Angry at medical doctor | ADHD Information

I just ordered his book and I got it in the mail yesterday - I'm trying to finish Hallowell's book first (Must complete what I start...)

Well, my co-worker with bi-polar suggested that I talk to EAP (Employee Assistance Program) that our company offers. I called them and they said that I can have 1 appointment for free with a counselor to talk to them. They gave me some names and numbers, now I'm going to give them a call.

GRRRR!!! The first doctor I tried to talk to when I first
suspected I had ADHD told me I couldn't POSSIBLY
have it because I had average grades, didn't drink
tons of coffee and some other thing that I always
forget. In fact I was a big coffee drinker, all through
first and second year, but sometimes it would put
me to sleep and those times I didn't drink it. It was
one of those times when I saw her, but I actually
forgot entirely about this - good ol' ADD brain, only
thinking of what's happening at the moment, terrible
at self-observation.
Unfortunately, at the time I ALSO had forgotten to
print out the list of symptons and an online quiz I'd
done - I was running late, and I think I probably ALSO
forgot my class notes too that day.
Then she told me that I could pay privately for an
assessment, here is one clinic that does it, etc.
When I asked about disability services and if there
was any way to get an assessment through them
she said no. I asked if there was funding for it, she
said no. In fact the disability services at the university
DOES offer a preliminary screening, and if it is likely
you have ADHD/ADD or LD you get a referral to
someone who can do the "battery of tests" - and
there IS funding, through the government, for anyone
who was eligible for student loans (it's a bursary).
I really don't think she even wanted to talk about it.

Luckily I go to the clinic at my university and you can
either see the same doctor or a new one at any time.
When I came to her after the diagnosis in order to
get prescribed meds, she pretty well ONLY read the
end of the assessment report, where it said that
medication should be tried if all these various
suggestions didn't work. But she didn't want to talk
about how I HAD, on my own, tried so many
strategies, and very few if any had consisten or any
success... agendas, big calendars, colour coding,
etc. etc. etc.
I had discussed this with the psychologist when we
looked at the results of the assessment, so the
conclusion we came to that it mades sense for me
to try medication so I could start seeing some
success from these strategies (and others).
I was one of those people who had tried the ADD
meds pre-diagnosis when I was seriously
suspecting I had it (although mostly I was taking
caffeine pills because I knew from the first doctor
that I would be asked specifically about caffeine, and
at this point it was actually working).
I told the psycologist this, he said it was pretty
common and didn't think less of me for it.
I told my first doctor, and she totally freaked out at me
and said something about randomly taking pills, etc.,
She didn't even want to talk about my ADHD, which
was true from the start (she rushed through the
times I brought it up, pre and post diagnosis), and
now she was also angry at me.
I actually ran out of the clinic then, while waiting to
get my iron levels taken, but realised she still had my
assessment report so I had to come back.
Then I ended up crying and talking to the nurse
doing the bloodwork and got an appointment with a
really great doctor who I now see for all my ADHD
stuff, who I feel comfortable talking to. He's in very
good contact with the disabilities service centre at
my university, as well as many ADHD specialists
where I live.
I think the first doctor thought I was upset because
she wouldn't give me the Rx. But the nurse and the
next (current, for 2 years) doctor both understood that
I was upset because I kept not being listened to, that
I was trying so hard to finally get help but having
trouble with figuring out who to talk to and what to
ask.
So, yeah, many MDs don't know about ADD/ADHD,
and I'm very lucky to have found one who does and
who is so active about it. But it was hard to get there,
and I didn't even need a referral.

Well one thing I have learned is MD's are not familar with ADD. If they do believe in it they give you a standard evaluation, and a generic treatment. It is important that they have advance knowledge. I have been talking about Dr. Amens book alot "Healing ADD" It tells about 6 different types, more than the ADD Assocation that talks about ony three, proper treatment, and progress with diet modification, coaching, and excercise. Here is his site http://amenclinics.com/ac/, and he had an indepth online screen there (not to take place of a qualified doctor) My wife found our doctor through him. You can order the book online, and Book-A-Million has it.

Dr. Amen is the goto guy for ADD. He does SPECT imaging, but not required. I would love to be a research subject of his. Due to what I have learned about ADD, and seen the treatments people on the board is getting, I may finish my psychology degree and specialize in ADD. I know his book has already helped me.

Ok, I'll go back through the other posts here soon, but I have to get this out first.

We have a regular "family doctor" that serves as our Pediatrician as well as the doctor for the rest of us. We took our 9mo for his checkup yesterday and I told him that I had thought a month ago that I might have Post Partum Depression until I started looking at the symptoms. I realized that those symptoms didn't describe what I had - I came across ADD symptoms and realized that THIS was what I've been dealing with my WHOLE LIFE. I told him that I wanted to get checked to see if I have it.

He said "I don't believe in that sort of thing, I think you probably are suffering from Post Partum Depression - being weepy that sort of thing..." I told him that I'm not having depression or being weepy. He didn't seem to know what to say to that - then he said "well if you want to talk about it, make an appointment with me."

