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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 16:41:22 GMT
Just back from my Psych appointment. Something very strange has happened today and I feel very uncomfortable about it. I took a friend who has known me nearly all my life, we've been friends from Primary School and I work with him right now. After he sees the Psych on his own I go in. When I ask him what he thinks the problem is he avoids answering and starts to tell me he is going to prescribe me methylphenidate. Im still really unwell today (I actually went to work and spewed out the van window) so I am going back next week to discuss the meds thoroughly.
Is it just me or is this scenario strange. He wont turn round and say you are ADHD but he will give me Ritalin. I just have this really weird feeling.
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Post by lostinabook on Jun 15, 2009 18:48:13 GMT
Sorry if this is a daft question but what you're saying is your friend saw your doctor on his own and then you went in on your own, and whilst there the doc wouldn't give you a dx and gave you a prescription?
Eh? That sounds very strange. Was it something your friend said to him? He didn't threaten him did he?! I know about patient confidentiality but keeping it confidential from the patient is taking it a little too far.
Can he actually (and legally) do that? I agree with Tremont about the meds bit, perhaps it's way of giving you the dx. He didn't add something about the red sun rising in the south when the dog barks, did he? Sorry, I don't mean to make light of your situation but I can't get my head round it, it's totally bizarre.
I hope you will feel better soon. I know it's stating the obvious but wait until your totally better until starting the meds so that you can differentiate between between you feeling ill and any possible side effects.
Does the psych report back to your GP? Perhaps s/he could shed some light on it for you.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 19:28:00 GMT
Weird is an understatement madscot, did the psychiatrist give you any direction on how to take the medication?
Its pretty unprofessional to say the least, if not down right peculiar! Why exactly did your friend go in before you anyway?
ADHD needs a thorough evaluation before a dx can be made, and stimulant medications are controlled substances that should be prescribed with caution, i'm not surprised you're a bit sus about the whole thing.
i'll bet someone on here will have some solid advice for you, but in the mean time i'd say leave the meds on the side until you get some more information.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 19:47:21 GMT
Ive no got meds yet peeps. He is giving me them though. He has given me another appointment for next Monday to go back and have a proper discussion about them before I start, as he so expressed the need to be in good health so we can monitor any side effects. As soon as I told him I was unwell he said we would meet next week.
The whole scenario of him taking my friend in without me was bizzare though.
And a trial would kind of sit with the fact he is still unwilling to say whats wrong. Im just feeling a bit nervous about the whole situ.
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Post by roland on Jun 15, 2009 19:57:15 GMT
Hi madscot,
This sounds odd to me as well. I'm sorry if I'm going to ask a question that you've already given the answer to somewhere else, but is that psych actually an adult ADHD specialist? Or is he just a general psych?
Is he trained in the assessment and diagnosis of adult ADHD?
I realise that the Guidelines are only for England and Wales, but their recommendations are good medical practice and are applicable everywhere, and the Guidelines make it clear that a diagnosis of ADHD should not be made solely upon either rating scales (tests) or solely upon observational data (talking to you and your friend). In other words a combination of tests and observations is needed. Have you had both?
And like the others I agree that you should probably wait until you feel better before starting the meds.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2009 20:10:27 GMT
I will be back to my normal self by the weekend, I have no doubt. So when I go back to get the meds then I will be ok to start then I think.
The consultant is just a General Psych. If you read back to my first visit, you will begin to understand why Im nervous. I get the feeling his ego is his telling him he is good enough to do this and that he knows what to do about it. I dont think he has enough experience to be treating me under NICE guidelines but we all know they dont quite follow that in Scotland. He hasnt done any of the tests, like the ones Gordon sent to me, but he has done a memory and concentraion test.
The reason I am wary is that he clearly doesnt have a great deal of experience with adults. He may have experience with kids and perhaps a few adults, but he doesnt have enough to make me comfortable. If I walked into a specialist, I think they would know within a very short period of time what was wrong. I would just feel better. The fact he also wont tell me definitively what he thinks is wrong is also making me nervous. He's giving me the mediine for it, so he must think thats what it is, why doesnt he say it?
