Depression Understood Forums

I am Bipolar II. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago. I have had many ups and downs, with more downs than ups. I struggle on a daily basis to just function sometimes. I hate my ever changing mood swings, I am currently see a door who doesn't understand me and is actually intimidating. I am dual diagnosed along with Poly Substance Abuse. He only focuses on the drug use only and not my bipolar. I don't feel I am on the right medications. He won't work with me at all in this area. I need to make a change in doctor and therapist. The first Psychiatrist that diagnosed me 10 years ago was the best doctor I had. He had me on the right meds and I was doing good. But He retired and I have been having trouble ever since trying to find a good doctor and be on the right meds. I need to change, but where I live, there are not many Psychiatrists that take Medicare/Medi-cal. So I will have to settle on just one other doctor in the area if I want to change, which is what I am planning to do. I do a lot of research on mental illness and visit a lot of web sites and chat rooms. I try to keep my focus on my recovery. Not always easy.

My pdoc won't change any of my meds while I am smoking weed. I failed a few drugs tests and now I have to quit smoking it.

That's probably what's holding your doc back. They can't really evaluate a drug's usefulness if weed is mixed in.