Post by unohoncho on Aug 20, 2014 14:48:52 GMT
Better a diagnosis late than never ? I guess so, but at risk of repeating myself again - NHS ballsed it up in 2004 saying there was nothing wrong with me other than I was poorly organised and I'd benefit from a 'Life Coach' - Within 5 years, I'd accrued well over £30k's of debt, had few friends, was divorced, and concentration getting worse by the day. That old vicious circle... Stress = inattention = more stress = more inattention
2014 and at the age of 40, I've remarried, had a a son but perilously close to a 2nd divorce and still in debt to the point where I have to sell my house to break free from it all, I thought I'd go back and get assessed again, I mean the NHS expert surely couldn't have misdiagnosed me, could she ?
GP didn't seem keen to refer me down the NHS route and suggested I utilise my private medical insurance, he cited that for this kind of asessment the NHS were especially 'slow and ponderous' - I was referred to a ADHD specialist in the North West near Alrincham.
Chap was ok, asked lots of open questions about my adolescence/schooling, I was lucky to have kept my school & bad behaviour reports from Comprehensive school along with a list of exams I failed. The school reports I believe proved invaluable to the assessment and he asked numerous questions about comments the teachers had put about failure to hand in homework, lack of concentration, disruptive behaviour, distraction, daydreaming, etc. The reports were pretty much text book extracts of ADHD symptoms so made his life easier I reckon
Work questions were simply a potted history of how many jobs I've had since leaving school, how long I stayed at each and why I left each one, lastly it was around how my life is now and what are the difficulties I've experienced recently. Finally I completed a questionnaire which looks like it was based the DSM-IV symptoms list ? He said that was only to compare with his diagnosis.
Result was that I definitely show signs of adult inattention and he's prescribed 18mg Concerta for 2 weeks and the upping it to 36g for 4 weeks until my 1st follow up appointment. I've had a ECG today and blood tests, results next week and then I can start the Concerta. I know the tablets alone are not a magic fix and that I have to organise myself better in many ways, but if I can just focus better and silence the constant chatter in my head, I know I'm on my way to achieving better things
2014 and at the age of 40, I've remarried, had a a son but perilously close to a 2nd divorce and still in debt to the point where I have to sell my house to break free from it all, I thought I'd go back and get assessed again, I mean the NHS expert surely couldn't have misdiagnosed me, could she ?
GP didn't seem keen to refer me down the NHS route and suggested I utilise my private medical insurance, he cited that for this kind of asessment the NHS were especially 'slow and ponderous' - I was referred to a ADHD specialist in the North West near Alrincham.
Chap was ok, asked lots of open questions about my adolescence/schooling, I was lucky to have kept my school & bad behaviour reports from Comprehensive school along with a list of exams I failed. The school reports I believe proved invaluable to the assessment and he asked numerous questions about comments the teachers had put about failure to hand in homework, lack of concentration, disruptive behaviour, distraction, daydreaming, etc. The reports were pretty much text book extracts of ADHD symptoms so made his life easier I reckon
Work questions were simply a potted history of how many jobs I've had since leaving school, how long I stayed at each and why I left each one, lastly it was around how my life is now and what are the difficulties I've experienced recently. Finally I completed a questionnaire which looks like it was based the DSM-IV symptoms list ? He said that was only to compare with his diagnosis.
Result was that I definitely show signs of adult inattention and he's prescribed 18mg Concerta for 2 weeks and the upping it to 36g for 4 weeks until my 1st follow up appointment. I've had a ECG today and blood tests, results next week and then I can start the Concerta. I know the tablets alone are not a magic fix and that I have to organise myself better in many ways, but if I can just focus better and silence the constant chatter in my head, I know I'm on my way to achieving better things