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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 23 of 23. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 7:07:39
1st: This guy was a piece of work. I went in to finally talk to someone about my chest. I have pectus excavatum(sunken chest)and it's bothered me since puberty when other kids started ripping me to shreds over it.
Doc, I love to swim but I hyperventilate if I take my shirt off in front of people(still do to this day)
YOU GOT A GIRLFRIEND? (a very LOUD guy)
Yes.
IS SHE PRETTY?
Well..yeah.
HAVE HER GO TO THE POOL WITH YOU, NO ONE WILL BE LOOKING AT YOU ANYWAY. : O
Later: Sometimes I get frustrated and angry easily.
YOU KNOW, I DO TOO. WHEN I DO, I JUST SAY HORSESH*T TO MYSELF..LOVE THAT WORD.
(I'm not kidding. Most of this is word for word.)
2nd: Sat behind his desk which was roughly the size of an aircraft carrier. Spoke so softly that I was constantly saying, what, huh, etc.
I felt, with his desk, that I was applying for a job. (I'll stop there)3rd: (Prozac had just been out a month or so)
Another extremely loud idiot. Left his door open with people within hearing distance.WE'LL GET YOU STARTED ON PROZAC. GREAT DRUG..WISH I HAD STOCK IN THE COMPANY.
I didn't go back.
4th: First lady shrink. An egomaniac with an inferiority complex.
Everytime she was uncomfortable with talking about something. she wouldn't make eye contact when addressing the issue. She would lean to her right, open the drawer on an end table like she was looking for something and bring up the topic.
She did it many times and I was cracking up inside.She was evil though. I was paying full price to see her and my life was chaotic. I wasn't in control of my money.
Her office mgr let me slide on payments and I had no idea I owed $600.00.
She found out, called me and told me to come in to talk about this balance.
You want me to pay $125. that I don't have to talk to you about me having no money.
Yep.
I had to ask my brother for his credit card # so I could pay this sl*t for the appt.
At one point she said very loudly: IF I DON'T GET PAID WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE DOORS ON THIS BUSINESS.
Her and her husband were both shrinks in that office. They took at least 4 vacations a year to places around the globe. She was always on vacation and worked 9-4, hour off for lunch, 4 days a week.
After she screamed at me about putting her out of business, I said, S. you have an issue with money.
She reached for the end table. It hit her right between the eyes. She knew it--I knew it.5th (current) Dr B I've made him laugh once. He asked me a question, I answered with a real zinger. He THROWS his head back, his mouth is wide open, sorta smiling but he makes no sound.
Never heard a laugh like that before.When I attempted suicide and then called him..Phil, go to the hospital, they can get you balanced out.
My shrink in the hospital was a very cool lady. I liked her immediately.
My drugs were: Lithium 1200mg, Cymbalta 90mg, clonazepam 1.5mg, Lamictal 400mg.
She dropped the Lithium to 600mg and Cymbalta to 60mg saying less is sometimes more. No problem here doc.
I see Dr B soon after being released and told him the med changes.
He says Lithium can't augment an AD below 900mg and re-upped it. He says you never lower the dose on an AD with a severely depressed patient and upped it back to 90mg.
I'm thinking, if you're such a genius, why did I get despondent enough to attempt suicide?
My opinion, when I get to hell, it's going to be inundated with shrinks and lawyers.
BTW, I'm a bit wired and talkative on Pristiq.
This stuffs better than cocaine.
Posted by Phillipa on July 24, 2009, at 12:26:21
In reply to My shrinks thru the years, posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 7:07:39
Are you sleeping yet? Phillipa
Posted by manic 666 on July 24, 2009, at 13:04:59
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years » Phil, posted by Phillipa on July 24, 2009, at 12:26:21
you sound just like me with the shrink phobia, thats why security are always about when i go ,i want to deck the tw*ts, they make you wait an hour late , forget your name , i even tell them what med i would like to try after babble buddies advise me.
