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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2015 10:01:22 GMT
This week a lot has been happening and as a result I am now (quite surprisingly) facing a move to London within the next few months.
I have barely been able to set my meds after being diagnosed a couple of months ago, so naturally I am curious about what I can expect in the UK in terms of healthcare. How do I go about getting my meds (Concerta 72mg, Ritalin 5mg and Melatonin 5mg) once in the UK? I don't need much support, but obviously will need someone to prescribe my meds and work with to monitor how well they work.
My diagnosis was made by a specialist AD(H)D/ASD psychiatrist at one of the specialised hospitals in the Netherlands, which is also involved in ADHD research. I doubt any UK specialist could justifiably question the diagnosis, but strange things happen.
The duration of my stay will be temporarily, two years, so I'm not sure if I need to do a lot or simply see a GP and explain the situation.
I understand there is a difference between NHS and private. It will probably not be a problem for me to use private, as I have the financial means. I can also afford to pay my meds in full (which is pretty much what I do now anyway).
Any advice/help/tips will be welcome!
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Post by clubby on Aug 30, 2015 8:11:48 GMT
The operative word is "Expect". Since "expect" is a motivator we can become addicted to our expectations, both positive and negative. This is a particular problem when the working memory struggles. In these situations we over prepare and in the process elevate our expectations. We succeed in being prepared and highly motivated but when reality hits we are often disappointed or ashamed. Hence the paradox which exists within the health care system. As a time based institution it cannot deal with those folks whose thoughts arrive randomly. Take care. ?
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Post by vagueandrandom on Aug 30, 2015 13:52:32 GMT
Hi @dutch - how exciting!!
I would register with a GP and talk to them to start with. It may be easier in the long run to go private if you can afford it, but you might get funny looks with private prescriptions in pharmacies.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2015 14:37:31 GMT
Thanks vagueandrandom! The thing is, I have no idea where we will live in London. The place is extremely expensive and despite having reasonable financial means it has been quite a shock to see the rent prices. I still have a meeting with my meds doctor and will discuss with her how much of my meds I can stock up on, but will eventually need to get a prescription in the UK. Don't mind how and I am happy to receive funny looks, as long as they provide me with my meds. I know London will be a bit hard on me and the meds will make a world of difference. clubbyI expect very little and am very capable of sticking up for myself. I just need the meds.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2015 17:09:39 GMT
If possible, I would recommend getting as large an advance prescription as possible before coming to the UK (as much as it is legal to transport with you) just to cover yourself before you arrive. If I were you, finances permitting, I would take a definite decision to go private, in order to have as much control as possible.for the 2 years you are here. I don't think you need to lower your expectations at all if you can afford private treatment. You just need to do due dilligence to find someone worthy of your cold, hard cash. I believe that it is possible to self-refer to private psychiatrists for ADHD assessment, but they do prefer a GP referral, for the added assurance that your overall health is being monitored. If you can get translated, signed copies of your assessment and review reports to date, I think that would be very helpful in establishing your credibility and freeing up a wider range of treatment options. One of the biggest concerns for ADHD professionals in the UK is that, despite NICE Guidance, there is a lot of negative opinion and bad press about the validity of the diagnosis, and any professional worth their salt will want to be confident that you are not a random drug seeker who is going to wreak havoc on their hard-earned reputation by misusing the prescribed drugs. A good document trail from your home country should satisfy them and protect you against any suspicion. There is a list on here somewhere of private ADHD specialists in the UK. I would Google to see some reviews and then contact a few clinics in advance of your move to check out what their availability and information requirements would be. My guess is that they would probably want you to pay for, and undergo, a full assessment here in the UK before they would take legal responsibility for your controlled drug prescribing needs, but there is no harm in asking in advance. While I was considering the private route, I had a very helpful email exchange with Dr Ovais Badat at the Bristol Private Adult ADHD Clinic. He operates on his own for private patients, but from what I understand, he is also the well-respected Consultant for the full NHS Adult ADHD service in his region. I went the NHS route in the end, but he provided a very clear packet of information about his services and charges, and he was very helpful in discussing additional issues by email. I know that, following the initial assessment he sometimes provides review appointments by Skype where appropriate, and can sometimes send out prescriptions direct to your pharmacy, so it may be that he, or someone like him, might be worth considering, even though he is based outside London. (Bristol is about 90 mins from central London, by train.) He wasn't cheap, but his processes seemed quite rigorous, and his aftercare quite thorough, from what I recall. When you are calculating costs you need to factor in: (1) the cost of the initial assessment, (2) the cost of review appointments, including the issue of a private prescription, and then (3) the cost of whatever actual drug that is dispensed. The better organised, and IMO, most ethical, private professionals should provide you with an estimated schedule of costs before you book your first appointment. I have never personally received a "funny look" from a pharmacist and you should neither expect nor accept it, IMO. Once you have gotten into a routine with your meds, your pharmacist will likely be keen to register your details and retain you as a customer, and all you may need to do differently to any other customer is quietly (or loudly and proudly!) remind them at the collection desk that your prescription will be located in their locked CD (controlled drug) cabinet.
