[Swamp56]

This is actually getting annoying, since I hate the feeling of being tired.

It seems that no matter when I take my medicine, no matter at what dose (I've tried 200mg am - 200mg afternoon - 200mg pm, 200mg am - 400mg pm, 600mg pm), I'm sedated almost constantly. This interferes with my schoolwork, studying, my non-existant social life, and almost every aspect of everything.

The hospital closest to me in Hartford, CT rejected me from their services for weird reasons, and we're trying to investigate it, since the university psychiatrist is going to talk to them and figure out why they did that (he can't see me though since he's overloaded with patients). All the psychiatrists who practice privately in the area don't take insurance. All of this has left me without a psychiatrist at a time in which seeing one almost weekly is important.

I really don't know what to do, but this sedation is pissing me off. I can't go off my meds either. Last time I did that...well...most people who are active in chat remember that.

This post has been edited by Swamp56: 31 October 2009 - 05:11 PM

[danceintherain]

Nicely done on the not going off the meds, first. I've been down that path and know how it can seem like a quick fix some times.

You said that none of hte psychiatrists nearby take insurance....does your insurance cover out-of-network providers? If so, you may be able to get the rates down to something reasonable. For example, my pdoc doesn't take insurance and charges at $140. My insurance covers out of network at 60%, so I end up paying about $50. I just have to file for reimbursement myself (it's online and was fairly straightforward, though it caused a minor anxiety mess the first time I was trying to figure it out). It's not great, though it's manageable because I'm once a month. I wasn't sure if you had any similar options?

[pinkiemarie]

Wow none of them take insurance? I must tell you that this sucks ass. I suppose since none take insurance, they're also not offering reduced rates/sliding fee?

[sorrel]

I assume you have checked the website for your insurance to make sure there are NO covered providers in the area? Insurance websites typically have a "search for local providers" feature.

I can sympathize on the sedation. I hate sedating meds too.

[Persephone]

This is an increasingly common situation (most pdocs in my area of the country don't accept insurance either). The worst aspect of this problem? The pdocs who do take insurance almost always suck, i.e. 5 minute med checks, prescribe what ever drug is advertised on TV, treat their patients in a patronizing manner. Those guys don't touch anybody with real problems with a ten-foot pole because they don't want to accept the liability (Swamp - this means you). Any decent pdoc has enough patients who are willing to see him/her without needing to bother themselves with insurance companies.

Swamp - do whatever you need to do to see an out of network provider (you can get a receipt and submit it to your insurance company). You have a complex case and you would not be served with a 5 minute med check. You really need to find the best pdoc in town (who unfortunately will probably be the most expensive pdoc in town).

This post has been edited by Persephone: 01 November 2009 - 05:58 PM

[Maddy]

Are you on regular Seroquel or Seroquel XR? I ask this because I noticed a difference between the two in sedation. Some do and some do not. I don't know why.

It may be worth your while to try the XR version if you haven't to see if you have less sedation? Just a thought.

[Swamp56]

Maddy, on 01 November 2009 - 11:39 PM, said:

Are you on regular Seroquel or Seroquel XR? I ask this because I noticed a difference between the two in sedation. Some do and some do not. I don't know why.

It may be worth your while to try the XR version if you haven't to see if you have less sedation? Just a thought.

I don't have a psychiatrist while I'm away at college here in Connecticut.

[beetle]

Persephone, on 01 November 2009 - 05:36 PM, said:

This is an increasingly common situation (most pdocs in my area of the country don't accept insurance either). The worst aspect of this problem? The pdocs who do take insurance almost always suck, i.e. 5 minute med checks, prescribe what ever drug is advertised on TV, treat their patients in a patronizing manner. Those guys don't touch anybody with real problems with a ten-foot pole because they don't want to accept the liability (Swamp - this means you). Any decent pdoc has enough patients who are willing to see him/her without needing to bother themselves with insurance companies.

Swamp - do whatever you need to do to see an out of network provider (you can get a receipt and submit it to your insurance company). You have a complex case and you would not be served with a 5 minute med check. You really need to find the best pdoc in town (who unfortunately will probably be the most expensive pdoc in town).

This is troublesome because last time I saw my pdoc she was bitching about how she can't make any money because of the insurance company bullshit. The topic came up when I explained to her that my stupid insurance company is going to require a prior authorization EVERY SINGLE MONTH for my ritalin. So that's paperwork and phone calls they have to do for me every month. And that's just a small part of the paperwork bullshit I'm sure they have to do on a daily basis because of the insurance companies. She's had to hire a nurse to do all of this PA and FMLA and other types of paperwork. She scared me when she said "this is why so many doctor's are going cash only". I told her if she did that I wouldn't be able to see her anymore.

Sorry for the little bit of a threadjack there. I just read that part of your post and it reminded me. I guess a lot of them are going cash only. So you're damned if you have insurance and you're damned if you don't. Great.

[Mckey]

I used to be on the same dose of seroquel (600mg) and I never got used to the sedation. And I was on it for months. How long have you been on Seroquel? The sedative effect lessens after a while for most people. But if you been on it for longer than 6 weeks thenI also suggest XR, or something different entirely.

[Swamp56]

Mckey, on 03 November 2009 - 10:38 PM, said:

I used to be on the same dose of seroquel (600mg) and I never got used to the sedation. And I was on it for months. How long have you been on Seroquel? The sedative effect lessens after a while for most people. But if you been on it for longer than 6 weeks thenI also suggest XR, or something different entirely.

I've been taking Seroquel since January, although I have been on tons of different doses.

[SashaSue]

I'm confused. Don't you also have a post up about feeling too energetic and restless?

[Swamp56]

SashaSue, on 04 November 2009 - 12:13 PM, said:

I'm confused. Don't you also have a post up about feeling too energetic and restless?

I'm always tired, but I do have feelings of restlessness - not really energy.