Posted by ksvt on December 2, 2000, at 14:35:17
In reply to Re: Thanks for alot of good advice » ksvt, posted by shellie on December 2, 2000, at 10:57:53
> Shellie - how long did you stick with the 2 pdocs you eventually left? Was it awkward making that switch? Thanks ksvt
Hi ksvt:
>
> My situation in finding a pdoc was a bit different, because my therapist was not involved with helping me find a new one (the doctors she works with I already knew from being in the hospital years ago--they all work with dissociative disorders.) The one we both really liked wasn't accepting my insurance anymore, so that's why I was leaving. So I didn't have to deal with treading on her toes, if I disagreed with her re pdocs.
>
> For me, these were my issues that I asked: (1) Had they had experience with hard to treat depression (and in my case dissociative disorders also) (2) Would they be willing to combine drugs with an MAOI if there was literature about it, even if it wasn’t sanctioned by the PDR. (3) How available are they by phone? I said I needed a lot of support when I am changing meds and would they be willing to provide frequent five minute conversations. (4) Would they trust me, if I said, "this doesn’t feel right to me." –actually trust my many years of experience.
>
>
> I tried two docs , one who saw you often for less than fifteen minutes, and one who had twenty minutes appointments: these particular physicians were known in my area for treating depression. The shorter appointments did not work for me, and I ended up leaving both of them and going back to my first pdoc, paying her out of pocket, and figuring when I am again stable then I will switch pdocs.
>
> So next time I look for a pdoc I will also ask how long their medication appts are; as opposed to the first appointment. Fifteen minutes is not acceptable to me because I come in with a lot questions, and 1/2 hour until I am stable on a med is the least I would be willing to accept.
>
> Our needs may be different, so you need to take some time to think about what YOU need from a pdoc, and articulate that to them. Mostly I used the things I liked from my old pdoc, so it wasn’t that difficult to come up with a list; and you also have that advantage.
>
> During most "interviews", the pdoc is quite willing to ask all the questions, so I found it helpful to bring in my list in written form. That way they knew I had concrete questions and allowed me the time for them. Somehow it helped shift the interview from them interviewing me to me interviewing them.
>
> Hope this is a bit helpful, shellie
poster:ksvt
thread:3353
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20001117/msgs/3393.html