:)Hi, I have been 'lurking' on this board since Jan as someone I really care about told me they had been diagnosed with BP1. As I didn't know anything about thought I would find out more. I have been following most of your posts, I am amazed at how may caring people there are on here and have learned so much from this site, much more from any other site. Since being told in Jan, a very good friend of mine admitted that she has BP and was diagnosed about 3 years ago. She is currently on meds, saw a pdoc about a year ago but her GP doctor is the one who prescribes her meds and told her that she doesn't need to see anybody else! Since I have been reading these boards my understanding was that you should see your pdoc and tdoc regularly and it's your pdoc that should be giving you your meds and not your normal family GP?? I would appreciate if someone could let me know if I am right as my friend still doesn't think that she is on the right meds and was thinking about maybe going private to get the proper help but is not sure how to go about this and where she can find a good pdoc to help her. Thanks for reading and hope someone can help me out!

Wend x

Hi, Wend, welcome and glad that you were able to feel comfortable enough to come here for some advice;)

While it is okay for a GP to perscribe meds for BP, it is my opinion that a board certified pscyhiatrist (pdoc) is far better qualified to monitor and perscribe the various psychotropic meds since it is a science in itself to find the ones that in combination will stabilize the chemical imbalance that is happening within the brain. It isn't easy doing that since each person with BP has a different need in terms of what needs to be balanced. A good pdoc will know which meds are more geared to help out smyptomatically and be able to closely monitor how a person responds so that he/she can tweak the meds accordingly or add others in as needed. In other words, one will find stability so much quicker with a pdoc than a regular GP although a few here have trusted their GP's enough and have found stability.

Why go to a gastroenterologist when you have a heart problem and need to see a cardiologist??? Same goes with why we get referred to specialists from our GP when we have a problem that affects an organ that the GP is not familiar with. So, the brain being the most complicated of organs deserves to have a specialist looking at the problem and diagnosing it as well as treat it.

I hope this helps you some.

Again, welcome to the boards and I wish the best to you and your friend.

~ Goody:angel: :wave:

She needs to see a pdoc for her medications and mental health treatment and not a general practitioner. I would only go to a general practitioner is he/she had a specialty in psychiatric medicine but even that would be only as a last resort. Not to be funny, but seriously you would not let a dermotologist perform heart surgery. They are both medical doctors but the difference is their specialty and knowledge of the field of medicine they studied, treat and have experience and continue to study to stay on top of the latest advancements and therapies.

My daughter's pedicatrican recommended a psychiatrist and refused to treat her mental illness, Bipolar l, and I am so greatful because in the end we found a wonderful doctor and our daughter is in the best health we have seen in the last 2 years.

That is my advice-anyone else have thoughts on this?

Goody-you must type faster than me!

Cristina

Hi Goody and Christina,

Thanks for the warm welcome and replies! Thats what I told my friend but she said her Dr told her she doesn't need to see anyone else and she still has trouble sleeping, then is very tired in the morning, also she has mentioned that she yells or gets angry at silly things still, so that was saying to me that i don't think she has found the right combo yet, but since i'm no expert came here to ask some advice. How would she go about finding a list of pdoc's and t'doc's? Is there a list or something or would she have to go through her GP? I don't think she really wanted to go through him unless she has to but any ideas would be great!

:jester: Goody, Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day with your family!:jester:

Wend x

Good morning, Wend:wave: As far as finding a pdoc and tdoc the way it works here in the states is by either recommendation or in my daughter's case a followup appointment with one of the pdoc's that followed her during her hopsitalization. I think that things may be different in the UK and there are a few posters from the UK who might be more familiar on how things work over there and hopefully will chime in here.

Thanks for the birthday wishes....saw a great movie yesterday with my hubby called "No Reservations" with Catherine Zeta-Jones.:jester:

I disagree when a GP says that your friend doesn't need to see a specialist and that he can handle things....having knowledge of the meds and how each one works is imperative to finding stability. I don't believe a GP has that experience to do that. Also, just your friend's lack of sleep could be interfering with her overall stability even when on the right meds so addressing her need for sleep would probably be the first course of action.

I hope that she considers seeking a pdoc so that her BP can be propery managed.

