jj11
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Post by jj11 on Oct 18, 2016 17:39:01 GMT
Hello Addymama
you sound like my twin! Lol. Im 52 and was diagnosed in August.
I lost my job this year just prior to diagnosis, so I am coming to terms with the implications of ADHD on my whole career. I think that problems at work were the catalyst for me badgering my GP. I had mentioned it previously but I was in such an emotional,state (classic adhd) that she referred for assessment. Once she referred the process and diagnosis happened quite quickly.
I think that one of the things I have realised, is that the level of distress associated with adhd problems, ie losing keys, memory problems, hyper-sensitivity is not mirrored by those without adhd. And am SO fed up with people saying to me 'oh, I think I have that,' folllowed by laughter. It is,distressing and there is a feeling that something is not quite right.
Btw, i had 4 children - interesting study potential re female add'ers and family size! I lost my job this year just prior to diagnosis, so I am coming to terms with the implications of ADHD on my whole career.
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Oct 18, 2016 17:27:39 GMT
What a palava. I managed to get two weeks prescription from GP but realised they have only given me one weeks because I'm on 36mg. They won't prescribe again. What a mess. I have the clinical commisioning group involved. I feel such frustration over this. Still coming to terms with the diagnosis, still full of regrets at ' what might have been', I just wish this could be a simple process. I did read that GPs only need a licence for children but I'm not sure.
Still, musnt give up...
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Oct 18, 2016 17:17:45 GMT
I'm with you all the way. I think there is a nasty, self-serving undercurrent in Society. Maybe it's up to us Add'ers to shake things up!
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Oct 7, 2016 20:20:06 GMT
My local adhd prescriber has retired. The London clinic said they will ask the GP to prescribe. GP's have 'discussed' and won't do it till they get guidelines- although they have done before. Clinic said the GPS will prescribe, that they know this and have been asked to prescribe.
Why can't the professionals sort this out between themselves? So, 6.30 on Friday night the doctors receptionist is saying she is very sorry, but I cannot get my Concerta and it will not be prescribed. Three days after I requested. I am fuming. Taking this medication was a 'big deal' for me and I'm still in tritation process.
My concern is that when there was a delay getting prescription before, my emotions were all over the place and I was so on the edge. ðŸ˜
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Sept 26, 2016 6:46:28 GMT
I've just got the Pip form. Thinking about it!
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Sept 26, 2016 6:34:30 GMT
Hi benji0301 If you consider yourself to be disabled by your ADHD, then you are. If you tell your employer, they are required to make any 'reasonable adjustments' to make things easier ie. Frequent short breaks, a quiet workspace, more time etc. . if you need it (you might not, depending on your job) You are protected under disability employment laws . .ie they can't sack you just because you have ADHD, but you must be able to do the job with reasonable adjustments. There's a fair bit of information in recent threads about this.
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Sept 16, 2016 19:21:52 GMT
Hi there.
Having ost ost my job I am suffering the inequities of the benefit system. If you are not working but have done so for the past year, I think you can claim contribution based ESA. This is not affected by any other income coming in to the house. There is also the Personal Independence Payment which replaces the disability living allowance. Students are entitled to additional support too.
Hope that helps
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Sept 15, 2016 19:24:28 GMT
Thanks for replying. I too have been a single mum but I find it harder now on my own! We are, after all, Sociable creatures. I also have an auto-immune disease which means what I can do is limited as I suffer from fatigue. I was hoping medication ie stimulant would help this but sadly it hasn't. I got 'let go' from my last job and didn't pass my extended probation period. It was gutting. However, I can look back and see a pattern. I struggled and suffered stress a lot which was not helped by ADHD. Anyway, feeling a bit better now😊
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Sept 14, 2016 15:23:56 GMT
I know this is an old post but perhaps someone might be interested. I had an esa assessment today. The nurse had no idea about adhd. When I brought out the meds she said, 'Ritalin, isn't that supposed to calm you down. I was not able to answer questions about my physical health timescales. I find time hard to measure and think about. She rushed me and I didn't give me time to formulate my responses. A I felt so awful after this I sobbed all the way home and had an emotional crisis.
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Post by jj11 on Sept 13, 2016 21:24:14 GMT
Hi there. IM on Concerta 36mg and working up to find the right level. I think it's not just the diagnosis, it's not working too. Suddenly going from wages to benefit takes some doing. Who can survive on£70 a week! I'm trying to get early retirement so maybe things will pick up. Feeling better today. Thanks for replying!
