[DMACK]

Hello people

its been sometime since i wrote on this site............i'm due a 6 month Bi-polar check up on friday .........................but it will be the 9th doctor ive seen in three & half years, and each one says something diferent.



i go there armed with a letter describing............. to the....... T ..............my preVious 6 months................do they take notice.......................not a jot.

I FOR 3 YEARS HAVE BEEN ON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS. the anti pyscotics stopped after 3 month.......i have pleaded for a mood stabilizer but to no avail....

and all these bloomin assessments do is raise anxiety...........and make me feel XXXX IT...............................................

David

[bizi]

HI David,
Nice to see you today.
Perhaps this new one will pay attention to you.
Could you request to be started on lamictal?
Is it available there?
It is a mood stabilizer with anti depressant like qualities.
beth

[Abbie]

Hi David!! You've been missed!!!!

I'm so sorry to hear you are going through such a rough time... take the baby steps that you need and know that we are here if you fall... and if you want to stop and rest...well, we will sit with you.


6 months???? What the heck are they thinking?!?!?!

My Pdoc won't let me go 6 weeks without a BP check up.... plus I have to see the Tdoc at least every 2 weeks.

I understand the frustration of different docs... I have seen 4 different Pdocs since last June.

I hope this Doc listens to you... don't give up until he hears and understands what you are going through!!!! I wouldn't leave his office until he did.

BIG HUGS my dear friend!!
Thank you for checking in!!!

[Mari]

Hi,
It is good to see you.
I think I read that on your side of the pond, the pdocs use different criteria than the pdocs here do.
But it sounds worse than that. It sounds like the pdocs do not even use the same criteria among themselves.

Forget the 6 month thing. Bring a copy and keep it in your pocket

Focus on the last 4 weeks, with particular attention to the last week.
Maybe that can help the pdoc focus on exactly what info you need to tell him / her. Sometimes less is more.
If it turns out that you have not provided enough info, the pdoc can ask questions.

Make sure the pdoc is very clear about whatever issue you need him / her to know about to medicate you correctly.

Good luck.
Good meds can make a big difference for us.
I want you to feel that you have the best that is available.
And I want you to feel that the pdoc is hearing your concerns.

M.

[Brokenfriend]

I know what you mean. Hang in there. I hope that you get the medication that you need. BF

[waves]

well,

Pleased to meet you first of all!

I'm sorry you've had such a rough go of it... sad to say i've heard other stories which disgrace the medical profession in similar manner to what you describe... in your whereabouts if i'm guessing them correctly...

I wish you better luck this time! I DO believe no matter how rotten an overall situation is, that there are better and worse individuals.

I hope you find an intelligent, caring, and attentive individual this time.

ADs and no mood stabilizer to a bipolar??? why, that's just... that's not even by any sort of "book," you know??? gosh!

I like Beth's idea of Lamictal (generic name: lamotrigine) the only problem is that it does not really cover mania at all. it:

• potentiates antidepresants, by mild to moderate antidepressant effect
• increases elapsed time between mood episodes (reduces cycling speed)

So if you are already taking an AD and are not having serious problems with it, adding a mood stabilizer like

• divalproex sodium (US branded as Depakote),
• oxcarbazepine (US branded as Trileptal)
• carbamazepine (US branded as Tegretol) - this is an older drug from which oxcarbazepine was derived, however this one has many med and food interactions

and of course there is the old standard, lithium carbonate if you can stand-it lol.

But the most important thing is having a doctor who listens and hears!

Mari makes a good point about just perhaps bringing in your own notes for past 4 weeks-ish i like her idea. when docs have too much information in an appointment, they tend to just glaze over and the baby goes out with the bathwater.

Good Luck, and again, good to meet you!

~ waves ~