crunchie
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Post by crunchie on Mar 1, 2020 18:08:07 GMT
Hi, I am a 50 yo man. I have been attending Glasgow Mental Health services seeing several locum and junior Psychiatrists and a psychologist for the past two years. Originally referred with short term memory problems. First Dr I saw immediately suggested I had ADHD and was started on the standard assessment tests and interviews. During my own research and listening to others with ADHD, I fit the profile to a T, having issues with focus impulsiveness and daydreaming from early school age. I even have my old report cards to verify this. SO back to the psych assessments and every Dr I saw was increasingly unsure I had ADHD because my ability to hyperfocus on tasks I enjoy (it quietens my maelstrom of a mind when I do) I was given Concerta as a diagnostic tool and this med has made a vast improvement in my ability to function productively. I have recently moved outwith the Glasgow Health Board area and I was told my case was going to be transferred to my new area. Just received a letter from the lead Dr, Consultant who tells me it is Highly unlikely I have adult ADHD and has discharged my case AND withdrawn the medication despite acknowledging the positive effect on me (he went on to say that everybody, ADHD or not would have a positive effect on alertness etc)... well Duh, it is a stimulant!!!. easily Strange.....I fit the profile, I "passed" the tests for ADHD I have a vast improvement via meds but this professional pretty much says I dont have ADHD. No further information was given as to what my condition might be or what I can do as a next step. "Thanks for attending. You don't have what you think you have now ** off"
My question is this. Am I alone in this type of healthcare experience or is it difficult to get a diagnosis as an older adult?
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Post by speedy1 on Mar 3, 2020 20:34:54 GMT
Dude that's harsh they totally give u the impression that they think u r lying or something
Although I bet they wouldn't dare say that 2 your face
That's why I hate seeing any supposed healthcare professionals they make your blood boil
My gp didn't know that ADHD existed in adults
So that kinda made it hard 2 get a referral
Turned out I couldn't get a referral 2 a specialist anyway coz there aren't any in my area
So went private
I can hyperfocus on things I enjoy all day long it's tearing me away that's the problem
It does seem that some drs don't believe ADHD is real
I'd ask 2 c another consultant
trouble is do they all stick together each 1 not wanting 2 undermine the other?
Good luck with your next steps if u need 2 vent about how crap doctors r I'm right here
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crunchie
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Post by crunchie on Mar 4, 2020 11:24:16 GMT
Hello Speedy1. Thanks for your reply. May I ask, have you been Diagnosed? The hyperfocus is the thing that caused so much confusion amongst the many Dr's I saw.....Their opinion is that you cannot be hyperactive and be able to hyperfocus. The first Psychiatrist I saw immediately picked up that I had signs of ADHD but said that strangely Hyperfocusing was a female trait !!! It's such a pity that the standard of mental healthcare within the NHS is so sketchy and any dealings are drawn out over such a prolonged time. I have just been to see my new GP who has now referred me for an urgent second opinion which hopefully I should get in 12-18 weeks. 3-4 months back to struggling without meds !!!! At least the GP sided with me on the way I was unceremoniously dumped... I mean discharged by letter without any explanation or right to reply. Definately a cop-out by the Consultant. I am currently writing a document for my next assessment, outlining in great detail how ADHD affects each aspect of my life.That way no stone will be left unturned. I think a lot of the issues getting a diagnosis was I was answering "No Problem" or "Normal" to many of the diagnostic questions, and to be fair these answers are largely correct so it leads to a path away from ADHD. However I was factoring in that I have developed coping strategies over the years whit to my perception makes things No Problem or Normal. Yeah, normal for me, but compared to others, actually abnormal. "Difficulty in communicating and writing"....No Problem....except so far this message has taken me 20 minutes to compose.....but that's normal for me and I AM after all communicating and getting my thoughts across. I am also getting a copy of all my records with a view to making a complaint against the process I went through, she quality of the Doctors that I saw and the timescale. 1 hour consult every 4 months. That should have been done quicker. Here's an idea. As I encountered so many differing opinions with the 5 Doctors I saw as to the nature or even existence of ADHD, surely NHS staff should have to comply with an NHS standard of thinking regardless of personal ideas Anyway, now at 35 mins to write this, life calls. Feel free to ask me anything and share experiences or tips. Maybe we need to form an ADHD trade union LOL
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2020 9:40:50 GMT
It's basic biology, lol?
In the body, enzymes control everything. Prefrontal dopamine expiry is controlled by the COMT enzyme.
In the spirit of, 'The lord giveth and the lord taketh away...' those cursed with ADHD are sometimes blessed with a slight compensatory mechanism of slower prefrontal dopamine expiry via the 'COMT worrier' mutation (amongst others).
This just means that, occasionally, we get to deep dive highly novel (novel to us, at the time) subjects.
ADHD continues to bitch slap us at every turn, even if it appears otherwise.
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crunchie
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Post by crunchie on Mar 5, 2020 14:33:00 GMT
Thank you Boost. Yeah, the deep diving into subjects is something one of the Psychiatrists I saw, had difficulty with. He couldn't quite grasp hyperactive & hyperfocus co-existing. I remenber him asking about my concentration on things I like and me telling him I considered myself an expert in my work as a sculptor and the couple of other subjects that "hook" me but average at best at everything else. His reply was that "was a very bold statement" one step short of calling me arrogant. (I'm not, it's just a statement of fact). I don't know if anyone else is the same, but I find if I am "into" something, then I totally immerse myself as I find the maelstrom of thoughts in my mind quietens down and it is a nice relaxing feeling. I suppose it is the case with everyone to an extent but it is quite profound to have a quiet mind sometimes. Question.....is Hyperfocus in ADHD a learned coping strategy or is it more to do with the brain's wiring or chemistry?
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Post by speedy1 on Mar 7, 2020 19:47:26 GMT
I sometimes liken my brain 2 that of a dog
Without something 2 focus on it's here there and everywhere just chasing anything that moves
Give them a ball and that's all they focus on
They'll literally run through brambles and jump into lakes 2 get the ball
With very little thought of consequence.
That 2 me is hyperfocus
We get so engrossed in what we're doing we can 4get 2 eat
we'll still be playing on our phones til the early hours of the morning even though we've gotta be at work in a few hours.
I wonder what kind of Dog I'd be?
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Post by Symdude on Mar 8, 2020 23:38:24 GMT
Hallo. If your responding positively to the medication then you should persue other lines of enquiry-away from the doc who has rejected you already. The whole thing is extremely complex and the opinion of one person cannot be relied upon. Are there other practices where you can get a second opinion? Until you find the response your looking for consider a clandestine route. We live in a barbaric world where even doctors are still scratching the surface. Do your own research and find a way.
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crunchie
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Post by crunchie on Mar 18, 2020 12:33:23 GMT
Thanks all for your responses. I've been to see my GP with a letter giving all the reasons I am requesting a second opinion. He agreed that I have a strong case for referral so that is what he has done. I should get an appointment within 18 weeks and I'll set the ball rolling again with a new Mental health team. A letter of complaint against my original consultant and how he discharged me with no discussion or plan for the future, will be on it's way too.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how, in the meantime, I could get hold of a prescription for Concerta without a psychiatrists say so. THere must be loopholes that my GP could use to reinstate my prescription.
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