[musicsinmysoul]

I had my first visit with a psychiatrist just over a month ago, which was the initial ask me a bunch of questions for a total of about 15-20 minutes(which he told me would take at least half an hour) and tell me "Yup, you most likely have ADHD". He then asked me if I had any questions..but of course since I was already uncomfortable with the fact that I had to repeat myself again to someone I JUST met, I had very few and didn't ask a lot of what I wanted to.

I think I sort of blank out when I'm in his office...as I do with any doctor, weird.

Then he sent me home with a checklist and told me to have a family member run through it and myself and bring it back in two weeks. So I went back and sure enough, he looked at it, and confirmed it, then proceeded to ask me if I knew what it meant. Well, duh, of course I did. The rest was kind of a blur, then he told me there's medication and talk therapy that can be done to help. He went over a couple medications and suggested one, then gave me a choice. I told him to put me on whatever he thinks would work for me, so he put me on Concerta. I was in and out of there within about 10 minutes..and I'm not exaggerating.

Fast forward to yesterday, when I had my 3rd appointment with him, after being on Concerta for about 3 weeks (18mg for the first week then 36mg after that). I went in there, he asked me how I was doing, to which I said I was fine blah blah blah but I don't think I can spill my life problems to him because that's not what I was there for, so. He asked me how it was going, medication and stuff, and I told him I don't notice too much of a difference other than my focus is a bit better, but I'm a bit more irritated and easily upset. He just wrote these things down..didn't really give an explanation as to whether he thought it was working properly or not, because I don't feel any different. Told him I felt less focused after doing 4 days of classes in a row where I had to get up really early and take my pill at an irregular time, and I was tired by 3pm, to which he said that it lasts generally about 8 hours, and that I should take it before I know I'm going to need it. Which won't help me if I have a long day, but I haven't had to deal with that, yet.

Losing track here, sorry, just needed to give a bit of detail as to what he is like, just in case maybe there is a pdoc that could be doing more?

He recommended me a book at the 2nd appointment, which I bought. He asked me(yesterday) if I had found it and if I had read it and I told him I had started it, and of course he kind of chuckled at that. I then proceeded to ask him about how he mentioned therapy (talk therapy) and if that's available for me to do and he said yes but he wanted me to read the book first and said "and then we will talk about the book and ways you can help ease your difficulties every day".

Does that mean that if I read the book the next time I see him we'll be discussing it? I've never had a visit with him that's been longer than 20 minutes, and I always feel that he is sort of in a hurry to get me out of there. He's not rude, and he does ALWAYS ask me at the end if there's anything else I have to ask him or want to say, but I just don't know WHAT to ask or say...my family doesn't really understand what ADHD is and I honestly(seriously though) don't think they really care, or really think it's a big deal.

My question basically, is are these visits supposed to be short? And are there things I need to be telling him or asking when I see him? I sort of feel alone in this, in the sense that I forget to write down how I'm feeling, and my family members ask me rarely how my meds are, but I just don't know what to tell them.

*I still get very frustrated, and my regular doctor even had to ask me if I had been to see the psych, because he hadn't sent over my files yet..she had no idea that I've started meds. She was the one who told me(not the actual psych) that it takes about 6-8(something like that) weeks for medication to have a full affect on you and for you to be able to tell that it's doing everything it's going to do.

Hi Music
I went through 43 years without seeing a psych. Year 43 was a Really tough year for me, sort of the perfect storm of new stressful job, bad economy, death of a family member who I worshiped top it off with a really flat point in my marriage. Anxiety attacks finally sent me to my GP, who sent me to a psych. I had scored sort of high on the bipolar quiz.

My first meeting with the psych was 30 minutes, I think, and it took him about 10 minutes to say that he thought I was ADD. I only knew the stereotype stuff about ADD and looked at him like he was crazy. He asked me to read a book and decide what I thought, prescribed some Klonopin for my anxiety (Thank Goodness) and sent me on my way. I read the book in a weekend and Knew he was right. My life changed instantly after my first Adderall.

Every meeting after the first was about 15 minutes, quick questions and I'm on my way. I don't think the psych's are supposed to talk through everything. They diagnose, prescribe meds, and check on you later to see how the meds are working. Three years later, I'm used to the 15 minute visit every six months. The visits are more frequent at first, while you figure out which med and how much work for you, then you meet twice a year to follow up.
As far as the stimulant meds go, it takes about 30 minutes for my adderall to take effect. Adderall is short acting, so you take 2 or 3 doses per day. The next morning, they are gone from your system and it's time to reload.

