eonflux
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Post by eonflux on Jan 30, 2015 13:08:40 GMT
well both my GP and consultant are very happy with progress. the (hopefully) last sick note finished two days ago!
but planetdave, what strikes me is that they are not screening for dangers caused by illness or medication once they start asking you other things that may not be related. i used to have terrible issues with alcohol, but like yourself, i was very aware of my responsibilities to society and never once did both at the same time. my point/question is really that having disclosed, for example, that i drink eight cans of superbrew each night, may it then be a contributing factor to a disqualification, even though a report about my 'condition' provided by my consultant says nothing particularly bad?
if i drink excessively and it affects my abilities, i would expect my doctor to provide that information anyway and if i haven't informed my doctor i'm unlikely to inform the DVLA. i felt obliged to be honest because i am honest with my doctors and they could unknowingly reveal everything.
as far as cannabis goes, its a disappointment to see that there is no scope for ANY tolerance of such a well established and useful herb. when dealing with well understood strains and breeds it is entirely possible to use it with accuracy, i.e. known half life, stimulation or sedative, pain and digestive control etc. but thats another conversation really. i do also recognise many 'illicit drugs' are going to be detrimental to ones behaviour, when taken without knowledge or care.
i also agree with petra, i think i was an awful lot more impatient and aggressive before i took methylphenidate. i had a few problems when starting on it and gave driving a miss for a few weeks.
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eonflux
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Post by eonflux on Jan 29, 2015 14:57:08 GMT
this is a bit of an issue for me right now.
before i was prescribed the correct medication, my affairs were a mess. so no big deal really - business as usual! i had someone who was helping me sort things out. they were effectively my agent for a while. one of the many un-opened letters was the photocard expiry letter. mine was well and truly expired! i'm quite sure that being represented by an agent when dealing with driving licences could itself set off some alarm bells. anyway, my helper kindly explained that due to ADHD, the card had not been renewed. oops. the call was transferred to the medical department...
the extra problem for me is that both consultant and doctor know about cannabis use. i'm quite open about it but now having my concerns. this had its own field on the form - 'illicit drugs'. i'm assuming any use is considered abuse. i haven't been drinking heavily in over six months so the 'alcohol use/abuse' (i forgot to scan the form) box was left empty. so with alcohol, what could be considered abuse? who decides, consultant or DVLA? And then lets look at the effects of medication. I take it to improve my abilities - who doesn't? At what point is a consultant going to inform the DVLA the patient is currently on medication and NOT under control. Maybe at the start of treatment or after changing medication, but this would surely be a temporary phase. Even cough medication has advisories on side effects and consequences - which is down to the user to adhere to. The most important part to understand, is that the Road Traffic Act does not discriminate between illicit drugs, controlled or regular prescribed medication or OTC remedies. If you are stopped and deemed not fit to drive, you have committed an offence and will be dealt with by the law.
So what are the DVLA trying to do by suggesting they can predict you will not be fit to drive a vehicle if you are stopped. The DVLA are not the law.
In theory, surely the only valid opinion that they can use is the mental state of the patient at the time of asking the consultant. Condition under control, stable on meds, etc.
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eonflux
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Post by eonflux on Jan 29, 2015 13:12:02 GMT
oops. the written word always fails me! (unless i check it forever and a day before posting!). sorry, when I said I was pushing on with it - I did mean life. i can see from the numerous posts about similar subjects that its practically impossible. i suggested to one of the solicitors i spoke to that he shouldn't side step so much and simply say that it will be dealt with on a 'no win, no WAY' basis! its such a pity to hear of so many others who are suffering in this or a similar way. part of my self employed work will be to provide low cost technical support to people with health issues and low income. i also build websites - if i had the energy and ability, i would love to set up a framework of legal advice for mental health issues. Thanks for the names JJ (i don't think i can PM until im less of a newbie!), it shows that you have to go with quite a 'respected name' to believe you can achieve anything. there must be a few local solicitors who are in touch with mental health issues through personal circumstances, the kind of people who may even donate a little free time or advice. something else to put on the list of things to achieve! i'm glad to hear that you both (JJ and contrarymary) (kind of) won in the end but obviously they are not happy tales. sorry that you suffered further. the methylphenidate really has balanced my impulsive behaviour and makes me consider a lot more carefully. unfortunately, i think the atomoxetine burnt me out. that or the continuous supply of quetiapine. that never ending drive that i had before is gone now (and was before MPH). being up at the crack of dawn eager to work on some project or another is not an option now! i wish i'd discovered this forum a long time back. thanks folks...
