Request a change of CPN - Psych Appt TODAY

ThinkingofRecovery · 02-01-2009, 10:48 PM

OK, so without going into details, I am considering just quitting the whole cpn thing or perhaps asking for a change. Briefly - my cpn is supposed to see me on a weekly/fortnightly basis but haven't been able to see him since october. He was away most of the summer when I was going through some scary stuff and was left with having to call the duty officer, which I find difficult because I don't like doing the whole talking to people thing. He is the first person that I have been able to start trying to speak more openly with what is going on and when there has been a period where he visited when supposed to instead of cancelling last minute etc, I think it has helped. Unfortuantely, however, he cancels at the last minute, he says he will call and wont and due to him seeming to be away alot, I am left feeling pathetic and needy if have to call duty officer or crisis team and I know they are all talking about me. When he lets me down by not calling or visiting as planned, it makes me feel worse - he can't be arsed, he knows there is nothing wrong with me, etc and helps gives the voices more free reign because they are right. It makes me second guess myself when he says he calls and doesn't - have I imagined it, is it something the voices have told me but not true. I sometimes try and keep safe until that call etc but then when it doesn't happen, it makes me even more unsafe. Sorry, I'm rambling, my question is whether I should ask my psych when her see in a couple of weeks for a new cpn or just no cpn. I do need some support but don't want to sound pathetic and needy. Will she believe me as to how unreliable he has been or will they put it down to my "issues".

Tig · 02-01-2009, 11:15 PM

I had a very similar experience in the past and requested a new CPN, and I now have a fantastic CPN :)

I definitely think the issue of your CPN needs addressing. Have you ever spoken to him about how you feel when he cancels your appointments and whether there is anything he can do about this? Before I requested to change CPN's, my GP wrote and explained how upset I was by the lack of care and how I was always having to rely on crisis teams which was unsettling. Do you have a good GP or advocate that could do this for you? It might be worth a go because your CPN may not realise how much it's affecting you and even if he can't help being off, he could at least put a proper plan in place for when he is off - such as you having a secondary work.

If this doesn't work or you don't feel able to complain, you are definitely within your rights to ask for a change of CPN and I think you should do this rather than choose not to have a CPN at all. It's likely that your psychiatrist will be aware that your CPN is off a lot because it's probably not just you that has this problem, all of his clients probably experience similar! Also, it will be in your notes when an appointment has been cancelled and the crisis team/duty officer will have had to note that you called because your CPN cancelled. All this will back up your reasons for wanting a new CPN and they are perfectly understandable reasons!

You don't sound pathetic and needy at all, in fact it's great that you recognise you need some support.
Thinking of you and I hope your situation changes for the better soon,

Lotti

ravynsoul · 03-01-2009, 12:47 AM

Hi no reason, I think you are well within your right to request a new CPN. As you said

Quote:

Originally Posted by no reason

He is the first person that I have been able to start trying to speak more openly with what is going on and when there has been a period where he visited when supposed to instead of cancelling last minute etc, I think it has helped.

So it sounds like having a CPN has helped you [when the appointments have been kept; so it may be wise to ask for a change in CPN as opposed to no CPN at all. I don't think that will sound needy at all. And Lotti made some great points - there should be records from the Crisis Team etc., of appointments cancelled; so you have some back up there.

Take care and update us how things go.

*offers hugs if you want them*

musicmad123 · 03-01-2009, 01:03 AM

aww that's not good ! I think you could ask for a change if he's not helping you

l'il esky · 03-01-2009, 02:15 AM

yeh kinda in the same boat with the whole being ignored/forgotten about..........

my advice would be ask for a different cpn...these people can really help if we get the right one and one that actually cares about your wellfare etc and doesnt neglet you.

you are not needy....you just need help and you deserve better treatment

try and phone them on monday morning to get them to start the ball rolling for getting someone new.

good luck xxxx

Popple · 03-01-2009, 02:27 PM

Yeah I would agree try asking for a new one because if it helps you then it will be worth it because this one doesn't sound very helpful. Try be honest with the psych when you see her and explain all that you have said here.
Take care and good luck
Hope you get it sorted
xx

sherlock holmes · 03-01-2009, 04:15 PM

I think you should definately try to talk to your CMHT about this and tell them how you feel being left with no CPN. If you want someone to help you say this and who can speak to the CMHT on your behalf if you wish, you can get the help of an advocate from the Patient Advice and Liason service (PALs). http://www.pals.nhs.uk/ And here you can find the ones nearest you http://www.pals.nhs.uk/members/exploreDir.aspx

deadstar · 03-01-2009, 07:14 PM

If you are having issues with your current CPN, its definitely worth asking if you can see another one. I used to have a CPN who was pretty useless, didn't listen to me and just kept raising my meds. She left and i've got another one who is fantastic and has helped me more in half the time than the other one did. Being able to work with your CPN is really valuable to recovery.
Take care
xx

ThinkingofRecovery · 03-01-2009, 10:50 PM

Thanks for all your kind suggestions. I suppose I feel as though I shouldn't be making a fuss as they will just put it down to me being me. Maybe the advocacy thing etc is too much? I had to change my gp a couple of months ago (at the suggestion of my cpn and psych) and some of the things he said about me and to me still hurt. I feel as though more people getting involved would be more people able to reject me and treat me like crap. I know that part of the reason he was chosen for me was that he wouldn't take me on in arguments etc (quite frankly because I would usually win an argument and it wouldn't be very constructive). I might end up with someone who I can't talk to or who judges me, etc. I don't seem to be able to shock my current cpn with my methods of sh etc.