Posted by obsidian on July 24, 2009, at 15:17:35
In reply to My shrinks thru the years, posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 7:07:39
sounds like a bit of a mixed state though??
feeling so wired and depressed at the same time
Posted by Sigismund on July 24, 2009, at 15:33:28
In reply to My shrinks thru the years, posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 7:07:39
>She found out, called me and told me to come in to talk about this balance.
>You want me to pay $125. that I don't have to talk to you about me having no money.
>Yep.
>I had to ask my brother for his credit card # so I could pay this sl*t for the appt.
>At one point she said very loudly: IF I DON'T GET PAID WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE DOORS ON THIS BUSINESS.
>Her and her husband were both shrinks in that office. They took at least 4 vacations a year to places around the globe. She was always on vacation and worked 9-4, hour off for lunch, 4 days a week.
I'm speechless
>BTW, I'm a bit wired and talkative on Pristiq.
This stuffs better than cocaine.That good? Hmmmmm I shall bear this in mind.
Posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 16:08:02
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years » Phil, posted by obsidian on July 24, 2009, at 15:17:35
I think you nailed it sid. I finally got to sleep at a reasonable hour, 11:30, last night. Awesome, so I woke up at three with my ears ringing and my fingers tapping on this keyboard as I chain smoked.
I had to get something to eat about 8 and when I was driving, tears were rolling down my face. I knew of mixed states and figured I might be in the midst of one.
I was going to call my pdoc but decided against it. I feel a little better but these last few months have been the toughest of my life. No doubt. : (
Posted by obsidian on July 24, 2009, at 18:03:36
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years » obsidian, posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 16:08:02
god phil, I hope your pdoc knows all this is happening. Are you trying to ride something out? hoping something will kick in?
maybe it's not right for you and something else needs to be added
Posted by obsidian on July 24, 2009, at 18:10:37
In reply to My shrinks thru the years, posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 7:07:39
I had one who talked to me like I was three. And he had this horribly obvious hairpiece. It was an insulting, confusing and surreal experience all at once.
Posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 18:46:39
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years » Phil, posted by obsidian on July 24, 2009, at 18:03:36
Methinks you're right sid and I am trying to ride it out.
He knows I was having a terrible time with sleep but for some reason, he didn't seem that concerned which I thought was bizarre. I can't remember what he told me when I called but I was fully expecting him to drop the med right now.
I didn't call him today and after your comments, I'll take it once more. It goes away Sunday if this continues.
Posted by obsidian on July 24, 2009, at 20:28:21
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years » obsidian, posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 18:46:39
I wish you luck then Phil, some rest and some little bit of calm
I'm not bipolar, but I relate to this song by Sting:
"Fill my eyes
O Lithium sunset
And take this lonesome burden
Of worry from my mind
Take this heartache
Of obsidian darkness
And fold my darkness
Into your yellow light"take good care,
sid
Posted by Sigismund on July 25, 2009, at 1:22:05
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years » Phil, posted by obsidian on July 24, 2009, at 20:28:21
People with bipolar should be very careful to get enough sleep?
(I wouldn't know. I've been unstable but never manic, at least I don't think so.)
That's what they say on the Med Board, anyway.
Posted by Phil on July 25, 2009, at 2:58:03
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years, posted by Sigismund on July 25, 2009, at 1:22:05
Yes, you have to get sleep or you're headed for trouble.
It's a complicated disease and hard to keep under control.
Bipolars have the highest suicide rate of any other mental illness. 15% minimum off themselves.
I've always, since I've been here, zoomed in on suicidal posters and tried to help. I's explain to them why I would never do it.
Never say never. : )
Posted by Dinah on July 25, 2009, at 8:24:09
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years » Sigismund, posted by Phil on July 25, 2009, at 2:58:03
Or at least say never while I'm undergoing a medication trial.
When I was on Wellbutrin for about a month, I came as close as I'd ever like to come. Then it occurred to me that it was very likely the Wellbutrin.
Listen to your own advice, Phil. It was good advice for me.
