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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2008 11:15:51 GMT
:(Hi there, I am really hoping that someone may be able to help me. I have written a few posts on here because I have yet to go to my GP and start the ball rolling on getting diagnosed. ADHD is ruining my life and I so want to start medication and to get treated for it. I am extremely worried about my GP not believing that ADHD is a condition. I have not got much money but what I wanted to ask is how much it would cost to go Private? I am in Stevenage so I think the nearest place is Cambridge. I read somewhere that someone paid £800 what does this entail and would that be all that I would pay as could I then get a prescription for my GP after I have been diagnosed? Also I have never been to the Doctors for anything to do with mental health. Is there a private health plan that I could start paying monthly that would pay for all my ADHD treatment after I go to the doctors? Any help is greatly greatly appreciated, thankyou so much x
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2008 13:13:55 GMT
Pippa
Drop me a call - i sent you a private message with my details - i am sure my recent similar exp can help as i have come out of it the other side after having all the same questions as you.
Matt
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2008 14:51:30 GMT
Thanks hun I have emailed you
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2008 15:18:17 GMT
No emails here yet? Which address?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2008 22:38:48 GMT
Hi Pippa,
I am sorry to say that I can't be of any help in terms of going private. It is something that I have done a little bit of looking into but as I am living from next months cheque to todays mouth it does seem like quite a bit of money. I did phone the LANC clinic in Horsham which treats adults and they said that the full assessment was £825 which was 2X2hour sessions of asessment and that if meds were required they would be prescribed to be continued by my GP once the doses were sorted. So £800 seems to be the going rate.
What I can do however is totally sympathise with you in the burning frustration that comes as the result of seeing clearly how aspects of ADD are ruling/ruining your life and all the time you know that something can be done about it. the waiting game really stinks.
hang in there! I know it is really tough. If your experience is anything like mine it feels like loads of your coping mechanisms that you have got going over time don't seem to cut the mustard so much anymore now that you are super aware of the ADD forces and that there might be a potential end to struggling so hard.
With regards to your concerns about visiting your GP....... go clear in your mind or with a list of symptoms and experiences/examples. you can also point out there are new nice guidlines that include treatment of adults. I totally understand that it is really hard to talk about lots of aspects of ADD so it does not sound like you just can't be bothered to put in the effort but honesty i reakon is best policy. If these symptoms are compromising your life just say it how it is!
All the best and let us know how you get on!
best,
tom
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Post by annie on Nov 10, 2008 22:50:04 GMT
Hi pippa
Our 2 children were dx at Lanc a few years ago and I would think what tomlin is quoting will be the rate. When we had it done our children had already had a full psychological assessment (to measure IQ along with other things) so it cost a bit less.
I have to say Dr Kewley (LANC) and his psychologist were extremely thorough.
Tomlin - if you were dx as a child why on earth is it proving so difficult to get a dx now? Doesn't seem right.
annie
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2008 12:04:56 GMT
Thank you for all of your replies, I really really appreciate them. Does anyone know where my nearest Private specialist would be to me? I am in Herts x
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2008 12:54:33 GMT
It would be really great if someone could point me in the right direction as I would like to start booking appointments but I really dont know where my nearest private treatment place is
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Post by roland on Nov 18, 2008 15:11:40 GMT
Hi Pippa, I'm afraid that I do not know of any private specialists in your area (maybe somebody else can help out), but AADD-UK did receive a letter from the Chief Executive at Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust which says and I quote " services for Adult ADHD are currently provided through contracts with out of County providers." In other words, your GP (according to their letter) can ask for a referral for you to be assessed for adult ADHD. Mr Macintyre did not say who they have a contract with, but Addenbrookes is not very far away so it might be with them, and I've heard that Dr Muller at Addenbrookes is very good. So my recommendation is save some money for yourself and go to your GP and ask for the referral. Here's what you do: 1. Make an appointment to see your GP, and make it for only 10 minutes. 2. Tell your GP very simply, you need a referral for an assessment for Adult ADHD. 3/ Give your GP the following: A. a printed list of the symptoms for adult ADHD which can be found here: aadduk.proboards85.com/index.cgi?board=symptoms&action=display&thread=330 with a circle around the relevant symptoms. (This gives the GP a rationale for requesting the referral). B. a copy or a link to the new NICE Guidelines which can be found here: www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG72QRG.pdf3. Tell your GP that Mr Bill Macintyre, the Chief Executive of Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, wrote in a letter dated 21 October 2008 to Adult Attention Deficit Disorder UK (AADD-UK), that services for adult ADHD are currently provided through contracts with out of County providers." 