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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2010 12:52:05 GMT
>:(Dear Forum, Looking for some advice? I am a 40 year old male just diagnosed with ADHD combined who resides in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland . Gordon Brown (ADHD Direct) carried out my assessment and sent over the details of my results to my GP. I received an invitation to pop in to the practice expecting to start discussion on right medications, basically the way forward etc. Unfortunately that was not the case, his remarks started out positively, thorough assessment, thanks for taking the initiative but we do not have NHS provision for adult ADHD in South Lanarkshire, and these drugs are expensive drugs i.e austerity measures and can the practice afford it. You will have to wait up to 8 weeks for further assessment and the NHS in South Lanarkshire will then decide if its is prepared to fund medications for you. So, do I have to accept this, is there an alternative route, is he wrong, and what right if any do I have to challenge NHS South Lanarkshire if no funding is available or denied? I understand things take time, what I do not understand is the need for further assessment and funding considerations you either need help or you do not, and why the post code lottery. And if I am being honest I felt my GP was almost put out about the fact that I had got this diagnosis without his approval, despite telling him continually over the years I felt I had ADHD and his usual response you cant get it as an adult being the usual reply (but what if it was not diagnosed as a child!!!). Nonetheless, he has always been happy to hand out Prozac like sweeties, telling me it is depression not ADHD. Prozac may help with a reduction of anxiety, but does not help the underlying neurological condition. I am said to be a high functioning adult with ADHD having recently achieved academic success, MSc and an MBA despite leaving school with no qualifications. I was also a successful entrepreneur having never worked for an employer until the recession put an end to that , but nonetheless I feel everyday is like running up hill with a 400lb rucksack on my back, especially as I now need to adapt to environments not complimentary to ADHD such as the demands of working for an employer which I imagine would be just like keeping up at university etc. I will keep that for another thread as it absolutely terrifies me the thought of being found out by potential employers. To the point, I understand medication is not for everyone, but surely I have a right to improve my quality of life from what can be a debilitating neurological condition and more importantly I owe it to my wife and kids, ADHD effects the whole family. Your help and comments would be greatly appreciated. Craig
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2010 13:04:14 GMT
Hi Craig and welcome The standard drugs are dirt cheap (methylphenidate is out of patent) and don't get anywhere near scratching the HRQOL ceiling. The NHS is just like an insurance company - never accept their first offer - make noise, be awkward and make it obvious that it'll cost them more to fight you than fund you. Get yourself to the support group meetings in Glasgow - meeting other ADHDers is amazing (link to this group in the signature under my post)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2010 13:36:02 GMT
Thanks Planetdave,
I will visit the group on the 12th Feb 2011, Costa Coffee. The invaluable advice you have given has been taken on board, just a bit pissed off with that GP in terms attitude and lack of pragmatism.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2010 14:06:35 GMT
Don't get me started on GPs!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2010 15:20:07 GMT
Hi hunter,
Funnily enough I was born in nearby Bellshill when my parents lived in East Kilbride;). Good luck with the GP. I have been saving up a potential legal case against mine even before the diagnosis about other things. This will be swiftly prosecuted should I have hassle from mine. My experience of GPs has been shockingly bad too. Too many of them really don't appear to GAS unless you are literally about to expire in their surgery.
Cheers,
jah
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2010 18:00:07 GMT
The area's a hotbed! We have a former member (madscot - started the support group then emigrated to Spain to avoid the celebrity ) from Bellshill and last night I was in Newarthill gracing the country with my presence Will the coincidences ever end? yes - ed
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2010 18:05:34 GMT
madscot? I reckon I could give him a run for his money;). Must be something in the water;). Rikki Fulton must've been on to something after all;). Wouldn't mind retiring to Spain myself!
jah
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2010 18:10:21 GMT
Water? Who are you kidding. Tonic wine
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Post by kakema on Dec 23, 2010 22:55:57 GMT
>:(Dear Forum, I am said to be a high functioning adult with ADHD having recently achieved academic success, MSc and an MBA despite leaving school with no qualifications. I was also a successful entrepreneur having never worked for an employer until the recession put an end to that , but nonetheless I feel everyday is like running up hill with a 400lb rucksack on my back, especially as I now need to adapt to environments not complimentary to ADHD such as the demands of working for an employer which I imagine would be just like keeping up at university etc. I will keep that for another thread as it absolutely terrifies me the thought of being found out by potential employers. Hey, Craig - know how you feel. I'm in the middle of a tricky route to diagnosis - the ADHD specialist I'm seeing struggles with seeing how someone who can hold down a decent job can at the same time be 'impaired' by ADHD. If you're not 'impaired', you don't have a 'disorder', and it's not ADHD. I think he thinks it's unreasonable for the NHS to expend resources on someone like me, who is classed as 'high-functioning'. For me, though, impairment is massively psychological - it's a bit like the exhaustion that high-functioning dyslexics feel. It's hard for observers to understand the impact if most of the time, your coping strategies are masking the underlying anxiety and stress that come with the uncertainty of ADHD. There isn't an easy answer - just keep pushing on, and keep explaining how it is for you. I completely understand the fear of being found out - I've lived with that fear all my working life, and it's hugely stressful and has a massive impact on your self-esteem. This forum is great - loads of supportive people and practical advice. The support groups are great, too - you have no idea how relaxing it is to go out with people who just 'get' you and accept you for what you are. Welcome! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2011 15:48:41 GMT
Hi guys,
Just a wee update. I have managed to arrange for a private GP to prescribe medications and in turn this has enabled me to circumnavigate my non helpful NHS GP's 8-12 weeks for approval BULLxxxx. The medication I am told will be around £58 for 3 months. It is dear but beats waiting for the NHS. Gordon Brown (private educational psychologist)has been outstanding again.