The short visits sound right to me. I hope things get better for you soon.

[musicsinmysoul]

Thank you, guess I'll stick with it and see how things go.

[krisakira]

Psychiatrist visits are usually 15 minutes from what I've experienced. A little longer for the initial evaluation like 30 mins or maybe even an hour. But from then on out they keep it short and simple. It's the therapy sessions that are 45-60 mins

Psychiatrist appointments tend to run in the 15 minute range if all that is going on is a basic med check. That's pretty par for the course no matter what the diagnosis unless the pdoc is also doing therapy with you. My son's ADHD appointments are long, but they are with a pediatrician still and his pediatrician is ALWAYS long-winded and the appointments have an aire of therapy to them. I have bipolar disorder and PTSD and my psych appointments also run about 15 minutes on average unless there is a real crisis going on that requires more discussion/intervention.

[PiperLeigh]

My initial visit at psychiatrist office was just under two hours (Requested the NP and so glad I did- she is very patient, kind, and thorough...and yeah, I'm a mess- Bipolar, PTSD, and OCD issues) But my subsequent visits have just been the standard 15 minute med check up to see how the meds are working and determine if any need to change or be adjusted.

[regretful]

Sometimes 15 full minutes with the psychiatrist is a luxury...It's often, "eating okay? sleeping okay? thinking of hurting yourself? taking your meds?"...in my experience, psychiatrists are medication managers; some are good; and some are not. It is usually the psychologists and clinical social workers that do the therapy. Good luck to you

[BlueInanna]

I think I got lucky, my pdoc does 1/2 hours with me. Sometimes we go over a bit but she doesn't charge me. We don't exactly do therapy, but she wants to know what's going on in my life that could be affecting mood. We talk out how I feel the medications are helping, whether or not to make a change. I don't always like what she has to say (like the BPII dx in addition to add). But it feels like the right amount of time. The frequency of visits depends on mainly severity on my depression. She feels I'm getting better so we're going to 6 weeks from 4 weeks.

I have never seen a pdoc solely for adhd, has always been a combo with depression/anxiety, so maybe they do it differently if it's only adhd. Actually, I have taken my kids to appts for only adhd and those actually lasted 1 hour. So maybe pediatric pdoc's spend more time.

It's up to you Music, to do what feels right to you. Stick up for yourself and change pdoc's if you need to. You could also say to him, "I feel like you're rushing me out of here, are you?" And see what he says. I would like to ask this guy that.

Originally Posted by regretful

Sometimes 15 full minutes with the psychiatrist is a luxury...It's often, "eating okay? sleeping okay? thinking of hurting yourself? taking your meds?"...in my experience, psychiatrists are medication managers; some are good; and some are not. It is usually the psychologists and clinical social workers that do the therapy. Good luck to you

I think we have the same Pdoc

Yep, every 3 months for 10 minutes ...15 if I am super lucky I really like him too. But he definitely isnt warm and fuzzy! I hugged him once and I think he just about fell over. Lol!

With my T, though, I have 50 min to 1 hour.

Originally Posted by Rose Panachée

I think we have the same Pdoc

Yep, every 3 months for 10 minutes ...15 if I am super lucky I really like him too. But he definitely isnt warm and fuzzy! I hugged him once and I think he just about fell over. Lol!

With my T, though, I have 50 min to 1 hour.

Not Hugging MY Pdoc

My Pdoc is a dude

Originally Posted by YYZadd

Not Hugging MY Pdoc

My Pdoc is a dude

Dude! Dudes need hugs too...despite their cool manner and nerdiness I bet your Pdoc would REALLY fall over if you hugged him. Lol!

Originally Posted by Rose Panachée

Dude! Dudes need hugs too...despite their cool manner and nerdiness I bet your Pdoc would REALLY fall over if you hugged him. Lol!

My Pdoc would not need a from Me

Maybe from some of the ladies, though

[BlueInanna]

Not hugging mine either. Saw her at a wedding recently, lol. We did a sly little wave hello, but didn't speak a word. Then at my table next to me sat my local pharmacist... it was strange!

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

Not hugging mine either. Saw her at a wedding recently, lol. We did a sly little wave hello, but didn't speak a word. Then at my table next to me sat my local pharmacist... it was strange!

