keista
New Member
.....and I officially think that she thinks I'm crazy.
First, I am 100% aware of the fact she's got a tough job. We have 15 minute appointments. DD1 doesn't talk to her. She has to go by what she sees in DD1 and what I tell her. At the end of appointments, we are usually in agreement as to the course of action/medication. That's why I keep sticking with her instead of changing psychiatrists. The problem is, I don't know what the problem is, but I know I get crazy frustrated.
A year ago today, psychiatrist was pushing for an Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) evaluation for DD1. In the office, DD1 would not talk, barely made eye contact and her brother is on the spectrum, so from her perspective it seemed a reasonable supposition. Sure, refer her for whatever evaluations you want, but she is NOT on the spectrum.
So DD1 was referred to staff psychologist for whatever evaluations. The ones I know for sure included TOVA for ADD, a BiPolar (BP) questionnaire. There were others I'm not familiar with, and am still waiting release of the written report (don't know why I didn't get it last year) The verbal report I got didn't reveal anything I didn't know. Depression and anxiety manged reasonably well with the medication. Wellbutrin and Paxil.
At that time she was already on the Paxil. DD1 only became mildly more talkative with the psychiatrist, but at home, she was much more out of her anxiety shell. Then I started reporting the emergence of "new" symptoms. psychiatrist started bringing up the possibility of BiPolar (BP). Didn't Dr W rule that out? Hmmmm well, yeah, I can see bits of BiPolar (BP) but it just doesn't fit the criteria - gotta really stretch the definition. That kept going on until the the "new" symptoms became 'creepy' and I asked to get her off the Paxil. I'm still not sure why we took away the Wellbutrin and replaced it with the Abilify except that we were caught up in "looking out for" BiPolar (BP).
Once she was off the Paxil, "creepy" went away, but she was agitated - the chronic boredom to the point of tears sometimes. Other than that, she seemed pretty OK, but I was becoming increasingly aware that the 'boredom' is actually better defined as restlessness/agitation. She NEEDED to do stuff, but could not find stuff to do that would bring her sufficient interest/joy. This culminated in her being admitted to crisis stabilization for a serious suicide threat. I thought the Abilify was at fault so stopped it. At the followup appointment, psychiatrist not only mentioned BiPolar (BP) and BPII, but also cyclothemia and Borderline Personality Disorder - where did that come from?
Since she's been medication free, she experiences many moods, from matter of fact suicidal ideation, to silly goofy giddiness, to tearful sadness, to extreme anger (not rages), to 'normal', to restless/agitation although that is no where near as extreme as it was in the past. However, after one month, in my opinion none of these symptoms are extreme or frequent enough to merit medication. I tried my best to explain this today. psychiatrist suggested that DD1 is "playing" me. Ah, HUH? Yes, this is always a concern of mine and I need to observe carefully and act prudently so as not to get played, but also not overlook when DD1 is in real pain - that can be a REALLY fine line with this child, but again in my opinion it seems more like 'real' issues as opposed to "playing"
One of the reasons psychiatrist felt this way today was because DD1 was still refusing to talk to psychiatrist, but was being completely goofy, giddy, silly and would not sit still in the chair. Several times she was upside down. psychiatrist described her acting like a 4 y/o. YUP! Sooooooooooooo psychiatrist pulled out the ADHD survey (she uses Vanderbilt) for the teacher to fill out. Ah, Dr W ruled that out with the TOVA. But this also asks about other behaviors. OK.
One thing that REALLY aggravated me was when she was trying to talk to DD1 she said, "The medicines we have tried seem to work for a while and then stop working" I called he on that right then and there asking her what she meant by that because Wellbutrin and Paxil never stopped working. The Paxil was eliciting new symptoms, but it was still doing what it was supposed to do - curbing the anxiety. She just looked at me and changed the subject.
Just venting mostly, but am I being unreasonable to think she should be tracking symptoms and side effects better? Is it me? Is it her? Both of us?
On a good note, Son saw her first and he was able to reasonably articulate his problems and ask - HIMSELF - for a dosage increase. I did have to remind him to tell her that he actively sought out and started therapy to learn better coping strategies. I only elaborated on the fact that we noticed an increase in his frustration as long ago as January and have been trying to work them through, but it is getting more and more intense. My boy is learning self-advocating!
