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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zonked on January 29, 2015, at 22:48:35
Ugh.
Today's appointment was not what I'd hoped, and I've waited months for it. It's not that the shrink won't keep me on my existing meds - he will, and they work well enough - but his mannerisms were very cold. I've had bad luck in Seattle with doctors. (Anyone else in King County WA know a doc well versed in TRD that takes patients with commercial insurance?)
I don't remember his exact words, but essentially he said "I don't know what I would do with you Mr. Zonked, if this stops working; I would send you for ECT but you don't want to do that, and I would also suggest a try of antipsychotics but you don't want to do that either."
Hardly the "compassionate" or "nonjudgmental care" he made the mission statement on his rather colorful flier. My (now retired) California psychiatrist always used to say things like, "Don't worry [Zonked], if this doesn't work we still have quite a few things left to try and look at." - and he respected the fact that there are certain treatments I will not entertain - ECT and antipsychotics being among them.
I *have* to believe I can find someone who is:
1. Up on his or her science
2. Compassionate, empathetic, and understandingI think when I get my inheritance, I am going to budget a substantial portion of it to see a doctor in private practice (cash) if necessary. Isn't it a shame that some of the very people who command the best expertise (treatment resistant folks like myself who've ended up on government aid to survive, and find the job market challenging to re-enter after so many years of not working) are denied access to it due to cost?
Blegh. At least he was willing to resume my Xanax at 1mg twice a day, I have been cutting way lower than I'm used to so I could survive until this appointment. (A lot of doctors in Washington seem to be benzophobic--way moreso than in California.)
Feedback please. If I seem like an incoherent rambling mess, I sort of am. Tomorrow I go from 0.25mg alpraz t.i.d (BIG GIANT OUCH!) back to 1mg b.i.d (WHEW).
I have heard many many times that "benzos are depressants, so they'll make you depressed." This isn't consistent with what I know about the science - yes they are CNS depressants but that doesn't necessarily mean they *cause* or worsen major depression, right? If I'm not mistaken Xanax, somewhat uniquely, promotes serotonin release along with hitting the BZD receptor and has antidepressant properties...
I'll try to keep my lunch down and hold my nose the next time I see this doctor until I find someone who treats me like a human being - I walked out of there feeling like a lab experiment...
-z
Posted by rjlockhart37 on January 30, 2015, at 0:59:37
In reply to Dealing with nasty doctors(hi, I've missed babble), posted by zonked on January 29, 2015, at 22:48:35
there are plenty of nasty doctors, i've got screwed over at a drug rehab, i was on vistiril, it's a antihistimine and i talked with the doctor, and he said he would make recomendations, he cut my dose without my permission to vary low and then removed it, you see.....i could f*ck*ng ramble on about doctors but you have to know there are cold blooded doctors, they will discharge you and not feel one tiny bit of caring......and then there's some who care vary much.....
nasty doctors, you just either say thank you and leave the office, call them a couple nasty names or insults, and just get a new doctor....don't think if your dealing with a difficult one, just trash them and get a new one
r
Posted by ed_uk2010 on January 30, 2015, at 6:44:52
In reply to Dealing with nasty doctors(hi, I've missed babble), posted by zonked on January 29, 2015, at 22:48:35
>"I don't know what I would do with you Mr. Zonked, if this stops working; I would send you for ECT but you don't want to do that, and I would also suggest a try of antipsychotics but you don't want to do that either."
Nice. I'm sure hearing that really improved your mental health.
I've seen awful doctors as well as kind ones. I've not seen any really great pdocs though.
If you come out feeling worse than you went in, there's clearly a problem. Still, be pleasant with him for now since he is at least prescribing the med you respond to when others have been unwilling!
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 30, 2015, at 7:42:53
In reply to Re: Dealing with nasty doctors(hi, I've missed babble), posted by ed_uk2010 on January 30, 2015, at 6:44:52
pdocs generally aren't that great. "Science" ? Whaaaa?!?!
Its psychiatry. Dogma, prescribing trends, etc. reign supreme.
Xanx was sometimes used for depression w/o an AD, back in the day. Now its regarded as the crack of the benzos.
I wish you the best of luck. Honestly, I think female shrinks are easier to work with than the men.
Good luck!
Posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2015, at 9:29:29
In reply to Dealing with nasty doctors(hi, I've missed babble), posted by zonked on January 29, 2015, at 22:48:35
I've always heard the same about xanax and remain on a dose of .75mg a day. None during day just at night. In the beginning years it just relaxed me throughout the day. But 44 years later it seems to just make me tired. I wonder why? Also still the same 7.5mg of valium. I see a pdoc for same reason for the scripts as he never has a thing to say. At least so far I survive. Phillipa
Posted by Tomatheus on January 30, 2015, at 13:07:30
In reply to Dealing with nasty doctors(hi, I've missed babble), posted by zonked on January 29, 2015, at 22:48:35
Zonked,
I think it's really too bad that the doctor you saw yesterday came across as being rather cold and at least somewhat lacking in compassion. I certainly think it's unfortunate that many of us have to "settle" for treatment professionals who don't meet what I'd consider to be reasonable expectations as far as the level of care they provide is concerned. As I was just saying in another thread, I'm sticking with my current psychiatrist for the moment because he does prescribe the dose of Abilify that seems to suit me best, even though the level of interest he shows in my case seems to be practically nonexistent. This isn't ideal, of course, and I don't know if I'd necessarily recommend that everybody do as I do in my dealings with my psychiatrist, but it's what I've decided to do for now.