I'm going to try to call my insurance company today to see if I can see someone else without having a referral from my family doctor. Should I see a psychologist or a psychiatrist? I've never talked to either before...

autumn

Well, I called my insurance company, I HAVE to have a referral from my Primary Care doctor for any treatment to be covered by my insurance. The woman suggested that maybe I can have my doctor refer me to a psychiatrist and let the psychiatrist determine whether I have PPD or ADD. Then it's out of his hands as to what I have.

I already have an appointment with my doctor on Monday afternoon, I think I'll keep it and see if he'll refer me to someone else. Because all he's likely to do is try to put me on a medication to see if it helps me - I don't want to just be put on a medication, especially not one for depression when I don't have depression. Maybe he'll go for the "I just want to see someone for counseling" aspect.

[QUOTE=autumnstar]

Lol, he doesn't *believe*. Well, your psychiatrist could probably educate him on the subject.

The great thing about being a psychiatrist with ADHD, is that my patients never have to worry if I'm taking them seriously or not. Make sure to call the psychiatrist's office first and ask if they have a special interest in adult ADHD or have any patients with adult ADHD. I'd also contact any local chapters of CHADD and ask if they would recommend any doctors. Go to Daniel Amen's website and download his checklist and bring it to the doctor as well.

Well I agree with you on the Brain Spects, although I have heard of several neurologists having great success with spect imaging, but his theories and treatment seems to be on the money. I have already seen a great improvement since I increased my protein and started on B12 supplements. Also his books has giving me a better understanding of what I am going through. I am starting to connect the pieces in my life to help to understand what is going on.

Most frustrating. My first doctor, not my FIRST doctor, but the 1st I went to with (related problems with) ADD, she just didn't belive in it at all, went as far as to call it a fad. At the time I was soooooo low and depressed and she would not even consider TALKING to me viewing this as being "out of her territory". She made me feel like a chancer trying to scam some paid holidays from work!

She advised me to get some sleep and change my diet.

Great help!

A friend who also suffers with ADD suggested I check out her doctor, a very pleasant guy. Not only did he listen to what I said he actually had experience with it. This to me (someone who wouldn't belive that ADD exsisted outside of peoples heads!) was an eye opener. He let me read some stuff, done some rather exhaustive testing with multi choice questions (over 500+!) put my anxiety levels onto a chart and showed where I had issues.

I feel much better now.......................NURSE!!!!

It pays to shop around.

Great to hear that. The doctor I am going to next week is expensive, but is the leading authorty on the subject in the Nashville area. I feel it is better to pay more up front to get the help I actually need, than going trial and error.Hey, somebody else prmoting Dr. Amen. LOL I am so glad I learned what to look for first. On another message board, a spouse and patient was told that diet modificaton did not matter.I'm promoting his checklist, not his idea that brain scans contribute to diagnosis and assessment which nearly every expert says is not possible.

Well, the good thing is that I'm setup with an appointment with a woman who's an 'expert' on Adult ADD. I'm planning on handing her my long list of symptoms that I posted. I don't know if this woman is 'in network' on my insurance though. I don't know if I'll have to change to another doctor for my insurance to cover it or if I will have to pay out-of-pocket. I have to check that out.

I go back and forth - I don't want the meds, but my main concern is that I still have these racing thoughts and they interrupt me ALL the time from whatever I'm trying to accomplish. So maybe I should try a med if they suggest it. I know I'll have alot of work to do regardless of whether I take meds or not. I'm willing to do that but it'll be nice to be able to tell my husband - "THIS is why I can't help doing THESE things, I really don't do them on purpose" or "THIS is why I HAVE to do things THIS way, I can't do THAT any other way".

Prime example - my husband is one of these freaky guys who wants a perfectly clean house and he'll actually clean it himself! Well, he'd get mad because I wouldn't clean the areas FIRST that he wanted cleaned first. I told him that what would work BEST for me is to have a daily list of things to do each day - I can look at the list on that day and do those things. Else I'd forget the last time something was done and it'd be a month before I'd do that thing again. His response, "Why can't you just SEE what needs to be done and DO it?" I told him that I don't see things the way he does - and he thinks that's just stupid.

We have a housecleaner come in now twice a month, so it's been a long time since we had that argument. But it's a great example of they type of things I can't get him to understand.

autumn

Interesting how arrogant some MDs can be when they don't know what they're talking about. Our receptionist had hives and trouble swallowing. She was very worried and went to her family doctor who told her she was stressed and prescribed an anti-depressant. She came to work close to tears and angry at her doctor. I told her it sounded like an allergy and she should probably take Benedryl but not to take my word for it ask a pharmacist. I drove her to Walgreen's, she asked the pharmacist who suggested Benedryl. Wonder of wonders, she was right as rain the next day. Yes, do what it takes to get the right diagnosis and never put up with a doctor who is condescending. I have been keeping a ournal to take to him

If you can try and see both a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Both of them can really help out in life.

Or ADD coach.

Also if you are married, include your spouse.