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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Amanda S on April 2, 2000, at 9:22:51
It all started last thursday. I called the docs office to see if I could take metabolite (natural weight loss pill- except for the ephdran). She said I couldn't take it. That message was sent via receptionist. No reason why. I tried calling back that day and all Friday, but no response. I also decided again that I didn't want to take lamictal anymore because of my hair loss. I'd rather be moody than lose my hair. I tried getting off it once already, but talked myself back into it. Saturday afternoon my husband called the answering service for my pdocs office and told the operator it was an emergency that my therapist needed to call us. He shouldn't of said it was an emergency, but when noone returns your calls, it's frustrating. She did call immediately and my husband quickly reminded her about our last visit. She said, "If you ever need to speak to Dr.Pat and she doesn't return your call, then call the answering service once again and have them get in touch with me and I will make sure DR.Pat will get the message." She wanted to speak to me and I told her I wanted to get off the lamictal asap. She said, " If you can't abide by our treatment than you need to find another doctor." She also said she wouldn't call Dr. Pat, because she said I wouldn't lose my hair by Thursday. I knew that, but I was uncertain about weaning myself off the lamictal. I have gone cold turkey before and it was awful. I am embarrassed about seeing Dr. Pat (the psychiatrist). I need to find something to replace the lamictal so I have to go see her again to find out what to do. Don't have time yet to find anther damn doctor. Will be going to Mexico in a couple of weeks. I am looking for support here, did I do the wrong thing, I am not a bothersome person, I only see my therapist every other week and I only take one kind of medicine except for klonopin every now and then. She really made me feel bad. Also, they got a new receptionist and she is very rude and I am not the only one that has had problems with her. Thank you for listening.
Posted by DC on April 2, 2000, at 23:42:46
In reply to mad at therapist. Am on a Quest to find new drug, posted by Amanda S on April 2, 2000, at 9:22:51
These damn doctors. The one I am seeing now has tried to give me major guilt trips for leaving a message on his answer machine. He told me to call me if I was having trouble sleeping and he would give me something stronger. I called him. He acted extremely exasperated, as if I were making a HUGE imposition on him. I think a lot of Pdocs are like this. It really makes me sick. These guys are charging $150 an hour or more. Anybody who is making a sinful amount like that should be able to handle a few phone calls of patients who are adjusting to new meds. GREEDY BASTARDS!
Posted by DC on April 2, 2000, at 23:46:41
In reply to mad at therapist. Am on a Quest to find new drug, posted by Amanda S on April 2, 2000, at 9:22:51
Oh yes, and the brainless secretaries and nurses do whatever the boss says. One of their major duties, it seems, is to prevent as many phone calls as possible from reaching the doctor. He won't talk to you at all unless he's getting paid! GREEDY BASTARDS!
> It all started last thursday. I called the docs office to see if I could take metabolite (natural weight loss pill- except for the ephdran). She said I couldn't take it. That message was sent via receptionist. No reason why. I tried calling back that day and all Friday, but no response. I also decided again that I didn't want to take lamictal anymore because of my hair loss. I'd rather be moody than lose my hair. I tried getting off it once already, but talked myself back into it. Saturday afternoon my husband called the answering service for my pdocs office and told the operator it was an emergency that my therapist needed to call us. He shouldn't of said it was an emergency, but when noone returns your calls, it's frustrating. She did call immediately and my husband quickly reminded her about our last visit. She said, "If you ever need to speak to Dr.Pat and she doesn't return your call, then call the answering service once again and have them get in touch with me and I will make sure DR.Pat will get the message." She wanted to speak to me and I told her I wanted to get off the lamictal asap. She said, " If you can't abide by our treatment than you need to find another doctor." She also said she wouldn't call Dr. Pat, because she said I wouldn't lose my hair by Thursday. I knew that, but I was uncertain about weaning myself off the lamictal. I have gone cold turkey before and it was awful. I am embarrassed about seeing Dr. Pat (the psychiatrist). I need to find something to replace the lamictal so I have to go see her again to find out what to do. Don't have time yet to find anther damn doctor. Will be going to Mexico in a couple of weeks. I am looking for support here, did I do the wrong thing, I am not a bothersome person, I only see my therapist every other week and I only take one kind of medicine except for klonopin every now and then. She really made me feel bad. Also, they got a new receptionist and she is very rude and I am not the only one that has had problems with her. Thank you for listening.
