Disappointment at the doctor's
 

I went to the doctor today to get a prescription for anti-depressants because I recently realized that I was dealing with some pretty severe depression, among other things. When I called to set up the appointment, I specifically asked if the doctor could and would prescribe anti-depressants, and I was told yes, she would, and set up my appointment specifically for that reason. I go there today, wait for an hour to see the doctor, and then she comes in and tells me that she doesn't do that and I need to go see a psychiatrist to get anti-depressants. WTF? I was so upset, almost in tears. I just want help! So now I have to find a psychiatrist and hopefully I can manage to blindly choose a good one and pray that they have an opening soon. Only good thing about the appointment was that their scale put me 7 lbs lighter than mine did this am, and I was on theirs fully clothed with shoes on AND after I ate. I'm still annoyed though!

:hug:

I had to go to the doctor and get some help for my depression, anxiety and OCD issues. Luckily my doctor was a bit more sympathetic and willing to help than yours. :(

It might not hurt to ask around and see if anyone has a recommendation for medical professional in your area who is sensitive and willing to help you with your depression. You might be surprised at just how many people are taking anti-depressants and they may be able to steer you toward a good doctor.

While you wait for your appointment, you might consider taking a vitamin D supplement in the meantime.

I take an antidepressant (amitriptyline), tramadol, and cyclobenzaprine for the pain and fatigue of my fibromyalgia. While it's not technically depression, fibro affects the same neurotransmitters that depression does, and vitamin D apparently boosts the production and/or the function of these neurotransmitters.

When I started taking Vitamin D, I was actually able to cut back on my pain meds (the tramadol and the cyclobenzaprine).

It's not a cure, and you might still need an antidepressant, but it might give you at least some relief until you can get into see a doctor who will prescribe an antidepressant.

You might find that some psychiatrists will not want to prescribe an antidepressant on the first visit, if only to see if you'll make a follow-up appointment. Antidepressants really should be monitored and they don't want a patient who is only wanting the meds and not the supervision.

There are other otc supplements that have anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects like St. John's Wort, and SAMe, but those really should be supervised as well. The Vitamin D is generally safe (in normal doses). Some medications interact with vitamins, so if you're on any meds, I'd run it by your pharmacist first.

Be careful, anti-depressants can cause you to gain weight or make it even harder to lose weight. My sister was on them for years and had that very issue. She now takes multiple vitamins and tries to tackle it more naturally. You might want to look into the homopathic method first.

Thanks for the words of advice. I have a history of clinical depression, and this has spiraled into a pretty severe case pretty quickly. I feel like I definitely need some help, and hopefully quickly. I have nothing against talking to someone about what is causing my issues, in fact, it would be really nice since I don't really have anyone to talk to that I can just say anything to. I really would be interested in some point in just using natural supplements to combat this depression, especially since last time I was on Zoloft I gained 25 lbs in a month (though weight loss is not an official side effect). Right now though I think I need something to put my brain chemicals back in order. I guess everything really depends on how long I have to wait for an appointment though. If it's going to be like a month, I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to experiment!

For mild depression there are herbal supplements that can help, but studies have found them ineffective for clinical depression, and in some cases can make the depression worse (lifting the depression just enough to give someone the energy to hurt themselves).

Suicide risk is actually higher for moderately depressed people than severely depressed people (because with severe depression you don't have the physical or mental energy to contemplate suicide).

Even with the Vitamin D, I would caution you to have a plan in place if the depression seems worse when taking it (which can mean the depression is actually getting better, but only to the point that you feel more aware of life sucking you down).

Antidepressants can both increase and decrease appetite, triggering gain or loss. So if you find one antidepressant that is making it hard to lose weight, you can work with your doctor to find one that doesn't.

Also weight gain isn't inevitable. There are strategies to help you keep from gaining. I've lost all of my 85 lbs on medications that in theory should keep me from losing, including antidepressants and prednisone.

Paxil! Good lord I gained over 100 lbs. Granted I ate horrible and did not exercise but I could not lose it!!!! And it made me tired and sluggish. At my last job I was "famous" for falling asleep in meetings.
I switched to Prozac last year and I can lose weight now if I diet like anyone else and I do not have the tiredness. I know everyone gets different side effects from different meds but that was my experience. Paxil is kind of noted for making people gain weight. I am sure the gain was mostly my fault - but I couldn't lose it for nothing no matter how hard I tried, I was starting to think I had an abnormally slow metabolism.

I agree with kaplods. Supplements and exercise can help with mild depression, but true clinical depression requires medication and monitoring by a doctor. I have been throught this several times. There are docs who are willing to prescibe meds until things get complicated then they don't want to go any further. I went through this with several primary docs. Then when things got complicated, they sent me to a psychiatrist. It was very frustrating and upsetting at the time, but it did turn out to be for the best. I went to see a therapist who was in a practice with several psychiatrists and after seeing her, she got me in to see the pdoc almost right away.