Posted by Phil on July 25, 2009, at 9:32:08
In reply to Say never » Phil, posted by Dinah on July 25, 2009, at 8:24:09
I've solved the problem. I went from 1.5 mg a day on clonazepam to taking as much as I need to try to give this pristiq some time.
I'm sleeping and not totally screwed up this morning.
If my doc says don't ever do that without me approving it, I'm firing him to his face.
Doctors study this stuff for years but they don't take it. If they did, they would have a true street perspective of what it's like.
Besides the pdoc in the hospital, I've never met a truly sane shrink.
For instance: Doc, I haven't slept for days and I'm worn out.
Take this pill, Phil.
They don't ask if you're drinking 6 pots of coffee a day etc and that's just wrong.Do I think they really care about their patients true well being?
Not in my experience and I have tons of examples.When your road gets rocky--go to the hospital. Do they call or visit? Nope. You're out of site, out of mind.
Do I respect any of them I've seen. No.
That's just my experience but I've spent half my life dealing with them.
Posted by seldomseen on July 25, 2009, at 11:46:17
In reply to Re: Say never » Dinah, posted by Phil on July 25, 2009, at 9:32:08
I say good for you Phil. We are the ones that have to survive these feelings/illnesses not the docs.
If I go up on my Klonopin, my doc gets very worried. I know that his intentions are good, but I can't help feeling like a drug abuser when he lectures. It's ironic really because I have Ph.D. in pharmacology. I know more about these drugs than he does.
Anyhoodle. To me, it does come down to survival sometimes and trying to make ourselves as comfortable as we can actually get.
Take care of yourself, I think I can safely say that we are all here for you.
Seldom.
Posted by Dinah on July 25, 2009, at 11:55:34
In reply to Re: Say never » Dinah, posted by Phil on July 25, 2009, at 9:32:08
I've had three in my adult life.
One pushed way too many pills on me, answered all of my side effects with still more pills, and had a Dr. Phil like way of interacting.
The second was in no way warm, but he listened, seemed marginally interested, and said one of my favorite ever pdoc things. "Medications have side effects. Not taking medications has side effects. It's up to you to decide which side effects you prefer." He never pushed anything. I doubt he'd have seen me in the hospital, and I doubt he cared about me in any way. I called him Dr. "Just the Facts, Ma'am" because the only thing he wanted to hear was medication related. But he did his best for me, and listened to my feedback, and was totally open to switching course whenever I liked. I lost him in Katrina as he, like so many, fled for higher land.
The third scares me to death, in a different way than the first. He's very cadaverous, rarely smiles, has his clients sit waaaay back from his desk. But he's enormously cautious about meds. Makes sure he has my bloodwork forwarded from my regular doctor. If I ever reported a side effect, I know he'd listen. I'm afraid to talk to him, and whatever I do try to say gets garbled on the way out by anxiety. I think he thinks I'm a neurotic fool. But I trust him to take what I say about meds seriously. And he'd definitely ask if I was drinking six cups of coffee and why I thought I was up all night before he prescribed anything.
I don't think I've ever met a warm and fuzzy pdoc. I didn't like any of the three. Well maybe the second, just a teeny bit. But I respect the second and third.
There are good ones out there. Few and far between perhaps. I got the second from a recommendation from a friend of my mother, believe it or not. And the third as a recommendation from the second. Do you know any little old ladies to ask? :)
I'm glad you're feeling better, Phil.
Posted by seldomseen on July 25, 2009, at 11:58:16
In reply to My shrinks thru the years, posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 7:07:39
All of this would be hilarious if we weren't actually living it.
I thought I would share my shrinks through the years.
