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Post by prunesquallor on Jun 19, 2013 22:13:34 GMT
Hello kathymel;
I think we may have to agree to disagree on this. You say:-
"I don't think anyone is encouraging anyone else to do this."
But you have said yourself "I'd certainly bloody try them!"; which reads as encouragement to me.
Then you say:-
"You can't blame frustrated people for being tempted, though."
I agree, and I am not blaming - as I said, I understand the temptation.
"And there's no harm in discussing one's temptation."
Indeed, and my part of the discussion is to point out the dangers of giving in to this temptation - that it is a very risky thing to use medication that is prescribed for someone else, both medically and legally. I'm not sure that the risks are being appreciated here.
I'd like to repeat my point that the unauthorised distribution of prescribed meds is one of the barriers to their being prescribed to those who need them. Dr A prescribes meds for Mr B; Mr B passes some onto Ms C; Ms C has a cardiac emergency because she has taken them without proper medical supervision; Mr B gets prosecuted for illegal supply of a class B drug; Dr A may be sued or face investigation from authorities for possible negligence. Lots of harm done, I would say.
I'd also note the that to promote the illegal use of any drug (and this _is_ illegal use being discussed here) probably violates the terms of service of these boards - I'd recommend a good read of them.
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Post by prunesquallor on Jun 19, 2013 19:06:12 GMT
I understand the temptation, but PLEASE do not do this. It is dangerous (never take medicine prescribed for someone else), it is illegal (Ritalin / methlyphenidate is a class B controlled drug, with the same legal status as cannabis; possession without a prescription is a a criminal offence), and the passing ("diversion") of controlled drugs to people they are not prescribed for is one of the reasons that it is so difficult to get a doctor to prescribe them to people who need them.
Do we want this to be a forum where the dangerous and illegal use of drugs is discussed and encouraged? I don't think that helps anyone.
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 18, 2013 18:25:52 GMT
Politically I'm in the centre, like Tony Benn.
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 18, 2013 18:10:48 GMT
I think meds are not a panacea because:-
- a) some people don't get much benefit from them. It's a matter of trial and error for each patient with each med
- b) many people with ADHD also have some other type of developmental or learning problem, which may be masked by the ADHD. So the meds may be very helpful with one's ADHD symptoms, but one may still need the other condition(s) to be dealt with
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 18, 2013 18:05:12 GMT
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "very intrusive sounding in my head".
If you mean that the sound can suddenly be felt as a pain sensation, like a sort of synaesthesia, then I haven't personally experienced this though I think some people do.
I was (as a child, probably from ages about 6 through to teens) very easily enraged by the sounds of certain people talking.
I see it now as a bit like this:- with ADHD life is like walking along a very narrow plank that requires all one's limited concentration to make progress along. Other people easily (but unintentionally) knock one off the tightrope with their distracting voices or remarks.
As a kid I wrongly blamed them. Now I see the problem was with my demon Adie. So apologies to anyone who knew me then.
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 14, 2013 23:35:32 GMT
Hi Michael;
Mostly I have taken Medikinet (i.e. generic MPH IR).
I did try branded Ritalin (also IR). Personally I didn't find it any better than the generic, though some people feel that there are differences they can feel between different brands.
I've never tried any XL formulations, so I don't know what these are like.
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 8, 2013 21:52:16 GMT
I think the simple answer is that peoples' responses vary a lot.
As you probably know, the procedure is to start on a very low dose (and many people get no benefit at this initial dose), and then to gradually increase it to find the dose that works best for the particular patient - i.e. the best compromise between benefits and side effects.
Speaking of my own experience, I have been taking methylphenidate for about a year. I'm still on quite a low dose (10mg x 3), which has been upped twice (started with 5mg). Increasing dose is often necessary to get the same effect (drug tolerance). That's a different discussion, perhaps. Just bear in mind that your response to the same dose can change over time.
With regard to your specific questions:-
Did you suddenly experience a fog lifting in the brain? - oh yes! The way I have described it is like this:- remember listening to AM radio late at night. You are trying to listen to one station, but others are continually breaking in. My thoughts are normally like this. Taking the meds turns down the volume of the distant radio stations, so that I can follow the programme I actually want.
Were you able to achieve things you had not be able to before? - yes. Much more able to stick with a task and finish it without getting sidetracked. If a problem is difficult, more able to persist with it until some progress is made. I'm also less clumsy.
Has it helped with relationships and in your work? - yes. More able to listen to people. Work less error prone.
Did you get promoted and/or get a raise for increased levels of performance? - sadly not yet, but I was struggling before DX and meds, and now am coping (and thinking constructively towards finding work I prefer).
Hope this helps!
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Post by prunesquallor on Mar 12, 2013 0:04:19 GMT
Thanks for this post. Glad you are doing well.