Tinkerbelle - "It might be worth a go because your CPN may not realise how much it's affecting you" - the thing is, I think he does. The crisis team are always having to mop up the fallout and they are aware of the issues, surely they have expressed this to him or my psych somehow?

Maybe I am getting more attention than I deserve. When he cancels, it isn't always because he is off, sometimes it is because something else crops up i.e. something more important. I'm expecting too much attention perhaps but then I find it so difficult to ask for help.

I feel so powerless in this situation and it scares me a little because of that.

I'm struggling to hang on in there again and not sure I would be around long enough to be able to build a relationship with a new one before just finally giving in.

Sorry, just confused and scared that I'm going to be looked at as more than a problem than they already consider me. I'm not ill like the others so perhaps that's why I am always put on the back burner or cancelled.

surprising mystery · 03-01-2009, 10:55 PM

I requested a new key worker, preferably a CPN (they origionally had me seeing a social worker which I didnt even need) and after a lot of fighting, (my area is very stingey) I got a CPN.

I unfortunatly dont trust her anymore. But she was helpful in the past. You have the right to request a different CPN, talk to the CMHT and they should be able to arrange it, it may take a few weeks though apparently.

CherryDarling · 04-01-2009, 07:21 PM

I was in a similar situation, I requested a new CPN and the one I havenow is so so so much better. You coudl write down all the reason you are asking for a new CPN, try and remember as many occassions of being let down as possible, and take it in when you see your psych.
I'd do that first and then if there is a problem go to advocasey services after that, you never know your psych might be really good and get you switched to someone new no problems.

And honestly - most people think they are 'not ill enough' or 'not as sick as other people' it's part of having thiese kinds of problems. You are worth support. It's sad you have to make a fuss to get it but you are worth it.

ThinkingofRecovery · 12-01-2009, 11:19 PM

Sorry to resurrect this thread. It's finally my psych appt tomorrow and I'm not too sure how to go about telling her re the unreliabilities without being mean to my CPN. Should I just forget trying to get some other help. Sorry, feeling nervous. Always end up like this before a psych appt. It's like everything starts re-surfacing and I am reminded of my weaknesses. So, how do you think the best way of going about telling her would be?

CherryDarling · 13-01-2009, 06:27 AM

I think you just have to be as direct as possible in saying why it isn't working with your CPN.
You could say it is due to a difference in 'styles' or something like that, with the CPN being much more 'flexible' than you can deal with as you need to know when appointments will be etc or you get anxious, something like that, but really it would probably be better to be direct to make sure you can get a new CPN.

ThinkingofRecovery · 13-01-2009, 10:26 AM

Thanks. I want to be able to say things in a measured way without getting upset or anything so that they don't put it just down to me being me. The thing is, the whole lack of support thing has left me in a bit of a fragile way and so trying to be measured is going to be a wee bit difficult.

ravynsoul · 13-01-2009, 12:18 PM

What if you tried to write something down; even if you didn't write down exactly what you wanted to say, an outline may help you stay measured.

Let us know how the appointment goes.

sherlock holmes · 13-01-2009, 04:50 PM

Let us know how it goes!

Pomegranate · 13-01-2009, 04:51 PM

How did it go?

Sleepless123 · 13-01-2009, 05:00 PM

Hey im sorry i didnt get to this before now.i really hope it goes/went ok.ive had to ask for a change of worker before [which was something i found very difficult to do in the first place] though i wasnt really listened to and just made to feel worse.But i also know a lot of people who have asked and have really benefited from it so its definitely always best to ask.Thinking of you and think your really brave.How are things?im sorry you have been struggling so much recently.Please keep posting and letting us know how you are if it helps and you feel up to it.Also feel free to PM me anytime too.Take care.

ThinkingofRecovery · 13-01-2009, 09:18 PM

Thanks for asking. Appt was taken up with my psych saying that I need to give it another go. She said she was sceptical when I was reassigned to the team and that he was chosen especially because of his skills. Basically she thinks it has been beneficial to an extent but that the relationship needs repairing. She said that the unreliability is unacceptable and believes me as they are all aware in the team that he can be a little disorganised and unreliable. A little - argh! The problem is that she doesn't think that they have anyone else in the team who could cope with me. Apparently he is good at coping with other people's chaos and that I would just run rings around the other cpns etc available. She has booked me monthly appointments with her for the next 3 months in the meantime and said that I should feel free to contact him but that my next appt he will be attending. She said that she hopes at the next appt she will be able to help us re-sort things and lay out some new guidelines, etc. I'm not very hopeful and in the meantime I'm know I'm going to end up getting to the point where I will have contact with the liaison team and crisis team.