Another Adult ADHD Question

[alexithymia]

So, I've been putting off asking my doctor about being tested for, like, forever. But I've taken pretty much every self-test there is, and I'm 99.5% sure I have it. And, looking back, I can totally see signs of it when I was growing up, but I was always really good at faking it to get by. But, it's really starting to affect my every day life a lot more. So much so that it's causing issues in my school/work life and relationship. So, I asked my doctor about it at my yearly appointment this year, and she referred me to a psychiatrist.

I had my appointment today, and I don't even know what to think of this guy. First of all, something about him made me uncomfortable from the moment I walked into the office. It was like he was annoyed by me being there. He literally asked me "So, what makes you think, that after not being diagnosed for 30 years, that you have this?" Then, he spent maybe 5 minutes asking me questions, mostly concentrating on how it's affecting my work. Well, my job is kind of a joke right now, so that's hard for me to say, so I was trying to explain how it was causing issues in my relationship and how I've been trying to work on my thesis for almost 3 years now without being able to focus on it, but he seemed uninterested. 

So, he tells me the diagnosis test is a 20 minute computer test watching for the position of squares on the screen. So, apparently if I scored 'outside of the norm,' then they would put me on medication, then have me do the test again. 

So, what happens if I happened to score ok on the computer test? That's it? Like, nevermind that this is affecting my everyday life, the square test says you're fine. Can I get a second opinion? Anyone have any idea how that woks with insurance? Anyone else have any insight how they were diagnosed?

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

My PCP had me see a psychologist, who did the testing and diagnosis. The psychologist than gives the PCP his medication recommendations, so it's been a nice partnership between the three of us.

Do you have a nice relationship with your PCP? I'd ask to be seen by someone else. You don't really need a psychiatrist.

[textbookcase]

I would ask for a different referral. That guy sounds like a douche. My psychiatrist did several tests and had my H and other people in my family fill out a questionnaire (that asked things about my attention span, etc.) and diagnosed me from there.

[alexithymia]

If I ask for a second referral, will my insurance still cover it? I'm sure this is probably dependent on my insurance, but I thought someone might have an idea.

[walterismydog]

He sounds like an ass. I had a similar situation. I've been diagnosed with ADD as a teenager and I tried the whole holistic approach with pretty shitty results. So I went to a psych to get meds, bc my pcp wouldn't prescribe them, and he basically said that I'm NOT ADD, that I'm just "bored" and that this "usually happens to childless women in their thirties" so he can fuck right off.

Seeing a new doctor next week FINALLY after waiting months, so I hope it goes better.

You definitely deserve a second opinion.

[irishbride2]

I would get another opinion but be open to the idea you might not have it. You might not.


I remember that square test when I was young. I bombed it.

[alexithymia]

Mar 28, 2016 20:29:37 GMT -5 walterismydog said:

He said that?! How did he not walk out of that office with a black eye? I'm not sure I could have held myself back.

[walterismydog]

Mar 28, 2016 20:33:27 GMT -5 alexithymia said:

Mar 28, 2016 20:29:37 GMT -5 walterismydog said:

He said that?! How did he not walk out of that office with a black eye? I'm not sure I could have held myself back.

Yeah. At first I was like "well, maybe?" - I tend to be too trusting of professionals and he wasn't terrible at first, even charming. But then I really started thinking about it and realized that no, that's not at all what's going on. So I quit going and began the long waiting game of finding somebody new. The mental health situation in this country is such a mindfuck.

I really hope you find the help you need and answers to your troubles.

[mrsukyankee]

I think this is my fear of going at 47. That some doctor is going to look at me and say, well, you've made it this far, why would you think this now? Instead of looking at my history and seeing the issues throughout time.

[lightbulbsun]

I would try someone else. Do you need a referral, or can you find your own psych? I found my own, and she just asked me questions from a list, and started me on the meds.

[Deleted]

Mar 28, 2016 19:54:03 GMT -5 alexithymia said:

So, he tells me the diagnosis test is a 20 minute computer test watching for the position of squares on the screen. So, apparently if I scored 'outside of the norm,' then they would put me on medication, then have me do the test again. 

I went to a neuropsych and had an extensive meeting with him. Then I did a 3 hour test with many facets to it.  My test results were then reviewed by the dr.  I then had to go back and talk to him about my results and I got my diagnosis. This entire process took a few months. Once I got the diagnosis I was then put through a series of tests before they would prescribe medicine. I am now on 20mg adderall ER and it has helped immensely.   a 20 minute test isn't going to tell you that you have ADD I dont' think. there is so much more to it then that.   