First one:
A dyed in the wool new yorker from the Bronx (his name was actually Vinny). Listened pretty well for the first couple of sessions, got my hopes up, then started telling me about the abuse "he" suffered when he was a kid. Actually said my was really not that big of a deal. I hit the door.Second one:
A truly holistic, natural clothing wearing, unwashed vegan Wiccan from Berkeley, CA. (not that there is anything wrong with that). Incense in the office and we sat on floor mats to "level our communication threshold". First session, she wanted to examine my breathing, second session she handed me a teabag, asked me to close my eyes and focus only on the teabad for 5 minutes. Feel and express every nuance of the teabag. Last session.Third one:
Had at least 100 teddy bears in her office, all of them pointed directly at me. That was 202 pairs of eyes staring me down. I could hardly get in the room for all the afghans (snot covered I'm sure) piled, stuffed and covering an equally shabby and snot covered couch. I worried about my physical health in that office. She referred me out on the second session to DBT classes, which were full until January of the next year.I stayed out of therapy for awhile.
Returned and met up with a good one. Been with him for 8 years and he's really helped. He also keeps a nice clean office. We routinely get a good laugh about the teabag.
Seldom.
Posted by Phil on July 25, 2009, at 12:20:52
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years, posted by seldomseen on July 25, 2009, at 11:58:16
I've got to read y'alls posts a few more times. Tea bags, sitting on the floor(hurts my backteddy bears!
I thought Austin was bizzare.
Off the subject: I was referred by my dentists to a, hahahaha root canal guy for a broken root.
His waiting room was filthy. I went home for a shower after sitting on a couch like I'd never seen before.
I had to fill out paperwork and I listed my drugs and one of the girls blurted across the room: RITALIN IS NOT A CONTROLLED DRUG HAHAHAHA.
I got up and left.
Maybe we should somehow encourage people to share their experinces on this thread.
Posted by Dinah on July 25, 2009, at 13:53:27
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years, posted by seldomseen on July 25, 2009, at 11:58:16
And they prescribed drugs?!!
Here the psychiatrists seem to be purely psychopharmacologists. Although my current pdoc seems to have a separate area set up for therapy. I can't even *imagine* that. I'm too scared to say hello coherently. I can't imagine wanting to confide in him.
Posted by seldomseen on July 25, 2009, at 16:38:13
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years » seldomseen, posted by Dinah on July 25, 2009, at 13:53:27
The floor mat lady could not prescribe medications, but all the other ones could/can.
I actually prefer to see psychiatrists that do therapy, it saves me another bill, and I'm assured that they know the problems I dealing with on an ongoing basis.
Seldom.
Posted by Phillipa on July 25, 2009, at 20:10:08
In reply to Re: My shrinks thru the years » Dinah, posted by seldomseen on July 25, 2009, at 16:38:13
My first one was wonderful seriously office separate from his house. He did psychotherapy also he was kind, understood all I'd been through in my life. He actually told me to get out of my first marriage as husband cheating all the time. Me too dumb to figure it out. He had me med free for a number of years. He knew when married second that he was a wonderful man and he was treated me like a Queen problem as he said was I didn't know how to accept someone treating me well. When moved to VA Beach From Ct he called his buddy from pdoc school got me set up with him and he also was great. He second even got me a parttime job in a jail and he was the pdoc there. I worked with him in the psych hospital. I used him as a reference for the jail job. I continued to see him he did theraphy also when moved to NC. Then he started doing employee assistance programs and I was only on .125 xanax a day. So then the horror docs when hit NC. Now the one I have will probably retire as she was in a horrid car accident in April and in the hospital for months. She's 72. So this will be a loss no idea where to find one now. Charlotte horrible for pdocs. Tried three. All in large practices and can't switch if not a good match. I'm in trouble now. Phillipa
Posted by Angela2 on July 26, 2009, at 14:38:17
In reply to My shrinks thru the years, posted by Phil on July 24, 2009, at 7:07:39
just had to say it cuz it's true :p I like my current T. Don't know what I'm gonna do when she leaves.
Posted by Frustratedmama on August 6, 2009, at 8:33:12
In reply to I've had some weird shrinks in my lifetime too, posted by Angela2 on July 26, 2009, at 14:38:17
Just had to add I have a great pdoc now but had one in the past who actually FELL ASLEEP during our session! Talk about adding insult to injury! How to make someone who feels worthless validated? Fall asleep while they are talking to you! LOL!
TRUE STORY!!!!! (unfortunately!)
This is the end of the thread.
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