As far as gaining weight, all meds are different. Some are considered to be "weight neural", but it is individual. If you try one med and you feel you are gaining weight or having trouble losing, talk to the doc. There are probably others you can try that will affect you differently. Don't be afraid and try to hang in there. If things get that bad, don't be afraid to go to an emergency room. They can get you the help you need. Best of luck and THINGS WILL GET BETTER!

I was supposed to have an appointment tomorrow morning, I was so happy about it, but I get a call today saying that that doctor doesn't practice at that office anymore. I made this appointment YESTERDAY!!! The earliest appointment they can give me now is November 17th, almost a month away!!! Unfortunately, all the doctors around here that accept my insurance are affiliated with this group and that is the earliest available for that group of doctors. I feel so dejected at this point, what am I supposed to do? And we got a reality check with our financial situation today, so even trying to use supplements until the appointment comes up is out of the question. It is so hard for me to even admit that I need help, and now I try and get shot down twice in one week, and I'm told to wait for so long when the last 3 weeks have been pure ****. If I go to an emergency room, will they commit me or throw me in a psych ward or something? I have two young children and no one to help me with them. I can't be away because then my husband can't work and we definitely won't be able to survive on no money. Why can't getting help be easy?

They won't throw you in the psych ward if you go to the ER. Maybe you could go to a doc in the box. This is what they are for. Explain that you have an appointment but need help now. They can prescribe you something and lit a fire under the doctor's office if they feel you need to see then now.

They won't put you in the psych ward unless you are a potential harm to yourself or others. I would go to the ER. Then at least you could get started on some meds before things get out of control.

Thats a bit strange that a doctor didn't put you on meds. It was one of the first things my doc did when I turned up in her office in tears one day

I hate when the options are limited by insurance :( My doctor prescribes my meds, but she's an idiot. I only go to her because she gives me the meds my last doc had me on that worked for me. Theres no other choice in doc groups?

What type of dr did you go to?

In general, I think it's good that she referred you to a psychiatrist. MD's that are not psychiatrists generally have very little training in psychotropics and really aren't in an informed position to be prescribing/supervising patients on psychotropics. However, that's really crummy that she just said, "Too bad, see someone else," without offering any support.

At the hospital, they cannot hospitalize you against your will unless they feel you are an IMMINENT (not potential) risk for harming yourself or others. However, you will likely have a psych consult and they may or may not be willing to prescribe you something on the spot and schedule a follow-up appt for you for continued maintenance. It's worth a shot, as it sounds like you are really struggling right now.

Another option may be your OB? I know several women who have been prescribed anti-depressants by their OB/GYN.

Good luck. I hope you're able to get the help you need, soon.

hey another "in the mean time" suggestion -ive heard omega 3s help a lot... like in the form of fish oil pills or whatever you may choose.

I guess I do understand why my doctor wouldn't give me meds, I was just so frustrated by the fact that I was told she would and waited so long just for her to come in and be like "Nope, won't do it." I have never actually gone to a psychiatrist and talked about my problems, so maybe that would help. And since I do feel like I have deeper issues than JUST depression, it's probably a good thing to go to someone who will take the time to figure out what will be best for me. At this point, I am going through an "up" period, so I feel like I am coping better. I also started taking St. John's Wort (I got a tiny little bottle at Walmart!) so I'm not sure if that's helping any or just having a placebo effect so I feel a little better.

The doctor I went to originally was just a family doctor, but she's new to me since I have this insurance. Also, the OBGYN that I went to does not accept my insurance, so I would have to find a new one of those too so I'm not sure if they would prescribe anything for me, being that they don't know me either.

I'm hoping i can stay on an even keel until my appointment. The whole emergency room thing just terrifies me for some reason. At least I know I have an option if I feel desperate again, but for now, I'm just going to try to ride it out as long my appointment is scheduled.

I'm glad you're feeling a bit "up." I can't imagine how difficult it must be. You're crying out for help and being told you have to wait... and wait... and you do, and then you get to the dr and she essentially tells you, "Nope. You have to wait some more."

A psychiatrist will definitely be able to help you with meds, but isn't likely going to give you much in the way of listening/helping with problems. They generally just do med management, making sure you're at the right dose, on the right med, kind of thing. A licensed social worker, licensed practical counselor, or psychologist (and that's often iffy, as they oftentimes just do testing) would be the way to go for counseling.

Again, good luck to you. I'm thinking about you!

You could also try your local mental health agency. They might not be able to get you in right away but they might have some names and numbers that would be willing to see you sooner.
I have major depression and have been saved through medication. I know your pain and feel for you.....really I do.

Dudesmom, oh my gosh I am sorry - that is so awful that you are trying so hard to get help and obstacles are being thrown at you!! hang in there :hug: always know that you can come here for support.

I really understand your frustration but if you can't get an appt. and supplements aren't an option either, go to the ER. As others have said, they cannot commit you against your will unless they feel you are a threat to yourself or others. I have a friend who has gone to the ER twice because of panic attacks and they have helped her. She also has financial issues and the ER has been more than willing to work with her on that end, so don't worry about the cost.

