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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by holymama on August 1, 2005, at 16:07:46
...when I went off my medications earlier this summer. I called and told her the next day. She knew I wanted to do this and told her I had been researching hospital stays in case I wanted some help with it.
She told me she couldn't work with me anymore and was breaking off our relationship. I could use her office as a resource for one month, and that should be enough time for me to find a new doctor.
I spent the next month hospitalized twice (I was too proud to call her office, I guess), and struggling to get through until my new pdoc's appointment.
Does anyone think this is normal? Fair? Ethical? Frankly, I'm pissed that she left me during a predictably hard time, gave up on me, couldn't understand why I needed to get off of the medications that were not working for me. I had been with her for one year.
Posted by john berk on August 1, 2005, at 16:45:11
In reply to My pdoc fired me..., posted by holymama on August 1, 2005, at 16:07:46
Hi! i think that was not only unfair and unethical, but just out and out rude and uncaring!! my pdoc dumped me once, saying i was not following her medication instuctions totally, and i was too eager to bring her printouts from on-line about new drugs and treatments. she actually took me back[1 year later] when i couldn't afford out of pocket payments outside my insurance, and i suppose she felt some compassion. but in 2 weeks i am going to suggest weaning from prozac and trying another med, and already i feel stressed and anxious. i don't know why this should be!! i hope you are able to find someone more competent, and much more aware of your plight, and your feelings...john
Posted by holymama on August 1, 2005, at 17:56:18
In reply to Re: My pdoc fired me... » holymama, posted by john berk on August 1, 2005, at 16:45:11
Thank you John, perhaps you as well. I too felt ridiculously nervous at talking about changes with my doc. I think it was some kind of control thing with her. I wonder if these docs feel threatened by our knowledge???
Posted by laurenjb on August 1, 2005, at 20:29:01
In reply to Re: My pdoc fired me..., posted by holymama on August 1, 2005, at 17:56:18
Nobody should feel scared of or intimidated by their psychiatrist. I understand that some people are not in the financial position to be picky, but there is usually at least some choice involved in who will provide your care. I have seen other posts in which people ask for referrals in their cities. Perhaps you could try that? Best of luck, Lauren
Posted by willyee on August 1, 2005, at 21:03:05
In reply to My pdoc fired me..., posted by holymama on August 1, 2005, at 16:07:46
Dont feel bad my very first p-doc fired me in a letter.
Then again i did threaten to choke him,but hey when u introduce to a youg man drugs when hes never in his life taken them,and then dont explain what W/D is,and make the young man feel like hes at the ledge,loosing his mind,and dont return his pleaded voice mail,well ur playing with fire.
The drug i speak of was effexor btw.
Posted by blueberry on August 2, 2005, at 4:14:02
In reply to My pdoc fired me..., posted by holymama on August 1, 2005, at 16:07:46
Losing that pdoc was a blessing. You do not need someone like that trying to take care of you.
You need someone who is passionate about their work, someone who honestly cares about each patient, someone without a big ego.
I remember getting a new pdoc who immediately took me off of my current meds and put me on another, no tapering or anything. I got profoundly depressed, way worse than ever, in just a day. I stopped the new med on my own. At our next appointment when she found out, she got mad, yelled at me, shook her finger at me, and blew me away with her uncaring unprofessionalism. I refused to pay her for that session and I told her secretary no need to schedule my next appointment because I won't be back.
Always remember, who pays who? You are the paying customer and you deserve the service that you are buying.
This stuff is too serious to put in the hands of someone who is not passionate about what they do. Psychiatry I think is more of an art than a science. Good artists are passionate with what they do. Look for that kind of quality.
Just my own thoughts and opinions based on my own experiences.
