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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jay on November 4, 2001, at 2:37:38
I have posted something like this before, and wanted to elaborate a bit more. I have dumped my past two psychiatrists, and now get my meds from my family doc. Here are the two fundamental reasons:1) They where very, very controling, in everything from how often I see them, to ignorance of side effects, and how well a medication was working for me. I became suicidal many times over many years and told them, and I mind as well have told a brick wall.
2)Righteous a**holes! One time I was asking about a certain med, and was told.."Are you educating me?", in a sarcastic mode! I SHOULD have reported this jerk to our medical board, because this made me feel smaller than a piece of dog dung! I also one time came well on-time for an appointment, and he was running late. I had work 1 hour after my appointment, and he made me wait an extra 35 minutes!!! When I got into his office 35 minutes later, and told him I had to be at work in 25 minutes, he got all pi**ed off and scolded me, telling me I was wrong for coming in so close to my work time!!! Never mind the fact HE was the one who was late!!!!!!!!!
3) A REFUSAL to prescribe anything but antidepressants, and if I was lucky, benzos. Despite the tons of research I was bringing in on everything from mood stabalizers to atypical antipsychotics useful in treatment-resistant depression, they flat-out REFUSED to even listen, or consider. Somehow,I was *nothing*...period! For my aggitated depression, antidepressants alone made me HORRIBLE....and I could have ended uplike one of those suicides who do so because of the horrible aggitation a.d's can cause.(Without a mood stabalizer or such.) Thankfully, I have a wonderful, VERY kind, family doc, who had NO PROBLEM in putting up with going through a massive number of med mixes until we found something to relieve the symptoms. It has only been finally within the last few months with him that I have found a mix to get better, compared to the NOWHERE I got with 9 years of the psychiatrists.
So...I guess I am interested in hearing other views and stories. (Good or bad) As far as I am concerned, having that 'Psychiatrist' diploma on the wall means jack-s**t...very, very, VERY little, and think many of us could even do a much better job then many of them ever could dream of. I also think more of us should complain to our medical boards, and get them revoked if we can.
My family doc is a FAR better psychiatrist then many I have met could ever dream of. I think many who become psychiatrists do so because they have MANY issues to deal with themselves, and transfer them onto their clients. Sorry, but many seem like Nazi control-freaks who are miserable s.o.b.'s, and should get out of the house a bit more!
/rant..
Jay
Posted by akc on November 4, 2001, at 10:32:13
In reply to Egotistical Psychiatrists Who Are Control Freaks!, posted by jay on November 4, 2001, at 2:37:38
You said you wanted good or bad, so here is my good.
When I first moved to KC, I was going to try to work with my family doctor (who in some other post, I could relate a horror story about her treatment of me as a mentally ill person -- but that is my own rant!). About a month and half into this, I started sliding into a serious depression.
My new therapist had gone on a 3 week trip to Africa (planned long before I moved to KC and started seeing her). I was seeing a substitute, also new to me, while she was gone. This substitute could see how bad I was getting in such a short time. She insisted that I see a pdoc and not wait for my therapist to get back. She gave me the name of one doc, I called, someone else in the office called back, that doctor couldn't see me, someone else then called back, trying to emphasize the emergency nature, etc., etc. Finally, got an appointment with some guy for the next day -- I did not feel comfortable about it at all. So I called my substitute therapist back. She gave me the name of my current pdoc.
So I called her office. Now a little of this was timing, but my pdoc herself called back 5 minutes later (I know I caught her between appointments -- but the fact is, she would have herself called as soon as she could). She could not see me the next day. However, she worked with me to get into a nurse practioner -- someone she worked with. I didn't feel I was just getting dumped like with the other office, so I went that route.
The most amazing thing happened. The next evening, when I got home, I had a message on my machine -- from this doctor. I was not her patient, I had called her office in an emergency, she had recommended I see someone else. Yet, she still followed up to make sure I had been seen. I knew at that moment I wanted her as my doctor.
I have seen her for two years now -- is she egotistical? A little -- as all doctors (and lawyers, I might add) are. But her ego really has never got in the way. And she is perfect for me. She specializes in addictive medicine, so being a recovering alcoholic, that has been really important for me.
I have been able to come in with a lot of questions, ideas, whatever. And sometimes, I am pretty forceful. Maybe too much -- that happened a bit with the topamax -- I wanted to go higher than she did, and she went with me. We have talked about that, and I told her that she is the doctor, no matter how "educated" I get, I would prefer that she make the ultimate decision -- at least now, after two years -- I have grown to trust her. Not only does she respect what I bring into the office, I have also seen how hard she works at keeping up to date. She goes to many conferances, she is obviously well read. And if I am experiencing a side-effect that she is not certain about, she doesn't write it off -- she talks to her colleagues and finds out what is going on (for instance, the problems I have been having with my menstrual cycle since being on topamax).
