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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 27. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 11:58:37
Yesterday we drove the eight total hours to the old pdoc of mine hoping for a new one soon. She didn't seem to be able to remember or make up her mind on meds for me. She ended up saying maybe try upping the luvox and then gave me 3mg of lunesta to add to valium and couldn't remember or find a note on the xanax she had prescribed the last time there. So said well then stop taking it. Not that it works and then said maybe try trileptal but if you don't want to don't. How do you trust and have confidence in a pdoc who can't remember what she has prescribed for you before . And never even asked about the prozac she had prescribed last time. Which cause of the hyper thryroid I didn't take as too much stimulation. And now she has a puppy running around her office. What to do. And what do you think of this new prescription? I took lunesta 3mg with valium 20mg and .25 of xanax last night and only slept from 2-7. Then lay in bed. Love and Thanks Phillipa
Posted by cgd092 on January 5, 2007, at 12:08:34
In reply to Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 11:58:37
Phillipa wrote, "How do you trust and have confidence in a pdoc who can't remember what she has prescribed for you before"
That has happened with my current Pdoc before. She said let's try tiagabine (Gabitril) which is an anti-seizure med I believe. I went on it, and then next time I saw her she never asked me about it once.--Katy
Posted by med_empowered on January 5, 2007, at 12:11:43
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by cgd092 on January 5, 2007, at 12:08:34
yeah..its weird. Even these days, with short p-doc visits, your average visit with a p-doc lasts a lot longer than your visit with a standard, "real" doc, and yet these people don't seem able to remember...anything.
Example: back in the day, I had a doc who kept trying to push both Abilify and Straterra on me, visit after visit. The problem? In the very first visit, I had explained a) I don't do neuroleptics b/c of long term risks and b/c they all (especially abilify) gave me akathisia and other problems and b) I had tried Straterra and found it didn't work well, so I wasn't going to give it another go. Did any of this sink in? Apparently not.
So...don't feel bad, I guess...I mean, it sucks, but that seems to be how p-docs operate.
Posted by laima on January 5, 2007, at 13:13:02
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by med_empowered on January 5, 2007, at 12:11:43
I can imagine some of these doctors being very busy- lots of patients, most with mood disorders and lots on similar meds, after all. It might be easy to forget, especially if the patient isn't coming in weekly. But you'd think they'd be able to write stuff down! Disorganization still doesn't necessarily translate into stupidity, though. Funny, New York Times still has an article online about messy desks and their relationship to creativity and genius. But a puppy in the office? That sounds odd. What if a patient is afraid or allergic? So, Phillipa- the difference in your meds then is increase luxox, end xanax? It sounds terrible how little you are sleeping. I never though lunesta or the other sleep meds did much- not after experiencing klonopin when it worked.
Posted by ClearSkies on January 5, 2007, at 17:07:23
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by cgd092 on January 5, 2007, at 12:08:34
> Phillipa wrote, "How do you trust and have confidence in a pdoc who can't remember what she has prescribed for you before"
>
>
> That has happened with my current Pdoc before. She said let's try tiagabine (Gabitril) which is an anti-seizure med I believe. I went on it, and then next time I saw her she never asked me about it once.
>
> --Katy
>
>Me three. Yesterday my pdoc was insisting that I've tried Depakote even though I told her over and over that I haven't.
Maybe she can't read her own writing?
ClearSkies
Posted by laima on January 5, 2007, at 17:29:11
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by ClearSkies on January 5, 2007, at 17:07:23
Now, that IS scary and inexplicable.
> Me three. Yesterday my pdoc was insisting that I've tried Depakote even though I told her over and over that I haven't.
> Maybe she can't read her own writing?
> ClearSkies
Posted by valene on January 5, 2007, at 17:49:30
In reply to Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 11:58:37
> Yesterday we drove the eight total hours to the old pdoc of mine hoping for a new one soon. She didn't seem to be able to remember or make up her mind on meds for me. She ended up saying maybe try upping the luvox and then gave me 3mg of lunesta to add to valium and couldn't remember or find a note on the xanax she had prescribed the last time there. So said well then stop taking it. Not that it works and then said maybe try trileptal but if you don't want to don't. How do you trust and have confidence in a pdoc who can't remember what she has prescribed for you before . And never even asked about the prozac she had prescribed last time. Which cause of the hyper thryroid I didn't take as too much stimulation. And now she has a puppy running around her office. What to do. And what do you think of this new prescription? I took lunesta 3mg with valium 20mg and .25 of xanax last night and only slept from 2-7. Then lay in bed. Love and Thanks Phillipa
Wow Phillipa, this was your *old* pdoc which you have trusted? What a discouraging visit! I am sorry you had to experience her incompetency....there is no excuse for not having a complete history of the meds she had prescribed for you in the past..that is malpractice.
