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Severe agoraphobia and doctor will not help unless I go to the office

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Posted 8/18/2015 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm new here and looking forward to getting advice and hopefully giving some helpful advice.

I've been with my md for 25 years. about 15 years ago I had my 2nd relapse with agoraphobia and was scared to death of meds. He finally convinced me and they helped tremendously. I have had another relapse and have barely left the house in ten months. He cut off my xanax very abruptly in June...I called to get my monthly script and his nurse called back and said he was not filling it and to see a counselor. I was in disbelief. If I cannot manage the car ride to his office, how am I suppose to get to a counselor? I emailed him last week and asked to please put me back on an anti-depressant and anti-anxiety meds to help me in my recovery, and he said no, he doesn't "treat" his patients over the internet, and to make an appt. This goes back to back with the six years he has "allowed" me to suffer in tremendous pain. I have a ton of health issues and have had nothing but rejection from drs, er staff, and urgent care staff for six years now. The bizarre part is, that the 24/7, every minute of every day crying in pain has brought back my panic/agoraphobia. What do I do? I cannot get help with the pain, I cannot get help with the anxiety, the pain is causing the anxiety shakehead

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.8YNA-9EQ92E-Q2K3
Posted 8/18/2015 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
cricket,

Well, in the short-term, perhaps just make an appointment. Perhaps if you made the appointment very early in the morning, the doctor's office won't be so crowded.

In the long-term, perhaps you could seek a new physician. I know physicians are trained to not get 'attached' to their patients, but he is taking it a little far.

Seeing a therapist might not be a bad idea. If you choose to seek one, seek a psychiatrist and not a psychologist. A psychologist cannot write prescriptions where I believe a psychiatrist can.
Posted 8/18/2015 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Well, your MD won't treat you without seeing you in-office, but have you looked into counselors that might see you elsewhere? I imagine that counselors who have experience with patients suffering from agoraphobia would be more sympathetic and work to find a way to get you what you need. Then once you get the anxiety back under control you may be able to go out to the doctor to address the pain.

I am not 100% sure there are therapists who do home visits but it's worth looking into. Just start Googling and reading reviews on counselors in your area!
Posted 8/18/2015 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
John,

Thank you so much for the advice. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that I need a new doctor, it's been a fight the last 5-6 years with the whole staff to get any kind of care, I literally have ended up in arguments with the one nurse. It's hard, he used to be so kind and compassionate. The PA, who I love, told me last time not to take it personally, that "the whole Obamacare has caused so much paperwork, that he barely has time to spend with his patients, not that that's an excuse". I got to the point last year that I made a cd with the song by Sheryl Crow "I Shall Believe" (you should listen to it sometime). I told him if I felt I had the time, or the right words, that this is what I'd say to him and that it wasn't a romantic gesture by any means....lol Anyway, I did make several early morning appts, and just couldn't get there, and he brought that up in his reply email. I'm baffled that he just isn't being compassionate to my circumstances. There is a doctor's office a few blocks from my house with only one red light, and I'm considering that. You would just have to know how much rejection I have endured, that I just couldn't stand one more from a doctor. i.e. Last week I got ahold of a doctor who only does home visits, one minute into our conversation he stated "I can't just come over and give you pain meds"...omg, I wasn't even asking for that, or any kind of meds. I told him I just needed some medical attention until I can get to my md's office with whom he could talk to. The week before that, the other doctor at the same place told me I didn't qualify...and those are just the two latest in the past 6 years, two months. And now my md??? Anyway, sorry to write a book, thanks for listening.
Posted 8/18/2015 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Edit: Sorry, I was writing this while you were writing your post!

------

My advice would be to try to make a trade with your doctor. Ask him for 1 day of pills to get you functional enough to get to his office, and you'll go.

Otherwise, there are therapists and psychiatrists who make house calls (at least in the USA). If you want, you can Google "[your location] psychiatrist house call" and see what you can find.

Another solution would be to use an online pharmacy and buy your meds without a prescription. I do not condone this action, but it exists (and it's expensive).

p.s. A lot of doctors do not have a friendly demeanor and they assume you are going to act like their past patients. I once went to a psychiatrist and I was trying to explain I am trying to wean myself off benzos and she cut me off with "I won't be prescribing benzos" before I could even finish. I said "I'm not asking you to! I am quitting them!" Sheesh, the nerve, really.

Post Edited (BlueCat) : 8/18/2015 4:52:05 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/18/2015 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
BlueCat,

Thank you. Would you believe I asked him for something to help me get to his office, and he said "No". Also, you would not believe that I did have a counselor that did home visits, but in six months did five no call/no shows, I couldn't take it anymore. I have searched and will find one I'm sure. I am doing a self help program at home, and it is helping alot, I just have to be patient. I overcame this the first time without meds, so I guess I will probably have to again. I just had more physical energy back then. Is that legal?
Posted 8/18/2015 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Running on fumes,

Thank you.
Posted 8/18/2015 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Is what legal? Buying Xanax online? That's a good question. I just looked it up and no, it's a felony and you could go to jail. Ok, scrap that one! Oops. :)

I have another idea. Do you have a primary care doctor who would be willing to write you a prescription? If not for Xanax, perhaps for Hydroxyzine (50mg 2 times a day) or Gabapentin (300mg 3 times a day), which are not controlled substances but they help with anxiety.
Posted 8/18/2015 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
He is my primary....uhhggg It's a crappy thing not to be able to call your primary for help, I really am flabbergasted..

and thanks, I did think it was...lol

I just ordered Magnesium Glycinate, I read it's real calming.
Posted 8/18/2015 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi MC and welcome,

I am sorry to hear you are dealing with not only physical an d mental challenges. ..but now issues with your dr. making abrupt rule changes mid game on you!

I think your best bet is to seek a P-doc (psychiatrist) who SKYPEs. In this way you at covering all of your concerns and needs, as he/she can:

* prescribe your necessary Rx's
* facilitate your evaluations over the computer/SKYPE
* get you set up with therapy

You can search this on your own...

Or let me know if you need any assistance in getting started, should you choose this.route.

Best wishes...and post anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat
Posted 8/18/2015 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SC, Thank you, I will do that search and if I come up empty, I will let you know! I did find one a few months ago and two emails and two phone messages later, still no reply. I'm sure there are more. ;-)
Posted 8/19/2015 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
Skyping appointments? What a concept!

cricket, I will try and reply to what you have written by this weekend. Someone remind me.
Posted 8/19/2015 10:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

Welcome to the forum but sorry to hear of your current situation.

I would definitely change doctors I have done that before as I did not get on with mine and now have a much better doctor who takes my pain/mental health seriously.

SC has made a good suggestion re a pdoc that does Skype appointments that is worth looking into. I don't know where you live but here in the UK phycologists can make home appointments so that could be an other option if it's available in your area.

Keep us posted.

Hibee
Posted 8/19/2015 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Most cities have a mental health clinic, and I would think they have dealt with agoraphobia patients before, try that.
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