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Post by vagueandrandom on Aug 30, 2015 22:45:49 GMT
I've had 'funny looks' at my usual pharmacy when I first presented my NHS prescription and I know that private prescriptions can illicit 'funny looks' because they're most used to NHS ones.
I would recommend getting as much as you can before you move, so that you can have a bit of time and space to sort things out before you decide what to do in the longer term.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 6:12:57 GMT
Thanks a million @pelargonium for that wonderful reply! Really very helpful! I can see I will have my work cut out for me to sort it all out. I think it will probably be to my advantage that I am a scholar and have "dr." in front of my name. That will make it easier to see I am not out to get a quick high. All the same, I will speak to my psychiatrist tomorrow and maybe they will be able to pave the way a bit. I wouldn't be surprised if they had contacts in London because of their research. If not I will simply start contacting various specialists to see how they respond and what the estimated costs are. Thanks again vagueandrandom! I will stock up!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 13:03:29 GMT
Thanks again @pelargonium! It's quite funny how much impact the "dr."-thing has. It shouldn't make a jot of difference and I hardly ever use it, but for some reason people started taking me a lot more serious immediately after getting the title. I'm still the same goofball, but apparently "dr. goofball" is considered an authoritative position. I guess it's a bit like the difference between being a complete loon, in which case people mock you, or being a complete loon with a lot of money, in which case people will start calling you "eccentric". It's been my life-long ambition to reach the status of "eccentric". Thanks for the kind offer! Once in London I expect I will have plenty spare time on my hands, unless some university feels compelled to throw money at me and offer me a postdoc fellowship (not very likely). So we could certainly meet up at some point and get some afternoon tea. (Yes, I'm already well aware of the better English traditions! )
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 14:33:36 GMT
Thanks again @pelargonium! It's quite funny how much impact the "dr."-thing has. It shouldn't make a jot of difference and I hardly ever use it, but for some reason people started taking me a lot more serious immediately after getting the title. I'm still the same goofball, but apparently "dr. goofball" is considered an authoritative position. I guess it's a bit like the difference between being a complete loon, in which case people mock you, or being a complete loon with a lot of money, in which case people will start calling you "eccentric". It's been my life-long ambition to reach the status of "eccentric". Thanks for the kind offer! Once in London I expect I will have plenty spare time on my hands, unless some university feels compelled to throw money at me and offer me a postdoc fellowship (not very likely). So we could certainly meet up at some point and get some afternoon tea. (Yes, I'm already well aware of the better English traditions! ) Congratulations on your doctorate and your new job, it sounds fab. I like to pop to London occasionally to catch some theatre or fabric shopping. I could certainly switch things up and do afternoon tea instead. I'm not actually all that well-bred but I can pretend for you!
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Post by chickster on Sept 6, 2015 11:18:33 GMT
I wouldnt even think about the NHS if I were you. Going off your meds for months while you wait could cost you a lot more than the price of a private consiultation & prescription. There is no budget for this now, & for all those hanging on & hoping..why??? If youre working & can afford holidays/to smoke/to go out this is a FAR better use of your money!!!! Ive been private for ages, with an NHS ADHD consultant from the Maudsley (Dr Marco Catani) who does Thursdays at the Sloane Court clinic in Chelsea. Hes not cheap £350 I think), but after the first apppoinment you will only need half hour slots (£150). He likes to see you once a month, but might eventually switch you to prescriptions by post (takes at least a year I think). As for funny looks in pharmacies..never had them. They are usually thrilled to be making that much money & are very co operative! The melatonin is a different story, you will need to buy that online. So far Ive found the easiest & cheapest to be united pharmacies UK. Used them for years with no problems at all. London is a great city & Im sure you will enjoy it very much!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2015 23:39:45 GMT
I wouldnt even think about the NHS if I were you. Going off your meds for months while you wait could cost you a lot more than the price of a private consiultation & prescription. There is no budget for this now, & for all those hanging on & hoping..why??? If youre working & can afford holidays/to smoke/to go out this is a FAR better use of your money!!!! Not everyone here has the level of income to sustain the cost of private treatment and we all have different responsibilities and priorities with regard to our personal income. Decisions around whether to pursue NHS or Private healthcare are not always straightforward for many of us. For the OP, things are different because he has indicated his relatively strong financial position, but I just wanted to jump in with support for anyone who is struggling with the decision to go private. The NHS can and does provide services for many of us and, while provision is patchy, I would not want anyone to feel hopeless or discouraged from shouting out for help. The NHS is our privilege and our responsibility, IMO, and many members here are doing a grand job of fighting to make ADHD treatment available in their areas. I'm happy to offer advice about seeking NHS care to anyone who needs it, and many others are too, so please feel free to ask.
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Post by manson88 on Sept 7, 2015 5:57:22 GMT
[quote author=" chickster" source="/post/92197/thread" timestamp="1441538313" As for funny looks in pharmacies..never had them. They are usually thrilled to be making that much money [/quote] The look over the top of the glasses... Priceless... You couldn't buy it! Lol.. There's master card for everything else though.... Priceless Do you really need this son?? Lol,, doh!?
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