No Doctors in my area are helping me BECAUSE OF A PAST SUBSTANCE ABUSE HISTORY

[onelivingtrip]

No Dr's in my region are helping me/or even consider helping me out with meds (other than the non-stims) that I've been on a few times, and did nothing but make it more worse and "Foggier" for me and my symptoms...I do have a Drug History; which I know 100%, thats why I'm getting NO help, because substances from YEARS ago, and NOTHING one would consider an "Upper" kind of addiciton/abuse AT ALL. And personally, I don't think that it's humanely right in any means, or fair to someone like me, with a past of substance abuse, should have to be in my mid-twenties & GET NO HELP WHATSOEVER & get treated like GARBAGE..I get so angry & hopeless because I have absolutely NOTHING important in life, such as my G.E.D. yet, because of the symptoms, Can't get past the 1st page or paragraph or 2, of the literally, HUNDREDS of books that I own;ranging in a vast area of topics, (Because I do LOVE TO LEARN;Even while I was still in high school, before I quit, because I didn't know what was wrong with me regarding these problems I've had since Elementary, that are documented as "LEARNING DISABILITIES"--AND STILL WERE BEING INKED ON MORE OF MY PAPERWORK I HAVE, ALL THE WAY THROUGH SCHOOL UNTIL THE DAY I QUIT). I know there's MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE, Who are facing the same issues I'm having because of this or that, and the feeling is PURE HOPELESSNESS & PURE FRUSTRATING HELPLESSNESS. Does anybody have any suggestions or tips/help etc, that would help me in getting TREATED with the RIGHT MEDS (Which I've been on, a few years back; Adderall xr 30 mg's) & the "Non-Stims; Straterra 80 mg's (the supposed highest dose for that med)...Maybe find a new Doc who doesn't have any records of me, that do nothing but get me treated like dirt, and that awesome feeling of helplessness? Any & ALL HELP WOULD ME GREATLY & HIGHLY APPRECIATED..

THANKS.

[Abi]

New Doc.

Do not disclose your history.

[sarahsweets]

New doc. A specialist. Someone who understands the grips of adhd and addiction.

[oscurochu]

not sure what your drug of choice was when you had an active addiction in the past, but if it were meth, you could print out some online research that shows that many people who use meth are unknowingly self-medicating adhd and show it to your doctor. just google "adhd meth addiction," or really, any stimulant, "adhd cocaine addiction," crack, etc.

i would only do this for a current doctor, if you feel like it might help. just knowing a bit about drugs and how they effect people like yourself (adhd, etc) and being able to express that knowledge might open their eyes a little. it doesn't hurt to try.

otherwise, i'd just do what the other person said. find a new doctor, and either deny using substances in the past, or tell them you would rather not disclose that information to them at this time. you can tell them later about your addiction if you feel it's necessary, but they honestly don't need to hear your whole entire life story all at once, even if they ask for it.

my new doctor recommended psychotherapy and seemed to wanna avoid giving me stimulants after admitting to using meth. i made it clear to him that i would take my money elsewhere if he wasn't willing to work with me. he might be the doctor, but you're the one paying him. make it clear to him that you don't agree with his treatment options and you will find another doctor that is willing to work with you if he doesnt give you the help you feel like you deserve. sometimes you just gotta be a little assertive. it worked for me at least.

[Raye]

That's odd. My old pdoc knew of my addiction to prescription benzos ( he gave me librium to taper off them) and the first ADD med he gave me was Vyvanse...a stim..which was a complete and utter nightmare for me, so I was put on Straterra.

I agree with whoever said to see a new doc and not disclose your history of abuse. I know it's best to be honest but in this case it sounds like no one is listening that you really do need help.

Good luck.

[tortilaman]

Definitely find an ADD specialist. If somebody really knows about ADD, they will work with you despite your history of addiction. Starting by not telling them your history might be best though.

[onelivingtrip]

1st off THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU, WHO ALSO STRUGGLE WITH THIS BS MENTAL PALUGE OF HAVING ADD/ADHD..IT MEANS ALOT 2 KNOW THAT OTHER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY ON THIS SITE, REALLY DO CARE ABOUT OTHERS WHO THEY'VE NEVER MET. HIGH GRATTITUDE FOR ALL OF YOU GUY'S ADVICE/HELP & TIPS!! Anyways, that ALL sounds GREAT to me & sounds like a HECK OF A START on the road to getting taken care of..The only thing that I often have trouble with & am still worried about is that by going to a new doc, they're going to ask me, if I've ever been tested for it and diagnosed (which I have had both done & settled about 8 yrs ago now), and I just dont want to get stumped and have them get on my s**t about needing some or any sort of medical history, such as my adhd testing, that i passed with flying colors, and my diagnosis, and the documented proof of each of them..I just dont really know what to do if I'd be put in that situation yet again if it would happen (So they aren't thinking that I'm just there to "Doctor shop" and/or get a new fix and abuse the stims...Idk, anything anybody has got for me on that piece of this puzzle?? lol.I just DO NOT WANT TO BE PUT DOWN & SHUNNED AGAIN, WALKING OUT WITH NO HELP FOR THE 1,000 TIME. lol...Thank You ALL once again, and of course again, any help & advice would be SO APPRECIATED!! THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY!! GOD BLESS!

[onelivingtrip]

p.s. I'm also diagnosed with Bi-Polar too, and I know that that's an illness that gets mixed/tied up in the whole add/adhd dilemma..I was treated before for my manic depression and was totally relieved of my symptoms, but the adhd symptoms were all still there, so idk...Juts forgot to post that, because it's a very important piece of my ongoing issues..thanks again!!