4. Ask your GP for a date (or a length of time) when the referral process will be completed. Make it clear that you will follow-up if you do not hear anything by the specified time. The reason why I said to make it a 10 minute appointment is because there won't be much time for discussion and side tracking. Having a short appointment time will help both you and the doctor say focused on the purpose of your visit which is getting the referral. I'm sorry I can't help you with the private specialist, but maybe someone else can, and then you will have a choice. Good luck!!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2008 20:24:30 GMT
Thank you Roland for all of your help there, I would much rather save some money if I can. I just hope it works. Do you know what the difference is between A.D.D and A.D.H.D? Or are they the same thing? Thanks x
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Post by roland on Nov 18, 2008 21:45:37 GMT
Hi Pippa,
They are the same thing, but ADD is the older term. ADHD is now the accepted term, and it is used as an umbrella term covering inattentive, as well as impulsive and hyperactive symptoms.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2009 23:44:54 GMT
Oh my God ive got my appointment tomorrow with my GP and have had to wait 4 weeks for it and I am in such a rush to get prepared for it and have left it to the last minute to type anything on here. Please help me to go to it tomorrow, I would really appreciate anyone helping me to prepare for this and what to say. I mean what if she says ive got to go and see a phyciatrist? Please help me x
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Post by sherry on Feb 15, 2009 23:53:47 GMT
Pippa don't panic. Just go to your GP and explain that you want a referal (chances it will be to a psychiatrist in yr local PCT or if you are lucky to have a specialist in yr PCT you could go direct). You may need to explain to the doc what ADHD is. You may also have to explain why you think you have it. You must have evidence that you were like it as a child (verbal did it for me). You have a right to a referal, you must insist, don#'t take no for an answer. It can take some time to get through this process. Good luck don't leave till you get a referal.
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Post by pippauk on Feb 16, 2009 10:45:24 GMT
Thankyou for that. But I thought it would be bad to see a psyciatrist because a lot of people say that they do not notice ADHD in adults as a problem. I think there is a place in Cambridge that diagnoses ADHD in adults but only takes referals via NHS
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Post by twix on Feb 16, 2009 20:01:53 GMT
How did it go today?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2009 14:13:34 GMT
Thanks so much for all your support, it is so nice knowing that I can speak with people that fully understand what I am going through. I didnt have a chance to post on here yesterday but glad that I can now. I thought the Drs appointment went quite well. I had 3 things that I needed to talk to her about including the ADHD. So when I started discussing it, she asked me how I did at school, college etc. I said that I didnt do well at school. and I enrolled in the same course 4 times at college to pass it after 4 years for a one year course! Also that I got into uni twice to do nursing but never actually started it as I knew I would fail. She explained to me that there are many Drs that do not believe that this exists in adults and that its not fair on the children that were diagnosed with it and put on medication to find that when they turned 18 they were taken off on all their meds. I really pushed for her to refer me to Cambridge but she said that she can not do that and has to go through the proper channels first. I will hear from my local mental health team 2-3 weeks to be assessed. I kept saying that they are not experts in adult adhd and she agread but we have to do this first and she also said that they would be able to refer me to cambridge afterwards. I was quite pleased that I am starting the process now as it was really hard for me to even go to the Dr as you all know. I nearly walked out waiting for the appointment. Can everyone please help me with what I need to do at the Mental Health appointment when I get it? As I do not want to be palmed off with any old medication. What should I be asking for? xxx Thankyou so much everyone xxx
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Post by annie on Feb 17, 2009 17:50:03 GMT
Hi piipa
Excellent!! It sounds as though your Gp definately has a handle on Adult ADHD, as well as understanding the condition in children.
The problem she has is the PCT will have entered into a contract with your local Mental Health Trust and she is required to refer you to that Trust if there is any suggestion you may have mental health problems ( I know ADHD fits very badly with mental health problems, but the effects of not having it treated can lead to mental health problems!)
When you get to see someone from the Trust, and that should be a Psychiatrist, if it's not, insist you see one, you should describe the difficulties you've had since childhood and how they impact on your life today. He/she may well want to describe it as depression/anxiety but you then need to let them know you feel it relates to ADHD. If they dismiss this, you then need to ask what experience they have in dx ADHD, and how many people they are treating.