And I agree with a previous poster - a puppy running around - that is inexcusable and I am a huge animal lover. This is not about *her* and her needs or desires; she should think about her patients and how they might feel. The fact that she brought a puppy into a session with a patient is totally unethical, thoughtless and inexcusable. Sorry, I think that she is not behaving appropriately for a so-called professional.
So sorry you are not getting much sleep. Call me some night- I am usually up until 1am and get up around 6am. You used to sleep until around 11am according to your old messages?
Keep trying - even in the world of crappy HMO's there are doctors out there who do care and it seems as though you don't have one right now! I am keeping you in my prayers.
Love, Val
Posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 20:00:52
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by laima on January 5, 2007, at 17:29:11
To all of you. Since we travel so far my appointments are for 45minutes ample time. And my chart is given to me to hold while I wait for her. I've read my chart. All prescriptions are stapled on the page in the session they were prescribed. I even know when the xanax one she said she didn't write is in August and November. And the prozac is clearer than day on the last visit. And she had a box of meds on the floor next to her (samples) and first said would you like temazepam before I could answer she said oh look lunesta. Hence the lunesta. Waiting for a contact to help with another doc as the big practice here I've seen a doc there and you're not allowed to switch. So I'm my own doc. Now what script would you like? Love Phillipa now promoted from nonworking RN to pdoc.
Posted by blueberry1 on January 5, 2007, at 22:06:19
In reply to Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 11:58:37
Wow, what a horrid performance by that doctor. How do people like that stay in business? Probably because there are so many ill people. Certainly not from good performance on the job. How does she live with herself? She sounds like a combination of really selfish, really egotistical, really blind, and really pretensive. It sounds like once she graduated from school she said cool now I can just kick back and make tons of money for doin nothin.
I'm so sorry Jan. My disdain for doctors grows each day. I know there are good ones. But where?
Have you tried plain ole benadryl? I tried a mere 25mg of it last night and I swear it knocked me out like zyprexa used to.
Posted by GGGabbi on January 5, 2007, at 22:07:51
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 20:00:52
Sorry about the visit Phillipa, it seems you wait so long for these appointments, and then *splat*
That's why I call them dis-appointmentsI don't think their is anything wrong with having a puppy in the office! I would love that, some psychiatrists do that to add a little comfort to the session, my former P.Doc had a pigeon and babies nesting outside the window, she'd been told to get rid of them but she thought it would be nice for some of her patients.
And it was.
It would have been nice to ask if they minded but for the most part, who wouldn't love to see a puppy! And people can be afraid of or allergic to anything. Anything unorthodox though, is always questioned.
Posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 22:14:53
In reply to Saw Old PDoc and New Re: » Phillipa, posted by GGGabbi on January 5, 2007, at 22:07:51
Gabbi are you getting your old name back? Looks like you're stuttering joking of course. Well the puppy didn't bother me other than it distracted her from me and he kept eating my shoelaces. So I was distracted too. I love animals. But he's but eight weeks old and she needed to keep letting him out to pee. So now I will impatiently wait for a contact for a new pdoc. A remission for a week would be nice. Love Phillipa
Posted by laima on January 5, 2007, at 23:38:04
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Re: » GGGabbi, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 22:14:53
Well, yes. Puppies are great, but a puppy at a doctor's appointment is a distraction. All focus should be on you, the patient- and then for the doctor to think if that is needed ( :) Ok, that came out sounding funny, but you know what I mean. Like, "Oh- that's what happened? Hmmm... Let me think carefully for a moment...") A box of meds on the floor- that sounds a bit more random than strategic. Nevertheless, I hope your result is good. Congratulations on your promotion, Phillipa!
Posted by SLS on January 6, 2007, at 8:05:30
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds » Phillipa, posted by blueberry1 on January 5, 2007, at 22:06:19
> Have you tried plain ole benadryl? I tried a mere 25mg of it last night and I swear it knocked me out like zyprexa used to.
Doxepin might be an interesting drug to look into.
- Scott
Posted by bassman on January 6, 2007, at 11:28:47
In reply to Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 11:58:37
I think the answer is similar to the answer to the question, "what time is it when an elephant sits on your hat?" :>}
Posted by naughtypuppy on January 6, 2007, at 11:48:18
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 20:00:52
My pdoc cant even remember what he's prescribed from the beginning of the session to the end. I now keep it all in a database with dosage and when the dosage was started and ended. If I have to go to someone else I don't want to be repeating the same failed treatments over again.
