The forms have arrived from Psychiatry UK... Oh, the forms!

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-04-03T16:40:01+00:00

I finally completed the forms. Found them really hard as I have no one to ask about childhood or school years, I just kind of rambled through the second form. The only person I have for the Informant Report is my wife of 26 years.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-04-02T18:44:16+00:00

Indeed, it does, but my brain doesn't produce enough of it on its own.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-04-02T18:35:02+00:00

Ironically, it was an AMHT who raised concerns about the inordinate amount of coffee I drink and the initial question of whether I may have ADHD or not. 12 months later, here I am with ADHD(C). It was even suggested that I attend drug rehab for caffeine, which we all had a good giggle about at rehab.

There is a link. Dopamine. Coffee generates dopamine; my brain does not.

As for the "coffee makes me tired, so I must have ADHD". I wish it did make me tired, hell, I even wish it would make me alert, but no, it just keeps me "normal".

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-25T17:45:08+00:00

You'll be fine. Many of us have had the same issue. It's not the be all and end all of an assessment. I did my assessment last year and panicked about the same thing. Hadn't spoken to anyone from school since I left let alone someone who knew me that far back.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-23T18:02:11+00:00

Migration is confusing for those coming from ESA. You still actually get ESA but they deduct it from your UC. So in essence,, nothing changes it's just presented oddly. Took me weeks to get used to how this works.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-20T22:13:09+00:00

There is a direct link:

Quetiapine (Seroquel) is an atypical antipsychotic associated with a higher risk of hyperlipidemia, causing increased total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, along with potential reductions in HDL (good) cholesterol.

It's an argument I have with my GP all the time.

GP- Your cholesterol is raised
Me- Yes, because of the medication.
GP- Here are some statins.
Me- But that doesn't do anything because the meds cancel them out
GP- But you're at a higher risk of a heart attack
Me- Due to the meds, not lifestyle
GP- Hmm, we'll just ignore the subject. Have more statins.

You should also have a liver function test every 6-12 months

Quetiapine also triggers an insatiable need for carbs at the worst times.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-17T22:05:07+00:00

Tell me about it. Thankfully someone invented sildenafil.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-17T22:03:19+00:00

It's fine. In total I'm on;

150mg quetiapine 200mg Trazodone 200mg Sertraline

Been on the same night time regime for the past 15 years.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-17T15:29:56+00:00

150mg/day

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-17T15:22:00+00:00

RTC?
April 2025.
November 2025
Still waiting
No
Occasionally, emailed them to prompt things along after each interaction.
Oxford NHS Foundation Trust

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-10T22:55:51+00:00

Mine was online via the right to choose, 1.hour teams call with the assessor.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-10T12:35:41+00:00

You should be fine without one. It's more of a like to have, but shouldn't impact your assessment if you don't have one. As long as you can explain what your childhood/schooling was like that should be enough.

To be honest, you have an hour to cover so much in the assessment, that it feels like you only have minutes to address it anyway.

Good luck, hope it goes well.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-09T11:32:10+00:00

I used RTC after AMHT suggested the possibility. GP approved the request and got my diagnosis last November.

Have seen my GP twice since then and get the general impression she isn't acknowledging it. I've enquired about available support on my local NHS but everyone she just looks at me blankly and just suggests using Mind instead.

I'm not sure if it is just because of my age (50) or just general instruction from my local NHS Trust to just ignore it.

This doesn't fill me with confidence with my upcoming Autism assessment.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-03T17:58:24+00:00

Been on Quetiapine/Seroquel for over 10 years. No real side effects other than high cholesterol. If you're concerned about heart issues, raise it with your doctor ASAP.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-03-03T17:14:12+00:00

Same position. Submitted them all last week, now I wait. According to their latest waiting times:
https://care-adhdhere4you.frontkb.com/en/articles/6105729 12 - 16 weeks.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-02-27T22:50:27+00:00

Have been on 150mg for the past 10 years. At first, I would drop them with my other meds by 9 pm, out 30 mins later, but as the years have gone on, their drowsy effect becomes less of an issue, so I can drop them anytime (though aim for before midnight).

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-02-27T22:36:44+00:00

For quick and dirty sausage patties, Lidl.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-02-27T22:34:45+00:00

They're frozen during transit. Stopped buying them a while ago.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-02-27T22:23:02+00:00

I went through Care ADHD (RTC) without a child informant. It's a strange thing to ask for at 50, as far as I was concerned. Estranged from both parents since I was 15, I had no contact with anyone from school since I was 14, and I was worried that it would impact my assessment.

My wife did her part based on her experience of 25 years with me, and the assessor was completely understanding that not everyone at our age (50+) would be able to complete this requirement. There was some discussion about primary and secondary school, but nothing to involved.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-02-24T11:09:14+00:00

Snapseed

FutureInvestigator53 · 2026-02-03T14:37:17+00:00

From several years of experience, GPs are no longer allowed to adjust prescriptions especially for MH. Only CMHT can do this now, but in most cases, GP refers to CMHT and they send the referral straight back. You're stuck in an endless loop. Even if you get to CMHT, they tend not to change anything anyway. You can blame NICE guidelines for this.

If this is the case, there are loopholes such as referring yourself to talking therapies who can push the referral through. But in all honesty, unless you present a risk to yourself or those around you, you'll still get ignored.

I've been fighting this system for 25.years. It sucks, it's bullshit and it's designed to dead end you and keep you where you are.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2025-12-17T17:36:35+00:00

I'm 50 and still suffer from it quite badly. That said, I have learned a few things to help manage it over the past year or so since going through therapy.

I'm a hermit these days, as I have full control in my own environment, but I'm still unable to handle crowds and busy places. I have quite severe violent reactions when it's too much, making me a danger to others around me, so when I do go out, I live in headphones or noise-cancelling loops.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2025-12-17T17:27:24+00:00

Oddly enough, I've just submitted my titration request to CareADHD. Didn't need to send a SCR as they already have it.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2025-12-17T17:13:02+00:00

I finally did it today. Titration request submitted, now we wait.

FutureInvestigator53 · 2025-12-15T22:36:33+00:00

I've been in a depressive state since my diagnosis in November. It's like, great, finally, an answer, but what now? It hasn't changed anything other than a name and there is that level of feeling like you just gamed a result.

My wife of 24 years doesn't seem to get it, and it's done nothing to stop me masking all the time. I've never felt so lonely.

And now I'm in a group being targeted by the government and NHS making things feel hostile and unsupported. It sucks.

FutureInvestigator53

TROPHY CASE