[auntie]

I'm sorry you came away feeling dismissed. I can kind of see how this happens.

A psychiatrist who actually takes insurance probably sees a steady stream of young adults who want stimulants and that will color his thinking. Your PCP probably referred you there because this guy isn't part of some pill mill.

The best psychiatrists where I live don't take insurance as a rule. We pay OOP for DS's. I got a referral from DS's psychologist; I am very particular about who treats DS.

When my niece moved in with me and I suspected she had ADHD, I sent to DS's doc because I know him to be conservative. He met with her at least 3 times before starting her on stimulants. They mostly talked about how this was impacting her and she did some scales with him. She also sees a PsyD who never picked up on her ADHD.

[winecat]

Mar 29, 2016 3:19:06 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

I think this is my fear of going at 47. That some doctor is going to look at me and say, well, you've made it this far, why would you think this now? Instead of looking at my history and seeing the issues throughout time.

I had this concern too.  It had always impacted my life and continued to do so.  I managed to survive and "do well" but everything was always a struggle sometimes big, sometimes small. The years of struggle had really started to get me down.  I think there's much more research on undiagnosed women these days.  We're definitely not alone.    

[sapphireblue]

That doctor sounds like a peach.

I went to a neurologist in my area who only treats people with ADD. He diagnosed me with a combination of speaking with me, long questionnaires he had me fill out, AND a 20 minute test. He said that the test almost always correctly identifies people with ADD.

After I was on meds a bit, he had me come back and do the test again.

He did tell me stories about the people that come in or call and are only trying to get the meds so I can see how that might make a doctor feel jaded and/or suspect that people coming in don't really have ADD but just want the stimulants.. Nevertheless he sounds like a jerk.

[Deleted]

Question for the group:

Did you lose weight when you went on a stimulant? How much and in what time period. Just asking because I lost 15lbs in a month which was great bc I actually need to lose weight but now it seems to have plateaued and I am hungry again so just wondering if that is what tends to happen.

[alexithymia]

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to call my doctor and see if she can refer me too someone else. It took a lot for me to actually work up the courage to hey checked out. I come from a family that doesn't talk about mental issues, and kind of holds the belief that ADHD isn't a real thing, you just need to pay attention and stop being lazy/flighty/whatever.

But I don't think that's it. I've always had problems focusing. I'll sit all the way through a lecture, and realize I don't remember a thing the presenter said. I'll read chapters out of a book, but realize I didn't retain anything from any of those pages. I lose my keys/cell phone/other important object almost every day. And trying to organize anything overwhelms me. It's only gotten worse, especially after getting divorced and now trying to move out of town. SO and I were trying to pack and organize this past weekend, and I just kept getting overwhelmed by the whole thing. So much so that I just broke down into a blubbering mess at one point. There's something wrong, and I really want to find someone who wants to help me figure it out.

Sorry about the book I just wrote. It felt good to vent that.

[Linie]

Mar 29, 2016 8:54:45 GMT -5 winecat said:

Mar 29, 2016 3:19:06 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

I think this is my fear of going at 47. That some doctor is going to look at me and say, well, you've made it this far, why would you think this now? Instead of looking at my history and seeing the issues throughout time.

I had this concern too.  It had always impacted my life and continued to do so.  I managed to survive and "do well" but everything was always a struggle sometimes big, sometimes small. The years of struggle had really started to get me down.  I think there's much more research on undiagnosed women these days.  We're definitely not alone.    

I'm 45. My therapist diagnosed me three years ago with ADD. She explained me why I was always successful at school and work. But with all the stress in my marriage, it became really hard to work. I went to my regular doctor, she prescribed me something (lighter than Adderall) and the change is amazing! I don't take it everyday, because of the side effect (constipation), but it has made a big change in my professional life. I used to have the attention span of a fly.

Good luck!

ETA: I have less appetite when I take the medication, but I don't lose weight (I was hoping it would...)

[ijack]

Mar 29, 2016 20:51:59 GMT -5 @sloanpeterson said:

Question for the group:

Did you lose weight when you went on a stimulant? How much and in what time period. Just asking because I lost 15lbs in a month which was great bc I actually need to lose weight but now it seems to have plateaued and I am hungry again so just wondering if that is what tends to happen.

Yeah, that side effect wore off for me too unfortunately