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3rd rock
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Default May 16, 2019 at 09:55 PM
  #1
Hello, this is my first post on this forum. I'm quite despondent. The psychiatrist I've been seeing for the past few months is completely unhelpful and about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.

Briefly, I have been living with chronic, persistent depression for around 15 years. I'm 32 now. I have been hospitalized in the past for attempted suicide. I won't go into any details about that. Recently, I began seeing a psychiatrist again after having gone without one for a period of around four years. I originally requested a referral back to see a psychiatrist owing to a general decline in my mental health, perhaps owing to my medications losing effectiveness over time.

I have been off work for about four weeks now. This psychiatrist is unwilling to prescribe any new medications, make a referral for ECT, or write me a letter for my employer to give me any further time off. My general mental health has only worsened since I've begun seeing her, and I know that returning to work now would not be manageable. I'm certain that I would immediately revert to old habits; calling in sick 2-4 times per week, getting into heated arguments with co-workers, working so slowly as to attract the attention of a particular supervisor, etc. On the phone with the psychiatrist today, she point-blank told me that if I have a problem with her unwillingness to help, I can call my GP and get her to do it, which made me simultaneously infuriated and despondent.

I will be seeing my GP next week and I hope she will help. I've been seeing her since I was a small child so I know what to expect. I will ask my GP to start me on a new medication, one of the antidepressants I haven't tried yet, and to write me letters for my employer. I'm in this state where I need medical treatment in order to become functional again, but for some reason my psychiatrist is unwilling to do anything at all. I have nowhere to turn for help, as I have few friends, none of whom I trust with these subjects. I believe my GP will help me, but I'm still despondent at having to go through this. I requested a referral to see a psychiatrist again in order to get better, but this psychiatrist is only making things worse. It's making me feel acutely in pain.

It's particularly frustrating because the last psychiatrist I saw, years prior at the same office, was the complete opposite of the current one. He was helpful, compassionate, willing to listen, and willing to move mountains to help.

Aside from seeking help from my GP, what can I do? What have you done if you've encountered an unhelpful psychiatrist?
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Default May 17, 2019 at 02:29 AM
  #2
I did nothing. (Disengaged and then did nothing) Have not re-engaged with anyone new.


I am tired of trying to find the "right fit" - and being blamed when it doesn't work.

Thankfully it sounds like you have a wonderful GP.

I don't know how your health care system works and if you can ask for another psychiatrist.

I locked horns with the last counselor and my health care provider did not offer the option of someone else. When they don't want to hear you out it is frustrating.

I think you need to express to your GP exactly what you expressed here.


Good luck.

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Default May 17, 2019 at 02:41 AM
  #3
OH my GOD! I am so MAD for you! Seriously, I never get mad over posts like I am now. What a total **** your p-doc is! Can you get a referral to someone else? The liability that your doc is ignoring is profound. What if, god forbid, you harmed yourself due to the fact that she will not prescribe meds or help you with being off work? Does this doc realize you could sue them? I think when things are more stable you need to file a formal complaint to whatever board oversees docs in Canada. This is beyond negligent. Its cruel and terrible and unbelievable. Make sure you tell your GP everything and see what they say to do. Do not let that asshole doctor get away with this!

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Trig May 17, 2019 at 03:05 AM
  #4
Quote:
Originally Posted by sarahsweets View Post
OH my GOD! I am so MAD for you! Seriously, I never get mad over posts like I am now. What a total **** your p-doc is! Can you get a referral to someone else? The liability that your doc is ignoring is profound. What if, god forbid, you harmed yourself due to the fact that she will not prescribe meds or help you with being off work? Does this doc realize you could sue them? I think when things are more stable you need to file a formal complaint to whatever board oversees docs in Canada. This is beyond negligent. Its cruel and terrible and unbelievable. Make sure you tell your GP everything and see what they say to do. Do not let that asshole doctor get away with this!




I can understand where you are coming from...but will they really get sued?I read about a lady in California who has the same HMO as I do...who was not getting proper treatment (according to her and how she was feeling worse and worse) despite trying for months. One day she drove to the facility and jumped off the roof. Later the HMO were not liable and not sued. They said she was being treated properly. I think she was waiting on a medication change.

Wouldn't it serve the OP better to see if he can get his GP on this side as a real advocate for his treatment?

I was left hanging with untreated depression. It's been terrible. My HMO completely dropped the ball.

I like your passion, though, about this situation. It's so...right on accurate.

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Default May 17, 2019 at 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by sarahsweets View Post
OH my GOD! I am so MAD for you! Seriously, I never get mad over posts like I am now. What a total **** your p-doc is! Can you get a referral to someone else? The liability that your doc is ignoring is profound. What if, god forbid, you harmed yourself due to the fact that she will not prescribe meds or help you with being off work? Does this doc realize you could sue them? I think when things are more stable you need to file a formal complaint to whatever board oversees docs in Canada. This is beyond negligent. Its cruel and terrible and unbelievable. Make sure you tell your GP everything and see what they say to do. Do not let that asshole doctor get away with this!
I thank you for your passion. I'm not sure that filing a complaint would be very helpful. I don't know what my options are because I've never had this problem before.

Part of the problem is that this psychiatrist tells me that she believes treatment has to be multifaceted, or something like that, and she believes that medication and/or ECT won't help me deal with the deep-seated psychological issues that are behind my chronic mental illness, no more than previous medications have. I agree with this, in a way; I believe that medications are an essential precondition to address the crippling depression which causes in my case a severe inability to function on a day-to-day basis, and once this is achieved I can take other steps to address other facets of the problem. However, as long as this psychiatrist is unwilling to try any new medications or refer me for ECT, I'm lost and totally unable to function.

I have tried many medications over the years, but there are many more that I've yet to try. The medication that worked previously is losing its effectiveness, which as I understand it is a common occurrence. Until I get medication in place which can be effective again, I'm stuck. I have an appointment with my GP next week, until then I'm going to be extremely anxious and despondent about this.
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Default May 17, 2019 at 09:05 PM
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explain everything to the gp...see if he knows anyone...she may have contacts that you are unaware of...even if it might be a nurse practitioner. in some areas there is a real shortage of psychiatrists..i know where I am the hospital has been trying to fill a slot for over 2.5 years now.
if he will prescribe the meds for you that's a bonus. ect you might have to wait for a psychiatrist for.

just because dr's are in the same office does not guarantee they will all be of the same personality and practice. actually to be honest, you want them to be different...it offers the best options to patients...why have 5 dr's with the exact same personality and background when you can have a few different..not every patient respond to the same type of care...and erach dr may specialize in a different focus of treatment. it is unfortunate that this current dr does not mesh well with you. have you asked her why? when I had one who was not working well with me I did just that...I may not have gotten the answer I liked but at least I got an answer.

I do hope you find some help from your gp.
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Default May 19, 2019 at 05:44 PM
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Default May 21, 2019 at 01:44 PM
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Apparently the psychiatrist went out of her way to write on my disability that I would be returning to work today, even though I told her I wouldn't. She said I should go to my GP if I needed any further time off, but neglected to mention she'd written today as my return date on the application for disability benefits. When I was at my GP today, she (GP) said she'd gladly help with any disability application, and the benefits plan said they'd send me another form to get filled out for the remainder of my time off. I guess it's more of a bureaucratic headache than anything else. But it really feels like the psychiatrist is undermining me.
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