[D157R4C73D]

As far as I can tell it seems like 'professionals' I've seen seem to want to dance around the fact I have ADHD. I've seen three doctors over the years. Two psychiatrists, and one psychologist. The first doctor I went to I had to see through a social worker. At the time I was trying to sort out what my problems were, and I thought that I might have something like Asperger syndrome. I couldn't have been more wrong, but the doctor didn't seem to want to diagnose me with ADHD even though I get the impression that's what he believed I had. He wrote me a trial script for Provigil, which helped with focus immensely but gave me heart palpitations and left me unable to sleep at night even at half doses. I eventually stopped going to the social worker, because I got the impression she was acting like some sort of gatekeeper trying to keep me from being a 'thief.'

About the same time I saw a psychologist that mentioned ADHD ten minutes after our session started, but I wasn't able to afford to continue seeing her. I wanted to see if I could get better care if I paid the bill myself. Turns out I could, but it wasn't economically feasible for me.

The last doctor I saw was a quack at a hospital my mom lied to have me committed to. He told me flat out that I didn't have ADHD. (which I didn't even bring up) Said 'You wouldn't have been able to get through school.' Mind you I finished high school with a 1.4 GPA, and it took me three tries and 11 semesters worth of classes to graduate from college. (this in spite of the fact that I'd test in 95 plus percentile on standardized tests in school) He also said I don't exhibit hyperactive tendencies, and looked massively offended when I mentioned inattentive type ADHD.

Anyway, I've pretty much given up on the notion of ever getting an official diagnosis, but I'm wondering if other adults have had the same uphill struggle.

It seems pretty plain to me what's wrong, and two out of three doctors (and I suspect the third one knew as well) seem to suggest that I have ADHD. Why would they do this? Do they think I'm an addict out for my fix? Do they think I'm going to try to live like a king on that pittance you get from disability? It seems like they hand these diagnoses out left and right to kids, but why is it that they're so hesitant to diagnose an adult that's pretty obviously been struggling with the problem their entire life?

[growlithing]

As a child, I was frequently misdiagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. When I was in the hospital for SI, the psychiatrist on call also "diagnosed" me with that. When I was actually in the psych ward, my team of psychologists laughed at that diagnosis because it's clearly incorrect. The thing about all of the "professionals" who would diagnosis me with Asperger Syndrome is that they would always ALWAYS make that call within the first ten minutes of meeting me. I remember quite vividly when I was 12 going to a psychologist and I said one sentence to her and she replied with "yeah I can already tell you have Aspergers" because of the vocabulary I used.

People also overlook my hyperactive tendencies. I don't know why. My official diagnosis is inattentive ADD "with ticks" but my current psychiatrist/therapist strongly suspect I actually have ADHD with both inattentive and hyperactive tendencies. I talk really fast while sometimes interrupting people, I absolutely never sit still, and I am constantly fidgeting.

I think they do this because there is this strange commonly held belief that ADHD is a childhood diagnosis and that people outgrow it. I think it's an over diagnosed condition in children and that's why it appears as if people outgrow it

[Maus5321]

Adhd research has really started come on strong in the last 20 yrs or so, but a lot of the doctors who are still in practice under the old model or are set in there ways do not bend there principle's. Most of the time they do not take the time to research the condition, it easier for them just to dismiss the condition and label you with something, but really all they are doing is having a closed mine in there treatments and diagnosis.

The other thing to keep in mind is that some doctors you talk to, if you hint or have an idea of a condition you may have and it is true. That can really ding there ego's so they will play mickey mouse run around games with you and do a bunch of non sense treatments when they have the diagnosis right in front of them. There just not open minded enough to accept it.

For an example, I recently started seeing a psychiatrist because she was a specialist in adhd and she had been in practice in the range of 10 to 13 yrs, which means she probably had adhd showed to her or did research on it while she was in school as she was in school to be a doctor around the time adhd research was taking off. It is hard to find the right doctor though, gotta get lucky.I have been through 2 psychiatrist's and 1 psychologist. she is my 3rd psychiatrist. What set her apart though is she was open minded and tried to get to know you rather then bombard you with papers and written tests to see what you "have". She tries to learn my symptoms through talking to me rather then through written tests and protocols, I am not saying there is no use for written tests, but I feel that many mental health professionals rely on them to much.

