Posted by ace on December 6, 2010, at 0:20:30
In reply to How could I have avoided this? New pdoc--bad!!, posted by whitmore on December 5, 2010, at 14:37:22
> My family practitioner is pretty open-minded when it comes to prescribing meds.
Generally they are more so than psychiatrists!
I am in crisis right now with terrible cognitive decline, anxiety and depression, but am convinced I have something physically wrong with me.
You mean you are concerned about the way a body part looks? Or you are concerned about a possible health prob?
I have suffered from anxiety my entire life, but this desperate depression and confusion is new.A desperate depression requires intervention ASAP.
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.
I would see the family doctor, get complete tests, exclude any physical diagnosis, and if necessary then get a referral to a neurologist from the family practitioner.
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.
Be vary vary wary of these psychostimulants. Drinking an energy drink is not so bad, but I've seen kids who have been on Ritalin for years become extremely disordered in many ways. These drugs are basically speed!
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?)Why? A learning disability in what? You seem to articulate yourself well enough here. Your complaints are not congruent with someone suffering a 'learning disability'
. 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.
Xanax, IMO, is a very very good drug, for a wide spectrum of problems. However it has been abused by people who do not need it, and cognitive impairment is possible s/effect.
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.You should say "Let's listen to each other and accept and reflect on what we both say" If he doesn't like that I'd find a new one.
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.
That risk is very low.
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.Increase to 25mg???
what dose are you on??
I know you are near 60 y/o but less than 25mg seems like a ridiculous dose (even though Zoloft on any dose doesn't seem to help the majority of patients)
My advice is to DROP the Zoloft. and go back and ask for a TCA or an MAOI. if they say no, find the one who says yes.
> 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?Ring them up. It sounds mean, but a lot of them will happily take your money without a conscious.
Also, is it OK for me to call him and try to get the name of someone who could give me a brain scan?
Yes! Of course it is! You have the right to call any doctor in the world to find out who can.
Do docs. answer questions like this outside of session? Or is that another $150?
In Australia they DO. I would assume they would where you are located.
These doctors are only human too, a lot of them aren't always as stable as they appear!
poster:ace
thread:972602
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20101203/msgs/972656.html