If the answers none, or very few you then need to go back to your Gp and ask her to write to the Primary Care Trust asking them to fund a referral to a specialist clinic, such as the Maudsley/ Addenbrookes.
I know this all sounds so long, but remember you are pushing the boundaries to have ADHD recognised, so that others who follow you won't have to go through this convoluted route. If you didn't know it, you're a pioneer!!
Keep us posted
annie
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2009 20:27:35 GMT
Thanks ever so much for that, when I hear when this appointment is going to be. I would love it if I can post on here and get some more support so that I am ready and prepared for it. Would love to hear others experiences going through this route (good and bad). I am fortunate to have a good GP. She is a GP that has given alot of patients, including my mum, tummy tucks etc so I am hopeful that if this route does not work with the mental health team then I can go to see her and get her help. Also the waiting time for an appt with her is 6 weeks!! may book one up soon!lol x
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2009 23:38:48 GMT
hi there - for all those of you who are looking for a private assessment and live within travelling distance of manchester (or are prepared to travel to save ££) Dr Saroj Soni at the Altrincham Priory charges £250 for assessment and considerably less for follow up appointments, she is very experienced in adhd, aspergers and adult mental health conditions
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2009 23:44:39 GMT
There is a clinic in Cambridge you may be able to access via the NHS. It is one of the oldest in the country and has good professionals. I would wait to see if you can acccess that before thinking of going privately.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2009 22:10:13 GMT
Hi there, i got my appointment for the 30th March at my local mental health. I am getting really stressed about the whole situation as I have read that so many people have been dissatisfied with the outcome of their appointments. Please can you tell me what I should expect/do and also worse case scenario so that I am prepared? I really appreciate the support as I am so alone in this and just feel like I cant go to this appointment now XXx
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2009 22:43:38 GMT
hey there I hope that is all went well. There is a clinic in Cambridge and you have to be referred by a GP or psychiatrist. They will assess and send recommendations beck to your referrer and apparently the GP's and Psychiatrists go along with what they recommend. Which is good as I believe meds are not enough there needs to be some sort of therapy offered too. It is at Addenbrooks I believe and the Dr is called Dr Muller. They seem really nice - spoke on phone. I should be going there am waiting to hear.
good luck Dre
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2009 16:46:21 GMT
Thank you for your help. Becasue I have got this appointment at my local hospital I really need to know what to expect-please help me someone its making me nervous and making me want to pull out from going x
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Post by roland on Mar 7, 2009 21:31:24 GMT
Hi Pippa take a deep breath and hang in there!! First, have you got a trusted friend who can go in with you? Someone who will speak up for you if you get too nervous. If there's no one you feel comfortable taking with you, you can instead do the following: 1. This one is important! Write out a script, take the script with you, and follow it as you explain to the doctor what you need, and don't be afraid to ask the doctor to not interrupt you as you read through it. I'm suggesting this because sometimes when we are very anxious we forget everything we were going to say, and our minds go blank. Using a script will not only help prevent this, but will also give you confidence. We can help you with the script via this forum. 2. Take the list of symptoms found here aadduk.proboards85.com/index.cgi?board=symptoms&action=display&thread=330 and circle the relevant ones. You can also ask friends to circle the ones they've noticed but ask them to do it in a different colour. If you feel up to it, you can write a brief description under each relevant symptom about how it has impacted your life, but don't worry if you can't. 3. Remember, and keep telling yourself, we are with you, we are in the office with you, we know and understand what it is like. 4. And finally, and you can start practising this now, pay attention to your posture because it will tell you when you are becoming too tense. For example, when I'm stressed, my shoulders tighten and rise up, so I force myself to drop them and take a deep breath, and then I find I can think more clearly Worst case scenario, the doctor says he won't refer you for an assessment, and offers you pretty little white pills either for anxiety or depression depending upon the doctor's mood! At which point you revert back to the script and say you did not come for a diagnosis, but for a referral!! And if you're feeling really brave, you can ask the doctor if he or she is qualified to assess for adult ADHD, and if the answer is no (and it should be "no" because a real assessment will take 2 or 3 visits), then ask "in that case why did you just make a snap decision that I do not have ADHD?" Then repeat your request for a referral to an adult ADHD specialist. Anyway Pippa, I hope this was helpful, and please let us know if you need help writing the script.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2009 22:26:27 GMT
