pat6954
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Post by pat6954 on Feb 18, 2017 13:12:05 GMT
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Post by Lesley on Feb 19, 2017 13:44:26 GMT
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jakk1e
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Post by jakk1e on Feb 20, 2017 8:28:15 GMT
Wow. Compulsive over sharing.... Didn't even know that could be related but that's another box ticked in the self dx survey.
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Post by marionk on Feb 20, 2017 10:37:00 GMT
. . . and he thinks he's not impulsive . . . Also brain scans do show remarkable differences between ADHD and normal brains, they just aren't used as diagnostic criteria. Too hard to get and not nearly as high a priority as e.g. suspected brain tumors. Apart from different levels of brain activity, the part of the brain mostly responsible for dopamine production is significantly larger in ADHD people. Maybe if scans become cheaper/more readily available, they could be used for dx, but with the current trends in funding, it's not going to happen in the UK first, if ever!
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pat6954
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Post by pat6954 on Mar 4, 2017 9:24:42 GMT
So ..... I've done some reading ..... attended a support meeting where I learned a lot ..... seen my GP, he says he has little experience of Adult ADHD, and so he asked me to self-refer to the local IAPT ..... within two hours the IAPT sent a letter by email asking me to book a telephone consultation/assessment ..... this is to happen early next week ..... I've done a little more reading but have stopped as I don't want to 'know' too much and influence the telephone conversation ..... Comments, help, advice, or just holding my hand would be nice. Bit scary. But also (?prematurely) relief.
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Post by vagueandrandom on Mar 4, 2017 10:54:36 GMT
Hi pat6954 IAPT only offer short counselling courses, usually for depression. You'll be lucky if you find anyone who knows anything about ADHD and they won't be able to diagnose and treat. I eventually found a lovely IAPT counsellor who's not qualified to counsel ADHD, but has a son with ADHD. . .and it's nice to talk to someone who understands. The only people who can assess for ADHD are specialists. Your GP would need to refer you to your nearest specialist service. If you've been to a support group, they should be able to let you know where your nearest service is so you can ask your GP to refer you to the right place. Waiting lists can be quite long and many areas don't have a service, which would mean you'd have to go out of area.
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Post by marionk on Mar 4, 2017 13:56:02 GMT
And in typical ADHD style, I completely missed that you are a new member. Welcome to the forums! If you want/need to pursue this to an official diagnosis, you will, effectively, have to 'argue your case'. You can't do that effectively if you haven't done enough research. It's even possible that you don't actually have it, that the symptoms are caused by something else. For it to be ADHD, you have to have had it in childhood too, as it's something you are born with. It is also ridiculously important that you have someone else to back you up on childhood symptoms, or paperwork from that time. I'm in the middle of a vent/post about the interpretation of the word 'evidence' and having to prove we have ADHD. Also, although medically it should not be relevant (but it IS one of the criteria), if you are not suffering significant impairment from ADHD, (e.g. getting sacked, broken marriage, eviction) you won't get a dx anyway. On similar lines, if, once you have thoroughly researched the subject, you are sure that you have it, don't let a negative dx put you off using the knowledge to put better management strategies in place. For me, getting a dx was more about getting medication that might actually help, than needing an 'expert' to back me up in my findings.
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Post by marionk on Mar 4, 2017 14:00:33 GMT
Forgot to say, self referral is odd, and not the usual way at all, even if 'going private'.
I suspect that this actually makes it doubly important that you do your research, as referrals are usually by a GP who knows the principle criteria and how you fit them.
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pat6954
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Post by pat6954 on Mar 4, 2017 14:48:22 GMT
My GP said, as he had little experience and because referral, if appropriate, to an ADHD specialist could take a long time my quickest route would be via self referral. He hoped there would be someone at the IAPT who knew more than him. Those I'd met at the support group talked about the difficulties of care and referral. Thank you for encouraging me to know more. I shall certainly ask the person I speak with about their expertise and professional interests, and for their expertise with ADHD. I'll try not to be fobbed off. The IAPT service here slam-iapt.nhs.uk/croydon/how-to-access-the-service/ includes self referral.
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pat6954
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Post by pat6954 on Mar 4, 2017 14:49:18 GMT
Nice to be welcomed.
Thank you.
