I fired my psychiatrist
 

Here's what happened.

I was very manic and causing problems at home, work and even church :(
So my wife and daughter and I went on vacation. I rode the harley because I had the need for speed :D. I came across a park in a bigger city that had a lot of homeless people hanging around. I started interacting with them and
handing out 20 dollar bills to anyone that would listen to the gospel.

I met a couple who I took to immediately. The man was an ex Hells Angel, and it was very obvious. I decided I was going to get them off of the street. Of course, as my mania progressed, so I thought, did my bank account, and I spent way more money that I ever should have. I ended up bringing the couple back to my small town and setting them up with a place for a month and buying them a used car. They were to get jobs and start paying the bills pronto. Of course they never did, after the rent ran out they wanted me to just keep paying it. When I wouldn't they asked if I would fill up their tank so they could get back to where I found them.

For several weeks I bought all kinds of things that I didn't need, it was crazy. At some point I went to get a tattoo and the tatto artist and his wife were moving and needed some money so I ended up giving them a large some of money. Oh well, I guess I'll be getting all those tattoos I've been wanting.

Somewhere in there I promised my wife I'd go to my psychiatrist and if he thought I needed to check myself in then I would. Well, he thought I needed to be in, so I voluntarily went in. But the problem was that I had put the couple up in a hotel until Friday and I felt it was of the utmost importance that I go get them and bring them back so that they would not have to spend another night on the street. That was obviously not so important because look what they did, rather than work, they choose to go back to the street. So after 2 nights I caused a bigstink at the hospital and to everyones dismay I checked myself out. This is when I went and picked up my ned friends and put them in an apartment. :eek:

But when I finally started coming to my senses and seeing all of the poor choices I was making. My wife and I went to my psychiatrist appointment and neither my wife nor the doc would really talk to me. They were busy deciding my fate. But if the psychiatrist would have given me a few minutes he would have known that I was out of the mania enough to be trusted again...he just wouldn't let me talk. So I said, "Hey I am the patient here, can I not talk?" And the doctor said, and I quote, "You are irrelevant". I looked at him like he was crazy and said "OK, then I'll just leave" and he never even tried to stop me. So I went and sat outside in the waiting room and waited for my wife. When they were through they both came out and again, he never tried to explain what he said, to lessen the effect. He simply said he'd see me in a week. I looked at him again like he was crazy and told him I'd never be back. A week or two later his secretary called to see if I was going to book an appointment and I said no.

So, when I went back to my family doctor I told him the story and he really thought I should give him another chance. He said my psychiatrist had called him and they talked about my recovery and treatment and he knew the guy, and thought it would be good if I just buried the hatchet and gave him another chance. My wife actually did not want to give him another chance, but I said I would since I really like my family doctor and trust his judgment.

So I called the psychiatrist office to make the appointment, when I told her my name she put me on hold. When she came back she said I was banned from the practice. Oh well, I guess they thought I was behaving like a child when I was deep in a mood, but if I was looking at him at that moment I would have been looking at him as if he were crazy. Is it normal for a psychiatrist to give up on someone that easy?

Gosh, I have no answers.

But to say call your primary back and tell them, that you've been banned
from the office. After he/she talked you into trying to go back.

Donna:grouphug:

that really stinks
 

I agree with Donna.

However, i will add that i am profoundly disgustedd by your psychiatrist's behavior.

maybe there is more to this than we know, but i have literally screamed at my psychiatrist for an hour straight and he more or less sat there. they are supposed to take care of us.

if you weren't "off your rocker" at least to some degree, forgive the term... you wouldn't NEED a psychiatrist. so what does he do, ban all patients that aren't symptom free? or does he pick and choose the ones that have only mild symptoms?

i personally would NOT WANT to go back there, unless iknew why this all happened, and was assured there would not be a repeat occurrence.

an apology directly from the pdoc would also be in order - even if someone in his staff MISTAKENLY told you you were banned - however i wouldnt' expect this. i have found that most doctors exempt themselves from the need for anything resembling an apology on their part, whether or not one is due.

i hope you find a good pdoc who treats you the way you deserve and looks out for you rather than shutting you out, when you need him the most.

