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Post by claudhopper on Jul 21, 2012 21:01:20 GMT
Jon. You sound just like me. I can go whole days without speaking to anyone (except my inner dialogue of course). I get distracted in conversations unless they really something which interests me and that is rarely the case for the other person.
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 19, 2012 17:57:58 GMT
Jon. I am in a similar position to you. I have just sent a complaint to my local PCT about a psychiatrist who didn't diagnose ADHD. The crux of my complaint (8 pages!) was that the shrink didn't test for ADHD, used a stupid assumption (that my 70s teachers would have spotted 'something') and he isn't a specialist. I quoted loads of NICE guidelines stuff. specifically: at page 132: 5.17.1.1 A diagnosis of ADHD should only be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD, on the basis of: ● a full clinical and psychosocial assessment of the person; this should include discussion about behaviour and symptoms in the different domains and settings of the person’s everyday life, and ● a full developmental and psychiatric history, and ● observer reports and assessment of the person’s mental state.
I suffer from permanent anxiety with red patches on both palms. I pointed this out to the psych who didn't respond at all. I am sure I have ADHD too and am not giving up. The continuous problems with non-specialist psychs reported in these forums has been a useful spur to keep up the pressure. Good luck ;D
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 19, 2012 17:46:23 GMT
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 18, 2012 21:44:11 GMT
This thread makes me hopeful of the meds... if the NHS ever get their act together
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 18, 2012 21:17:40 GMT
Getting really concerned about this now. I'm still waiting for my diagnosis so 'officially' I don't have it but I and my psychologist know I do. My lack of attention and focus is getting me in trouble at work, my supervisor keeps needing to have a 'sit down' with me about my performance. I've told him I think it's ADHD and he appears to sympathise but what is the legal standing if one of my ADHD-fuelled screw ups gets me looking at dismissal? I wish I knew about ADHD in my last job. I assumed I had an unusual form of depression and couldn't fit the type well enough. Tell them all you know about ADHD and they SHOULD have a meeting to see what reasonable adjustments they can make to accommodate you (this might include getting meds) They MIGHT wish to confirm that you have ADHD in which case you can insist that you see a specialist in ADHD to assess, in which case it could by-pass the NHS waiting and get meds quicker! In any event, insisting that you have ADHD should put enough doubt in their minds to get a medical opinion. If it is a typical crappy occupational therapist, point out the NICE guidelines which state that diagnosis should be made by a specialist. My life would be totally different if I had known about ADHD 4 years ago!
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 18, 2012 21:10:57 GMT
Are you registered with the Claims Management Regulator?
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 18, 2012 21:04:26 GMT
It isn't much to go on. Did they sack you for breaking work rules? Did you put others at risk? It is worth putting in a claim (it's still free at the moment) on the grounds that they didn't make reasonable adjustments for your ADHD ie your impulsiveness and claim that they went OTT and could have given you a written warning instead. remember you have 3 months to put the claim in (try not to procrastinate! ) here is the form: www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/forms/tribunals/employment/ET1.pdfAlso consider sending a disability discrimination questionnaire www.practicallaw.com/4-203-9089This is my specialist area, (and I'm not spamming) if you have any problems pm me.
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 15, 2012 19:51:48 GMT
Hotel? I've left all my keys in the front door I don't know how many times.
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 14, 2012 9:57:49 GMT
tidying? I have done it before but found it too boring to do for more than a few minutes. Before long I am so bored that ANYTHING will distract me eg: make a cuppa put the radio on cook go out read a scrap of paper sort things into piles but then once I get distracted I get distracted from the thing I got distracted with which usually leaves a mess and I'm back to square one.
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 13, 2012 23:27:20 GMT
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 8, 2012 15:37:18 GMT
I like the one by Jimoine on Live at the Apollo. (must be a candidate) "When there's 31 days in the month I have to wind the day forward manually. To do that I have to know how many days there are in the month. I go throough that poem 'thirty days hath September' etc. The trouble is I always have to go through it twice, because the first time I go through it, I wasn't listening to myself... www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b018ts97/Live_at_the_Apollo_Series_7_Episode_7/
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Post by claudhopper on Jul 8, 2012 15:32:24 GMT
I think the same case applies to me. The psych I saw seems not to have put his idea in historical context. Back in those days nobody considered it a proper condition because everything had to be an illness.
Do you see any similarity between ADHD traits and the appearance of bi polar? I don't have long term swings in mood and no euphoria, I might focus for a while and keenly start a project before giving up on it.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 27, 2012 21:37:40 GMT
No. I just wikied him. He wrote 'driven to distraction' which looks old from 1994 though. Got a link?
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 27, 2012 17:02:50 GMT
Thanks for the input with everyone. Just as an update. I went to my GP today, I was first in the queue at 8:30 She said she will write to Southampton Mental Health Authority saying that I will not be taking the drugs prescribed and want another assessment. She advised I phone them to say the same. I will write tomorrow (hopefully) and phone. I have an old primary school report which says I had poor reading, was easily distracted etc and I'll have to get that out of the loft for my next assessment. I'll also print off Russell Barclay's article and the NICE guidelines (thanks J@tt@) Thanks Shiny. I think the point is they simply didn't test for ADHD. I will point this out and state that he made is assessment of ADHD on non-clinical criteria (ie that a 1970s teacher would have referred me ffs I'm still spitting nails over this) That should set off a few alarm bells. Odat. That's interesting. Maybe I should go for the venlafaxine after all. Was this before Ritalin or at the same time? I'll have a read of the NICE guidelines and try and quote a few bits in my letter.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 26, 2012 18:24:46 GMT
thanks Dave and Shiny.
