So... I got new insurance with my work (I was insured under my father's insurance before), and yesterday I went to go see my new doctor to establish and talk about getting on a new ADD medication. She asked me how do I know I'm ADD... um... I've been ADD since I was 6 yrs old and it's not gonna go away. She thought that I couldn't possibly still be ADD because I'm "an adult now and most adults grow out of ADD." She had a very.... snotty, doesn't believe ADD is real, witchy (with a capital B) attitude! She wouldn't believe me when I told her I was ADD. She wants me to be retested. I've been ADD since I was 6 yrs old and I still am. She wouldn't even disscuss the different options available. Stupid woman!

Okay.... I'm done ranting. lol.

Sounds AWFUL!!! Can you get a new doctor right away?

wow, she sounds like a right *****!

Welcome to the real world of indinial folk who dont have a clue :)

I have found plenty of "bad" doctors out there, and only a few really "good" ones. But...some doctors ARE willing to learn. Many doctors have big egos, and can be pretty adamant about making their own diagnosis, rather than accepting what a patient tells them (or even accepting another doctor's dx).

I have heard of forum members printing out posts or threads they've found on the forums and have used them to either illustrate what they're experiencing...or, as a record of their actual experiences.

Hopefully she'll stop and actually listen to your symptoms. If not...she's not worth the paper her degree is printed on, let alone the fee you're paying (IMHO).

My psychologist (who's an ADD/Asperger specialist) isn't as bad as that, but she doesn't keep up with the new ADD findings and medications. When I told her about Strattera (which was prescribed by a psychiatrist who works close with her), she didn't even know what it is. It's relatively new in Belgium (6 months) but she should have known about it imo.

I'm considering going to my HR manager and asking if I can switch from the PPO to Kaiser. I've been a kaiser member from birth on, they have all my records and they know me there. I know how Kaiser works (PPO vs. Kaiser= VERY different.) and I think it would just be easier to stick with what I know. lol. The doctors at Kaiser are much nicer there and they listen to me.

I'm considering going to my HR manager and asking if I can switch from the PPO to Kaiser. I've been a kaiser member from birth on, they have all my records and they know me there. I know how Kaiser works (PPO vs. Kaiser= VERY different.) and I think it would just be easier to stick with what I know. lol. The doctors at Kaiser are much nicer there and they listen to me.

Does your employer already know about your diagnosis?

Yes. I've told them that I'm ADD and there are several of my superiors who also are ADD so they're understanding about it. They also know I'm not on any medication right now.

In my experience, I like to keep my ADD from people until I know them a bit more or can get a feel for the situation. I've worked at this place for a little over a year now. I don't mind telling people I'm ADD but it's not how I start a conversation. You know? It's not my opening line... I usually keep it to myself until it starts interfering with work/school. IE: Late to work... they talked to me about showing up late and I told them that I always had a problem showing up on time. That I was ADD, not to use it as an excuse, but it's a reason... why I have problems with showing up on time. The store adminstrator, who was in the meeting, told me he understood because he was ADHD too and he had to be anally orginized to be on time, and function and to do his job. I used to think he was just an anal retentive jerk but then there'd be times when he was nice and funny, but once I found out he was ADD... it all made sense. lol. Now I'm okay with him... I just don't like the store manager. lol... he's just mean and rude... but I think he's just over stressed and under qualified for the job. (The store manager knows NOTHING about how the front end is operated... he doesn't know how returns operates, he doesn't know much about cashiering, he probably doesn't know much about customer service... lol... he's stupid.)

My experience with employers and their health insurance plans are this: A company will negotiate with an insurance broker (or sometimes directly with a managed care company or insurance company) for the most affordable benefits plan, based on the number of employees to be covered, location of their employees (covering employees in more than on state or country can get very complex), and the amount of money they're willing to pay. Some companies (but not most) offer more than one health plan, so if that's the case for you, you're lucky.

I work for a huge buisness (I think they're a Fortune 50 or 500 company.) so they do offer a few different plans... when I signed up for my health coverage, I didn't know what I was doing, since I had never had to worry about it before. I'm pretty sure we have Kaiser and Blue Cross Blue Shield and Allstate (what I currently have).

Just musing here.. but is there any point to reporting a doctor such as this. We didn't even go to medical school and all of us realize she's completely ill informed.

Isn't that borderline dangerous. Not to mention her attitude about the whole thing... What if she feels that way about post partum depression too, and a new mom ends up offing herself because this "doctor" tells her she's fine, just needs to buck up.

I can't stand stupidity, but it really chaps my a** when the stupidity comes from a source that we look to for information, help, and support.

Geez. I really hope you have luck finding a new doctor that has both the left and right hemispheres of her brain.

My insurance plan doesn't even cover my office visits (until a certain yearly deductible is met, then they cover a small percentage).

If she doesn't "believe" that ADD is real, then there is little hope for you and her together.

If she doesn't "believe" that ADD is real, then there is little hope for you and her together.

Precisely. That's just not a situation that has the potential to work out well at all.

Hope you're able to find a new doc ASAP!

I hope I can find a new doctor too... I'm thinking of going into work early tomorrow so I can catch my HR manager before she leaves for the day.