It really does help to identify the problem.
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Post by prunesquallor on Jan 15, 2013 23:46:02 GMT
Seconded
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Post by prunesquallor on Sept 11, 2012 22:28:55 GMT
I'd like to bump this thread, as I'm in a similar position to the original poster.
My GP has been happy to refer me to psychiatrists, but is then unwilling to prescribe MPH even with the psychiatrists' guidance. I would like to change GP for this reason, but obviously I don't want to walk into the same brick wall with another GP. I'm also wary of being labelled a "drug seeker" if I ask them outright.
So any ideas on how one does find GPs who are willing to do the shared care with psychiatrists?
(My area is Bracknell / Ascot / Wokingham - but the question is applicable to many areas I think).
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Post by prunesquallor on Aug 8, 2012 20:34:58 GMT
Hi Timbo;
now I've read it:-
It's good that you seem to have a supportive management. As well as blowing off steam, you should be able to ask them for more frequent feedback on how you are actually doing. Think about "accommodations" that could reasonably be provided. That you have "unknowingly" invented coping strategies is greatly to your credit - perhaps they can be a basis for showing your management what else you may need.
If you cannot remember mistakes you may have made, then you are likely to be overestimating them due to anxiety.
It's a tricky call whether to tell others in the company. I've not told any of my colleagues, though I suspect that there are a lot of people with assorted hidden disabilities in the workplace who would be relieved to be able to be open about them. FWIW I think it's may be bit early for you to do this in your situation.
5mg of MPH is a "starter dose" as far as I know, so I guess you are in the early stages of sorting out the best meds regime with your Dr. He/she should be able to help you find the best med and dosage over a few weeks or months - so I'd hang in there.
And you are not the "guy that fell apart" - you are the guy who faced up to a problem that many ignore in the hope that it will go away.
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Post by prunesquallor on Aug 8, 2012 20:13:10 GMT
Sorry Timbo - didn't see your last post before I posted (browser glitch?). Reading it now.
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Post by prunesquallor on Aug 8, 2012 20:09:47 GMT
Hi Timbo;
I agree with "don't beat yourself up"; the doubts you describe seem to be very common for people with ADHD;
1) What is your evidence that you are not doing well in your job? Is it feedback from your boss? Are you comparing yourself with colleagues? Are you able to ask your manager for feedback outside of formal appraisals? (Not always possible, I know). I think it is necessary to check the negative thoughts against reality as far as possible. Be careful to make fair comparisons - e.g. your performance compared to someone of similar experience rather than someone who has been in the job for years.
2) If the negative thoughts are not based in reality, then they are just thoughts. They cannot be suppressed but they can be allowed to flit through the mind and then pass. Just watch when they occur and let them go - described to me by a Buddhist as like watching the traffic from a road bridge. Don't be distressed that the thoughts occur, just move on to the next, which will probably be happier and more constructive. I used to be a chronic ruminator - still am sometimes - but it is possible to do this.
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Post by prunesquallor on Jul 24, 2012 22:02:09 GMT
Hi;
I am looking at Amazon and wondering if I should buy a couple of books.
The first one is on a list sent to me from the local NHS psychologist who did an assessment on me recently, so it might be some good (but "Driven to distraction" which I've not found helpful at all is also on the list):-
Mastering Your Adult ADHD: Workbook: A cognitive-behavioral treatment program: A Cognitive-behavioral Treatment Program : Client Workbook (Treatments That Work) Steven Safren (Author), Susan Sprich (Author), Carol Perlman (Author), Michael Otto (Author)
The second is:-
The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD: An 8-Step Program for Strengthening Attention, Managing Emotions, and Achieving Your Goals Dr. Lidia Zylowska
This looks a bit "alternative" for my taste (I've seen some really silly stuff on "mindfulness" passed as research) but I'd be interested if anyone has used this book and got some benefit;
Ideally I'd like some actual therapy from the NHS, but the local PCT can only manage to fund a clinic one day a week for a frequently disabling condition that affects 4% of the population. So not a priority then...
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Post by prunesquallor on May 20, 2012 9:40:21 GMT
The issue with shared care for my GP is that he does not feel able to prescribe methylphenidate, even with the specialist's advice - he says he does not have the experience. This is fair enough as he can't be expected to have experience of everything. But MPH is the med that is most likely to be prescribed at the start...
He is sympathetic though, and is happily referring me to someone in the NHS who likely will be able to take over the prescribing (though I've not got far enough yet to see how well that works...)
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Post by prunesquallor on May 13, 2012 22:38:37 GMT
My experience was that I didn't get a prescription right away as the Doc wanted a check on my blood pressure and ECG. Mph can aggravate existing cardiac problems and this was a sensible precaution iny case. So this is a reason for a slight delay, probably won't apply to most other people.