Shiny, did they do an IQ test on you? This guy did no test at all. He seemed to ask questions about my whole psychology in one hour: do I keep everything in place, do I count things, do I hear voices etc etc.
So perhaps go to my GP tomorrow and declare this psych a dick? I should have taken an old primary school report saying I was easily lead astry / distracted etc. I still can't get over his easy dismissal that they would have called in a psychologist in the 1970s.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 26, 2012 17:02:34 GMT
I just googled him he's Dr David Dayson a specialist in general adult psychiatry. I supose I'll have to give the two drugs a go for 8 weeks. I doubt they'll have any effect. There's a follow up appointment in Sept so that's when I tell him he's a dick? He didn't ask anything whatsoever about cognitive stuff and the questions gave me little chance to go into overdrive. He thought the fact that I got a good degree and passed the bar suggests I don't have much problem with 'sticking to something'. He didn't ask what it involved. His questions seemed to come off the top of his head, he forgot to ask about how much I drink. How do I go about getting a second opinion? I imagine my GP will just say I've had my quota of NHS.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 26, 2012 16:43:34 GMT
y rainymood.com - technically "brown noise" Brilliant! Bookmarked. How on earth did you find that site? ;D
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 26, 2012 15:34:56 GMT
Also he said procrastination and sleeplessness are symptomatic of depression too. He's putting me on avetiapine for sleep. He said periods of optimism are a result of possibly bi polar disorder. I put them down to having good ideas followed by despondency when they don't come to fruition. I don't think he knows much about ADHD.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 26, 2012 15:31:08 GMT
I just had my assessment at South AAT Southampton. The psychiatrist asked me questions on all sorts for an hour going through all the possibilities of ocd, psychosis etc. He says I have depression with possible slight bi polar disorder.
He said I can't have ADHD because.. get this.. it would have been picked up at school and I would have been referred to a psychologist. In the 1970's really? You need the 'longitudinal' studies he said. I have picked up loads from this site, the Wender Utah test, you tube, articles, bbc programmes and I'm sure I have it. His 'diagnosis' didn't look into any of the symptoms of ADHD apart from finding my 'ruminations' (his word not mine) being symptomatic of depression. So he's put me on 8 weeks of venoflaxin with a follow up in September. Looks like i'm fucked until I can afford to go private!
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 25, 2012 21:23:06 GMT
it's difficult. when i had exams i would read for a bit then do some tidying up, read a bit more, then wash up etc. break it up with other things. make sure they involve getting up from the desk though then when you finish (or get bored with) them you can just sit down. in other words make sure that the only thing you do at your desk is studying and everytime you get distracted it is something away from your desk. DO NOT WATCH TV OR PUT THE STEREO ON. Good luck
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 25, 2012 17:06:34 GMT
28 hours to go...starting to brick it now!! Seriously though, there can't be many (any?) other conditions that are so similar to ADHD that they might say I have? I've got my assessment tomorrow too. I've done the Wender Utah thing and score 61 so i'm sure I'm adhd. This forum confirms it every day anyway. I'm probably over confident if they say no I'll tell them to think again.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 25, 2012 16:01:57 GMT
I've been diagnosed as having disthymia but I think a lot of it is down to disappointment with my grand plans going to ground than my very nature. If my plans get off the ground I'm full of hope and socialising a lot more. Hopefully meds will do enough to get me moving again.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 25, 2012 15:59:58 GMT
I like interesting. I hate admin though and as soon as I've mastered an aspect of a job (been a lawyer for 12 years) it all gets a bit too adminy. I seriously need to change tack which is difficult in this day and my age. I want something that will be a constant change with people skills with as many parameters to take in at once.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 22, 2012 21:37:14 GMT
if they were so concerned with public well being you'd think they would have a you tube channel. I looked up Bose and Simply Wellbeing and found nought. There is some good stuff there though but there could be more.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 22, 2012 16:53:18 GMT
Well I have just left Dr Taylor's office with an official dx of add and prescription in hand. I'm a feeling somewhat shellshocked to be honest! Sent from my GT-I9100 using ProBoards Hey well done you! ;D Now we want a detailed description of how your meds make a difference..
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 18, 2012 21:15:02 GMT
Go to your GP. You will be told that there is no scheme for AADD in Southampton, I am in Southampton. I have got an assessment next week after a few months wait. Be prepared to 'sell' your symptoms because it is possible your GP doesn't know much about the condition.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 12, 2012 19:03:50 GMT
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 12, 2012 15:29:14 GMT
pd?
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 11, 2012 18:45:15 GMT
I had earache a few times as a kid and had that penicillin a few times.
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Post by claudhopper on Jun 11, 2012 18:41:51 GMT
I get the message... the meds only work partially
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