And in times of crisis, she keeps in great contact -- even to the point of making sure I know that she will be out-of-town and who will be on call in her place.
I write all this because it is my belief that my pdoc is not the only like this out there. Will all go to her lengths? Obviously not. But some will. And some more will go most of the way.
And -- while I won't get into the details in this post, since it is so long already -- there are horrors stories of letting family docs treat mental disorders (or treat you at all).
I hope this helps some of you have some hope of finding a really good pdoc (for those of you who don't have one already).
akc
Posted by sar on November 4, 2001, at 15:45:57
In reply to Re: One who is not., posted by akc on November 4, 2001, at 10:32:13
i now have a pdoc who listens to me very attentively and does not seem to resent my fledgling knowledge of meds. he takes my suggestions into consideration and generally gives me what i want, though not in a wimpy kind of way...when i suggested xanax, he said, "let's just double your klonopin first." when i refused depakote, he said "let me give you some sample packs of lamictal."
the pdoc also works at a free clinic, which is refreshing because my other experiences with pdocs at free clinics has not been good.
i'd hesitate to vindicate an entire profession that way. you've run into some bad ones, but...i dunno, i don't like generalizing...i also don't think it's helpful to go in with such strong prejudice...self-fulfilling prophecy?
Posted by jay on November 4, 2001, at 18:18:44
In reply to Egotistical Psychiatrists Who Are Control Freaks!, posted by jay on November 4, 2001, at 2:37:38
I was just saying we don't have to put up with their b.s., and yes we can go out and search for a good one. That's all...
Jay
>
> I have posted something like this before, and wanted to elaborate a bit more. I have dumped my past two psychiatrists, and now get my meds from my family doc. Here are the two fundamental reasons:
>
> 1) They where very, very controling, in everything from how often I see them, to ignorance of side effects, and how well a medication was working for me. I became suicidal many times over many years and told them, and I mind as well have told a brick wall.
>
> 2)Righteous a**holes! One time I was asking about a certain med, and was told.."Are you educating me?", in a sarcastic mode! I SHOULD have reported this jerk to our medical board, because this made me feel smaller than a piece of dog dung! I also one time came well on-time for an appointment, and he was running late. I had work 1 hour after my appointment, and he made me wait an extra 35 minutes!!! When I got into his office 35 minutes later, and told him I had to be at work in 25 minutes, he got all pi**ed off and scolded me, telling me I was wrong for coming in so close to my work time!!! Never mind the fact HE was the one who was late!!!!!!!!!
>
> 3) A REFUSAL to prescribe anything but antidepressants, and if I was lucky, benzos. Despite the tons of research I was bringing in on everything from mood stabalizers to atypical antipsychotics useful in treatment-resistant depression, they flat-out REFUSED to even listen, or consider. Somehow,I was *nothing*...period! For my aggitated depression, antidepressants alone made me HORRIBLE....and I could have ended uplike one of those suicides who do so because of the horrible aggitation a.d's can cause.(Without a mood stabalizer or such.) Thankfully, I have a wonderful, VERY kind, family doc, who had NO PROBLEM in putting up with going through a massive number of med mixes until we found something to relieve the symptoms. It has only been finally within the last few months with him that I have found a mix to get better, compared to the NOWHERE I got with 9 years of the psychiatrists.
>
> So...I guess I am interested in hearing other views and stories. (Good or bad) As far as I am concerned, having that 'Psychiatrist' diploma on the wall means jack-s**t...very, very, VERY little, and think many of us could even do a much better job then many of them ever could dream of. I also think more of us should complain to our medical boards, and get them revoked if we can.
>
> My family doc is a FAR better psychiatrist then many I have met could ever dream of. I think many who become psychiatrists do so because they have MANY issues to deal with themselves, and transfer them onto their clients. Sorry, but many seem like Nazi control-freaks who are miserable s.o.b.'s, and should get out of the house a bit more!
>
> /rant..
>
> Jay
Posted by akc on November 4, 2001, at 20:50:47
In reply to akc, sar, I didn't mean ALL are.., posted by jay on November 4, 2001, at 18:18:44
Jay,
I guess I took the following:
> As far as I am concerned, having that 'Psychiatrist' diploma on the wall means jack-s**t...
>as a pretty harsh statement about all psychiatrists -- or if not all, then most. Plus you did ask for "good" stories -- so I thought my story would be a good example. I agree with you that there are some pretty sorry excuses of doctors out there -- and people should follow-up and complain. Though I am not a good example. After my trouble with my general practioner, I never got around to complaining to the state licensing board. To tired, to overwhelmed with all that had happened to do so.