I realize this may not be affordable to everyone, but it is another alternative route to get help? I cant wait to tell my GP what I have done, I will post description of his face and will rate if it is a better picture when I presented my diagnosis, which I had been telling him for years was the case.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2011 17:01:41 GMT
And of course typically I forgot to say thanks again for all the informative and sometimes entertaining replies.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2011 18:51:53 GMT
Good For You !
Another Madscot xxxxxx
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rick123
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Post by rick123 on Jan 15, 2011 15:06:47 GMT
Hunter Glad to hear that you can come to the support group meeting in Glasgow on 12 Feb, I look forward to meeting you. I have been offline for a bit, so this is my first time to log onto the forum in 2011. Your GP is wrong in that South Lanarkshire do not have provision for adult ADHD treatment in the NHS - but thats farmers for you. Madscot has already had the same fight with the same NHS Trust, (he did get an NHS dx and medication finally).
Gordon Brown is doing a great job and provides a very though assessment, but even so one of the biggest barriers to overcome is getting your GP practice to take on the shared care. There is no recognised clinical dx pathway for adult ADHD in Scotland via the NHS and GPs use this to say that they cannot provide treatment. One of the many mental health inequalities that need to be addressed.
One impulsive act can land an adhd adult in prison at a cost to society of approx £55,000 per year, you say that your meds cost £174 per year private. We need to get the message through to the people that deal with the strategy for the NHS in Scotland. There is some work on this front already underway, but we need many more members in the group in order to prove unquestionable that there is a real need.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2011 18:58:38 GMT
Hi Rick 123,
I looking forward to meeting you, and of course I would love to apply some of the farmer based education I have achieved to help the cause. Interestingly on that subject what about bringing a test case against NHS Scotland they are clearly in breach of government legislation, (NICE) not to mention European human rights legislation. There must be a solicitor in Scotland looking to further his career with a test case of this nature (Aamer Anwar)? Already there is academic evidence in relation to the prolific amount of the incarcerated prison society in Scotland who have been criminalized through having ADHD and associated impulsivity. How many lives and the tragedy to society would have been avoided.
I have been this week to a private GP £60 consultation and £10 for repeat prescriptions. Unfortunately she does not have the requisite prescription pad for prescribing Ritalin etc.
Would it be rude to ask if you are on medication to help with ADHD? And if so has it helped, I am a wee bit nervous. Nonetheless, I would give my right arm to overcome the challenges it brings to my everyday life.
The hunter
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2011 22:17:57 GMT
I really could scream sometimes. Perhaps your GP needs to change career, or go back and do a refresher course.
In my job, I work with GPS and consultants. Sometimes I really do wonder how they got to where they have. Tell your GP we have things called computers these days and something called the internet. He could look up lots of information on the NHS and Medical websites which would update his/her knowledge of ADHD and its consequences to adults who were not diagnosed in childhood.
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rick123
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Post by rick123 on Jan 15, 2011 23:07:27 GMT
NICE guidance does not apply in Scotland, we have the tartenised version SIGN and it does not cover adults. I know at least two members of the committee that pressed for recommendations for adults to be included but they were overruled. I am not on meds for adhd, waiting for my next appointment with the psych in March. I have been referred to CBT and had one session. The criteria for a dx is that ADHD is pervasive across at least two areas of your life (family/work/social) and can be demonstrated to be present before the age of 7. GPs can only refer you and are not able to provide a diagnoses themselves.
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rick123
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Post by rick123 on Jan 26, 2011 22:16:17 GMT
If your have been refused a referral from your GP there is an official complaints procedure to follow before even considering court action. We can help with organising a patients advocate and there are organisations like the Scottish Patients Association that take up your case with the relevant NHS trust. Happy to help where I can for any adults in Scotland that are struggling with obtaining a dx. If your GP comes up with the old chestnut that they do not believe ADHD can be an adult condition, then point them in the direction of clinical knowledge summaries by the NHS. Advice on this is that GPs should refer if: - The symptoms began during childhood and have persisted.
- The symptoms are not explained by other mental health disorders (although there may be co-existing conditions).
- The symptoms have resulted in moderate or sever psychological, social, educational, or occupational impairment.
The question usually comes down to whether or not you have moderate or sever impairment.
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Post by twix on Jan 29, 2011 15:39:29 GMT
Not wishing to discourage but afaik madscot got meds eventually from a sympathetic GP without ever actually getting diagnosed as such by anyone more experienced.
Edited cause of not reading things properly!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2011 20:33:52 GMT
Hello,
Since I started this thread I have went straight to a Private GP recommended by Gordon Brown (Gordon is a private practitioner recommended on this site). The GP is based in Glasgow cost £60 pound initial consultation and £10 repeat prescriptions. The private GP also told me if a patient came to here complaining about the symptoms of ADHD she would also prescribe without a diagnosis on a case by case basis, Finally private prescription cost £30 for a months dose of generic Ritalin (sorry I need to check that but it was definitely not more).
Hope the above helps.
Hunter
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rick123
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Post by rick123 on Apr 6, 2011 19:00:44 GMT
Any news Hunter?
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