I have a "new" Dr., since my own retired last August, "unfortunately"!! The new Dr. that I have seems to know little or next to nothing about MM. She is a foreign Dr., and with my hearing loss, it's also hard to understand what she is saying. I'm so frustrated with her, and that's why I also put the post on here yesterday about the clonazepam. She just doesn't understand at all. I'm starting to think now that she may have gotten her license out of a bubble gum machine. It's very hard to find a new Dr. here, so if I stopped going to her, I wouldn't have a GP. I can't get into any of the other Dr's here that I know, (as I used to work at the hospital here in physiotherapy), as they aren't taking any new patients. Alot of the original Dr's here are also getting up in age, and soon will head for retirement themselves. She's trying to change my meds that I have been on ever since I got diagnosed with MM 14 yrs ago. The meds that I had gotten put on back then were serc, which was a life saver for me, plus oxazepam. Unfortunately, for me, they were prescribed for me to take "everyday", and I think that's where the problem lies. I honestly believe, and I "know" now that I'm addicted to benzo's unfortunately. She didn't like the oxazepam, so that's why she's trying to get me switched over to the clonazepam. The clonazepam seemed to work great for the first week and a half. My head had never felt "clearer", and alot of my symptoms of my MM were "alot" better. After that though, that's when things started to go downhill. My moods started to change, I've become irritable, and I have gone back to just feeling "unwell"...etc. I do believe what's happening is that I'm having withdrawal symptoms from the oxazepam, which she said I shouldn't b/c of the clonazepam that I was taking. I'm just SO frustrated! I called her yesterday, and was told that she would call me back, to which she didn't. Now I'm not sure what to do. How does one stay with a Dr. that you don't feel comfortable with, especially when I can't get another Dr. "Frustrated" in Nova Scotia...........
That's awful. That just doesn't sound like a sustainable or helpful situation. I think you need to keep looking. In the meantime get on waitlists of the doctors that you know. Explain your situation to them or their receptionists, maybe they will work you in. Or you might need to travel to a better doctor. I do a lot with my doctor by phone and email.
Perhaps you could write out your thoughts and ask her to read it through - explain that with your hearing difficulties you are finding it hard to understand her thought process. In that note clearly write out the changes since the switch and ask for a change of schedule. As both work differently most likely what was/is needed is for a tapering of the oxazepam while increasing the clonazepam at the same time. Believe the important piece to stress and TRY to get her to remember is that every person reacts differently to different medications. Even if they are in the same "family" of drugs. Clearly why there are many options because every one reacts differently. I know that I am not too much of a help - but know that I feel your pain and frustration. Throughout the years when my mom was still here on earth with us she had so many medical issues. And it used to frustrate me to no end that a new doctor would decide they "knew better" and want to switch something that was working for her. For goodness sakes, we had flown out to VA to visit family and my mom broke her hip. While in the hospital for that surgery the doctor decided that HE didn't think that her medication dosages needed to be at the levels they were and changed them (without discussing) and discontinued her phenobarbital (for seizures)...HE said that since she hadn't had a seizuere for years it was needed. UGH. Both my brother and I had to throw a fit with the hospital to get everything reinstated. And important to note that her primary doctor from WA CALLED the other doctor numerous times and the doctor in VA refused to talk to him. WHAT??!! I am not sure of your situation and/or if the climate in Nova Scotia is similar to US - but what I know is that here in the US I got a lot more action when I (family member) expressed direct concerns for my mom's health and safety than when she talked to them. Believe it is the fear of lawsuits. But if it is similar in your area, perhaps having a "witness" next time bringing in someone to share the issues and concern for your safety. It may change the response. (Sad...but I have found it to be true)