At My Clinic where I Go - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

Max213 · 08-23-2006, 10:54 PM

Hi Everyone,
I'm sort of blue today. I go to a clinic and I have a new psychiatrist. Well last week he told me he didn't give out Ambian, Klonopin, Lunesta, Buspar. It seemed as if he said that it wasn't covered by the drug companies---something like that, instead of him saying I don't prescribe these meds. He was going to write me up a week's prescription of Lithium and Trazodone. I told him that I would be up and wouldn't sleep. He simply said, "Take another Trazodone". I told him it wouldn't work. He didn't care. I told my caseworker that he only writ me up for 1 weeks worth of medicine. The new psych was right behind me and said "Oh, I'll write you up for a months worth". Very generous! I called later to my caseworker, and told him I don't think we'll be able to work out together. My caseworker said, Oh, give him a chance.

So the day before my next session, I left a voicemail for him and said my friend would be with me for a few minutes to clarify any misunderstandings. The day of the appointment, he deliberately didn't show. So, I waited 45 minutes. I then went to my caseworker again and told him I really want another psychiatrist. This guy dodged my appointment. The caseworker said that it was "New Policy" that I would have to meet with him and the caseworker and try to resolve the problem. I feel sort of imprisoned to give this quack a chance. This is definately not fair to me. I even told my caseworker that he wouldn't prescribe meds to help me sleep. I also told him that I had trouble with neuroleptics, and I can't take them for sleep. Should I be entitled to another psychiatrist? What can I do? I live in San Francisco. Anyone have a clinic problem. I was willing to go back to my old psychiatrist that's in the same clinic. Meanwhile, I am getting 5 hours of broken sleep. Thanks for listening, Max

Max213 · 08-24-2006, 09:41 PM

Thank You Peterjoa!!!

Today I called the Medical Board and was going to complain against the psychiatrist for being condescending(I didn't know what exactly he meant by not prescibing drugs such as Ambian, Restoril, Clonazapam, Lunesta, or Buspar). I felt he was referring to a new law with certain psychiatric drugs for 2006. He also didn't care for my need for sleep. Instead he kept my prescription with Trazodone and Lithium, and said just to take another Trazodone, and didn't care. And lastly, he deliberately missed my appointment when I told him that I was bringing a friend with me for a few minutes to clarify the last session particularly regarding to the drugs discussed. I told the director and my caseworker that I was thinking of filing a complaint against the doctor.

The director at Mission Mental Health told me I had to have a discussion with the New Psychiatrist and my case worker(New Policy). Even if I get a New Psychiatrist, I will probably have to wait another 3 to 4 weeks, before seeing a new one. My caseworker called me back finally, just before I had to do a volunteer job at a hospital. Tomorrow I meet this Psychiatrist and my caseworker at 2:30(Yuch!). So I don't know what will happen.

When I looked at my rights:

I felt that I didn't have participation in my mental health plan.

I was spoken in a condescending way about certain drugs that wouldn't be prescibed for 2006.

I think it's unfair that I have to go see the psychiatrist that really didn't work out and see my caseworker to try again to see if things will work.

I think he is going to lie tomorrow about missing the appointment or something and say it was a wrong appointment or something.

I may call Patients rights advocacy. And even if I switch psychiatrist, I may have to wait for my new psychiatrist in 3 to 4 week. I'm wondering if I can get out of the clinic itself and get another doctor somewhere else.

Thank You Peterjoa. I feel not like doing much as it is. I think I need something for depression as well. Thanks for listening

Max