amelia
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Post by amelia on Feb 5, 2017 11:43:51 GMT
Hi, A friend of mine suggested I join some forums to try and talk to people who are going through similar things to me. I am 28 and I was diagnosed with severe ADHD in September. I am currently awaiting treatment, which due to some beurocratic rubbish is taking a rather long time. Since getting the diagnosis it feels as if it has gotten worse. I am studying and I have always found that during breaks from Uni I go in to slumps until I go back. I need physical activity to function and I can't make myself go out unless I have to. Over Christmas it got worse, I spent 4 weeks without even leaving the house and failed 2 classes having never failed anything in my entire academic career. I can't go on this way or I'll fail my Masters, so I need to find new coping mechanisms until they can start the medication. I'm seeing my doctor this week to dicuss the possibility I have depression as a side effect of my ADHD. But I am hoping having people to talk to who have been through what I have will help too. Thanks for listening, anyone have any advice feel free to reply or message me
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Post by vagueandrandom on Feb 5, 2017 18:05:58 GMT
Hi, A friend of mine suggested I join some forums to try and talk to people who are going through similar things to me. I am 28 and I was diagnosed with severe ADHD in September. I am currently awaiting treatment, which due to some beurocratic rubbish is taking a rather long time. Since getting the diagnosis it feels as if it has gotten worse. I am studying and I have always found that during breaks from Uni I go in to slumps until I go back. I need physical activity to function and I can't make myself go out unless I have to. Over Christmas it got worse, I spent 4 weeks without even leaving the house and failed 2 classes having never failed anything in my entire academic career. I can't go on this way or I'll fail my Masters, so I need to find new coping mechanisms until they can start the medication. I'm seeing my doctor this week to dicuss the possibility I have depression as a side effect of my ADHD. But I am hoping having people to talk to who have been through what I have will help too. Thanks for listening, anyone have any advice feel free to reply or message me
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Post by vagueandrandom on Feb 5, 2017 18:19:00 GMT
Hi amelia Welcome to the forum! I'm replying to several of your posts at once and copied your OP as it was your first and it takes time for admin to approve first posts. Lucie and beetlegoose are in the Sheffield area and have been asking about the service. I know a couple of people who have been dx there and it seems to be difficult to get the CCG to fund ADHD meds for adults. .I'd like to know how you get on. Sheffield Flourish have a support group and there's also one in Nottingham. It's quite common to have depression caused by ADHD, which is why CBT and antidepressants don't always work. .it's lack of dopamine, not seratonin in ADHD and you may find that ADHD meds improve your mood. I hope you find the forum helpful. .it's been a lifesaver for me
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amelia
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Posts: 23
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Post by amelia on Feb 5, 2017 19:24:46 GMT
Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I actually seem to have the funding thing settled I think (I spoke with the CCG last week and they said it should be getting approved). What I'm struggling with is the shared care protocol, as my GP wants Sheffield to do annual reviews of the meds as they aren't trained in it and Sheffield don't do that. After 6 appointments to titrate the dose they ship you back to the GP permentantly. I came up with a solution which all being well should resolve that problem.
My biggest issue with Sheffield is that they said if my GP doesn't agree they just won't treat me. Which amazes me that they would just leave a patient without treatment. Sheffield also has issues with communication. If everything doesn't go perfectly it's near impossible to find someone to speak to, to resolve it.
I'll hopefully find out within the next couple of weeks if my treatment will go ahead.
What is the name of the Nottingham support group?
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Post by vagueandrandom on Feb 5, 2017 20:02:00 GMT
Nottingham Support Group www.nottinghamadultadhd.co.uk/Your GP's right, you need to have an annual medication review by a specialist GPs are not qualified to prescribe ADHD meds unless under guidance from a specialist. NICE Quality Standard www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs39Which is different from NICE Guidelines (which also recommends an annual specialist review) ie there has to be a really good reason NOT to adhere to them It seems to be widely ignored and many people are discharged to their GP with no further support. I'm trying to use the NICE QS to see a specialist after moving to Hull, which has no specialist provision and seems to think I don't need it as I've been diagnosed and didn't respond well to stimulants . . round and round. .request funding, get turned down, complain, repeat. . .
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amelia
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Post by amelia on Feb 5, 2017 20:53:14 GMT
Yeah, Sheffield don't care though. They won't do the reviews. I asked my GP if I can get my 6 appts from Sheffield and while that's happening be on the waiting list for the Notts mental health service for them to take over. If all goes to plan that will be agreed to.
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amelia
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Posts: 23
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Post by amelia on Feb 18, 2017 15:31:00 GMT
Hi,
Thought I'd update everyone on my situation. The prescribing body in Nottingham had a meeting about my case and finally agreed to the shared care protocol. So now I have to wait for an appointment from the Sheffield clinic (the funding was approved 2 weeks ago) and I have an appointment to see a Dr at the Nottingham ADHD clinic in April, which my Dr is very confused about as apparently she has another patient in a similar situation to me and they saw a nurse who assessed them and have been waiting 9 months to see a Dr to be formally diagnosed/treated. Anyone else in Notts have experiences of being diagnosed here? My theory is that because I have already been assessed I have jumped the queue.
Good news for me though. It looks like I'm finally going to get my treatment! I hope it works :/
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Post by marionk on Feb 19, 2017 8:48:51 GMT
Fingers crossed it does help. Even if it doesn't, and I'm increasingly unconvinced that it does much even when it does work! (I'm building up to a post about that!) Even if it doesn't help, there are other things that can help. I don't get much benefit from mph, and I found other things that help so much that I stopped bothering to take any, but it does help me sleep better than not taking it.
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amelia
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Posts: 23
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Post by amelia on Feb 19, 2017 17:03:45 GMT
I'm trying atomoxatine first. Don't want to try stimulants unless I have no other option as I am currently studying.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2017 18:39:00 GMT
Hi Amelia,
I have yet to be officially diagnosed so take what I say with a pinch of salt. I can sympathise with your academic struggles, I recently completed a masters but things really went downhill at the end. With me I found I did my best work leaving it to the last minute and burning the candle at both ends. Obviously this is not ideal, what I found really helped was having a sympathetic and understanding mentor/tutor. What caused me trouble in my finall semester is I got lumped with a cynical and judgemental one.
If you feel you are having any similar problems I recommend seeing a university councillor. Getting around to actually doing that was my failing but when I did I was amazed and releived at how much help they were, especially with coordinating my my tutor. I was not at Nottingham but a friend who was said the support there was very good. I know how frustrating it can be she you know you are not achieving your full potential. I hope this meagre advice helps in some way.
-Llama
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