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jeff
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Post by jeff on Jun 19, 2009 18:30:14 GMT
Hello,
I actually had a pretty good day! I missed a meeting with my psychiatrist (oh well), but I did get to an "equal oppertunities" meeting with one of my uni's "Disability support officers". I saw a poster around uni talking about learning difficulties, trouble reading etc, and thought it could do any harm seeing what they had to say....
She was really helpful and friendly. She seemed to specialise in dyslexia/dyspraxia, and got me to film out a form for both, which I unsuprisingly ticked a lot of the boxes! She told me that she thought it was pretty likely that I was dyslexic. I don't know, maybe I am? Do ADD and dyslexia sometimes come together? The only thing though, is that she didn't seem like she knew all that much about ADD or anything like it.
Anyway... The really great thing is that she says she can get me the funding for a detailed session with an educational psychiatrist, which has to be good news! She gave me a list of places they recommend to go to. Maybe I could email them to see if they have experience with ADD, to make sure I'm seeing someone with know-how?
I didn't push the ADD thing with her, just because the testing will be useful whatever. And I could be dyslexic for all I know!
Anyway, it just feels really good to have someone on my side for the first time in ages!!
Jeff.
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Post by andy12345 on Jun 20, 2009 7:11:51 GMT
Madscot,
1) He is not just a general, run-of-the-mill psyche, he is a bit of a pratt, tbh. 2) I would like to take this opportunity to really make a point that it's about your rights as a patient that matter, so push your rights to the limit, officially, once you decide that he is not helping you enough.
Jeff, co-morbidities, I think, are the norm.. From what I read, it's almost impossible to just have one "issue" like AD/HD or ASD or er. whatever is left..
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2009 17:33:23 GMT
Aspergers Andy Im glad there seems to be a little light for you there. We can only keep plugging away and dont let up for nothing. Im sure that (eventually) we shall get things sorted out properly. Good luck mate.
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Post by andy12345 on Jun 20, 2009 21:08:53 GMT
ASD = Autism Spectrum Disorder, just in case there is confusion over my being confused. o.O Not that it is difficult to confuse me.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2009 11:09:27 GMT
I went to my Psych meeting yesterday and although he still wont say I am ADHD I signed a disclaimer for my MPH. I didnt get my prescription yesterday because he wants me to get tests run first to get base levels for BP, Blood counts, Heart Rate, etc for monitoring purposes. Seems he is going about it in the right way. I expected to be started this morning but Im not too bothered.
I am getting MPH IR 5mg at first (im assuming this is 3 times a day) and we will increase it as we go along. He did say that like myself, he would like it if we could get to a point where I am taking it when I need it, like when im stuck in the office for 8 hours. That isnt obviously definite but we are going to try and work towards that. I shall keep you guys posted.
Oh and emmm..... the smoke has to go apparantly.
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Post by andy12345 on Jun 30, 2009 11:33:39 GMT
Madscot,
These people are so strange....
If he does not believe that you have AD/HD, then why is he going through the health checks at all?
Also, he is going to give you ritalin, but wants you only to use it at times of stress...
What a total idiot he is. Only an unskilled idiot would think that someone with AD/HD would be happy to go back to the old days, after they get successfully medicated........
I just don't get it...I really really don't! How long will it be before these buffoons all properly follow the NICE recommendations?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2009 11:42:45 GMT
Unfortunately Andy, they dont follow NICE in Scotland. I aint expecting him to come out and give me a diagnosis to be honest. I just want the meds. And I want to not be taking my meds all the time because I dont feel I need it all the time. When I am on site, for example I am building a scaffold that needs tied into the side of a bridge because it is on a slope and then requires harnesses etc I become totally focused (im like this on a football field too). So in this case my energy and speed of thought is very beneficial. I am only speculating here because I havent taken it yet, but I think this will probably be better for me. We can only see.
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Post by andy12345 on Jun 30, 2009 13:35:49 GMT
Madscot,
I understand now, that you want a sort of intermittent treatment.
