My 8 1/2 yr old has been being treated for ADHD by our pediatrician. This is who diagnosed him, who we have dealt with for all meds, etc. He is WONDERFUL with my son and we love him. I have posted before that we recently moved, so now this ped. is 5.5 hrs away.
I asked around and got some names for "good" pediatricians in the area (small town vs big city) and when I started calling around was informed that no ped.s in the area treat for ADHD. They said he will have to see a psychiatrist. 1st place I called wanted 700-1200 at the time of the first visit for a full psychiatric work-up (we lost our health insurance with dh's layoff so we would have to pay this). I told them there was NO WAY and we would just drive 5 hrs to see our old ped. They referred me to someone they thought didn't do a full work-up for ADHD kids. They were 0 for 1st visit, then each visit after that, so MUCH better! Super nice, seemed very laid back, etc. I fel pretty good about it, so I made an appt for the 22nd of this month...
So then my mom starts telling me that life insurance questionaires always ask if you have ever been treated by a psych, or that if he decided one day to go into the military someday they would turn him down if he'd been treated by a psych Dr. So now I am terrified that I am going to ruin his life b/c he went to a pysch Dr at the age of 8!
I called our old ped. and they said we could definitely stay with them and just go there twice a year for check-ups. So I also made an appt with them.
Obviously I have to cancel one of them. I'm not sure what to do, but I know some of you take your kids to psych Dr's and I do see the advantages: 1) probably a better understanding of his meds and they might regulate him better, 2) it's CLOSE to me!, 3) easier access to them if I need them for something, etc. But then there's one HUGE negative ("ruining" his future!).
Has anyone else dealt with this? Am I being paranoid (I will admit my mom is sort of like Chicken Little: "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!", and sees conspiracy everywhere.). Has your child seen a psychiatrist vs a pediatrician and how did it go for you?
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!
I'm sure some pediatricians have a lot of knowledge about these meds but in general the psychiatrists are the experts. They deal with nothing but medications. That's their job, their ONLY job. The peds have to deal with all of the other health issues too. My son has had medicine prescribed by both and I prefer the psychiatrist BY FAR!
She is much more confident in using these meds and will make changes daily if necessary. She just flat out knows what she's doing. Even though trial and error is the only way to get these meds right it's better to do it with an expert.
As for ruining his life, in my opinion there is no truth to that. The military may ask about seeing a psychiatrist but that won't keep him out unless there is some untreated problem. And they probably ask "have you ever seen a psychaitrist or been treated for a mental disorder". In that case it wouldn't matter if it were a pediatrician or psychiatrist. And trust me (coming from a military family) they aren't going to keep out an otherwise qualified candidate because he was treated for ADHD! About the life insurance...I don't know for sure but I have filled out several and I've never had to answer that question that I can remember.
Good luck and I hope it works out for you no matter what you decide!