Posted by LlurpsieBlossom on January 6, 2007, at 14:26:05
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by naughtypuppy on January 6, 2007, at 11:48:18
Phillipa,
congratulations on your promotion. Soon, you will be your own insurance company too! It will be glorious. You can have your name on hot air balloons and do advertisements on sunny days by going wherever the wind takes you (or hire someone if youre scared of heights!)and one more joke-
solution to your insomnia is to borrow the pdocs puppy. you will be up all night with whining and pee duty. after one week, give puppy back to pdoc, and you will sleep gloriously, and pdoc will actually be able to remember your last dosage.my docs keep my info in a computer. easy to call up my last chart. no handwriting to interpret. lol.
have you played around with the time of day that you take the benzodiazepines? maybe taking them in the late afternoon instead of at night might help? at any rate, I hope that the green moth of lunesta commercials visits your place soon with her magical lunar glow...
Ll
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2007, at 18:41:02
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by LlurpsieBlossom on January 6, 2007, at 14:26:05
First night of lunesta two extra hours sleep. Last night no extra sleep. So obviously it isn't strong enough for me even with the benzos on board. So stay up till 2am reading and then sleep in. And it's a bad idea to stay home and do nothing isn't it? I was told that the only way to get over agoraphobia was to leave the house each and every day. What do you all think? Love Phillipa
Posted by bassman on January 6, 2007, at 18:47:17
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds » LlurpsieBlossom, posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2007, at 18:41:02
My agoraphobia was unbearable until I found the right AD. I think you can take all the benzos in the world and you'll still be fearful; at least that was my experience. With the right AD, the agoraphobia just goes away. Amazing. But going out every day is a good idea-I'm not sure it moves towards a cure, though.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on January 8, 2007, at 9:43:51
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds » LlurpsieBlossom, posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2007, at 18:41:02
I did not realize you have agoraphobia. Do you mind my asking what your meds are at this time?
I just made peace with my pdoc once again.
he has a folder of hand-written notes and can say when and for how long I took any med he prescibed.
Change pdocs.
Now.Don't be afraid to go to someone new and young.
You might get more focus and imaginative approaches from a doctor who is not burnt out.good luck
Posted by bassman on January 8, 2007, at 9:55:42
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by elanor roosevelt on January 8, 2007, at 9:43:51
ER is the winner! Remember what my question was: "what time is it when an elephant sits on your hat?"
Time to get a new pdoc. Ooops...I guess it was "hat".
Posted by laima on January 8, 2007, at 18:17:14
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by bassman on January 8, 2007, at 9:55:42
How many patients does a typical psychiatrist have anyway?
Posted by Phillipa on January 8, 2007, at 18:48:48
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2007, at 20:00:52
Patiently waiting for a referral someone is working on. And the pdocs here are all benzophobic and after over 30years why an antipsychotic especially since they are coming out with so many horrible longterm side effects? Love Phillipa
Posted by Karen44 on January 8, 2007, at 20:49:07
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by Phillipa on January 8, 2007, at 18:48:48
> Patiently waiting for a referral someone is working on. And the pdocs here are all benzophobic and after over 30years why an antipsychotic especially since they are coming out with so many horrible longterm side effects? Love Phillipa
_______________________________________________Perhaps they think you have been on the benzo's too long and that they are no longer effective with out raising them to higher and higher doses??? The antipsychotics are not like the ones from days of old - the Thorazine and Mellaril and Haldol. For anxiety at low dosages they tend to be very safe. The lowest doses of some of them knocked my socks off at night, but perhaps if I were also on benzo's that would not have been the case. Maybe the antipsychotics would not work as easily.
Karen44
Posted by Phillipa on January 8, 2007, at 20:58:50
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by Karen44 on January 8, 2007, at 20:49:07
Karen they work fine at night when I take them. And for over 35years they have had no major side effects. The newer atypical antipsychotics are already producing things like weight gain leading to diabetes and zyprexa has a lawsuit out on it. None for benzos in all those years. Would rather go without anything than take a new drug these days. Too many problems with new meds. Love Phillipa
Posted by laima on January 8, 2007, at 22:02:59
In reply to Re: Saw Old PDoc and New Meds, posted by Karen44 on January 8, 2007, at 20:49:07
Wow Karen, trust me, just 2.5 mg zyprexa knocked my socks off at night! I used it for about 5-6 weeks while discontinuing klonopin. The fact that such a small dose could knock me out like that during a benzo taper is incredibly impressive to me. Fortunately, I didn't have the kind of trouble getting off zyprexa that a lot of other people here had. Perhaps due to low dose, perhaps the short duration of use, not sure. Oh yea- I terminated klonopin because the highest dose my doctor was comfy with didn't help anymore- he didn't want to escalate it indefinately. So, as you suggest, it was a stand in for the anxiety. Anxiety much better now, keep fingers crossed!>
> Perhaps they think you have been on the benzo's too long and that they are no longer effective with out raising them to higher and higher doses??? The antipsychotics are not like the ones from days of old - the Thorazine and Mellaril and Haldol. For anxiety at low dosages they tend to be very safe. The lowest doses of some of them knocked my socks off at night, but perhaps if I were also on benzo's that would not have been the case. Maybe the antipsychotics would not work as easily.
>
> Karen44
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