Posted by Mitch on May 28, 2001, at 16:25:30
In reply to Re: Bad doctors (Dr. Bob, someone, help!), posted by Marissa on May 28, 2001, at 12:58:09
Marissa,
I have had an experience like that once. Just an intuition on my part here: Sometimes I think that some doctors screen their patients by being this way (on purpose!). If he thinks that you are going to have a lot of trouble with meds and you will be wanting to switch them all the time, he may already have made up his mind that he would prefer you just find somebody else-so instead of directly hurting your feelings you get this ego/asshole thing that is intended to get YOU to change doctors. That way all or most of his patients are passive, stable, pay their bills, and create the least headaches for him!
I wouldn't fool around with him if you get an obvious intense first impression like that-just find someone else!good luck
Mitch> > I am really struggling to find a good doctor. The doctor-patient relationship can have a big power imbalance, which I don't like -- I want a doctor and I to work TOGETHER on helping me, I don't want to just do whatever he says. Yesterday I went to a doctor for the first time, and withing 15 minutes he thought he had everything all figured out, and wanted to change me over to Effexor. He said "Depression is treated with serotonin, not norepinepherine", even though I told him that the norepinepherine drugs tend to work better for me than the more serotonergic ones. Right now I take desipramine, levothroid, and Wellbutrin, and I wanted to switch the Wellbutrin to Provigil because Wellbutrin doesn't help my depression. He said "If you want me to help you, I can help you, but I won't fight with you. I'm not going to do what you want me to do. I've been a pharmacologist since before you were born." What the hell is this power struggle crap?! I was very shy and passive during the whole appointment, and I quietly said that I don't want to mess with serotonin drugs again (I've tried 4 without success), and that's the reaction I got! When we were walking out of the office, he told his
> > receptionist to make an appointment for me with the therapist he works with, even though I never said I wanted a therapist, much less that one. Clearly, he is controlling, egotistical, and thinks he knows it all. I've had depression for 11 years, and a doctor should not make decisions about my treatment within 15 minutes of meeting me. What can I do? I need a doctor who will try new things with me and tailor the treatment to me, since I've tried at least a dozen antidepressants, all with insufficient effectiveness and awful side effects. I live in Atlanta, and need to find a doctor in the area. Psychiatrists shouldn't belittle you and leave you in tears. Please someone help if you can.
poster:Mitch
thread:57824
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010522/msgs/64524.html