Thank you that was most helpful an I really really appreciate it. I will read it again tomorrow as I am feeling a bit down at the moment and cant really concentrate. Thank you for being there for me x
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Post by roland on Mar 8, 2009 6:39:35 GMT
Don't forget Pippa that we will help you write a script. And don't forget that we do understand! Silly me! I forgot to add the most important point; not everybody's experience with this process has been negative! You might receive a positive outcome from your visit! Anyway, I hope you feel a bit better today
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Post by sherry on Mar 8, 2009 18:34:58 GMT
Yeah Pippa mine was pretty straight forward, as easy as it could be.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2009 0:03:40 GMT
mine was straight forward too!... when i first went in to see my GP i thought i'd have to really fight my corner, but the doc was really nice about it, she asked me, what made me suspect ADHD? so i told her a bit about my background, trouble at school, work, everyday life etc... and she agreed that it was a fair case for referal. so it was quick (5 mins) and TOTALLY painless! i saw the local mental health nurse after that (which i think is the stage you're at) she was a bit thick! and told me everyone feels distracted at times so why was i different. she made me feel a bit low, but i just told her "it's an internationally recognised disorder and i deserve to see an expert for assesment" that appointment was done in 5 mins and i left the building feeling proud of myself! so basically pippa, it'll be fine when you get there, just stick to your guns! and when you're finished and walking home afterwards, you'll feel great! and totally deserve a massive donut!!! loads of us have been through it, and we'll all be thinking of you! best of luck -matt
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2009 21:38:06 GMT
Thanks for everyone's replies, it is especially great hearing the sucess stories and gives me so much hope. I dont know why I am so worried I just dont want to be rejected as I just want to get diagnosed, i feel my life is on hold for this. Anyway where on earth do I get started on writing a script? I better start doing it soon otherwise i know i will leave it to the night before which is not a good idea. Here are some of the things that I have trouble with, I am not good at writing so any help in rephrasing things etc is not an insult to me but a really great help xx
I worry too much about getting things done and worry that I dont have enough time to do them etc, things that are supposed to be enjoyable like xmas dinner, going out etc is always ruined because trying to organise myself and baby to be ready on time is just soo stressful. My mum and sis are just the same so when we are all together + added stress! I have a perfectly lovely flat from the council but since my partner went to prison a few months ago I have been living with my mum and family with my baby as I just can not cope with all the responsibilities of running a flat if you can understand that? I am such a daydreamer, always have been. Take risks like stealing from shops in my younger days, which I am ashamed of. My 1 year course in health and social care took me four years to pass as I always felt that I couldnt do it and wanted it to be perfect. I actually signed up four times. I got into university twice to do my Nursing but I never went once-looking back I dont know why I have ruined my life like this as I know I am not thick and such a caring person, how could I waste my life like this?!! I also have never done driving lessons as I feel that I just couldnt concentrate and wouldnt pass. I think about the past alot, especially at night when I have trouble sleeping. When I am focused on something and get it into my head that that is what I am doing for the day then nothing steps in my way I need to do it! I am always going over conversations in my head that I have had with people. Things have got alot worse in the ADHD sense since having my baby, does that make sense too? As I dont want the drs trying to palm me off as having post natal depression! Anyway there is so much more, I just wanted to get my list started, and once again I thank you all for any input that you have xxx
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Post by roland on Mar 13, 2009 9:24:04 GMT
Hi Pippa,
I would start your script with a question as follows (I've outlined 3 possibilities):
First Possibility:
You: Are you qualified to assess adults for ADHD?
Dr: Yes.
You: Brilliant here's my list of symptoms.
Second Possibility:
You: Are you qualified to assess adults for ADHD?
Dr: No, why do you ask?
You: Here's my list of symptoms.
Dr: (reads list) I'll refer you to an adult ADHD specialist for assessment.
You: Brilliant! When can I expect to hear something.
Third Possibility
You: Are you qualified to assess adults for ADHD?
Dr: No, why do you ask?
You: Here's my list of symptoms.
Dr: (reads list) Waffle waffle anxiety, waffle, waffle depression
You: (disregarding the waffle) I've already considered those possibilities and since you're not qualified to assess for ADHD, please refer me to Professor Muller's adult ADHD clinic at Addenbrooke's.
So that's a start to the script (maybe some of the others can add to it).
The list of symptoms that you started on the previous post will be on a separate sheet that you will hand over at the right moment.
So in a nutshell, I'm saying you will need to take two sheets of paper with you; the script and the list of symptoms.
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