Anyway sorry for going off on a tangent, back to my story, I had an appointment set up to see my normal doctor 1 month ago now, well for whatever reason she dropped off the radar and was not around and no one knew why, not even her receptionist. I was almost out of my medication, under 7 days left. Well my doctor had set up a refferal to another doctor at a company, I had dealt with the company before and they had a cookie cutter mold to diagnosing things, I had bad luck with company/psychiatrist/psychologist I saw there before at a different office. But this was a different location so I tried to keep an open mind. The front office staff was great, but man when I went and talked to the nurse practitioner before I talked to the psychiatrist, she was dumb as a rock, I constantly shake my leg or tap a pen or something when I am sitting. So through out the appointment every time I attempt to tell her my story, like I did for my other doctor, she says let me ask questions or lets get back on topic. The whole my leg is shaking and she keep's asking me if I am anxious, I tell her no everytime, my leg always shakes. I have to move it has been that way since I was a child. So she is going down the route of anxiety, and keeps handing me this questionnaire thing's for ocd, it is like really do you listen to me at all. well get through the whole appt finally, I am really frustrated at the end and she says she has to go get a doctor to get my prescription filled. The doc comes in talks to me for a bit and asks me the same damn question, are you anxious. I am like no, the lady there asked me that 3 or 4 times and the answer to her was no as well, I do it to keep myself from exploding, I feel liek if I cannot move I will explode, he goes oh you just seem anxious. I reply I assure you I am not, I am more frustrated at this point because they are both so closed minded talking to me. Then the doctor says we are not attacking you or not believing you on your diagnosis, well I feel like I am being attacked I tell him.( I am unemployed to so not alot of money to throw around.) Well you need to get properly tested for you to obtain the diagnosis. He then says I want you to get tested for anxiety, depression, adhd, ocd. I am like are you gonna pay for this lol. he is like no. well I can't afford I tell him. He is like oh. SO they give me the number to the place to call and the lady in the room tells each test is 300 hundred dollars. I am like, are you bat **** crazy, 300 bucks. If I was working I would do it. no problem. Well anyway after I left with my prescription at least, I did some research on the place they wanted me to go for testing, turns out the person to do the testing was an employee for the same lame company the psychiatrist and N.P. I saw. All they see is dollar signs disguised as protocols.

Cliff notes after all my rambling above:
1. Find doctors/staff who do not try to fit everyone into a single cookie mold. No one is the same and nobody should be treated the same.
2. Try and find offices that are not part of big umbrella corporations, they see dollar signs before they see patients.(They will try to pass of the testing as protocol's, so it pays to do your homework before go do there testing and line there pockets.)
3. Finding people in private practice for themselves is good or find small single office companies is good to.
4. Above all go in there prepared to do your homework on the workers, If it does not feel right to you it probably isn't, You have to almost be selfish as it is not about them it is about you and your health above all. You have to be your own advocate, if you won't they will walk all over you.

--Maus

[D157R4C73D]

Seems like something like anxiety would be a co-morbid condition that was probably at least partially brought on by the ADHD.

I assume if you had some sort of agenda where you wanted fewer people diagnosed with ADHD you could probably swap the dx to anxiety in a lot of cases pretty easily.

[Maus5321]

Originally Posted by D157R4C73D

Seems like something like anxiety would be a co-morbid condition that was probably at least partially brought on by the ADHD.

I assume if you had some sort of agenda where you wanted fewer people diagnosed with ADHD you could probably swap the dx to anxiety in a lot of cases pretty easily.

Oh definitely, that is what doctors will do instead of trying to get the real diagnosis or venture into an area they may not be strong in. Besides, it is easier to diagnose anxiety and depression. It is easier to just label someone as anxiety or depression. That is why it is important to be proactive about your own care.

[kyungjung75]

Yes, but that's because I grew up in the early-mid 80s, and I'm female.

[D157R4C73D]

Originally Posted by kyungjung75

Yes, but that's because I grew up in the early-mid 80s, and I'm female.