Monthly cost of mph depends of course on how much you need to take. this varies widely and needs to be established in consultation with the Dr in the first few weeks.
Sainsbury pharmacy had 30 x 10mg of generic mph at about £7. So hopefully a first prescription won't cost you £100.
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 22, 2012 8:21:19 GMT
Thanks both of you;
I'd hope that Ireland would be fairly straightforward, but it's best to be cautious I think.
Certainly I will keep it in its box with the prescribing labels.
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 21, 2012 20:48:48 GMT
Thanks, this is helpful.
Have you had officials ask you about meds in your luggage? Do they ask for any other documents ever? (I've had to give the original prescription to the pharmacist, of course).
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 21, 2012 20:26:03 GMT
I'm going to Ireland for a few days.
Has anyone experience of taking prescribed meds (methylphenidate specifically) through foreign customs? I believe there are some countries (Japan, Singapore) where it is is strictly illegal to take MPH or amphetamines in, even with your prescription.
I'm hoping Ireland is more straightforward.
I'll be calling the Irish embassy on Monday to try to get an official answer - but I'm wondering if anyone has actual experience of this.
Thanks.
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 21, 2012 20:18:29 GMT
Yes, but....
I have, in the course of dealing with ADHD before I was diagnosed, had to think about my life and others lives in unusual and, I hope, empathic and non-blaming ways. Having had a hidden disability myself, I am (I hope) more sensitive and sympathetic to the struggles of others..
I do wish I had been DXd earlier (round about 1970 would have been good), but I do feel this much at least has been of value to me. (And yes, most of it's impact on my life has been pretty disastrous).
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 21, 2012 20:06:37 GMT
"What about Bupa or something similar?"
With regard to BUPA, I would read any policy you have very carefully. In my case, my policy apparently does not cover me because:-
a) it does not cover treatment for ADHD (or other developmental disorders). When I pointed out that I was not asking for treatment but just the diagnosis to be funded, then apparently
b) my policy is for acute (i.e. short term) conditions only.
The outcome of my approaching them was just a lot of hassle for myself (and my GP), and the revealing of my personal information to people who I would rather not have had it.
I stumped up myself in the end.
Others' policies many be different, but do take care....
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 20, 2012 21:30:10 GMT
If you mean the assessment for a diagnosis, these seem to be in the region of £500-700. Some people have been successful with getting health insurance to pay or at least contribute.
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 20, 2012 21:02:36 GMT
"Could you say roughly how much it would cost to get the prescription if I have the psychologists diagnosis?"
Sainsburys pharmacy charged me £24.70 for 90 x 10mg of Medikinet (i.e. methylphenidate). This is my first months supply. Tesco pharmacy is apparently cheaper, but wanted a few days notice to get it in. Sainsburys had it in stock.
I think private psychs may charge to write the prescription - not sure of a balllpark price for this.
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 20, 2012 20:50:02 GMT
Hi;
thanks for the replies;
I'll check my policy doc, and ask Docs if they anticipate any driving problems.
P.
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 7, 2012 20:35:21 GMT
Hi;
My dx was only last month (ADHD PI).
I guess I am meant to notify my motor insurers. Does anyone have experience of this, and how they react?
Do they try to bung up the premiums?
(I'm in my 50's, and have been driving for over 30 years. My only "at fault" claim in all that time has been a very minor bump in a car park.)
I'm also thinking about travel insurance - though I think the usual approach is simply to exclude any claims caused by the condition that one declares.
Has anyone found particular insurers are that are especially ADHD friendly (or ADHD hostile?).
I'd be interested in anyone's experiences;
thanks,
P
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 2, 2012 19:57:36 GMT
Hi;
you have an interesting thought there. How to develop it?
Do you mean perhaps getting together with people in this situation for study groups, setting up a business, or something like a dating agency?
IMHO, there are things that happen in society that result in people who different being disabled (in the active sense that some peoples' behaviour excludes and disadvantages others). There's much to be gained by mutual assistance between those so disadvantaged.
P
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 1, 2012 21:17:01 GMT
self dx'd a couple of years ago. Formally dx'd last month at 53.
I think the recent radio 4 programme will prompt a number of middle aged people to seek diagnosis.
P
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Post by prunesquallor on Apr 1, 2012 21:06:17 GMT
hi; this is interesting, however if I understand the method used these are "diagnoses" from written descriptions of fictional patients. I don't know that any proper ADHD specialist diagnoses without meeting the patient (if i am wrong about this please say).
I wonder what might be the result if they watched videos of interviews with real kids? Obviously the patient's gender can't be blinded, but it each clinician would have the same input to work with.
regards
P
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