[oscurochu]

doctors will either take your word for it, or evaluate you their self. psychiatrists probably aren't going to go out of their way to determine if you like to doctor shop, i think that's what the DEA's job is. think about how many people actually like to do other people's job? we all usually have enough on our plate. as long as you aren't seeing multiple doctors to receive multiple medications for the same class of drugs each month, i dont think it can be called doctor shopping. even for those who do doctor shop, i don't think that anybody steps in until it becomes persistent in the person's history. my reason for this belief is because of the amount of people that doctor shop and get away with it. not everybody gets caught the first time it happens, making it seem appealing to do it again and again. you really shouldn't have anything to worry about though if you are legitimately trying to find help and not abusing the system.

[CheekyMonkey]

Originally Posted by onelivingtrip

p.s. I'm also diagnosed with Bi-Polar too, and I know that that's an illness that gets mixed/tied up in the whole add/adhd dilemma..I was treated before for my manic depression and was totally relieved of my symptoms, but the adhd symptoms were all still there, so idk...Juts forgot to post that, because it's a very important piece of my ongoing issues..thanks again!!

I would find a pdoc that specializes in bipolar because THAT will be your downfall if you do not get stabilized. They will also be quite familiar with the pattern of drug abuse in bipolar patients and should be more understanding of your situation.

If you get stimulants before you are stabilized for your mood then it could be a disaster.

[Amtram]

Also keep in mind that if you have ADHD and bipolar, medications that treat one can make the other worse, so you really have to find a doctor who understands this and will monitor you closely. Once you do, be open to ideas of treatment you might not think are right, because sometimes they actually are.

[FogNoggin]

I worry about my daily pot usage.
I will have to insure my blood is clean before my testing on the 25 of this month.
I will tell them I am quitting and hoping meds can help stop my self medicating with so much coffee in the morning, and now cold and sinus medication for the pseudo-ephedrine.(experiment)

[Peripheral]

Originally Posted by onelivingtrip

No Dr's in my region are helping me/or even consider helping me out with meds (other than the non-stims) that I've been on a few times, and did nothing but make it more worse and "Foggier" for me and my symptoms...I do have a Drug History; which I know 100%, thats why I'm getting NO help, because substances from YEARS ago, and NOTHING one would consider an "Upper" kind of addiciton/abuse AT ALL. And personally, I don't think that it's humanely right in any means, or fair to someone like me, with a past of substance abuse, should have to be in my mid-twenties & GET NO HELP WHATSOEVER & get treated like GARBAGE..I get so angry & hopeless because I have absolutely NOTHING important in life, such as my G.E.D. yet, because of the symptoms, Can't get past the 1st page or paragraph or 2, of the literally, HUNDREDS of books that I own;ranging in a vast area of topics, (Because I do LOVE TO LEARN;Even while I was still in high school, before I quit, because I didn't know what was wrong with me regarding these problems I've had since Elementary, that are documented as "LEARNING DISABILITIES"--AND STILL WERE BEING INKED ON MORE OF MY PAPERWORK I HAVE, ALL THE WAY THROUGH SCHOOL UNTIL THE DAY I QUIT). I know there's MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE, Who are facing the same issues I'm having because of this or that, and the feeling is PURE HOPELESSNESS & PURE FRUSTRATING HELPLESSNESS. Does anybody have any suggestions or tips/help etc, that would help me in getting TREATED with the RIGHT MEDS (Which I've been on, a few years back; Adderall xr 30 mg's) & the "Non-Stims; Straterra 80 mg's (the supposed highest dose for that med)...Maybe find a new Doc who doesn't have any records of me, that do nothing but get me treated like dirt, and that awesome feeling of helplessness? Any & ALL HELP WOULD ME GREATLY & HIGHLY APPRECIATED..

THANKS.

Have you ever been diagnosed with having ADHD?

I would go through the motions of getting diagnosed(if you are not),

and don't mention anything about medication.

The doctors watch out for people who might be looking to abuse medication.

As well as parents who get their children diagnosed for ADHD,

so they can abuse there children's medication.

I read recommendations for Doctors to watch for.


Where I live,

it seems common to make adults to wait a year,

for a first appointment.

To start the diagnoses process.

I am guessing one reason seems to be,

is to see how serious the patient is,

and also watch for potential medication abusers.


If a person was never diagnosed with ADHD,

and the first thing they mention that they need medication,

is a big warning to me.

Because how do they know they need medication?

When I got diagnosed I wasn't even sure what ADHD was.

How would I know which medication was the best for me?

[Peripheral]

Another interesting thing,

I read Doctors watch for,

is people who will not admit they have ADHD.

but do.

I found that very interesting.


I think the best thing to do is tell the doctors everything,

and don't hold back any information.

They are trained to pick things form the information given.

Once I held back information,

and when I finally decided to tell a couple of years later.

Because of the "new" information the doctor changed my prescription for the better.


I thought they would take away my medication,

if I told them I had irritability issues.


But I was changed to a Slower Release and I almost don't have any irritable issues now.


Don't ask for medication til you have tried what the professional recommend.

I am not a professional and I could be wrong.

[Peripheral]

Originally Posted by onelivingtrip

p.s. I'm also diagnosed with Bi-Polar too, and I know that that's an illness that gets mixed/tied up in the whole add/adhd dilemma..I was treated before for my manic depression and was totally relieved of my symptoms, but the adhd symptoms were all still there, so idk...Juts forgot to post that, because it's a very important piece of my ongoing issues..thanks again!!

Sorry,

I forgot to take medication today.

And I just reread the parts that you said you where diagnosed for ADHD.


I was totally out of my league before on my comments.

Now I really out of my league.


After reading you have Bi Polar also.


Could being Bi Polar be a reason why they might not want to give you ADHD medication?

I really don't know.

But a few friends with Bipolar told me they where sensitive to ADHD medication?

.