A bit worried

I'm kinda hitting a wall here.

I got in touch with my doctor in the states and my medical records are being sent in the mail; hopefully they'll arrive shortly.

I went to my medical practice and saw a nurse practicioner to try to get a referral to a psychiatrist. I told her my situation and I was met with rudeness (at one point she was like "you're in the wrong country" because of my meds) and gave no help or support. I ended up crying in her office because I just felt so frustrated and lost.

 I was also told that I would not be given any more Metformin for my PCOS because here in the UK women with PCOS are not cared for, are not given any treatment whatsoever until they are trying to concieve. So now I am not getting my two medicines I need!

So I came out vowing to NEVER go to that GP again and feeling like I wanted to go home

My next step is to find a new Dr here in the UK.  Maybe they can help me more.

I just feel soooooo upset because the medication is here, buproprion  is used as zyban here to quit smoking, but I need it for depression (wellbutrin) and I can't get a drug that I need. I don't know if I can contact someone else in the NHS, or if I can prove to anyone that I won't sue them by my medical records and maybe even signing something swearing I won't sue under any circumstances.

Some countries in the EU have adapted to use buproprion for depression with Glaxosmithkline. Welbutrin has been approved since the 80s by the FDA, why won't they use it here?! so of course the UK is being stubborn...I just want to feel better and have my medication.

And now what about metformin? The drug helps me metabolise sugar better and helps me from turning carbs into fat but use them instead. I feel since I have been on it it has helped me control my PCOS symptoms so much better than I could on my own. 

I am terrified i will turn into what I was, if not worse.  I was so un healthy, very very overweight, i was so depressed and fuzzy headed. I'll be a fat cousin It who can't get out of bed...

Please, any help, ideas, suggestions! Thank you!

Sorry to hear your still having a crappy time 

You first course of action is finding a new GP.  From what you have mentioned in these posts..they are incompetent and this should be reported once you have a new doctor.  I have also noticed that Nottingham University seem to do studies for PCOS...I wonder if its worth speaking to a lecturer there to see if there is any advice they could give?

Would these links be any help....

http://www.yell.com/super/DOCTORS/nottingham?sem=g&cam=doctors

http://birmingham.gumtree.com/birmingham/40/26961340.html

http://www.twing.com/search?sc=ps&qt=pcos+help&mk=1&cm_mmc=Google-_-GSN_Medical_PCOS+Forums-_-Broad-_-pcos+support+group%7C-%7C100000000000000243249&cm_guid=1-_-100000000000000243249-_-2378167785&gclid=CLb4qpD4gJYCFQLllAoddU0lEw

http://www.verity-pcos.org.uk/board/viewtopic.php?t=15156&sid=b3b7d1850eae77fcd45a9b612941170f

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/counselling/leaflets/depression.pdf

http://www.alexanderpractice.co.uk/html/help-for-depression-in-derby-nottingham.html

Hope things get better

Wish i had some advice to give, but alas, it's only sympathy and well wishes from me!    I struggled with depression for a while after my dad died, but for me it was better to just ride that year out and deal with my loss my own way, and after a while I was ok.  But as far as a long-term problem goes, I know that must be hard, and even worse if you can't get a medication that helped you so much before.  I hope things get better for you.    

I had to accept a life without Wellbutrin when I moved here.

One thing I've learned here (mainly talking to a few American medical professionals who work locally) is to not ask to see a psychiatrist. Only use terms like 'mental health trust'. It's very unusual for a stable person to see a psychiatrist with any regularity. But you can ask to have an evaluation with the local mental health trust for a review of your situation. Tell the GP you've been depressed and are off your usual meds; that alone should be enough for a referral.

As for the PCOS, the NP was full of crap. Metformin is a normal treatment for PCOS and there's nothing in NHS treatment guidelines that say you should be refused treatment unless trying to conceive.

You might want to check http://www.pcos-uk.org.uk/ for more in terms of treatment guidelines.

You do need to get a new GP. Hopefully you'll be in an area with multiple surgeries for your postcode. If not, you should file a complaint.

Good luck.

Thank you for the links and support ladies.
I refuse to give up! I just don't know what to do yet.

I am going to try to get the metformin from the next doctor. This shouldn't be an issue and I can't believe the NP (after herself saying she has PCOS) not having any sympthaty or offering help.

As for the wellbutrin I KNOW it works, no side effects, and it makes me...well, me. I don't want to try amytriptyline, have side effects, wait to see if it works...I am not willing to risk my health again unless 100% certain there's no way to get Wellbutrin. I am very sensitive to medications and have been through some very bad situations due to a few.

