Posted by jealibeanz on November 17, 2006, at 7:19:02
In reply to Re: aannd talked... » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on November 15, 2006, at 19:40:53
Thanks, I was absolutely terrified! But she was incredibly understanding and empathetic. It also helped that we were also just chatting a bit and another faculty member kept coming in, so we chatted with her too. Haha, I don't think she realized there was a serious dicussion going on, but we had the door open, which I didn't mind because classes were done so none of them would have walked in. We're all a bit odd and just joke about dumb stuff, so it took the edge off the serious parts of the conversation. I suspect she may have ADHD, and is a reason why she's was understanding. If not, she's either very good at pretending, or has read enough or seen enough ADHD patients to understand some of the things I was saying, which the average person just wouldn't understand.
It's such a strange condition, which this country still has a very inaccurate perception of. I think my condition takes it to the extreme! I would actually say I have very severe ADHD (inattentive).
However, I was able to sooorta develop my own coping skill due to my intelligence, completely normal family, friends, and childhood. I was always a little different, but who isn't? The academic problems popped up in undergrad, due to the lack of structure, new and ever changing environment, and added responsibility. Actually at the time, my friends and a well trusted mentor just made me feel horrrrrible and "neurotic" for doing poorly. They don't know I have it.
The original diagnosis was never told to me because the psychologist who did biofeedback and brain activity functioning tests was very alternative and not into labeling me, or at least not telling me. But I figured it out on my own based on his test results and my own reading.
With no effort of explaination was able to get meds from my PA and doc. (There's noooo doubt about the dx, though, I was just surprised it was that easy, but I guess they thought it was dx'd from a previous provider. Plus, I was given Klonopin for anxiety and Adderall to counter to sedation. My PA say the Adderall when I asked for an ADHD med, didn't realize the actual dx. Then on follow up with my doc, he thought he had been aware of it in the past too!) I know they're extremely busy and don't look at the chart too much. It's almost more like urgent care, unless you go in very regularly and they just happen to remember your history.
Hahaha... whatever... they're nice guys... the PA is very thorough, just missed that... my doc isn't, but I don't care, I love him and just have to make sure I'm my own advocate. He also is very open to suggestions from me and basically prescribes whatever I want. Weird, huh? I'd hope he doesn't do that with everyone. He's always had a lot of respect for me, even when a young, dumb, scared 19 yr old who he didn't know.
Now that he knows me and my family and my medical education/intelligence, well... I reallly have a lot of input! I need that though, as much as many healthcare providers would disagree with that type of practice (I actually would never practice that way, it's risky.), it's what I need. I have to think that I have a very very active role in my care and that basically everything was my idea. Doc's are shifting toward that anyway, but my doc's treatment with me is extreme.
That's hard sometimes because patients need provoking to get info and concerns out of them. That's why I've sometimes just tried to hide the anxiety and ADHD problems in the past, like when in for a sinus infection, because I was embarrassed and a little fearful of yet another drug with possible side effects.
poster:jealibeanz
thread:700765
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061117/msgs/704481.html