I'm a wee bit nervous. I am going to see a Dr. next tues...the 14th...this will be the first time to see a Dr. about ADD. I am not good at talking about myself...especially the issues I have...I am scared I will screw it up.

I am scared I will screw it up.

Yeah, you better be careful. He might think you have ADHD or something.
:D

LOL Swamp Donkey...

I would just make a list of things you want to cover, and make sure you have it with you. (Put it in the car after you write it if you have to.)

I was really nervous the first time I saw my doc about ADD... but I think everybody's nervous the first time they go to a psychiatrist. :)

WAY TO GO !!! Great job taking the first step to truly helping yourself!

Have any idea how long your appt is scheduled for (locally our 1st appts are 1 1/2 hrs).
Is this a psychiatrist, counselor or GP?

Don't worry about having to talk about yourself too much there seems to be a script that the docs/counselors ask questions from to help them help you. In my case I babble when I get nervous and the pDoc had to keep putting me back on track 'or we'll never cover all these questions' oops;)

And remember if you don't feel comfortable with any certain subject that pops up just assert yourself, if you have to and say you're not ready to talk about this yet.
In my case I think the pDoc could read my body language because the subject/s I did not want to give details about were not prodded...if that makes sense.

Overall the whole thang was a breeze, well looking back now anyway.
I remember losing sleep over the dreaded first appt.
NOW I know that hey these docs/counselors want to HELP us not make us miserable...WHY did I wait SO LONG to get help???

Yes...it's a psychiatrist and it's an hour long session.

I suspect I will be asked "why do you think you have ADD" and I'm gonna stare at him w/ a blank face cause I won't be able to think of anything.

I'm gonna stare at him w/ a blank face cause I won't be able to think of anything.
Then he'll conclude you're ADD/Inattentive.

:D

I made a list before I went of all the things that I thought were related to the ADD and then when I got there the doc gave me a few quiz things to do and that really helped get the conversation started and helped us identify the problems. If I don't make a list before I go to a doctor's appointment I'm a disaster. LOL

Struggling,
Evaluations are a funny thing; I've had 5-6 in my life for different reasons/issues. If you go to one and tell them you have a drinking and drug problem, the examiner will come to certain conclusions. If you went to that same one, and said you had issues with say, sexual problems, they'd come to a different diagnosis. If you went in for an evaluation to determine your fitness for a certain job, it would be different still.
Sound far-fetched? Not all. It's all happened to me, except it was different Dr's each time. Does this mean their DX's were wrong? No, they were making a diagnosis based on what I told them, and they couldn't diagnosis things I didn't tell them about. (Mostly because I didn't know myself!)

So, don't be afraid to go in armed with a written list of why you think you have ADD, with specific questions, or anything else related. The Dr. may or may not "accept" your self-diagnosis, but to me a good Dr. will ask the patient where it hurts, and take their answers seriously.

Thanks....I will write it all down

Just wanted to wish you a good day tomorrow. :) :)

Good luck and let us know what the outcome is!

It didn't turn out all that good. He focused a lot on my childhood, and my mom, who's bi-polar....which is obviously a huge issue for me. I cried through most of the 1.5 hr session and wasn't able to really describe my symptoms...and no, I didn't print anything out and take it w/ me....I dunno why....so as a result of me not being able to express myself properly...and freaking out at the childhood crap....he thinks I have depression and a mood disorder, w/ a "little bit of ADD". Had I been able to convey my feelings and thoughts properly, and then he came up w/ that diagnosis....I'd say yeah, ok...but as it was...I disagree w/ that. He wanted to put me on prozac to treat the depression first...and then he'll treat the ADD after depression is taken care of. Now, I can get depressed....even a lot depressed, but I am certain that it is a by-product of the ADD, I know this because when I was at my best in terms of ADD symptoms...I had no depression whatsoever...and when my ADD symptoms are at their worst, I get depressed. So I told him I don't think I have depression and I'm not taking prozac. He gave me a weeks worth of ritalin to try. So I will try it. And then I will see. Maybe I am just crazy and need to see a shrink...who knows....I obviously have major issues w/ my childhood that I just have not dealt w/ at all.

Your childhood sounds similar to mine in a sense. I have some issues that i have not delt with, but prob should. I guess my thought would be to see a shrink. Not only will this give u a chance to "talk out your probs" and it gives the shrink a chance to get to know more about u, and really see if u have ADD. I don't think u can make a diagnosis based on one meeting with a doc, but hey, that is just my opinion! I would explore some other options and see where that leads u.

Sounds like you'll be seeing him again, soon, at least. Maybe then you'll have an opportunity to convey your feelings better. If it helps, you don't sound any crazier than I feel. :D

Struggling,

Sorry to hear it went so rough, but don't give up. Finding a dr. you can work with isn't always easy especially when we're talking about psychologists and psychiatrists. Personality counts for so much and sometimes it just doesn't click.

It sounds, too, like you were really worked up (agitated) going in and by a second appointment maybe all that tension will be gone. I know that when something is really important to me I will get myself into such a state that I will often muck things up.