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eonflux
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Post by eonflux on Jan 28, 2015 16:07:30 GMT
thanks for the opinions.
i'm actually just pushing on with it. it just that when finally discussing this with the head of HR of my ex-employer, she pointed out that I effectively lost my job (and chance of promotion), and fell into debt because of mis-handling of the whole affair. the medical report and letters about my progress are statements so its not about conversations we had, so much as the action that was taken. but it was just something i wanted to ask. it wasn't about a personal victory as much as money i need to get me back on an even keel.
onwards and upwards!
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eonflux
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Post by eonflux on Jan 27, 2015 20:30:41 GMT
hi folks...
is it worth my while pursuing any action against my wonderful ex-psychiatrist? from what I see, there is no support for such action. I've already been told I would need to provide a psychiatric report and prove I have funds to pay if I lose the case. But, no solicitor has bothered to listen to the complete saga and I don't know if that would make my case any stronger:
- private psychiatrist - doesn't appear to be an ADHD 'expert' - although I'm now checking his credentials - diagnosed ADHD in one visit despite diagnoses of Schizoid, BPD, Bipolar, Anxiety Disorder, etc - started immediately on atomoxetine (strattera) which is third line - not taken off quetiapine - which I now know supresses me severely - 4 weeks on 40mg a day - daily nausea - advised Dr but no change - increase to 80mg a day - felt like the duracell bunny - advised Dr i had 'loads' of energy - started to feel organised and that I could achieve everything - repeatedly told Dr, despite taking medication at 6 am no effect til noon (quetiapine?) - became detached from my feelings, humour, passion - but i didn't understand this at the time - initial good feelings from medication started to subside - extreme caffeine use/abuse began - told Dr I was drinking 'a lot' of coffee - cannabis use increased from practically zero - told Dr this - told Dr i was opening Atomoxetine capsules to increase effects - uttered something about the GMC! - Dr wrote a medical report to my company as per their request - this was COMPLETELY flawed - Dr was forced to re-write medical report - which almost contradicted the first - told Dr sleeping patterns were pretty poor - I now know i was going to bed buzzing - i started to become paranoid and obsessive - i felt like everything was fine at the time - i had lost a lot of weight. i also don't remember any blood pressure tests - Company now asks Dr if I can attend a meeting - I definitely didn't say yes - I became extremely obsessed with my gender - and changing it...... - went to Dr and got a gender dysphoria diagnosis - i think i said anything that i needed to get it - Dr asked only half fee for consultation (paid in cash) and discharges me back to GP .... at some point or another after a bout of bad depression for a few days, when I hadn't consumed coffee or cannabis, the cycle finally broke. i stopped taking atomoxetine. I lost my job. it seems as though the Dr was telling them I was fine for a meeting all along (I'm now asking for all records from both ex-company and Dr). I wonder did he know i was terribly messed up and just 'got rid of me'? for the record, i have always had some low level issues with my body, but had never sought help or attempted to change gender ever in my life. its likely it could have been a bizzare form of body dismorphic disorder. i've suffered considerable distress as a result of the issues that unfolded.
i'm now on MPH and doing fairly well (thanks!) - and looking to do some part time work while developing my own business... should i just move on?
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