Posted by whitmore on December 5, 2010, at 14:37:22
My family practitioner is pretty open-minded when it comes to prescribing meds. Serzone, T3, she's ok within reasonable limits. I am in crisis right now with terrible cognitive decline, anxiety and depression, but am convinced I have something physically wrong with me. I have suffered from anxiety my entire life, but this desperate depression and confusion is new. I used to have quite a high IQ, but now have trouble with speech, which is the most frightening aspect of the whole thing. My FP suggested I go and see a pdoc in order to get a referral to a neurologist in NYC or Philly(I'm in Princeton NJ). She did not think I'd find any meaningful neurological help locally. I was recommended a pdoc by my old one(not taking new pats. at the time) and went for an initial evaluation. He talked of memantine or stimulants to help with attention/cognition, which seemed encouraging, and prescribed ritalin--sounded like he might be creative. However, ritalin made me more confused. During the intitial session, he suggested that I get tested for learning disabilities(I'm nearly 60 years old for God's sake--what on earth would the benefit of this be?). Anyway, I went back again, and he gave me Xanax SR to keep me asleep(I take regular Xanax, but have to take it twice during the night, to stay asleep). It sounded like a good idea at the time, but when I looked up the half-life on the internet I felt I could not risk being even more confused during the day at work. I went back again(now $600 out of pocket) when he gave me a lengthy story about someone similar to me who was convinced something was wrong, no-one could find anything, until eventually she had a very sensitive test which found a tumour on her pituitary. After surgery, everything was resolved. Then he started to talk about the fact that he couldn't help me unless I accepted my condition. I asked him if he would prescribe Serzone. He said he wouldn't because of the liver issues. T3 up to 50 mcg only--because of the perceived risk of osteoporosis, even though I take estrogen. The only thing he suggested was to increase my Zoloft to 25 mg, advice I could have got from my family doctor for the cost of co-pays.
I believe at this point I am wasting my money. How could I have interviewed him ahead of time and prevented having to waste $600 of my hard-earned money? Also, is it OK for me to call him and try to get the name of someone who could give me a brain scan? Do docs. answer questions like this outside of session? Or is that another $150?
poster:whitmore
thread:972602
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20101203/msgs/972602.html