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Well, it was draining. First you go do a computer program, and it asks you things like "out of the last 14 days, how many days did you have a problem going to sleep?" But it was pretty fast.
Next was the intake nurse. She's a RN that has special training. After that, she goes and discusses you with the doctor. Then you go sit with the RN and the doctor.
All of it was talking. No scans or anything. It was kind of upsetting, though. I don't know about you, but when I go to regular therapy, I
- identify the issues
- identify my goals
- create strategies to deal with my issues so that I can reach my goals.
This was more like, "tell me about how messed up you are". I got to discuss my dysfunctional childhood, abusive first marriage, how I've managed to never hold a job for more than a year at a time. I left feeling like a loser, quite frankly. It took 2-3 days for me to start feeling better.
Anyway, he said that I'm "interesting" and don't fit into type 1 or 2... so I'm "bipolar, not otherwise specified". And that he's going to recommend to my regular doc that I start lithium.
All in all, I'm glad I went because I want someone who *really* knows what they're doing, rather than my doctor and therapist just taking stabs at what sounds good at the time. And they don't want to see me back at U of M for a year.
Hi, I was diagnosed at the U of M last year. It was really thorough compared to other pdocs I've been to. Some of the stuff on the computer thing is kind of irrelevant. It doesn't give you the chance to say what other things have been going on, and also won't let you say whether you've experienced such and such in the past month or so etc., but I really like my Pdoc, and the whole experience there. I was diagnosed biolar 2 and panic anxiety disorder. There are many people with the bipolar NOS diagnosis these days it seems. I usually see my Pdoc once a month or so. Do you have to take any kind of meds or anything? Nice to read your post. Take care.
DC.
I agree about the computer. I always like to qualify or describe my answers. I'm not good with "yes or no" answers.
They are going to have me start lithium, but the information hasn't gotten to my primary doc yet, I don't think. I will call him next week to see if he got it.
Hi Freeda, How are you doing? Will your primary then do the follow up for you, and not a pdoc? For a while, when my meds were stable, my primary did that, but since I kept changing meds, it's easier for me to just stay with the Pdoc, plus the visit with mine is an hour long, It is my therapy also. I have a woman pdoc, and she's really nice. I hope you get started on something soon take care.
DC.
I'm not sure what you mean when you say pdoc. My care team is my primary care physician, who is an internist and my therapist, who is a Ph.D in psychology.
Hi, sorry, Pdoc means psychiatrist. Tdoc means therapist. I had a therapist before, but I saw her for a year, and even though I really liked her, I don't think I got that much benefit from her. I tried one at the U of M, but it wasn't worth it for me to do therapy too. My insurance only allows 20 total visits a year. Oh well!!! Take care.
DC.
Okay, I get it now. :)
I live 2 hrs from U of M, so I see people locally. There are no good psychiatrists around here who are accepting new patients.
Hi Freeda, Wow, that's far away, 2 hours!!! It would be really hard to come here evey month or more. I'm glad you have a good Tdoc, that has a Phd where you are. Well, let me know how it goes, if you do go on the lithium. I wonder what kind of dose they start out with. Take care,
DC.