My hope in life is that everyone will not settle for less than the best -- we should not have to.
akc
Posted by Waterlily on November 5, 2001, at 7:13:16
In reply to Egotistical Psychiatrists Who Are Control Freaks!, posted by jay on November 4, 2001, at 2:37:38
Sorry you had such a hard time with your psychiatrists. I have a good one, and here's why: My old psychiatrist was leaving to take a pediatric fellowship, so I had to find another one. I didn't have any references, so I just called one of the few female psychiatrists listed in the yellow pages. She makes her own appointments, so I was told by the receptionist that she would call me. A few hours later I get a call from a man, saying that this female doc was booked up, but would I consider him? Wow - a doctor actually called ME - and he was really nice on the phone. That was several years ago and I'm still seeing him. When I told my internal medicine doctor that I was seeing him, she told me that he was a resident under her a while back and that he was the most compassionate doctor she's ever met. About a year after I started seeing him (for depression) I got hit with my first panic attacks, and they (it seemed like one weekend-long one) lasted over a 4th of July weekend. I called the pdoc-on-call twice over the weekend, but did not go to the hospital. I lasted (barely) until Monday and I went to work even though I was in terrible shape. Early that same morning, around 8 o'clock, my pdoc called me at work to see how I was doing because the on-call doc had talked to him. He gave me an appointment about an hour later. That day I was so relieved I felt like kissing him (but I restrained myself!). He has been nothing but respectful of me. AND the latest he's ever been for an appointment was ten minutes and even then he apologized for the delay.
Posted by sar on November 5, 2001, at 10:08:12
In reply to Egotistical Psychiatrists Who Are Control Freaks!, posted by jay on November 4, 2001, at 2:37:38
jay,
your message was so impassioned that i guess i misunderstood it. now i know you were just ranting about your bad experiences and didn't mean to condemn an entire professional field. i've ranted about some of my psychs here so i understand. i hope you've received the meds you need, or will very soon...
good luck,
sar
Posted by Mair on November 5, 2001, at 10:58:27
In reply to Re: Egotistical Psychiatrists Who Are Control Freaks!, posted by Waterlily on November 5, 2001, at 7:13:16
I used to have a pdoc who was also for a time my therapist. Although things didn't work out for me a well as I might have hoped he set a standard of professionalism that i've always appreciated. At one point, he had me going to see a woman therapist in his practice, in addition to seeing him. Sometime after that the practice started splintering in a pretty acrimonious manner. Basically it was started by my pdoc, and all of the other therapists and docs in the practice, except maybe one other, decided to go off and start a new practice. During this upheaval, my doc had to go to Europe for a couple of months and I continued to see his female colleague. At this stage the break-up was planned but not yet completed. I was pretty equivocal about therapy at the time and spent alot of time while my pdoc was away, discussing with this therapist whether i should continue. I realized that I was also casting about in a pretty obvious way for some affirmation of all of the work I had already done with this pdoc. She pretty much refused to say anything positive about him. In the meantime, i got a couple of unsolicited letters from him while he was in Europe encouraging me to continue to see this woman in therapy while he was away. Given the acrimony that existed, i always just felt that she was letting that spill over into our therapy sessions, while he was very professionally trying to make sure I was ok in his absence even if that meant having me continue to see someone with whom he was barely on speaking terms.
He also once called me up from a pay phone on an interstate highway just to check on me. This was not in response to any message from me. he just knew i was really down.Mair
Posted by Glenn Fagelson on November 5, 2001, at 20:08:15
In reply to Egotistical Psychiatrists Who Are Control Freaks!, posted by jay on November 4, 2001, at 2:37:38
>
> I have posted something like this before, and wanted to elaborate a bit more. I have dumped my past two psychiatrists, and now get my meds from my family doc. Here are the two fundamental reasons:
>
> 1) They where very, very controling, in everything from how often I see them, to ignorance of side effects, and how well a medication was working for me. I became suicidal many times over many years and told them, and I mind as well have told a brick wall.
>
> 2)Righteous a**holes! One time I was asking about a certain med, and was told.."Are you educating me?", in a sarcastic mode! I SHOULD have reported this jerk to our medical board, because this made me feel smaller than a piece of dog dung! I also one time came well on-time for an appointment, and he was running late. I had work 1 hour after my appointment, and he made me wait an extra 35 minutes!!! When I got into his office 35 minutes later, and told him I had to be at work in 25 minutes, he got all pi**ed off and scolded me, telling me I was wrong for coming in so close to my work time!!! Never mind the fact HE was the one who was late!!!!!!!!!
