jessstar
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 1
|
Post by jessstar on Sept 30, 2020 16:35:03 GMT
Hi I am wondering if anybody can help me. I am currently on a waiting list to see an NHS psychiatrist for official diagnosis after having an assessment with the same nhs service. The waiting list is currently a 12 month wait. As my symptoms are impacting my life massively especially my education at university. (I have already taken a suspended 1 year break halfway through my 3 year course due to low grades and being unable to cope). I have started university again on the same course picking up where I left off and have had an incredibly difficult first week. Due to this I desperately decided to book a private ADHD assessment. At the end of said assessment which was around 5 open ended questions long I was told that I have symptoms of ADHD but I don't have ADHD as I don't have substance abuse issues, can read books, I can hyper-focus on things that interest me and I am too high functioning as I didn't drop out of primary or high school (although I have not been able to work or go to university for the past year). My girlfriend who is a mental health nurse was confused by the assessment (she was with me) and its results. This morning I contacted the NHS ADHD services as I was incredibly confused and they confirmed that during my initial assessment I scored quite high in regards to having ADHD and was told that my appointment I am waiting for is for medication and an official diagnosis. I am now constantly doubting myself in regards to even having ADHD at all and I am wondering if not having substance abuse issues, being able to read and hyper focusing on things that are interesting and not dropping out of primary or high school are good enough reasons to deny somebody a diagnosis or should I accept what has been said and stop my diagnosis journey here?
|
|
lupin
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 8
|
Post by lupin on Oct 6, 2020 8:44:35 GMT
Hi I am wondering if anybody can help me. I am currently on a waiting list to see an NHS psychiatrist for official diagnosis after having an assessment with the same nhs service. The waiting list is currently a 12 month wait. As my symptoms are impacting my life massively especially my education at university. (I have already taken a suspended 1 year break halfway through my 3 year course due to low grades and being unable to cope). I have started university again on the same course picking up where I left off and have had an incredibly difficult first week. Due to this I desperately decided to book a private ADHD assessment. At the end of said assessment which was around 5 open ended questions long I was told that I have symptoms of ADHD but I don't have ADHD as I don't have substance abuse issues, can read books, I can hyper-focus on things that interest me and I am too high functioning as I didn't drop out of primary or high school (although I have not been able to work or go to university for the past year). My girlfriend who is a mental health nurse was confused by the assessment (she was with me) and its results. This morning I contacted the NHS ADHD services as I was incredibly confused and they confirmed that during my initial assessment I scored quite high in regards to having ADHD and was told that my appointment I am waiting for is for medication and an official diagnosis. I am now constantly doubting myself in regards to even having ADHD at all and I am wondering if not having substance abuse issues, being able to read and hyper focusing on things that are interesting and not dropping out of primary or high school are good enough reasons to deny somebody a diagnosis or should I accept what has been said and stop my diagnosis journey here? Hi Jessstar! Oh this sounds just like what I went through for years! I love reading books that interest me and have been told I can’t be adhd as I can read. I was told by one doctor about 12 years ago that I couldn’t have adhd as I went to school and had a job. I had a job yes but was hanging on to it by a thread because I kept making stupid mistakes and general disorganisation (same as in every other job I have had). Didn’t learn anything in school due to lack of concentration and daydreaming. My mum told me that in primary school my teacher used put me in a corner with colouring pens and book because she didn’t know what to do with me. Told the doctor all this but he brushed me off and laughed at me. Awful. So I can empathise with you. I know one of the symptoms is hyper focusing is a symptom when engaging in activities you enjoy. For me it is reading. Saying that though I do struggle to remember what I have read sometimes! I haven’t got an addiction to illegal substances either. Not everyone suffers from the hyperactivity side of adhd either and there is now more awareness of this. I hope it goes well with your appointment for diagnosis. If you are not happy with the outcome of the appointment ask for a second opinion. I went through a period worrying that I might be imagining my symptoms. I think there are many people who feel like that. I had to keep telling myself that if what is happening in my head is affecting my daily life then it is real. Wishing you all the best.
|
|
|
Post by Easily_distrac on Oct 25, 2020 13:32:25 GMT
ADHD is on a scale and the NHS has limited resource, they have no choice but to focus on the worst cases. My son and I have diagnosis and we can both read , admittedly with a struggle and admittedly we both avoid it. Schools typically wouldn't statement unless a child is way behind (mainly due to cost). If the NHS accepts private diagnosis (not sure they do), maybe that's your way to medication ? The NHS tends to use non confrontational ways of blocking access , like 12 month waiting list you never get to the end off. My partner works in the NHS and they get plenty of confrontation as it is. There just isn't the money and it's expected to get much worse.
|
|
|
Post by Harrison on Nov 25, 2020 15:26:13 GMT
My advice is to stay on the NHS waiting list. I would tell people not to bother wasting their time and money on private appointments, and that like any other profession, there are good and not so good doctors/psychiatrists. Some treat the DSM like a Bible, others like a guide. I was told by the NHS mental health nurse who was one of the people I saw, that NHS doctors often don't accept private diagnoses for ADHD, and that you'll probably have to go on the NHS waiting list anyway.
The psychiatrist you saw doesn't seem very experienced. You can absolutely have untreated ADHD if you can read, get through school, and even Masters degree university. I did. NHS Psychiatrists who specialise in ADHD are the way to go.
It sucks you're in the middle of university as that really ramps up the sense of urgency. Take some small comfort in knowing there were, are, and will be many more who are in the same position.
Good luck
|
|
ruth683
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 1
|
Post by ruth683 on Aug 10, 2022 19:15:03 GMT
Hi! I'm a 51 year old woman and, unfortunately, I DO have substance abuse issues. I am just starting to explore the possibility of undiagnosed ADHD but, when I mentioned the idea in a psychological assessment recently, I was told I couldn't have ADHD as I have a PhD. Furthermore, he did not ask me anything about why I may have thought ADHD might be an issue. Thankfully, with encouragement from a friend who first suggested the possibility, this did not put me off further research. As I understand it, having a PhD in no way precludes having ADHD and it angers me that such an important issue can be dismissed in this way by a mental health professional who was clearly uninformed on the topic. Anyway, I am now trying to get my GP to refer me for an ADHD assessment but I'm being fobbed off and, again, not being asked why I want this and what symptoms I've been experiencing. I've been told that, since I'm on a waiting list for another psychological assessment, they will be best placed to assess whether an ADHD assessment is warranted. Despite telling them, in all honesty, that I don't know how much longer I can continue without help and that I have increasingly thought about killing myself, I just have to wait however many months for the assessment and then, if they deem it appropriate, however many more months for the ADHD assessment. Well, I suppose leaving people to commit suicide or overdose on drugs is one way of reducing their waiting lists!
|
|
|
Post by Rossall on Aug 10, 2022 19:24:45 GMT
Hang in there, try another GP if necessary. It took me 14 years of trying to get a diagnosis. (I'm also 51 and in my case the drug is alcohol) I have a diploma in electronics and used to work as an engineer but that didn't stop me getting a diagnosis and meds eventually.
|
|