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Post by vagueandrandom on Mar 4, 2017 19:18:36 GMT
pat6954 Thanks for posting that link . .now I can give you some good news. Croydon has an adult ADHD service which is part of SLaM www.slam.nhs.uk/our-services/service-finder-details?CODE=SU0142I was assessed in a similar satellite clinic in Lewisham and the wait was only about 4 months. You may have to have a pre-assessment screening to rule out other things. Go back to your GP and ask to be referred to the Croydon service. Good luck
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Post by marionk on Mar 5, 2017 23:27:13 GMT
My GP said, as he had little experience and because referral, if appropriate, to an ADHD specialist could take a long time my quickest route would be via self referral. He hoped there would be someone at the IAPT who knew more than him. Those I'd met at the support group talked about the difficulties of care and referral. Thank you for encouraging me to know more. I shall certainly ask the person I speak with about their expertise and professional interests, and for their expertise with ADHD. I'll try not to be fobbed off. The IAPT service here slam-iapt.nhs.uk/croydon/how-to-access-the-service/ includes self referral. Interesting. I went private as everything was being re-organised, and would have taken a long time, even if there was going to be an ADHD service in the area at all. For the private specialist I needed a GP referral. I'm now pursuing help with my sleep problems, and it's every bit as tortuous as ADHD. Even the specialist, (who I wasn't wondrously impressed with) reckons it is unlikely that I have sleep apnea, but I still have to be tested for it before I can get to the proper sleep clinic. I have an appointment for two months time, presumably for instruction on how to use the test equipment. I'm guessing that after that I have to have third appointment to discuss the results before I get referred for further tests. The first appointment was cancelled twice, and I don't have much higher hopes for future appointments, so I'm seriously thinking of calling the center that I should eventually be referred to, directly and asking for their advice. Hopefully I will be able to self refer! Edit: Since writing this, and without my calling anyone at all, I have been given an appointment towards the end of the month specifically for instruction on how to use the equipment, and the unspecified appointment has been brought forward a month too!
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pat6954
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Post by pat6954 on Mar 9, 2017 13:13:31 GMT
The sleep thing seems almost/more complicated than finding help for ADHD. I hope you find your way through the minefield
I'm continuing to read and find information from the internet. I liked this
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pat6954
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Post by pat6954 on May 17, 2017 13:16:43 GMT
Hi All. Partially notes to me and to record what's happening publicly. I read the Guardian article, went to the Star of Kings MeetUp group, spoke to my GP and had the IAPT referral (I think my GP needed reassurance I wasn't at risk), went back to my GP and a referral was written. I've just checked up with the Tamworth Centre and I'm on the waiting list to be seen by the ADHD team in about four months time, in about September or October. Meanwhile I'm able to observe myself, my reactions and behaviours with some ADHD insight and so have a much better understanding of how I live. So some questions: I understand that medication (if that's to be my route, if I am diagnosed) only gives more impetus to life, helps one do things, but I've still got to get the plans, the structures in place....... How do people get up? How do you structure the morning and does this help get the day done better? I think I've realised that I can't do too much in the day or the next day is really crap. So the day has to finish at about 5pm. Does this make sense. Thank you.
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Post by marionk on May 18, 2017 7:35:39 GMT
The sleep thing seems almost/more complicated than finding help for ADHD. I hope you find your way through the minefield Thanks. I'm supposed to be keeping a sleep/activity and v basic food and drink diary, but I keep mislaying it, and forgetting stuff by the time I've found it again. I have an appointment at Papworth next week. I'm continuing to read and find information from the internet. I liked this Wow, that video is seriously interesting. That bit about involuntary attention probably explains how come I can drive, too!
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Post by marionk on May 18, 2017 8:44:47 GMT
Hi All. Partially notes to me and to record what's happening publicly. I read the Guardian article, went to the Star of Kings MeetUp group, spoke to my GP and had the IAPT referral (I think my GP needed reassurance I wasn't at risk), went back to my GP and a referral was written. I've just checked up with the Tamworth Centre and I'm on the waiting list to be seen by the ADHD team in about four months time, in about September or October. Meanwhile I'm able to observe myself, my reactions and behaviours with some ADHD insight and so have a much better understanding of how I live. So some questions: I understand that medication (if that's to be my route, if I am diagnosed) only gives more impetus to life, helps one do things, but I've still got to get the plans, the structures in place....... How do people get up? How do you structure the morning and does this help get the day done better? I think I've realised that I can't do too much in the day or the next day is really crap. So the day has to finish at about 5pm. Does this make sense.Thank you. Yes indeed! Unfortunately ATOS/Gov't criteria/tribunals don't give a dam. They only care that you can do stuff sometimes, not that you can't keep it up. I used to conk out about 5-7p.m. but then wake up (usually only metaphorically) and be unable to get to sleep until 1a.m.. Now I eat enough protein, I don't get that late afternoon crash, but I find I need to chill (do craft stuff rather than reading/researching or anything more active) from about the same time. I figure it's part of the natural winding down ready to sleep process.
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pat6954
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Post by pat6954 on May 20, 2017 11:30:17 GMT
Today I've crashed at 1130 - help. I've eaten a tin of sardines and gone back to bed with the laptop of course.
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