>
> 3) A REFUSAL to prescribe anything but antidepressants, and if I was lucky, benzos. Despite the tons of research I was bringing in on everything from mood stabalizers to atypical antipsychotics useful in treatment-resistant depression, they flat-out REFUSED to even listen, or consider. Somehow,I was *nothing*...period! For my aggitated depression, antidepressants alone made me HORRIBLE....and I could have ended uplike one of those suicides who do so because of the horrible aggitation a.d's can cause.(Without a mood stabalizer or such.) Thankfully, I have a wonderful, VERY kind, family doc, who had NO PROBLEM in putting up with going through a massive number of med mixes until we found something to relieve the symptoms. It has only been finally within the last few months with him that I have found a mix to get better, compared to the NOWHERE I got with 9 years of the psychiatrists.
>
> So...I guess I am interested in hearing other views and stories. (Good or bad) As far as I am concerned, having that 'Psychiatrist' diploma on the wall means jack-s**t...very, very, VERY little, and think many of us could even do a much better job then many of them ever could dream of. I also think more of us should complain to our medical boards, and get them revoked if we can.
>
> My family doc is a FAR better psychiatrist then many I have met could ever dream of. I think many who become psychiatrists do so because they have MANY issues to deal with themselves, and transfer them onto their clients. Sorry, but many seem like Nazi control-freaks who are miserable s.o.b.'s, and should get out of the house a bit more!
>
> /rant..
>
> JayHi Jay,
My first therapist was a psychiatrist; I was
19 years old; he was crazy; he broke all the
cardinal rules between client and therapist,
including physical abuse; he hit me across
the face and knock me down to the floor one night during dinner with his family; he was
half drunk; that was all for me.I expressed some doubts I had to another
psychiatrist and he hung up the phone on me.
I called back to express my disappointment and
he hung up on me again. There are some bad ones
out there; there really are!Glenn
Posted by Kristi on November 5, 2001, at 23:33:29
In reply to Re: Egotistical Psychiatrists Who Are Control Freaks! » jay, posted by Glenn Fagelson on November 5, 2001, at 20:08:15
> >
> > I have posted something like this before, and wanted to elaborate a bit more. I have dumped my past two psychiatrists, and now get my meds from my family doc. Here are the two fundamental reasons:
> >
> > 1) They where very, very controling, in everything from how often I see them, to ignorance of side effects, and how well a medication was working for me. I became suicidal many times over many years and told them, and I mind as well have told a brick wall.
> >
> > 2)Righteous a**holes! One time I was asking about a certain med, and was told.."Are you educating me?", in a sarcastic mode! I SHOULD have reported this jerk to our medical board, because this made me feel smaller than a piece of dog dung! I also one time came well on-time for an appointment, and he was running late. I had work 1 hour after my appointment, and he made me wait an extra 35 minutes!!! When I got into his office 35 minutes later, and told him I had to be at work in 25 minutes, he got all pi**ed off and scolded me, telling me I was wrong for coming in so close to my work time!!! Never mind the fact HE was the one who was late!!!!!!!!!
> >
> > 3) A REFUSAL to prescribe anything but antidepressants, and if I was lucky, benzos. Despite the tons of research I was bringing in on everything from mood stabalizers to atypical antipsychotics useful in treatment-resistant depression, they flat-out REFUSED to even listen, or consider. Somehow,I was *nothing*...period! For my aggitated depression, antidepressants alone made me HORRIBLE....and I could have ended uplike one of those suicides who do so because of the horrible aggitation a.d's can cause.(Without a mood stabalizer or such.) Thankfully, I have a wonderful, VERY kind, family doc, who had NO PROBLEM in putting up with going through a massive number of med mixes until we found something to relieve the symptoms. It has only been finally within the last few months with him that I have found a mix to get better, compared to the NOWHERE I got with 9 years of the psychiatrists.
> >
> > So...I guess I am interested in hearing other views and stories. (Good or bad) As far as I am concerned, having that 'Psychiatrist' diploma on the wall means jack-s**t...very, very, VERY little, and think many of us could even do a much better job then many of them ever could dream of. I also think more of us should complain to our medical boards, and get them revoked if we can.
> >
> > My family doc is a FAR better psychiatrist then many I have met could ever dream of. I think many who become psychiatrists do so because they have MANY issues to deal with themselves, and transfer them onto their clients. Sorry, but many seem like Nazi control-freaks who are miserable s.o.b.'s, and should get out of the house a bit more!
> >
> > /rant..
> >
> > Jay
>
> Hi Jay,
>
> My first therapist was a psychiatrist; I was
> 19 years old; he was crazy; he broke all the
> cardinal rules between client and therapist,
> including physical abuse; he hit me across
> the face and knock me down to the floor one night during dinner with his family; he was
> half drunk; that was all for me.
>
> I expressed some doubts I had to another
> psychiatrist and he hung up the phone on me.
> I called back to express my disappointment and
> he hung up on me again. There are some bad ones
> out there; there really are!
>
> GlennOh MY God........ I think I'd shy away from therapists the rest of my life if I had that experience. Scary......
This is the end of the thread.
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