Nice to see that you are no longer "lurking" here.;)

Love ~ Goody:angel: :wave:

Hi Wend68,
Goody has asked that I reply to your thread....unfortunately I have been board free for a while so I haven't seen your post before now...

Anyway... I'm in Herts in England and have been through the mental healthcare system, both private and NHS. If you friend can afford private then tell them not to wait - go and get everything they can!! Waiting lists on the NHS are soooooo long, that by the time you get to see anyone your situation is so much worse.

Seeing a GP does nothing for the situation. They do not have the indepth knowledge of the psychotropic meds - rather they dispense the cheapest ones!!! You really need to get your friend to see a consultant psychiatrist, in close proximity would be both the Priory at Chelmsford, or The (Capio) Rivers at Bishop's Stortford. I've been to both - highly recommend either. All you have to do is ring the reception and book an appointment as easy as that. Just ask for a psychiatrists secretary. You will probably only wiat a couple of weeks. Be sure to mention that it is the first visit as you will need a longer (1hr) slot as opposed to the ususal 30mins for follow-ups. Then ring your GP and ask for a referral to Dr. pdoc of whichever hosiptal. They write a letter, you collect it and take it with you to the first visit. Expect to pay about £150-£200 for 1 hr.

You can discuss tdoc therapy with your pdoc - it is crucial to recovery!!!!!! The drugs take the raw edges off the symptoms to give you time to work at the roots of the issues - they work together, meds and therapy, and fail if choosen alone without the other. Your pdoc will become an overseer of all the treament combined, as they will be the ones legally responsible for your mentla health care. The pdoc will be able to refer you on to private clinical psychologists, cognitive behavioural therapists - whatever they feel would be best for your own situation.

I really can't emphasise enough how necessary it is to see a qualified pdoc. They know ALL the psychotropic drugs inside out, the combinations of them, the side effects of them.. I had been trying to get better for 5 years with my GP to no avail, a couple of months after being referred to a pdoc I felt MILES better (and they didn't touch the type of drug that my GP was keeping me on!!!!). GP's are exactly that - GENERAL practicioners who trained for about 7 years in total. Consultant psychiatrists have 12 years explicit psychiatry training under their belt - spot the difference!

Good Luck,
Nut.

Hi Goody,

Glad you had a good birthday, the film sounds good!

Yes I agree with you that my friend should be seeing a specialist, thats what I told her, I have been doing some research online trying to find a pyschiarist in our area, she is really keen on getting the right help so thats good! I see that you asked Nut to help me out, thank you so much, she has given alot of good advice and recommended a couple of places which are not far from where me and my friend live and i'm just about to reply to her so thanks again!:) Hope today hasn't been too stressfull in Goodyland!:D Wow your two girls certainly keep you and hubby on your toes!! I have a girl 19 and a boy 16, tho fingers crossed they don't play me up too much but they can have there moments! Ahh the joys of parenthood!:D

wend x

Hi Nut!

Thank you for your reply and advice! Thats what I told my friend that she should be seeing a specialist that was qualified with all the meds! she told me her Doctor said to her she didn't need to see anyone else, so that's what brought me here as since I had been reading these posts that was my understanding. I told her today that she needs to go to a specialist and she is keen on getting things sorted as she was dx about 3 years ago and is still having trouble sleeping and getting up so I said to her and she agreed that she didn't think she was on the right meds. The places you recommended are quite close to us so thats really good, thank you and all the detailed information you gave me thats exactly what we need! Well its good to see you back on the board and hope you are doing well! Thanks again and speak soon.

wend x

Ask her if she would go to a Cardiologist if she had heart problems. My guess is yes. Pdoc's know more about side effects and the current treatments for psychiatric disorders. I've gone to my gendoc for side effects when I couldn't get into my pdoc for over a week,etc. and no relief.

Hi jendg28,

Thanks for posting, yes I explained exactly that to my friend and she also agreed, I think she just lacked a little confidence in questioning her Doctor as I guess she thought the Doctor must be right in what he was advising, which is only natural, anything my Doctor tells me I would think the same. Thanks again, I know my friend really appreciates all of your help! ;)

wend x