance co. for about $140, and they reimburse her for about $90. I haven't seen my therapist in a long time, and I don't remember what the costs were, but I would imagine they would be less?

When I saw my pdoc if she spends 15 minutes with me that is considered a med check and she charges me $95.
If we go over like we did on tuesday, she saw me for 30-40 minutes then she charges me $125. I am happy with that. She knows I pay out of pocket as she does not take insurances.
There is a place that is now having counseling services again called the family tree. Wonder what they would charge? I think it is for low income families but am not sure.
Bizi

That's not unreasonable for pdoc visits.

I hope that the Family Tree is accepting new patients of all kinds and has reasonable rates.

They had small signs up saying that they now had therapy sessions again but I did not see a phone number.
I should google them.
bizi

Sounds like a good plan. It would be great if they had a website... I wish everyone had websites. I hate making phone calls to fish for information.

I went in to the family tree today and made an appointment for next week tuesday morning at 8am. They charge me $60 an hour.
I can do that!
I want to deal with my addictive nature...food, alcohol and internet.
I am tired of this merry go round....
bizi