Getting ADHD treatment in circles

[Redleaf1992]

Hey all!

Sorry, this is mostly a rant vent mixed in being keen to hear from people who go may have a little insight.

About 2 years I asked to be referred for a ADHD assesment. I'm in the UK so it was through the NHS (free national health care), but my doctor gave me the choice to do it by a company called psychiatry-uk, through right to choose. Right to choose is basically where the NHS pays a private company to do the assessment instead.

Back on early march I had my assessment with them, and they confirmed the diagnosis. The psychartrist said she wasn't sure if she could prescribe meds due to me self medicating HRT, annd other general complexities. She said she would get advice and respond back with the full assesment report.

Psychatry-UK says you should get your report back in about 20days of your assessment. I only got mine back a few weeks ago - so what roughly 4 months?

The report (which goes to my doctor) simply confirmed the diagnosis and said they are discharging me from their service with no further action from then, saying I would benefit from f2f services (whatever the fuck that means) and could look at medication from that.

Bare in mind they are soposed to be the ones to deal with the medication, they give no real explanation for discharging me, don't mention medicine advice at all in the report (other than that 1 short statement).

I messaged them multiple times, for advice on what is next and they have just cold shouldered me.

It's really fucked me in so many ways. I feel like a broken person and nothing fixable - but getting ADHD meds felt like the one thing which was going to improve my life - to help me cope with work in the short term.

Now even that's been torn away from. My doctor hasn't contacted me, he has just referred onto the NHS ADHD service (without my permission but w/e). But being bottom of the NHS wait list could mean years on years of me waiting until I get a chance to get meds - and even then they will probably reject me as well - it's such b.s.

I'm hoping that maybe as I'm already diagnosed I'm putting on a shorter wait list. My refferall said to read my report, but agaisnt f2f services means f all.

I just feel left in the dark with it all, back at square one (actually worse than square 1, with the NHS). And the one thing that gave a glimmer of hope for a small portion of my life has been torn down.

Does anyone have experience of ADHD services or been through similiar have any idea of what I might expect next. Am I really going to be waiting years again?

I'm really considering resourcing meds from less legit methods now - I'm so fed up with waiting.

 

[AnimeSlayersFan]

Have you tried ADHD meds yet? I might get my diagnosis tomorrow (getting the results and hoping that it helps me in some way, I think the assesment was for autism/adhd)

 

[Redleaf1992]

Have you tried ADHD meds yet? I might get my diagnosis tomorrow (getting the results and hoping that it helps me in some way, I think the assesment was for autism/adhd)

No havent tried adhd meds yet. Fingers crossed for you tomorrow! Hope it all works out well for you.

 

[AnimeSlayersFan]

No havent tried adhd meds yet. Fingers crossed for you tomorrow! Hope it all works out well for you.

Thanks! Do you want to ask me later? I live in a third world country and I've been "fucked up" for a while, so I have the suspicion that they'll let me try meds straight up if the diagnosis comes through. So I can then share my experience with this.
From what I've read and experienced, meds might help me, while taking some disadvantage perk with them.

Kinda like meds in fallout, probably a boost in some things with side effects. But hey, I gotta own up to it someday, maybe I have to accept the reality of a shortened life if it gives me a decade or two of good functioning under meds before I destroy my kidneys or whatever.

 

[Redleaf1992]

Thanks! Do you want to ask me later? I live in a third world country and I've been "fucked up" for a while, so I have the suspicion that they'll let me try meds straight up if the diagnosis comes through. So I can then share my experience with this.
From what I've read and experienced, meds might help me, while taking some disadvantage perk with them.

Kinda like meds in fallout, probably a boost in some things with side effects. But hey, I gotta own up to it someday, maybe I have to accept the reality of a shortened life if it gives me a decade or two of good functioning under meds before I destroy my kidneys or whatever.

Yeah for sure.

I imagine they will prescribe straight away if they can (and the diagnosis come in positive). In the UK there is a shortage of ADHD meds which makes there a long wait - but I don't think this is the same issue for other countries.

I don't really know how severe the side affects are. I don't think they would offer medication if it hurt the body too much.

That said quality of quantity for life as you say.

 

[orbit]

Bless you, the NHS really sucks right now. I've been considering an ADHD assessment, where I live it's a 7 year wait so I'll have to go through right to choose, probably at Psychiatry UK too.

Do you know what ADHD service your doctor has referred you too? That sounds strange to me because at least where I live the only ADHD service is the assessment service. I've had it before where after my autism diagnosis which was 2 years ago doctors still tried to refer me back for an assessment when I'd ask for support even though I was already diagnosed to get out of actually sending me off for support.

Maybe asking to be referred to a psychiatrist could get you the prescription? I swore that Psychiatry UK prescribed the medication also.

Have you considered contacting social services? They might be able to offer you some help regarding your ADHD. For me social services has been a bit iffy, but they came up with a care plan for me and my doctors to follow to make my autism more manageable and they did the same for my brothers ADHD.

Another good idea would be to ask the GP for an occupational therapy referral. Granted I don't know much about it because I've asked many times and my GP has simply refused to send off the referral and even lied about it- but my work coach said it can help with neurodiverse conditions. Could be something to look into.