Right now, I am also upset with my doc. I have anxiety problems from time to time. This doc has always prescribed Xanax, which I only used rarely. The post 5 months or so the anxiety has been getting worse. Now I am dealing with a much larger issue that has causing me extreme stress. I called my doc who proceeded to tell me to practice my deep breathing and CBT. I'm all for cognitive therapy, but it's really not very helpful now and I don't think she's listening to me. Oh well, time to try and find someone new... Yuck!!

I'll also add my hat the the ring about going to the ER if you feel out of control. My stupid psych told me ( someone more likely to suffer from post partum depression) to go off my medication a week before my due date because of the baby. Without much time to wean off. I did and then got sick and had horrid panic attacks after the baby was born. I had to go to the ER for some immediate help. My experience was very positive. I didn't meet with a psych but a very knowledgeable ER doc took care of me.

I would also add that most ER docs are somewhat knowledgable in depression and anxiety, as a TON of people present with a lot of odd symptoms that turn out to be stress related or anxiety related and they have to be able to tell the difference between a panic attack and a heart attack.

I've never gone myself, but in the height of my anxiety I used to post quite regularly on anxiety forums and most of the posters there were making monthly visits.

My only caution would be the cost, my insurance has penalty fees for ER visits that turn out not to be emergency (life threatening) situations and I pay a hefty co-pay to go there. But on the plus side, we also aren't expected to wait more than a week for a Dr's appointment. Can you call your insurance company and have them refer you to a psychiatrist? Perhaps you can find one that will take you sooner that way. I would explain to them the situation and ask for a list of names that are on their approved list. You might also need to get a pre-authorization for a mental health visit. All of my insurance plans in the past 10 years required this, but maybe I just have strict plans. Mental health is generally a seperate plan from your regular health plan, so if you've never saught this treatment, you might want to double check that.

I feel for you though...sending hugs and just keep posting and see if you talking about it can help. Sometimes just having someone to talk to about it helps.

I know that where I live (Alabama) speciality doctors will not write scrips for meds. outside of their speciality. You have to see a general practitioner or general family medical doctor.
I was reading online that it is common for people who take these meds to gain about 10 lbs. My husband is on Lexapro and has gained...but he also quit smoking and some is probably from that. I was on Zoloft last year but I was not dieting then so I was gaining anyway. I hope you feel better soon.:hug:This is really hard. Reach out and talk with a trusted friend or family member while your waiting to get the medicine you need. Sometimes it helps to talk and cry with someone.

[QUOTE=goal4agirl;3544629]I know that where I live (Alabama) speciality doctors will not write scrips for meds. outside of their speciality. You have to see a general practitioner or general family medical doctor.
I was reading online that it is common for people who take these meds to gain about 10 lbs. My husband is on Lexapro and has gained...but he also quit smoking and some is probably from that. I was on Zoloft last year but I was not dieting then so I was gaining anyway. I hope you feel better soon.:hug:This is really hard. Reach out and talk with a trusted friend or family member while your waiting to get the medicine you need. Sometimes it helps to talk and cry with someone.

Just because I can't sit on my fingers... You do realize that psychotropics are outside of a general practitioner/family dr's specialty, right? They get very, very, very little training in psychopharmacology (not to mention the disorders that require treatment with psychotropics). (Same thing with diabetes, but that's not the topic of convo here :) ).

I just wanted to add that I had a really, really bad experience getting Paxil from a GP. I was referred from my allergist as I was having a lot of heart palpitations and I thought it was from my inhaler. The allergist was concerned and sent me over to a GP who referred my to a cardiologist and ran a ton of tests. Heart was fine, and it was determined to be anxiety.

The GP basically just gave me Paxil CR samples because that's what the drug rep had dropped off at the office. They weren't even the dose he thought I should start at, but when I pointed that out he said, we'll, we can try you at that dose then, it's what you would go up to.

I was soooooooooo sick on the Paxil, for someone who was 125 lbs I was on 37.5 mg. Which I believe to be very high. My weight shot up to 160 in a few months, and I could barely eat anything. I was so, so sick. I was sweating horribly and waking up at night soaking wet and chilled like I had a 104 fever. I was so nauseous, I couldn't keep food down, and yet I was gaining weight insanely. Because of the symptoms, I was taken off the Paxil cold turkey after a month. Which lead to horrid withdrawal for about another month (I was switched to Buspar, which didn't help). I continued to gain weight for several months after I was on the Paxil. Then one day it just stopped and I started losing...it was bizarre. I went up to my highest weight of 162 lbs and then I just started to drop back down slowly as I started to feel better.

Anyway, I am not trying to scare you. Everyone has different reactions and if it's worth anything, my anxiety was 100% gone while on the Paxil. The feeling like I had a severe flu was a million times worse though. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. My point is...anti depressants can have horrid effects on people, so make sure you see a psychiatrist and tread lightly. GPs treat colds and flus, they are not specialists in anything, let alone mental health. :?:

hugs to you....