It is a shame, though, in my opinion, that more mental-health doctors don't seem to treat the patients that they see as human beings who are worthy of respect and understanding. Maybe some doctors who treat patients with mental illnesses assume that because they prescribe pills and therapists spend more time listening to and talking to those of us with mental illnesses that they don't have to be compassionate toward us. And maybe they'd be right that they don't *have* to be compassionate toward us, but I personally think that it sure is nice when others do more than the bare minimum of what they "have" to do and at least treat others as they'd like to be treated themselves.
At any rate, I think that what Ed wrote about being pleasant with your current doctor for now makes sense, even though it may not seem fair that you need to show him respect when he doesn't seem to return it. Negativity can be contagious, and sometimes the best way to stop the flow of negativity and disrespect is to take the higher ground and to be pleasant and respectful with those who might not necessarily be the same way with you. Of course, this is easier said than done, especially when you've got various symptoms to contend with, but it's what I'd recommend.
Take care, Zonked.
Tomatheus
Posted by zonked on January 30, 2015, at 18:07:34
In reply to Re: Dealing with nasty doctors(hi, I've missed babble), posted by Christ_empowered on January 30, 2015, at 7:42:53
> pdocs generally aren't that great. "Science" ? Whaaaa?!?!
>
> Its psychiatry. Dogma, prescribing trends, etc. reign supreme.Eww. Sometimes the truth hurts. :(
> Xanx was sometimes used for depression w/o an AD, back in the day. Now its regarded as the crack of the benzos.
>An unfair reputation. There's a reason it's in C-IV not II and has stayed there (otherwise, wouldn't they have rescheduled it by now?)
> I wish you the best of luck. Honestly, I think female shrinks are easier to work with than the men.
>
I wish it were that simple - one of the kindest and smartest docs I've ever worked with (now retired) was male. But I know what you mean.> Good luck!
I need LOTS of it. I am pondering budgeting to see a practice I've worked with before that does not take insurance of any kind but it would also make things financially difficult for me for awhile.
-z
Posted by baseball55 on January 30, 2015, at 21:51:56
In reply to Re: Dealing with nasty doctors(hi, I've missed babble), posted by ed_uk2010 on January 30, 2015, at 6:44:52
> I've seen awful doctors as well as kind ones. I've not seen any really great pdocs though.
>
I'm an outlier I guess. I have had wonderful experiences with psychiatrists. People who are brilliant, compassionate and willing to consider anything.
Posted by jazelle on February 3, 2015, at 17:19:24
In reply to Re: Dealing with nasty doctors(hi, I've missed babble) » ed_uk2010, posted by baseball55 on January 30, 2015, at 21:51:56
I am new here, but have had plenty of experience with a variety of psychiatrists regarding meds over the years. Quite a few of them that I have seen have been very distant and unpleasant. Dealing with them made me feel so cast adrift and on my own.
I agree with previous poster who said to remain pleasant...at least appropriate with him until you can find someone better. At least you are getting your meds, but there are others who not only prescribe, but by saying very little, express concern and respect for their patients.
I am fortunate to have finally found one that doesn't seem crazier than me and actually makes me feel that he cares. He has never told me there is nothing left to try med wise (and I've tried many)and willing to make adjustments or changes and try something different. He did tell me once that because of my long history or treatment resistant depression, ECT might be something to consider. I decided not to and am taking combo of Effexor and Prozac which keeps me out of the deepest depression.
Good luck with your care. There is so much in the news about depression and available treatment, but a good doctor is not easy to find and when one is depressed with no energy, almost an impossible task it seems. At least that is how it felt for me.
I wish you well
Posted by phidippus on February 10, 2015, at 15:17:16
In reply to Dealing with nasty doctors(hi, I've missed babble), posted by zonked on January 29, 2015, at 22:48:35
>"I don't know what I would do with you Mr. Zonked, if this stops working; I would send you for ECT but you don't want to do that, and I would also suggest a try of antipsychotics but you don't want to do that either."
Hardly the "compassionate" or "nonjudgmental care" he made the mission statement on his rather colorful flier.
I don't think he was trying to be discompassionate or judgemental. It just sounds like he reached the limits of his knowledge.
Why no ECT or antipsychotics?
What's your diagnosis?
Eric
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