My paranoia alarms would have gone off

[BlueInanna]

Originally Posted by YYZadd

My paranoia alarms would have gone off

Luckily I like weird stuff rofl

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

Luckily I like weird stuff rofl

I always say "If you've lost your sense of humor, you're in REAL Trouble )

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

Not hugging mine either. Saw her at a wedding recently, lol. We did a sly little wave hello, but didn't speak a word. Then at my table next to me sat my local pharmacist... it was strange!

Now THAT sounds like a party!

[musicsinmysoul]

I've looked into going to see a Psychotherapist, theyre both female(the place im looking at) and about an hour and a half away, but they're covered by our health plan from the government(I live in Canada). Psychologists are NOT covered and are really expensive and my parents coverage doesn't cover them. My psychiatrist apparently doesnt do therapy, and I feel like I'd benefit from seeing someone that i can sit down and talk to about my life, because for the past year I've been EXTREMELY stressed.....I got shingles twice within three months of each other...and I just turned 21.

Thanks everyone for your input, as I was seriously out of the loop with all of this since I've never been to a psych before. It's all new to me.

[musicsinmysoul]

One more thing, do any of you PREFER a pdoc that is the same gender as yourself? I find that I am more comfortable with my doctor because she's a female, as apposed to my psychiatrist who is a male, and a little intimidating, enough to make me not want to open up to him about things.....but I mean...he's there to prescribe meds...not get me to tell him how I'm doing. Cause if I answered that honestly, I'd be there for DAYS explaining everything I've been through that's led up to the way I am and feel now. I have a lot of excess baggage from my past, and all he's there to do is give me medication.

:/ Seems a bit strange.

[BlueInanna]

((Music)) I had shingles coming on last week, but took antivirals which put a stop to it. The last time I went to doctor about the shingles I was crying from being in pain all over my body, and the headaches. And my daughter 17 was there too with the same thing, we must've caught it at the same time. So they gave us each a bottle of antivirals that you take 2 (huge) pills one day, and then another 2 pills the next day. But if we don't take the antiviral, we'll be in bed miserable for about 8 weeks. So I really feel for you with that hope you can get the antiviral medicine like I did. Now I have a small supply to just take if it starts to come on.

I don't have a preference with male/female. I've had 1 male therapist I didnt care for, and 2 female therapists that I didnt care for. And I've seen many (between myself and the kids), so that's a low ratio. Most seem to me to be good at what they do. Most important is that you are comfortable, so that you'll feel free to open up and then they can really help. I think you just have to try a meeting with them and see what feeling you get from them.

[musicsinmysoul]

I'm sorry to hear that Blue!

I had shingles for the first time back in March, I was getting the weird sharp pains everywhere, and I saw a circular rash on my back and I had thought that it was Ringworm(had it when I was younger). It just so happened that it was when I was going to New York for the weekend with my mom and we drove there(11 hour drive from me), the second day we were there I woke up in a crap load of pain and the rash spread like crazy. I was in tears on the way home because my back hurt so much and I couldn't sleep, and I didn't know what it was and so I kept scratching it.

Ended up forking over $160 for pills, which the doctor said "may or may not work". Gee, thanks for the comfort doc.

I haven't seen a rash show up yet, but I've been getting the random pains lately and they're sudden, and I just feel like I might be getting it again.

I have never heard of antiviral medication for it..I'm in Canada, and I'm not even sure that we have that here, but thank you for mentioning it! I will definetly see if there is anything here.

[BlueInanna]

Yes, Music - if you can, get to a doc asap and request antivirals, let them know you've had shingles before (form of herpes) and that you feel it coming on again and they should give you the meds hopefully. It's best if you catch it before it fully develops. Holy cow it's painful.

[Travelinglady]

I admit that I didn't read all the posts on this thread, so pardon me if I'm repeating something. But I just want to say that visits with psychiatrists are now just for the purpose of medication management, so they don't last very long. If someone wants therapy, then they need to see a therapist--for maybe something like 50 minute sessions. Therapists are social workers, counseling psychologists, or clinical psychologists normally. It didn't used to be like this, but not surprisingly, the mental health field is now screwy this way.

[Miswimmy1]

Psychiatrist visits are usually 15-20 min and are usually once a month- once every six weeks

[swolf1036]

I have had ADHD my entire life and from the time I was in 4th grade until I entered middle school I saw a psychiatrist and personally it did nothing for me. I would tell you is see how it goes and if you feel like it is doing nothing for you stop going after I did things seem to get easier for me. But everybody is different.