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Post by jj11 on Sept 12, 2016 21:24:52 GMT
I was much too far out all my life And not waving but drowning.Stevie Smith Today was one of those days when everything seems to come crashing down. The pressure of having complaints about two separate doctors ongoing, struggling to navigate the savage DWP system, living on a pittance, being fined for making an honest mistake about medical benefits and still battling to get a diagnosis got the better of me. I ended up bursting into tears whilst calling the MIND phone line. It probably didn't help that I had already been hanging on for over 45 minutes to try to speak to someone at their Legal Helpline. I didn't get through in the end, so just called the general MIND line. The person I spoke to was very sympathetic, but suggested I might try seeking Legal Aid. No chance of that after government cuts. I need to know what my rights are if I don't pay the private psychiatrist who didn't assess me properly for ADHD and against whom I have an open complaint with the GMC. Complaining about two separate doctors (one NHS and one private) continues to be a source of huge psychological pressure and drains my energy. It feels hopeless - from the outset the odds are stacked in favour of the professional and against the patient; especially if the patient is being seen for a condition that is grouped with mental health problems. When writing my letters, I choose my words carefully; each episode recounted in detail. The argument is clear and reasonable, but I might as well shout at a brick wall. This morning I went with my husband to see the Citizen's Advice Bureau about our benefits eligibility. It turns out that we should be claiming more help. I should have been exempt from NHS charges back in February when I unwittingly claimed a free dental check-up without having filled in form HC1. I am currently on contributions-based ESA and didn't know that you needed to complete a means-test form to get an exemption certificate. There are yet more forms to fill in. I am now looking into whether I may be able to claim PIP, but scanning the form it looks as though the same person who wrote the indicators for ESA must have written the ones for PIP. The questions are not appropriate for assessment of the impact of something like ADHD or, for that matter, many types of mental health conditions. I definitely need some help from somebody who knows how to navigate this type of form. Hence the call to MIND to ask about advocacy. Waiting on hold and watching the clock - "all our operators are busy at the moment..." Someone from my local branch of MIND is going to call me back. It seems that being unemployable is a full time job. Today's post brought a copy letter to my GP from the NHS psychologist I saw twice recently. I had explained everything to her and think she understood. However, I was a little disappointed at the wording of her letter: " I have met with Mrs G twice for the purpose of trying to listen to her and help her towards thinking about herself and her difficulties, which to some degree I think she was able to. Given that she strongly feels and has researched that she has not been adequately assessed for Adult ADHD, I was unable to complete an assessment for psychotherapy."Quite non-committal on her part, I think. The bit about "thinking about herself and her difficulties" is ironic. I sometimes wish I could bloody well think about something else! Well, at least she didn't say that she thought I was utterly barking. I feel angry with myself for allowing 'them' space in my head and letting it overwhelm me. Sometimes it does feel like a very lonely struggle, but giving up is not an option. Teary outburst has caused mascara to run, leaving me with an effect somewhere between Alice Cooper and disappointed panda. Gonna go and fix the warpaint and get ready for the next battle.
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Sept 12, 2016 21:24:29 GMT
I was much too far out all my life And not waving but drowning.Stevie Smith Today was one of those days when everything seems to come crashing down. The pressure of having complaints about two separate doctors ongoing, struggling to navigate the savage DWP system, living on a pittance, being fined for making an honest mistake about medical benefits and still battling to get a diagnosis got the better of me. I ended up bursting into tears whilst calling the MIND phone line. It probably didn't help that I had already been hanging on for over 45 minutes to try to speak to someone at their Legal Helpline. I didn't get through in the end, so just called the general MIND line. The person I spoke to was very sympathetic, but suggested I might try seeking Legal Aid. No chance of that after government cuts. I need to know what my rights are if I don't pay the private psychiatrist who didn't assess me properly for ADHD and against whom I have an open complaint with the GMC. Complaining about two separate doctors (one NHS and one private) continues to be a source of huge psychological pressure and drains my energy. It feels hopeless - from the outset the odds are stacked in favour of the professional and against the patient; especially if the patient is being seen for a condition that is grouped with mental health problems. When writing my letters, I choose my words carefully; each episode recounted in detail. The argument is clear and reasonable, but I might as well shout at a brick wall. This morning I went with my husband to see the Citizen's Advice Bureau about our benefits eligibility. It turns out that we should be claiming more help. I should have been exempt from NHS charges back in February when I unwittingly claimed a free dental check-up without having filled in form HC1. I am currently on contributions-based ESA and didn't know