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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Fi on October 19, 2004, at 14:24:46
A bit spooky! My GP hadnt actually said he was going to refer me, tho I know he's been having problems working out what to do as I have an unusual form of depression. He was depending totally on the letter from a psychiatrist who saw me at the A&E (ER).
I appreciate his concern in taking this step, and it *may* mean I have access to more support resources in a crisis (only maybe- there are v few staff/resources in my area, which has lots of deprivation and people likely to have mental health problems.)
But also means being assessed by someone else, giving them the opporunity to be OK & understanding about v personal things- or not.
I also know from experience that some of the doctors around here arent very competent with English,which can make it difficult sometimes, even when only discussing straightforward physical problems. The idea of having to plough thru an assessment on that basis is disheartening.
I wont know whether it will be an issue until I meet him/her, though.Oh well, I'll see how it goes. It has helped to write all that down.
Fi
Posted by AuntieMel on October 19, 2004, at 16:15:30
In reply to Referred to a psychiatrist for the first time, posted by Fi on October 19, 2004, at 14:24:46
The main thing you get out of a psychiatrist is a doctor that is well versed in the medications and their interactions. A GP might not know what to do if an anti-depressant doesn't help. The phychiatrist might, based on your symptome and his experience, be able to suggest something more suitable. He'll also probably have seen med resistant (my case) depression and could devise a 'cocktail' of meds for you (also my case, I'm taking 5 different meds).
A fair about of english is required, but it's much more important that he can speed fluent psychopharmocology.
Posted by cubic_me on October 19, 2004, at 16:45:26
In reply to Referred to a psychiatrist for the first time, posted by Fi on October 19, 2004, at 14:24:46
I'm in the UK too and have seen a psychiatrist for about a year now (some people refer to them as pdocs on here).
I have found it useful to have someone who knows about all the medications and diagnoses in detail (for example I'm now on a drug that has only had a few trials in treatment of depression), however I have had 5 different pschiatrists in that year of going. When I turn up I never know who I am going to see next as the turn over of junior doctors is so fast as they go on rotations around different hospitals. All the psychiatrists I've seen have been Asian - I don't know if that's just coincidence or a trend, but I have had difficulty understanding some of their accents.
The positive thing tho, is that they have all been decent psychiatrists. Perhaps not people I would tell my deepest, darkest thoughts too, but they have considered my case and taken me seriously, which is the most I was expecting from the NHS really!
Good luck, and let us know how it goes. Did you know that you can ask your doctor to send you a resume of what happened in your session with them and thier thoughts on it? It's worth asking for if you want it.
Posted by fi on October 20, 2004, at 11:02:20
In reply to Referred to a psychiatrist for the first time, posted by Fi on October 19, 2004, at 14:24:46
Many thanks for your great messages; realistic but reassuring. I'd got a bit wary of the whole idea, but have calmed down! I love the idea of fluent psychopharmacology. And resumes- how amazing! Especially in ye olde NHS.
Fi
Posted by Fi on October 21, 2004, at 14:29:44
In reply to ta kits to cubic_me AuntieMel, posted by fi on October 20, 2004, at 11:02:20
This is the end of the thread.
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