Going to look into the PCOS now, and find a good endocrineologist. I got a few other local GPs to try but I definately have intentions of complaining about the last GP I was at.

Thank you again. I just hope there's a way, if there is Jen I'll let you know. What did you end up doing then? Maybe you could PM me and I could do something similar.

Thank you!!

I still think it might be worth pursuing getting you PCT to review your case and ask for Wellbutrin. If you got in touch with one of the mental health advocacy groups (Mind or another), they might have advocates who can help with this.

(I know Jen252 didn't have luck with this, but it could well vary from trust to trust).

Thanks All,
I have just sent out several emails to PCOS and about the Wellbutrin. I'm willing to keep fighting!

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=29904.0

That's a thread started by somebody who was able to get Wellbutrin prescribed.

My experience was that there was no way in hell I was going to get it. Every doctor I've talked to (at two surgeries, the hospital, and the mental health trust) have said there's no chance, even if they take it to an appeals type of thing. When I went to an appointment this afternoon, we discussed it and it seems that the NHS is cracking down on off-label prescriptions of it.

All this to say be prepared to change. There are LOTS of similar meds out there and part of being a mental health patient is to be willing to try lots of meds, most of which will do nothing or give you horrible side effects. (Please don't jump on me for saying this. It's a statement bred out of years of finding the right medications for myself and being a support person, in various ways, for others going through the process. The brain is a tricky thing and the application of medications is much more of an art/gamble than other 'illnesses'.)

Anyway... I really doubt they'd go from buproprion to amytriptaline. Unless there's a very specific reason why you'd need a TCA (which, if you're stable on Wellbutrin, is unlikely), the first line of treatment would generally be an SSRI. If you have a history of problems with SSRIs, you could request a SNRI (there's only one approved in the UK, but SNRIs tend to be the closest you'll get to buproprion).

In my case, because I'm on a lot of meds for a lot of things, we've dc'd the buproprion and are going to fiddle with dosages of other things (after we review bloodwork results to make sure it's safe), which is what today's appointment was about.

Having taken almost every pill out there, and having friends who've been on the rest, I'm happy to share experiences or offer advice. If you want, PM me with what you've tried and what your diagnosis is and I can make a non-medical-professional suggestion about how to approach the NHS to get what you need.

I think that the first thing I would do is insist on seeing a doctor, not a nurse.  If your doctor in the US gave you these medicines, there was a reason, and just because this woman can't see it it doesn't mean a doctor won't.

Vicky

a quick update...

I always keep getting back up after I get pushed down.  My GP was rediculous and rude. I just am glad to be done with them, no one should be in tears after ever visit to their doctor. So I found another doctor, a larger practice, signed up and made an appointment.  I got a really nice female doctor who listened to what I had to say, and was happy to take my US medical history and review my case for the Wellbutrin.  I feel so grateful that she would be willing to do this for me.

I have to say if anyone is trying to get a medicine off licence there are a couple of things that can be done to help. 

1. Find a good doctor

A doctor who is willing to sit with you, listen to you,  and can sympathise and emphathise with you is invalluable.  If you can find one you have a better chance of getting what you need for this type of situation.  After speaking with so many people within the NHS, Trust, Hospital, etc etc it basically comes down to the doctor and if they want to prescribe the medicaiton.

2. Have evidence/know your stuff

Getting my medical records sent over from the states was one of the best suggestions I was given.  It helps show that you have been on the medication, were doing well, etc Also knowing about the drug, your condition, and being able to clearly explain to your doctor helps so much.

3. Don't stop trying

Keep sending emails, researching, finding out the best routes to try and contacts to speak with.  There was so many times that I just felt defeated, but I didn't stop.

3. Don't stop trying

Keep sending emails, researching, finding out the best routes to try and contacts to speak with.  There was so many times that I just felt defeated, but I didn't stop.

Yaay!  So good to hear this, Steph!

I'm just a bit confused. I thought you had to see the doctor (GP) that was in your catchment area. I was always told unless you go private that you have no choice where you can go?

Good for you Steph!

I'm just a bit confused. I thought you had to see the doctor (GP) that was in your catchment area. I was always told unless you go private that you have no choice where you can go?

Where I live now has several overlapping catchment areas and you can choose from a few surgeries; I imagine it's like that where Stephx86 lives.

I'm just a bit confused. I thought you had to see the doctor (GP) that was in your catchment area. I was always told unless you go private that you have no choice where you can go?

There is usually more than one GP surgery that is local to a catchment area.  My good friend and neighbor goes to a different surgery than I do even though we're practically next door.