Try and remember it is a process and you can't force it. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other!

Hang in there!

Kim

are you supposed to have to wait months in between visits? He said i won't be able to see him till end of january/beginning of february cause he's so booked. If he's too bloody busy for me why can't I get a dr who isn't...this is my life he's putting on hold here.

And I don't want to see a shrink...I don't want to talk about my childhood and crap. I want to deal w/ the ADD and that's it. And if he needs to analyze my relationships w/ people as a kid and everything else then forget it...I don't need to be diagnosed.

Do you have a reg. md. that you growed up with that you could possably talk to about it. Seems like a long time to see that phyc. again, you would think since your new and he just gave you a weeks wouth he would want to follow up about that.

he said if I want more ritalin that he gave me another month's worth...and to make an appt w/ my family dr after the week is up so he can give me the months script. I dunno...I'm not thilled w/ this whole thing...at all.

Struggling,

I feel for you woman!!!
That's been my prob with going to shrinks too the childhood thang it's so painful I refuse to go there, I only briefly state the facts and become kinda/sorta uncooperative with volunteering any details.

Looking from the docs/counselors perspective, I'm guessing that being in the biz of brains they're truly interested to learn what happens when you start from X childhood and proceed to X adulthood.

Yes the booked issue is also happening in our county, with all the cutbacks in gov spending we are in a mental health crisis:(

I also think that it must be some sort of Dr. rule #1 ALWAYS deal with the life threatening POSSIBILITY of depression first
ya never heard of a bridge jumper being caused by ADD, right?

On the bright side your doc will probably never again take the time to 'dig' into your past, your visits from now on will be 1/2 hr discussions on how your getting along with X meds and any other progress reports --

were you given NO HOMEWORK or therapy plan? No groups or counselor to go to???
You have TWO weeks of meds and a month before you can see him again?
I'd book him NOW and when you do ask if it's possible to get in sooner for a quick/5 min med consult...say in 2 weeks when your trial of Ritalin is out!

does not compute, does not compute
I really don't get it either I'm feeling frustrated just trying to figure this doc out meself:(

I was given nothing but a tentative diagnosis of a mood disorder and depression and a script for ritalin.

he asked several times and in numerous ways if I ever was suicidal...i've never been suicidal...has never ever even came into my head...I am not THAT depressed.

I disagree w/ this diagnosis and I'm just not accepting it....I know myself better than he does after an hour and a half session. I will deal w/ this on my own...I have done it before and I am far more educated on ADD than I was back then

Oh, How I understand that. I had to switch reg. doc. because of insurence reasons, the first time I went it was because I wanted some valuim because I was crying all the time about everything, I have been back 3 times and everytime he asks me if I think about hurting myself or other people and asks me these other questions, he's always trying to put me on an antidepressent. I told him "I was not depressed, I just couldn't control my emotions sometimes." then the last time I told him "Look if I find myself sitting in a dark room by myself, without wanting to talk to anyone and having crazy thoughts, I'd let him know" It gets frustrating trying to get someone else to understand you sometimes but on the same note, its got to be hard, being on their side of the table. I see your point I just wish I knew how to help...

Hmm, initially, I would see my doc once a month, or sooner if I had side effects that were too much to deal with. I guess I'm lucky that I can get an appt within a week if I need it. As a matter of fact, I'm going to see him today (was not supposed to see him until Feb. 6).

Now that I'm doing well with the meds, he generally tells me to come back in 2-3 months and makes sure my prescriptions will last at least until then.

My situation is a bit different in that I had already been diagnosed by a neuropsychologist before I ever saw the psychiatrist, though. He was a little skeptical at first, but went along with me because I had already had many hours of testing done. I started with Strattera because I had a cardiac history and he did not want to prescribe stimulants until I had been at least checked out by a cardiologist.

Here's what I have to say about that diagnosis... who cares, as long as you get the help you need. If the Ritalin works, then it will help you get the ADD under control, which is what you needed. I'm sure you'll feel better/less depressed when that happens. Who gives a crap what DSM code is in your file besides the insurance company, anyway? If you get the ADD to where it's managable and still feel depressed and miserable, then, if you decide you want to take something for the depression, you can do that.

I did it the other way around, again. When I went for my first visit at the psychiatrists' office, I mentioned I had been treated for depression before but never took any meds for it. I didn't feel particularly depressed at the time, and I had an ADD dx already. (I guess, technically, it was ADD/LD/mild depression, but, heh, I was depressed mostly because I felt like a loser because I had ADD. :P)

Today, I'm more aware that the depression was a problem for me independent of the ADD. I wasn't really depressed "about" anything, I had just been depressed for so long, I didn't know how to not be depressed. I got started on Wellbutrin after I started having daytime sleepiness on the Strattera, and it made a HUGE difference in both the ADD & depression. My chart still says ADHD inattentive, though, no mention of a dysthymia dx, and it doesn't matter to me.