Posted by Cindy W on April 3, 2000, at 7:58:22
In reply to Re: mad at therapist. Am on a Quest to find new drug, posted by DC on April 2, 2000, at 23:46:41
> Oh yes, and the brainless secretaries and nurses do whatever the boss says. One of their major duties, it seems, is to prevent as many phone calls as possible from reaching the doctor. He won't talk to you at all unless he's getting paid! GREEDY BASTARDS!
>
> > It all started last thursday. I called the docs office to see if I could take metabolite (natural weight loss pill- except for the ephdran). She said I couldn't take it. That message was sent via receptionist. No reason why. I tried calling back that day and all Friday, but no response. I also decided again that I didn't want to take lamictal anymore because of my hair loss. I'd rather be moody than lose my hair. I tried getting off it once already, but talked myself back into it. Saturday afternoon my husband called the answering service for my pdocs office and told the operator it was an emergency that my therapist needed to call us. He shouldn't of said it was an emergency, but when noone returns your calls, it's frustrating. She did call immediately and my husband quickly reminded her about our last visit. She said, "If you ever need to speak to Dr.Pat and she doesn't return your call, then call the answering service once again and have them get in touch with me and I will make sure DR.Pat will get the message." She wanted to speak to me and I told her I wanted to get off the lamictal asap. She said, " If you can't abide by our treatment than you need to find another doctor." She also said she wouldn't call Dr. Pat, because she said I wouldn't lose my hair by Thursday. I knew that, but I was uncertain about weaning myself off the lamictal. I have gone cold turkey before and it was awful. I am embarrassed about seeing Dr. Pat (the psychiatrist). I need to find something to replace the lamictal so I have to go see her again to find out what to do. Don't have time yet to find anther damn doctor. Will be going to Mexico in a couple of weeks. I am looking for support here, did I do the wrong thing, I am not a bothersome person, I only see my therapist every other week and I only take one kind of medicine except for klonopin every now and then. She really made me feel bad. Also, they got a new receptionist and she is very rude and I am not the only one that has had problems with her. Thank you for listening.
DC, I'm sorry you have had such a bad experience with your pdoc. Would suggest you change to another. I'm very happy with my pdoc and his staff. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Hope things get better for you!
Posted by Sherry on April 3, 2000, at 8:47:04
In reply to I can relate, posted by DC on April 2, 2000, at 23:42:46
I agree totally with DC. GREEDY BASTARDS! I think you handled the situation accordingly. Desperation calls for desperate measures, and after all you did try to call through the week and got no reply. I do think you should be searching for a new doctor, but until then, go in there and face Dr. Pat with no reservations. You have nothing to be embarressed about. Chin up girl!
~Sherry> These damn doctors. The one I am seeing now has tried to give me major guilt trips for leaving a message on his answer machine. He told me to call me if I was having trouble sleeping and he would give me something stronger. I called him. He acted extremely exasperated, as if I were making a HUGE imposition on him. I think a lot of Pdocs are like this. It really makes me sick. These guys are charging $150 an hour or more. Anybody who is making a sinful amount like that should be able to handle a few phone calls of patients who are adjusting to new meds. GREEDY BASTARDS!
Posted by Greg on April 3, 2000, at 14:09:19
In reply to mad at therapist. Am on a Quest to find new drug, posted by Amanda S on April 2, 2000, at 9:22:51
Amanda,
Been there, done that.You have every right to expect your doctor to respond to your needs in a reasonable amount of time! It doesn't matter how unimportant you or the doctor might consider your problem to be. Your health is primary and you deserve to be treated that way. My doc has told me that he wants me to contact him immediately with anything I feel is a problem. He always responds within a few hours, this is the way all patients should be treated. It sounds like to me that a change is in order.....quickly! Don't feel guilty when you see your doc, tell him/her that you don't appreciate the way you were treated and insist that it never happen again. And be sure to report the receptionist, there's no excuse for that kind of behavior either.Best of luck,
Greg> It all started last thursday. I called the docs office to see if I could take metabolite (natural weight loss pill- except for the ephdran). She said I couldn't take it. That message was sent via receptionist. No reason why. I tried calling back that day and all Friday, but no response. I also decided again that I didn't want to take lamictal anymore because of my hair loss. I'd rather be moody than lose my hair. I tried getting off it once already, but talked myself back into it. Saturday afternoon my husband called the answering service for my pdocs office and told the operator it was an emergency that my therapist needed to call us. He shouldn't of said it was an emergency, but when noone returns your calls, it's frustrating. She did call immediately and my husband quickly reminded her about our last visit. She said, "If you ever need to speak to Dr.Pat and she doesn't return your call, then call the answering service once again and have them get in touch with me and I will make sure DR.Pat will get the message." She wanted to speak to me and I told her I wanted to get off the lamictal asap. She said, " If you can't abide by our treatment than you need to find another doctor." She also said she wouldn't call Dr. Pat, because she said I wouldn't lose my hair by Thursday. I knew that, but I was uncertain about weaning myself off the lamictal. I have gone cold turkey before and it was awful. I am embarrassed about seeing Dr. Pat (the psychiatrist). I need to find something to replace the lamictal so I have to go see her again to find out what to do. Don't have time yet to find anther damn doctor. Will be going to Mexico in a couple of weeks. I am looking for support here, did I do the wrong thing, I am not a bothersome person, I only see my therapist every other week and I only take one kind of medicine except for klonopin every now and then. She really made me feel bad. Also, they got a new receptionist and she is very rude and I am not the only one that has had problems with her. Thank you for listening.