~ waves ~

WEll I am very sorry that happened to you.
Your ex-pdoc stinks.
If you have not done so call your mdoc and make an appointment, you will need to manage your meds until you find a new pdoc.
that is what happened to me. my primary worked with me while I was manic until I could be seen by a new pdoc. I knew what I needed to take and she gave me what I needed.
Do you mind sharing what meds you take?
I take lamictal which helps with depression but not mania
geodon which helps keep me sane but I can still get manic if I obcess over things. klonipin to help me sleep.
bizi

Hi,

Some psychiatrists do this. . . . probably ones who have very little experience with manic patients.
I hope you have a good psychiatrist by now. How are you feeling these days?

M

It happens.
 

My psychiatrist moved between one of my appointments and the next one.

No joke. :rolleyes:

I left an appointment, nothing unusual, made an appointment for the following month. Showed up the next month, empty office. :o Sign said he'd moved. No one had called me, no post card telling me, nothing. :(

I thought about it, thought well they'll call when I don't show for my appointment. Nope. Never heard from him again. :confused: Went without a pdoc for a long time.

As it turns out he'd diagnosed me wrong, so in a way I was better off without him. I had been arguing with him a lot, saying i didnt think it was that i was just depressed, that I'd read up on that & i thought he was wrong. So i always thought he moved & didnt intend to tell me.

But I needed a psychiatrist. I'm lucky I had an excellent GP who kept me on the drugs that had been working fairly well.

So yeah, psychiatrists can screw up too. I think a lot of them go into the field to figure themselves out :D.

Thanks for all of the replies.

I definately didn't want to go back to him after he told me I was irrelevant :eek:, so I only made that last attempt because of mdoc. And yes, my mdoc is very comfortable giving me what drugs I need.

I've been doing fine sence I started on the lithium and seraquel.

Seems like most of the psychiatrists around here don't have openings for several months...is that normal all over the US?

Dmom3005 - I will defiantely tell him what happened, thanks.

Waves - I am profoundly disgusted too, and you're right, does he not know how to deal with patients that are "off their rocker" :D

Bizi - 1200 mg of Lithium, 100 mg of seraquel xr, 10 mg of ambien
.5 of ativan as needed (haven't needed in 6 weeks or so)

Mari - you may be right. When I showed up in his office manic (I met him depressed) and sporting a new tattoo on my left forearm he looked like he needed an ativan :rolleyes:

JudeLauren - That's just messed up, that's just seriously messed up :hug:

Hi,

Yes, in some places patients have trouble getting appointments for psychiatrists. People in big cities can have an easier time.

That combo of meds seems to be working for you.

Are you seeing a therapist or counselor? They can work with you to help you stay on the meds.


M.

Mari,

I am definately not in a big city.

As of now, I'm only seeing my mdoc. He has given me another referral for a pdoc that I really liked when I was in the hospital, but it will be a few months. I am very stable now and my mdoc is comfortable giving my monthly (or so) bloodstests to see how the lithium is doing. And the other meds required to keep me stable.

But I can guarantee you that between me and my wonderful wife, I will not be inclined to go off the meds.

I would be happy if the next blood test allowed me to drop down on the lithium, but if it calls for more lithium, I'd do that too.

I play raquetball 4 times a week, I was playing so good when I was manic :D but now with the other drugs my game has moved a little below par. But I'm just thanking God I can still play.

thank you for getting back to us. and I am very very happy that you are stabilizing on these new meds. and am very happy that your mdoc is willing to help while you wait.
very happy to hear that you have a supportive spouse...
being manic is a hardship to relationships....I know I have been there too.
I agree that you would benefit from a tdoc therapist....you have been thru so much,...
I hope that you have a good day.
Do you work?
bizi