First, I am 100% aware of the fact she's got a tough job. We have 15 minute appointments. DD1 doesn't talk to her. She has to go by what she sees in DD1 and what I tell her. At the end of appointments, we are usually in agreement as to the course of action/medication. That's why I keep sticking with her instead of changing psychiatrists. The problem is, I don't know what the problem is, but I know I get crazy frustrated.
A year ago today, psychiatrist was pushing for an Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) evaluation for DD1. In the office, DD1 would not talk, barely made eye contact and her brother is on the spectrum, so from her perspective it seemed a reasonable supposition. Sure, refer her for whatever evaluations you want, but she is NOT on the spectrum.
So DD1 was referred to staff psychologist for whatever evaluations. The ones I know for sure included TOVA for ADD, a BiPolar (BP) questionnaire. There were others I'm not familiar with, and am still waiting release of the written report (don't know why I didn't get it last year) The verbal report I got didn't reveal anything I didn't know. Depression and anxiety manged reasonably well with the medication. Wellbutrin and Paxil.
At that time she was already on the Paxil. DD1 only became mildly more talkative with the psychiatrist, but at home, she was much more out of her anxiety shell. Then I started reporting the emergence of "new" symptoms. psychiatrist started bringing up the possibility of BiPolar (BP). Didn't Dr W rule that out? Hmmmm well, yeah, I can see bits of BiPolar (BP) but it just doesn't fit the criteria - gotta really stretch the definition. That kept going on until the the "new" symptoms became 'creepy' and I asked to get her off the Paxil. I'm still not sure why we took away the Wellbutrin and replaced it with the Abilify except that we were caught up in "looking out for" BiPolar (BP).
Once she was off the Paxil, "creepy" went away, but she was agitated - the chronic boredom to the point of tears sometimes. Other than that, she seemed pretty OK, but I was becoming increasingly aware that the 'boredom' is actually better defined as restlessness/agitation. She NEEDED to do stuff, but could not find stuff to do that would bring her sufficient interest/joy. This culminated in her being admitted to crisis stabilization for a serious suicide threat. I thought the Abilify was at fault so stopped it. At the followup appointment, psychiatrist not only mentioned BiPolar (BP) and BPII, but also cyclothemia and Borderline Personality Disorder - where did that come from?
Since she's been medication free, she experiences many moods, from matter of fact suicidal ideation, to silly goofy giddiness, to tearful sadness, to extreme anger (not rages), to 'normal', to restless/agitation although that is no where near as extreme as it was in the past. However, after one month, in my opinion none of these symptoms are extreme or frequent enough to merit medication. I tried my best to explain this today. psychiatrist suggested that DD1 is "playing" me. Ah, HUH? Yes, this is always a concern of mine and I need to observe carefully and act prudently so as not to get played, but also not overlook when DD1 is in real pain - that can be a REALLY fine line with this child, but again in my opinion it seems more like 'real' issues as opposed to "playing"
One of the reasons psychiatrist felt this way today was because DD1 was still refusing to talk to psychiatrist, but was being completely goofy, giddy, silly and would not sit still in the chair. Several times she was upside down. psychiatrist described her acting like a 4 y/o. YUP! Sooooooooooooo psychiatrist pulled out the ADHD survey (she uses Vanderbilt) for the teacher to fill out. Ah, Dr W ruled that out with the TOVA. But this also asks about other behaviors. OK.
One thing that REALLY aggravated me was when she was trying to talk to DD1 she said, "The medicines we have tried seem to work for a while and then stop working" I called he on that right then and there asking her what she meant by that because Wellbutrin and Paxil never stopped working. The Paxil was eliciting new symptoms, but it was still doing what it was supposed to do - curbing the anxiety. She just looked at me and changed the subject.
Just venting mostly, but am I being unreasonable to think she should be tracking symptoms and side effects better? Is it me? Is it her? Both of us?
On a good note, Son saw her first and he was able to reasonably articulate his problems and ask - HIMSELF - for a dosage increase. I did have to remind him to tell her that he actively sought out and started therapy to learn better coping strategies. I only elaborated on the fact that we noticed an increase in his frustration as long ago as January and have been trying to work them through, but it is getting more and more intense. My boy is learning self-advocating!