Posted by LostBoyinNC1 on July 27, 2002, at 22:26:16
In reply to frustration - the medical monopoly, posted by Elizabeth on July 20, 2002, at 2:24:11
> Hi everyone. I've been struggling onward, working with a new pdoc who is, shall we say, less open-minded than the ones I'm used to. (I posted about this a while back.) It seems to be working out okay, but I'm left feeling frustrated that I have to be dependent on a doctor to get the medication I need. You know?
Welcome to ultra conservative North Carolina. Where a doctor is not even legally required to give you copies of your medical records if they dont want to. And oh BTW the psychiatrists in Winston Salem are among the very worst Pdocs in the state, even by North Carolina standards.
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> I'm pretty sure that I know more than my doctor does about my own psychiatric history, present symptoms, and response to medications. I'm also pretty sure that I understand at least as well as she does how the medications I take work, on the molecular level and otherwise. She does have important knowledge of things like pharmacokinetic interactions which I might miss, but it just doesn't seem right that it should ultimately be her decision whether to permit me to take a particular remedy. It seems to me that this impinges on a very basic freedom of mine, the right of self-determination.
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> At one time I was faced with a doctor who refused to prescribe the medication that -- according to records to which he had access -- would help me. As far as I could tell, he would rather see me continue to be depressed than take a "bad" drug, and I narrowly escaped being committed by this bastard (refusing to treat me, to the end). To this guy, the thought of prescribing Buprenex for depression -- even on a trial basis -- was so repulsive that he would rather cause a depressed person's suffering to continue (although, to tell you the truth, I didn't get the impression that my well-being was a very high priority for him). And I didn't have the option of saying no to him. His opinion was law. It was a terrifying experience, and even now, months after, I'm disturbed just thinking about it. *shudder*Was this guy another Winston Pdoc? He kind of sounds like my former Winston Pdoc. His last name doesnt happen to start with "J" does it? I am really curious who this guy is for real, cause i probably know him or heard of him.
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> We all know that doctors sometimes appeal to morality -- their own subjective morality -- in making medical decisions. I just wish that my ability to be well didn't depend on whether I can find a doctor whose morals don't make him/her too rigid to prescribe the medication that works for me. It seems like most doctors in average American cities are pretty rigid, alas.They think you have substance abuse problems, in addition to depression problems Elizabeth. Think about it. You take buprenex, benzos and Ambien at twice the normal strength. Thats alot of addictive stuff. And remember where you are Geographically located now to keep things in perspective. You are in ultra conservative North Carolina where drug abuse is not tolerated, but everybody does drugs except for the Bible thumpers. Get caught here and you WILL go to jail. NC aint California. If Morton Downey JR. was a coke addict in NC and not California, he would have been a convict a long time ago and not in drug rehab like they do in California.
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> Anyone else having similar thoughts and feelings?Ive complained about the backward, anti-consumer laws regarding medical things in NC for five years now. People have called me crazy for complaining about it so much and now it sounds like you are experiencing somewhat the same thing. Try and get FULL copies of your medical records from that guy...bet you wont get them without a major lawsuit. I bet all he'd give you is a "summarized" statement of your records, ommitting stuff he knows you wouldnt like. In most other states, all youd have to do is request it in writing and the doctor would be legally required to give you full copies with no lip or attitude.
I would seriously suggest you consider finding a Pdoc outside of Winston Salem. There are no good Pdocs in Winston. For some reason, the mental health climate in Winston is super uptight. I dont know why but I found that out the hard way when I used a guy from Winston a few years ago and was hospitalized the only time Ive ever been over in WS. I have actually used two Pdocs from Winston, saw the second one recently once for a SS disability exam. He was the same. Rigid, arrogant...no good. He was a Wake Forest psychiatry graduate. Wake Forest psychiatry is no good, although Baptist hospital overall is a fine, outstanding hospital. But their psychiatry department totally sucks. Id use Baptist hospital as my number one choice for sports medicine, their Neurology department is good, cancer department is good, many departments at Baptist are outstanding. But not the psychiatry department, its below average.
I decided I will never again use a Winston Salem psychiatrist, as I dont like the general climate over there. Which is as you describe...rigid. Id recommend getting out of your area, maybe trying to find a Pdoc in Greensboro which is a more liberal city. Or maybe consider UNC psychiatry. Ive heard some decent things about UNC psychiatry. Ive told you about Duke psychiatry...its arrogant and the psychiatry department there is not up to Duke's overhyped reputation. Duke has a good ECT unit, but other than that I avoid the place.
Could you move back to New England? Boston? I really dont think you will find a psychiatrist you are crazy about in NC.
poster:LostBoyinNC1
thread:112998
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020725/msgs/113978.html