A lot of the ADD stuff is so much better now that I have other problems... lol. What I mean is that the meds, therapy, support from friends & family, and my educating myself have made my ADD symptoms better to such a degree that now I'm having some issues with LD that were not important before. Even though I still have problems (lol, I got enough problems to keep that office in business forever, I think), I consider it progress because I'm having different problems. :P Eh, man, if this wasn't an ADD board, that would make no sense, lol.

I know the real problem is that you felt brushed off by this doctor. I feel SO lucky that I haven't had any of these horror stories happen to me that I read about other people with their docs. My psychiatrist takes me and adult ADD seriously, he's a good guy, and he cares about me (and, I'm sure, all his patients.)

I think, what I'd probably do in a similar situation is take my Ritalin and maybe some herbal tea or something, go see my best friend, and get a hug from somebody. If you go to see your friend, either take your Ritalin with you or take it right before you go, and see if he makes any comments about how you are. My best friend has told me I seem a lot calmer on my meds, and that has helped me a lot just to know that other people see a difference, and it's not just me.

But, yeah, take your meds, get some support, RELAX, and don't worry about what some silly doctor thinks or what diagnosis is on the paper. Just concentrate on feeling better. MY diagnosis is ADD and stress, so go fill this prescription for 1 hug with lots of refills. :D

Struggling,

I cannot remember if you have insurance or not.

If you are working under an insurance plan, the doc's diagnosis is needed for you to qualify for a co-pay, although either ADD or depression would work, in my state anyway.

I hate to see you just 'do it on your own' when I know that it's just a matter of finding the right doc to make your life EASIER. This first step wasn't suppose to make you nuts darnit, it's so frustrating!

I'm wondering if this doc is one of those ADD doesn't exist guys?

Did he or his receptionist say he has experiencing treating/diagnosing ADD?

I have no insurance. I have no idea if he has experience w/ ADD. He comes into my family dr's office every other week. So I just went to him cause they said he was good and he was there. It's not really the Dr's fault at this point...had i been able to say what my symptoms were instead of just crying like an idiot, I'm sure he'd have said something else.

Struggling don't beat yourself up over this appt. Put it in the past and just concentrate on the Meds. of Christmas right?!!! Get yourself one of those little composition books and each day, just right one thought about yourself that describes your adhd. and by the time you go back if you need to talk to him or someone else about this, you'll have this, but you have to take it with you next time... Merry Christmas :p

Ok...the more I think about it...the more I am not liking this dr. He didn't even discuss whether I should use caffeine or ephedrine w/ Ritalin or not...both of which I told him I used.

As a side note....I took 20 mg of Ritalin SR at noon today. It was very slow acting and I didn't feel like the fog was gone till about 2 hrs after taking it, and even then, it didn't feel completely gone. If this is how it's going to work...it's not going to work, lol....I don't see much point in it if I still can't think for two hours at the beginning of my day and it barely has any effect on me. Now...I was off work today, and back tomorrow...so that will be the real test I guess. I'm not sure how all the different types work..long acting/short acting/slow release....I would prefer to be able to take something and notice an improvement much faster than 2 hrs!

Ephedrine on it's own is risky (did your dr talk about why ephedrine was banned?), so taking it with another stimulant is probably not a good idea. You're right - your doctor should have mentioned that.

OK, so the Dr. didn't do what you wanted him to do. I think you'll find that this isn't such a big deal in terms of your long-term treatment. This was just one step of many.

If you recall, I was put on Prozac in 1991 for depession. The funny thing was, it also cleared up a whole list of life-long problems that were not even closely related to depresion. When I was DX'd ADHD in 2001, I was finally able to give a name to the other symptoms.
Sometimes I think about trying Ritalin or other stimulants, but what I'm on now works so well there really isn't a pressing need to. Also, having to remember to take something on a schedule, such as every 4 hours or whatever, would be pretty difficult for me. I'm lucky to remember the Prozac 5 days in one week!
Try the Ritalin for a week or two; give yourself time to adjust or adapt to it.
The first few times I took Prozac, I mean the very first time, and then re-starting it after being off for a month or more, the side effects for the first few weeks were pretty weird: no sensation of being hungry, dry mouth, moments of feeling high, paranoia for the 3rd day where I'd lock my self in my house and not answer the door or the phone.
Then, everything would subside, and I'd come to a smooth, calm state of balance and focus.

Ephedrine on it's own is risky (did your dr talk about why ephedrine was banned?), so taking it with another stimulant is probably not a good idea. You're right - your doctor should have mentioned that.

I am well aware of the "risks" of ephedrine on it's own. And I already knew that taking too many stims at once was bad. But he doesn't know I know that...he should have said something.

I am trying it again today...I will report back later :D

Good Luck < I go to the doc tomorrow.

Is it your first time?

I am definitely feeling this today. I am still foggy in the brain...but I have a definite improvement in the "let's get this done" area....which is one of the major problems I have....procrastination and motivation to finish anything. So I am hopeful :D

Yes it is my first time, I hope I don't have a brain fart and not come across correctly myself. I have the same problem as you, getting done certain things, is difficult, I'm glad you see some improvment, I hope it continues...