Everybody knows that saying, don't they? I guess in the case of which I am about to address it is more of a case of "if it ain't broke, or it at least works a little, don't break it while trying to 'fix' it."
I recently changed psychiatric practices. My former doctor did a fine job of writing prescriptions, but she couldn't stay awake during appointments. No joke. She would, seriously, nod off while I was in her office. Oh my. I never really liked her anyway, so I finally (after 2+ years), I went searching for someone who would stay awake!
I found a very nice practice. There are many providers there and it was very easy to get an appointment as a new patient. I met with the intake nurse and she ordered some labs to see if there was anything that could be causing some of my symptoms other than me just being crazy. LOL The labs did indicate that I have some other "stuff" going on so I see a specialist tomorrow.
The next appointment, I met with the nurse practitioner who I will be seeing more regularly. This woman wants to start me on new medication right away.
Um...do I really NEED more or different meds? The stuff I'm on right now works pretty well. It doesn't solve all of my problems, but it keeps my head on straight...most of the time. ;-) I just want someone who is awake enough to write for refills.
So I drop $30 co-pay on a bottle of the new stuff. They didn't have samples available at the office that day. Well, it was a big waste of money. That stuff made me ill. I did fine for the first few hours after the first dose. Then it wiped me out and I couldn't function. I was on the couch the rest of the day. Feeling light-headed, dizzy, whatever isn't ever fun. I tried it another day or two with smaller doses, but it wasn't going to work out.
SO I call the nurse & tell her. She didn't seem to have a problem with me dropping it.
I go back for my next visit. She doesn't remember anything that we'd talked about at the previous visit or on the phone. She is awake, though. She decides that I should try a different medicine. I'd taken it 9 years ago so maybe it is what I need now. er...whatever... I asked for samples this time. The stuff isn't in generic and I didn't want to throw another $30 away for nothing. Good thing too!!!
I did get samples. The first day was AWFUL!!! I haven't felt that anxious, irritable, etc. in a very long time. I recognized the feelings and knew that I had to really watch my behavior. It was a very difficult day for me. I called the nurse to tell her that I was already giving up on this one, but she wasn't available and didn't return my call. I decided to give it another shot. The next day wasn't so bad. Neither was the next. The fourth day was TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!! I could not stand it! I think it was worse than the first day! I called and left a message for the nurse again.
Turns out that the nurse returned my call a few minutes after I had left for a meeting. I called to leave another message today and the operator made me call the pharmacy line because it was related to medication. I left a message on the pharmacy line expressing my frustrations with having to call them since their machine basically just asked about needing refills!!!!
I have gone back to the medicine I'd been taking for quite a while that was doing its job. I'd rather have a lack of motivation and insomnia that all of the other stuff that came with the other meds!!!
I am looking forward to meeting with the specialist tomorrow. If I've got other physical issues to take care of, then we need not mess around with my current meds until we've addresses those, wouldn't you think????
*sigh* I am quite frustrated. I'd hate to go back to the old doctor, but she found the drugs that worked, tweaked them as necessary, and told me to come back in 6 months. I've seen these new people 3 times in 2 months. I hate changing psych doctors. It's such a pain.