I grew up about the same time. I think that, in general, the inattentive types get missed more than anything else. I'm guessing that the main reason they even started treating the hyperactive ADHD cases was to stop disruptive behavior in class. If a kid's just sitting over in the corner daydreaming it's not a problem for the teacher.

[Maus5321]

I was little after you two but I also grew up around that time. Although I was late 80's early 90's. I slipped through the cracks at that time I believe.

[yellowfrog268]

Originally Posted by D157R4C73D

As far as I can tell it seems like 'professionals' I've seen seem to want to dance around the fact I have ADHD. I've seen three doctors over the years. Two psychiatrists, and one psychologist. The first doctor I went to I had to see through a social worker. At the time I was trying to sort out what my problems were, and I thought that I might have something like Asperger syndrome. I couldn't have been more wrong, but the doctor didn't seem to want to diagnose me with ADHD even though I get the impression that's what he believed I had. He wrote me a trial script for Provigil, which helped with focus immensely but gave me heart palpitations and left me unable to sleep at night even at half doses. I eventually stopped going to the social worker, because I got the impression she was acting like some sort of gatekeeper trying to keep me from being a 'thief.'

About the same time I saw a psychologist that mentioned ADHD ten minutes after our session started, but I wasn't able to afford to continue seeing her. I wanted to see if I could get better care if I paid the bill myself. Turns out I could, but it wasn't economically feasible for me.

The last doctor I saw was a quack at a hospital my mom lied to have me committed to. He told me flat out that I didn't have ADHD. (which I didn't even bring up) Said 'You wouldn't have been able to get through school.' Mind you I finished high school with a 1.4 GPA, and it took me three tries and 11 semesters worth of classes to graduate from college. (this in spite of the fact that I'd test in 95 plus percentile on standardized tests in school) He also said I don't exhibit hyperactive tendencies, and looked massively offended when I mentioned inattentive type ADHD.

Anyway, I've pretty much given up on the notion of ever getting an official diagnosis, but I'm wondering if other adults have had the same uphill struggle.

It seems pretty plain to me what's wrong, and two out of three doctors (and I suspect the third one knew as well) seem to suggest that I have ADHD. Why would they do this? Do they think I'm an addict out for my fix? Do they think I'm going to try to live like a king on that pittance you get from disability? It seems like they hand these diagnoses out left and right to kids, but why is it that they're so hesitant to diagnose an adult that's pretty obviously been struggling with the problem their entire life?

Just a thought; set up an appointment with a pdoc or therapist for the very specific purpose of being tested or evaluated for ADD/ADHD and make sure this person is well versed in diagnosing/treating adults with the disorder. They do exist and it's usually a flat fee for a two (or more) hour appointment. There are specialists who will provide this service regardless of whether or not you become their patient long term.

[D157R4C73D]

I'm a little hesitant to go back at this point, but if I could set up something like you're describing I might try it.

[Maus5321]

Originally Posted by D157R4C73D

I'm a little hesitant to go back at this point, but if I could set up something like you're describing I might try it.

I was in your boat not to long, but I researched around on the internet and I found someone in my area who has a specialty in add/adhd and I st up an appointment, went and seen her. She was very receptive the break I needed. It is hard but you might just have to take a chance and go for it. But do your research, they are out there and are willing to help! Just have to find the right one.

[kyungjung75]

D157R4C73D,

Inattentive is not the word to describe my behavior growing up, but I guess its assumed that girls don't act out the way boys often do. I was extremely hyper! During my first few years in school, the teachers dreaded me more than the "worst boys"--in fact--if there was another disruptive boy in the class, he was my "side-kick." I remember one day (2nd grade), I was in the back of the classroom doing what I normally did: 1.) apply Elmer's Glue onto the palm of my hand, spread it out ever so evenly, watch it dry, and then attempt to pull it all off in one piece. 2.) transform my classwork into spit-wads and launch into the air in as many fun ways as possible (the one that makes it to the front of the class is probably going to get me into trouble, but eh, this is fun!). 3.) Simply refuse to do any work--sitting down hunched over a desk--really?? Whenever I was pulled into the hallway or to the Principal's office my loyal "side-kick" Nathan would stand up and announce, "If she goes, -I- go!"

Funny in hindsight.