that you needed to complete a means-test form to get an exemption certificate. There are yet more forms to fill in. I am now looking into whether I may be able to claim PIP, but scanning the form it looks as though the same person who wrote the indicators for ESA must have written the ones for PIP. The questions are not appropriate for assessment of the impact of something like ADHD or, for that matter, many types of mental health conditions. I definitely need some help from somebody who knows how to navigate this type of form. Hence the call to MIND to ask about advocacy. Waiting on hold and watching the clock - "all our operators are busy at the moment..." Someone from my local branch of MIND is going to call me back. It seems that being unemployable is a full time job. Today's post brought a copy letter to my GP from the NHS psychologist I saw twice recently. I had explained everything to her and think she understood. However, I was a little disappointed at the wording of her letter: " I have met with Mrs G twice for the purpose of trying to listen to her and help her towards thinking about herself and her difficulties, which to some degree I think she was able to. Given that she strongly feels and has researched that she has not been adequately assessed for Adult ADHD, I was unable to complete an assessment for psychotherapy."Quite non-committal on her part, I think. The bit about "thinking about herself and her difficulties" is ironic. I sometimes wish I could bloody well think about something else! Well, at least she didn't say that she thought I was utterly barking. I feel angry with myself for allowing 'them' space in my head and letting it overwhelm me. Sometimes it does feel like a very lonely struggle, but giving up is not an option. Teary outburst has caused mascara to run, leaving me with an effect somewhere between Alice Cooper and disappointed panda. Gonna go and fix the warpaint and get ready for the next battle.
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Sept 12, 2016 19:52:21 GMT
I'm 52, single mother of four after my divorce 15 years ago and until recently used to be a professional. Just started two weeks of Concerta tritation. I've read so much about ADHD and I have cried because so much now makes sense. Since I can remember ive had every label, from careless, lazy and impulsive to disorganised, scatty and a 'nightmare'. The sense that something is not quite right led me to so much. Every self-help book on the market, therapies, alternative medicine fend shui, astrology etc etc. I feel so regretful and somewhat bitter at how things have turned out
i feel quite isolated atm. Lonely and sad. Skint and worried. Does it get better? I feel emotionally calmer now but there seems to be so much to come to terms with not least the sense of identity. Is this common?
Would really appreciate some comments xx
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Sept 12, 2016 19:34:12 GMT
I too am familiar with the world service!
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Post by jj11 on Sept 12, 2016 19:33:39 GMT
That's exactly what happened with the psych on Friday. . He wants to treat my depression and 'emotional instability' (which he doesn't believe have anything to do with ADHD) And while I was really wanting to be asleep in bed last night. . around 2.30am. . There was a programme on the World Service about the history of Ritalin : Ritalin
Which I think you'll find interesting marionk . . It's only 9 minutes long and is mainly positive although it talks about over diagnosis of ADHD in American children . . and the possible reason why. . Cold War anyone?
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Aug 30, 2016 19:59:58 GMT
I feel that meds are 'not enough' and want to take part in the psycho-education and cbt that are offered in London. Has anyone had experience of Approaching the clinical commisioning board (mine is East Kent).
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Aug 30, 2016 19:55:36 GMT
Hi there all. Ive just asked for the PIP form. I feel ambivalent about this because I've worked so hard but work couldn't accommodate me and I was asked to leave after not passing my probation. I have no idea how this will play out but happy to compare notes
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Aug 30, 2016 19:55:10 GMT
Hi there all. Ive just asked for the PIP form. I feel ambivalent about this because I've worked so hard but work couldn't accommodate me and I was asked to leave after not come,eating my probation. I have no idea how this will play out but happy to compare notes
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Aug 30, 2016 19:47:06 GMT
Thank you. I'm still adjusting to this and am not sure how I feel about it all
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jj11
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Post by jj11 on Aug 30, 2016 4:32:15 GMT
Newly diagnosed at 52 I have recently diagnosed with the ' inattentive' type ADHD. The impact has been profound and I am reading all I can to make sense of my life story. I'm not stupid, lazy or careless. There is context to Impetuous and risky behaviours. I've come to terms with the loss of my professional life (I think) and have a feeling of starting anew. It was difficulty in work that prompted an assessment. Trying to explain to people about this condition has been hard. Most often people will say 'oh, I have that' when trying to explain how I lose things, forget things and get muddled. There is no sense of the emotional,distress caused that it is not 'just losing my glasses' but a deep and frustrating 'lack' I took my first Ritalin today. For the first time in years I have been able to speak. I have been able to articulate what I could think but not convey.
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