Posted by saint james on April 3, 2000, at 17:53:03
In reply to mad at therapist. Am on a Quest to find new drug, posted by Amanda S on April 2, 2000, at 9:22:51
> It all started last thursday. I called the docs office to see if I could take metabolite (natural weight loss pill- except for the ephdran). She said I couldn't take it. That message was sent via receptionist. No reason why.
James here....
It is well known that depressives and bi-polars should not take weight-loss meds. I assume you are bi-polar and these kind of drugs can start a manic phase.
james
Posted by KarenK on April 4, 2000, at 9:15:34
In reply to Re: mad at therapist. Am on a Quest to find new drug, posted by saint james on April 3, 2000, at 17:53:03
If you're happy with the doctor, I would tell the doctor perhaps in writing about your experience with the receptionist. If he cares about his patients, he may replace her. If you don't like the pdoc, I would bolt.
Ephedra, also know as ma huang, is a Chinese herbal version of speed. It's put into a lot of weight loss products to eliminate constipation. You can get diarhea from it. I go to a Chinese herbalist from time to time and I have taken herbal mixtures with ma huang. I have GAD and I had no bad side effects but I wouldn't take it over the counter. I also don't know how it would affect bipolar. I looked at the ingredients in Metabolite and I wouldn't feel comfortable taking it myself. Hope this helps.
Posted by Anna P. on April 5, 2000, at 20:12:24
In reply to mad at therapist. Am on a Quest to find new drug, posted by Amanda S on April 2, 2000, at 9:22:51
> Amanda, I can understand your frustration...
I have a similar problem and
I have a question: have you ever tried Topamax?
The reason I'm asking is that my Pdoc suggested it,because nothing works for me
on a long term. Still I didn't want to try it, as I'm affraid about the cognitive
problems it can possibly cause. I think it's the worst side effect of all.Anyway, I had also hair problems while on Moclobemide.
Anna P.
Posted by Amanda S on April 6, 2000, at 16:46:06
In reply to Re: The other options..., posted by Anna P. on April 5, 2000, at 20:12:24
Anna, I tried topomax and like every other drug I have tried it made me extremely tired and drugged feeling. Iwas on the smallest dose once a day. I don't think you are suppose to drink alcoholic beverages with it which I have aproblem with because I enjoy a glass of wine or two and maybe a couple of beers. Don't know what the other side effects are. Maybe Cam may know. I am just paranoid about the hair loss. I am not taking the lamictal anymore until I know for sure that it was causing my hairloss. My problem right now since getting off is my mind is muddied or cluttered the thoughts are racing and I can't stop them. Do you ever feel like that? Thank you for responding. Amanda from the lowcountry
Posted by Anna P. on April 7, 2000, at 12:25:53
In reply to Re: The other options..., posted by Amanda S on April 6, 2000, at 16:46:06
> Anna, I tried topomax and like every other drug I have tried it made me extremely tired and drugged feeling. Iwas on the smallest dose once a day. I don't think you are suppose to drink alcoholic beverages with it which I have aproblem with because I enjoy a glass of wine or two and maybe a couple of beers. Don't know what the other side effects are. Maybe Cam may know. I am just paranoid about the hair loss. I am not taking the lamictal anymore until I know for sure that it was causing my hairloss. My problem right now since getting off is my mind is muddied or cluttered the thoughts are racing and I can't stop them. Do you ever feel like that? Thank you for responding. Amanda from the lowcountry
Topomax really scares me because of it's effects on cognitive functioning.
I don't experience mania or racing thoughts, I just don't have the energy, and I'm
lethargic. How is Topamax suppose to help in this case?Anna P.
This is the end of the thread.
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