Now, when you are on site building a scaffold or playing football you become totally focused and you feel that you don't need meds......That does not make sense as you are meant to be easily distracted. I suppose it's like intense FPS computer gaming??
AD/HD has it's name for a reason, after all... the only bit that would help you may be the AD/HD characteristic known as "hyperfocus" and let's face it, computer games involve direct input to the brain and lots of calculations, constant readjustments on a millisecond basis.
For instance, what is your ideal job, exactly?
For some, delicate electronics......me......oops, forget to solder the power switch etc. For others, controlled demolition, lots of pre-planning......me....Andy......er.. nice wires everywhere, but you forgot the EXPLOSIVES!!!!!! Then, creative like art etc, painting, long duration tasks. Or, martial arts teaching or other fighting skills.
I am still trying to work out my best job. Remember that I consider that I have the "symptoms" of AD/HD-mainly inattentive and that I consider that it may be something EDIT (else) that the doc has not got the time to pick up. I actually do fear that it may take ages for me to get a resolution that will work for me. I may just end up self-medicating...................... (so many dots)
For some reason, working in a gadget shop, with lots of cables, lights, noises, seems to appeal very well to me.........gadgets, shiny shiny, lots of buttons. Constant new stimulus. Is that ASD?
Do you know why the scaffolding creates a focus situation for you but you believe that you have AD/HD, like myself..
At the end of the day, who knows more about oneself, than oneself? FFS, it's not rocket science and yet the experts have to take their time which is the painful part. It is a shame to note, that if money was no object, things would move so much faster in the public sector........ Although, it seems that there is plenty of money out there...but it's now banks pockets etc.
Dammit, I just wish there was an easy answer for everyone, then we all could just get on in life.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2009 15:24:08 GMT
I am more the scientist type Andy, I trained in Biochemistry and Microbiology. I work in NDT though and often find myself climbing around in some strange places. As for the right job, I love my micro and in theory would love a job in that but I have a job in the moment that allows me to still be very technical and yet get out climbing around like a big kid. So it suits me well for the moment anyway.
In regards to the scaffold, that was just an example of a situation when I hyperfocus because what I am doing is dangerous. Its not a conscious desicion mate, it just happens. Its almost like I click into a zone and everything else is excluded from my brain except my and my buddies safety. I am thinking 5 steps ahead of what we are doing as well so that I forsee problems and think quickly to remove them. I like it when I become that person, its almost like its the person I was always meant to be. I am like this on a football field also. I am very decisive, confident and commanding. I love these types of activities though and have a real passion for them so perhaps this is why.
I would say its similar to your gaming. Im scared of gaming though as I can lose all track of time and Id rather be outside these days.
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Post by andy12345 on Jun 30, 2009 15:40:44 GMT
Literally then, the hyperfocus is what saves you in danger situations, otherwise you would probably have got hurt a few times by now hehe.
Maybe, that's why some people go for bomb disposal? It is probably pure adrenaline, stimulation and using logic. Nothing else counts at the time.
I am not good at gaming. I am terrible at the FPS games. I was only a surface user, but I used to think I could get better, but never did.. I used to play unreal tournament 99 2003 etc, but gave up because as soon as I got shot a few times, I started thinking "why do I bother". As soon as the thoughts start, the performance drops, nevermind the fact that I lose concentration anyway due to constantly distracting mind chatter, which along with poor working memory etc and procrastination, is a debilitating combo.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2009 21:00:51 GMT
And I had to laff at your demolition setup there Andy. No offense meant but I would do exactly the same thing. Set the whole thing up but forget the most important part, the explosive I find though that these lapses are not important, just get the nudge from your workmate and off you go to fix it. Its in situations where I have time to put things off that I go to pot. If I need to do something NOW, it gets done. Leave me with options and Im knacked, so indecisive. Or am I? ;D
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Post by andy12345 on Jul 1, 2009 0:20:25 GMT
Procrastination......................have you looked at the 2 page article on the legendary wikipedia.?
Procrastination or perfectionism.? lol...
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