Posted by holymama on August 2, 2005, at 4:55:34
In reply to Re: My pdoc fired me..., posted by blueberry on August 2, 2005, at 4:14:02
Thanks everyone, for your passionate replys. Unfortuanately Lauren, I just did post a thread asking for suggestions of pdocs in my area. No real luck there. I am on a new pdoc now, a bipolar specialist in Boston (you'd think she would be amazing, right?) she's pretty unenthusiastic, forgetful, and I don't see any empathy in her at all. This is my 4th pdoc in 2 years. I think I'm ready to move on to my 5th already. I'm making appointments with 2 docotors who are recommended. Hopefully I'll find one I can relate to.
Have you all found a good doctor? Tell me that they do realy exist.
Posted by Bill LL on August 2, 2005, at 10:25:42
In reply to My pdoc fired me..., posted by holymama on August 1, 2005, at 16:07:46
I was fired a few months ago by my internist. He has a big ego. I know a few people who fired him in the past.
I think that in your case, the p-doc acted un-ethically. Not in a legal way, but for practicle purposes.
It's always very difficult to find a good doctor of any specialty. If things don't work out with your new pdoc, you might want to make an appointment at a University clinic. Boston must have lots of them such as those staffed by Harvard and the other universities.
Posted by partlycloudy on August 2, 2005, at 12:47:45
In reply to Re: My pdoc fired me..., posted by holymama on August 2, 2005, at 4:55:34
Good p-docs DO exist. There is no shame whatever in changing doctors if you find that your present one is not showing much interest in your improvement.
For me the key is good two-way communication. I don't spare my doctor any details, and if I am struggling on a new medication, I call her straight away instead of trying to grapple my way through it on my own.
I also think that since you've had less than wonderful experiences in the past with your p-docs, it's natural that you're wary of trying to find yet another one. Please persist, and believe that it's not your fault!!
partlycloudy
Posted by jerrympls on August 4, 2005, at 2:01:22
In reply to Re: My pdoc fired me..., posted by holymama on August 1, 2005, at 17:56:18
> Thank you John, perhaps you as well. I too felt ridiculously nervous at talking about changes with my doc. I think it was some kind of control thing with her. I wonder if these docs feel threatened by our knowledge???
You hit the nail right on the head. Some doctors become EXTREMELY embarrassed when advocates like us - for us - bring in cutting edge research to help suggest and new therapy approach. It hurts their pride and makes them feel stupid. And it should - because if they are in this profession and aren't reading up on the latest treatments/studies/clinic trial/etc - then they SHOULD be embarrassed - embarrassed because they're taking the easy/lazy route. BUt then, instead of owning up to it - what do they do? They try to make YOU feel like crap because HOW DARE YOU try to test my knowledge! I'm the doctor! I'm all-knowing!! HOW DARE YOU! Then they make up an excuse about how you're not following his/her treatment plan and YOU are to blame for your problems - and then they dump you.
I've had it happen a couple of times. I completely empathize with you.
Jerry
Posted by holymama on August 4, 2005, at 6:13:44
In reply to Re: My pdoc fired me... » holymama, posted by jerrympls on August 4, 2005, at 2:01:22
Thank you Jerry. I think you're exactly right. Previous to firing me, my doctor had humiliated me on a few occasions, making me feel like a naughty teenager. I felt afraid of angering her. There was no room for me to do anything outside of her plan. Perhaps there are better patients for her, who want to come in and be told what to do. I feel like I need a doctor who respects and trusts me.
~Autumn~
Posted by Sebastian on August 6, 2005, at 13:24:10
In reply to My pdoc fired me..., posted by holymama on August 1, 2005, at 16:07:46
I stoped medictions lots of times and never lost a doctor. Go off meds for 4 months, go psychotic and later realize I needed to take the medication. Or just stop a med I didn't like and not tell the doctor till the next visit.
Posted by holymama on August 6, 2005, at 13:52:14
In reply to Re: My pdoc fired me..., posted by Sebastian on August 6, 2005, at 13:24:10
This pdoc wasn't like that. She wanted total control. Once I lowered a dose of a med on the weekend because I felt I couldn't wait until monday, called her monday and when she found out I had already done it, got so angry with me that I felt humiliated.
This is the end of the thread.
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