Panic Attacks Support Group

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...

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Bummed Out

darksky602
darksky602
Well, I was just handed a letter my doctor is no longer taking my insurance effective immediately. This is the person that prescribes my valium. I left my last "doctor" because she didn't believe in the use of benzos for anxiety relief and was very rude to me about it. I looked long and hard and found this new doctor and he was more moderate like myself. Now I can no longer see him because the cost will be too great. Also, my therapist I can only assume will no longer take my insurance since she is part of the same group. This really makes me angry that businesses like these can just cut you off completely during treatment. The word effective immediately really make me angry because people like us prefer a solid foundation on which we build our recovery.

So now It is off to find a new doctor, and one that is reasonable and will respect my wishes on the use of benzos to manage anxiety. I really didn't like the process last time and I am not looking forward to the new people and having to explain everything all over again. The other thing that really pisses me off is the letter I got was from my insurance company and no one in the doctors office bothered to contact me and give me any notice. Also, I was handed the letter at 5:30 friday so I can make no calls of do any research until Monday to find out what is going on. Oh well. I am planning on giving these pricks a piece of my mind :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
Sorry you have to go through this .. looking for a new dr and explaining it all over again.. sucks..but maybe your new dr will be better than the last! Try to just roll with the punches.. may be a better ending.
deleted_user
deleted_user
That is a bummer DarkSky. Sounds like that group let their contract expire with your insurance company. Worth a check with your insurance company to see if it is an ugly negotiation that may resolve itself.

I hear you on the benzos. I think having them as needed is key for anyone dealing with panic. There is no reason to suffer and benzos help to reduce the frequency of attacks -- mainly because you aren't having attacks!

Good luck!
darksky602
darksky602
This turned out better than I had hoped. My doctor with the group went part time and they are only allowed to have so many people take my insurance with their "contract". The group never bothered to contact me and explain that and just let me insurance company send me a letter. (Bad business practice in my opinion) BUT I can still see my therapist there and I can see one of the other doctors / nurse practitioners at the group. This calmed me quite a bit because this means I don't have to run around trying to find a new group fast. I may have to deal with a new person, but they will be going by the same records and still work with my old doctor and over ruling him on my current meds is unlikely. I filed the last script anyways just in case so I have a average persons 2 months worth of medication on hand. For me 2 montsh worth of benzos last 6 months so I have a safety net.

What bothers me with how our system is set up is that nothing is doable quickly. If a part on my car breaks I take it to my mechanic and he fixes it as soon as possible. Normally within a week. I try to schedule a doctors appt. and I can get in by Dec 1st. To me that is ridiculous. Businesses that function like that need to really think about service and restructuring to handle volume. I know our medical insurance and doctors are in a tough battle in America, but the people that are really being harmed are the patients.