just taking a breath

[Leaf100]

My neuropsych had to retire suddenly because of a health situation.

It's been 5 months and I have been trying to find another.

There are very few, and the ones there are seem either to be attached to the hospital system - and inaccessible - or behind a private pay situation - also inaccessible.

I live in Canada.

I did call the closest university with a medical program, and they do offer 1 appointment to give treatment guidance if you have a general psychiatrist and a gp. I found out the neuropsych did put in a referal for me to general psych, I guess he wasn't up to explaining why - he did his best. The gp part floors me - about 1/3 of the people where I live do not have a gp and the model being set up is not based on a family gp - it is based on a clinic where you will be phoned by who ever is on duty - and called in for an in person visit only if they deem it necessary. There is a complete gap in how one part of the system thinks the other functions.

I admit I am nervous about having someone chuck all sorts of labels on me that don't fit - once they are in your medical record it's impossible to get them off. This then makes it easier for others to write you off - they just make assumptions.

I'm not even sure the medical system here is aware enough to know they aren't serving people with brain injuries well, as they get very little education about it.

Hopefully whoever I get assigned to turns out to be one of the kind ones. I get no choice over that, either - the referral goes to a general administrator who decides who to assign you to.

It really isn't a great idea to think about these things too much - better to spend time thinking about things one can do to improve things as as best you can. I did find a program offered online that is private pay but I might be able to swing it - I will ask around about it. It's not something I could take on right now anyway - my plate is currently more than full.

If anyone has any tips on how to deal with general psychiatry - what to say - or maybe what not to say ... I know bi symptoms can be misfiled under all sorts of other things...

Leaf

[Pairofboots]

Hi leaf, from my experience, generic services don't do brain injury. Over here they often defer referrals back to the originator as they don't work with bi.

[Leaf100 in reply to Pairofboots]

That's what I thought as well. I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens.

I have an appointment with intake on Wednesday. It may not lead anywhere.

I'm trying to stay open minded without setting myself up with false hope.

I'm not sure why referrals would be accepted when they have no intention of seeing the person - they do get given the diagnosis. But who knows, the medical system here is in bad shape.

(Here you referred to a pool, not a person, but someone is supposed to vet the referrals before you are assigned to a person.)

[Pairofboots in reply to Leaf100]

Best of luck. Happy Xmas

[Leaf100 in reply to Pairofboots]

Thanks, PoB

(We all just keep plodding along no matter what... nothing else to be done. Sometimes we get a bit of luck. ... sometimes same old, same old.)

Happy Xmas!

Leaf