Assigned New Mh Physcian.

[Mcafee]

Hello All Hope All Is Well. I need your Help on this one I have been assigned another Mental Health Specialist.For reason i do not know why and would not be explained to me.To Start a new is very taxing on oneself to explain yourself all over again because they just do not review past history and it is very cumbersome. However my concerns are this are the two of us going to sit there for thirty min .and stare at each other. This is a difficult subject for me to speak about.Your Thoughts?

[Mcafee]

Hello All Hope All Is Well. PURPLE my Brother or Sister God love you. Take a step back please and try not to dwell on this ask or request for another MH Doc (TDOC). And yes I personally think its by design the way they treat people just plain MEAN Spirited Folks if this were there Family member or relative . The course of action would be a whole new approch HOW MAY I HELP !!! Relax I know easier said than done. Feel Better my friend )

[Rockhound]

purple: If you don't get any response to be assigned to a different Dr. Stop in and see your mental health social worker. They can help you get crises intervention and also a different Dr. I'm sorry to say, but your previous Tdoc is correct, it is unethical for another Dr. and sometimes illegal for another Dr to treat or even discuss with you for the same problem, unless the primary Dr/Psychiatrist gives you a referal. Also, you will find a lot of Dr's or Nurse Practitioners at the VA do not have the proper licensing or credentials that they would otherwise have to have elsewhere. I'm not saying you can not go out and get an IMO or a second opinion, but therapy and/or counciling is a different matter and so would be second dipping for medication you think you should be getting, from a different Dr. That I know is illegal.

I too have just been assigned a new treating Psychiatrist and after my first visit, I am not sure if I am going to be able to trust her like I was beginning to do with my previous one, it took me some time, but I had the misfortune of being assigned a Psychiatrist who got pregnent and had to go on maternaty leave. One of the pitfallls of requesting only female Dr's since I have a near fobia against male ones.

Remember we are here to help when we can and their are suicide crises numbers at the VHA should you find yourself in such a crises. I would hope these individuals who man the crises line are a bit more empatheic and understanding than other professionals at the VHA.

Hang tough!

Rockhound Rider

[william n]

Purple, we all need ya here..right with us!!! If you feel that its toooo much! Dont hesitate to get too the ER or call the hotline. We are our own advocates and at the very least step up and take control of our own well-being. Look forward to your next post, William

[purple]

thanks everyone.

i knew changing tdocs would be stressful....i was in the middle of trying to do cpt for one of my ptsd issues (the worst one) when i had to change tdocs...this is the 2nd time this has happend. now new tdoc wants to start cpt all over again. 3rd time in a year. i just can't do it. there is too much going on. there are days i can barely get dressed....she just doesn't get it.

next week will be our 4th appt and she is still going over my family history....even though its all in my records she insists on hearing everything from me again. meanwhile, i'm losing it. i told her about a new stressor for my....plumbing problems in my downstaris shower....there is a leak or broken pipe somewhere because it is leaking through the floor into the basement....she asked "oh, will this be a problem for you?"....uh, duh. then she wanted to know if it was a financial burden for me to have it fixed. duh again lady. she is so xxxxxxx clueless.

sorry, i could vent all evening. i'm just real tired of the constant battle...tired of fighting.

[rentalguy1]

Purple: I agree with Carlie. Your old doc (RN) did not get a promotion at all. She got a demotion. The new position has taken her away from dealing one on one with patients for a reason. Most likely for "caring too much" as evidenced by her willingness to accept and respond to emails from you. This is uncharacteristic of most VA docs, especially MH docs. This lady is in some form of a fight for her job with the VA, if not for her nursing license. It would be best for her if you not contact her again, and it would be best for you as well in that you will not push yourself to dwell on the matter. I agree that you should try to hook up with social services at your VAMC, as that is where the Suicide Prevention Coordinator is usually housed. The bi-weekly counseling sessions that I have are with a lady in that very position, and I can assure you that she is competent. I understand that you have issues with letting your guard down for new docs, and I understand it because I (as well as most on this board) am the same way. Just keep looking for someone that you can be comfortable with and remember that you do not have to accept who they assign to you. You are in charge of your helath care, not them! Also always remember that your brothers and sisters are here to listen and lean on in those dark times, and we all go through them several times per year. We are a "special" portion of society, and our group has a disproportionate number of MH issues. The docs do what they can, but they can never care as much, or be as accepting of you as a fellow veteran.