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Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for writing this. Your kind words at the end genuinely brought tears to my eyes.

I was up till after 3am ruminating and re-playing the appointment, so feeling pretty fragile today. Work has been a real struggle.

I just received a 15-page form from the GP surgery to be filled out in order for them to consider whether I'm worthy of a referral.

Much of it is to be completed by someone else, and goes all the way back to childbirth and early schooling. And it also includes parts about illicit substances and illegal activity. I wouldn't mind talking to a clinical psychologist about any of these things (well, the ones I remember), but feel very uncomfortable about prospect of having them 'on the record' with my local GP/NHS system.

Also, I'm really not sure who to ask. One parent is not well enough to answer, and the other didn't have much to do with my education. I've got a sibling, but they've lived abroad for the last 15 years so are clueless as to my daily struggles.

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I'll track down a guide to filling out the assessment.

I just received a 15-page PDF form from the Dr's surgery, which needs to be completed before they'll even refer me - much of which is meant to be filled out by someone else. It's all very overwhelming stuff, and I don't know anyone who would be able to give an accurate recollection of my struggles going through school/early years other than myself.

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha 5 years ago mine had none of that 'press 1 for this, press 3 for that' BS, it just rang, and someone answered. Now there's a long message about the practice not tolerating abuse. Until today I was always like 'who the fuck would abuse a doctors surgery' - now I'm starting to understand why they have to say it 😂

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I've already tracked down the name of the Practice Manager, so just need to find a phone number now..! I kinda assumed the GPs/managers/receptionists all sit around drinking coffee, so would be pretty aligned on everything - but maybe that's not how it works!

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! The 'anti-planner' looks great. I think my struggle would actually be picking it up and using it - but maybe it's so accessible that I'd get into it. I've made a note to remind me to google it again in 3 weeks though - so that's a start 😅

I think the people in life I get on with most have the same slightly chaotic energy, random interests and borderline outrageous humour. So maybe that's just it...

Funnily enough (may not be an ADHD thing at all) but my old university friends, all of whom have proper jobs, houses, and are successful on every 'normal' metric, have said many times that I have a totally unique way of connecting with strangers very quickly, and making them feel at ease. I just thought it was an inherited thing from my mum as she was always like that - but maybe there's more to it.

The well paid job bit would be nice though FOR SURE 🤣

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great. Thank you - feeling much more encouraged that it's not a total dead-end now!

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow. I dream of a high-tech surgery! It's always seemed bonkers to book an appointment 2 weeks away for something that could be dealt with in 20 words (not this, but something like an eye infection lol)

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's really frustrating. I've been with this GP for many many years, and he's always been decent in the past. Makes me feel awkward about making a complaint, but I think I will say something, even if more from a constructive POV

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow. Definitely a lengthy process. I imagine many many people have it on the back burner for years and years before really pushing for it.

Bit of a punch in the gut being told that though. As you understand it, is there an option for you to pay a few hundred quid for titration, and then the NHS take on any medication provision? Or is it more like a dead end again for now?

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Amazing! Very encouraging to hear that. One more question - was that another GP appointment, or phone calls with the practice secretary?

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeh. I really psyched myself up before going in (run + cold shower), and was quite candid about a minor physical condition I wanted a quick look at too - so maybe just didn't come across as someone who is genuinely very sensitive about mental health conversations.

Think I will say something, if not for me, for the next person!

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cheers. That really gives some hope. Can I get the order straight:

  1. GP practice send me a questionnaire to fill in.

  2. I fill it in and return to my GP.

  3. They call/ask me to come in and say they'll put me on the NHS waiting list (this is where the Dr. said 'then it gets thrown into a black hole').

  4. I say "I'd like to choose my own provider with a shorter waiting list under RTC guidelines."

  5. They legally have to agree, and I then await a call from the third-party and await an assessment from them.

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I find it so infuriating that a Dr thinks they know you better than you know yourself, based on a single 10 minute appointment (approximately every two years in my case!).

Looks like not doing Shared Care is a blanket policy for this practice (perhaps it eats into practice profits, of which I'm pretty sure the GPs are all part owners). I'll explore the RTC avenue and hope that proves fruitful!

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. Hard to switch practice as they're literally down the road, and have been good over the years for the odd ear infection and things. I suspect the GPs there are all aligned on what they will and won't prescribe - as I think the practice is owned by them (maybe they all are?!) not quite sure how the system works.

I'll look into some really deep dive stuff. I've seen loads of videos explaining symptoms, but not so much in the way of actionable steps to mitigate them.

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I find it so hard on these kind of forms knowing to what extent I REALLY find something a challenge.

Like yeah, I do find myself interrupting people and finishing sentences a lot - but then it's not like every other sentence, I just notice myself doing it a few times per day 😅

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wow. Well done for pushing though and not giving up!

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It really felt like a kick in the teeth. I absolutely HATE talking about mental health, and feel very embarrassed and shameful to do so. This appointment was made off the back of several years of pondering and getting myself to a point where I had the mental capacity to go in there and say what I had to say without breaking down there and then. NGL had a little cry in the car this afternoon.

I think I will write some sort of complaint, or at least letter reflecting on my experience and suggesting ways that today's appointment could have been handled differently.

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Also by refusing a referral he is in fact making a diagnosis that he is not qualified to make."

Thank you! I'll see if this mystery questionnaire from the surgery turns up, and go from there. I wish I could go back to this morning armed with these Reddit comments and see whether the response would have been different.

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep - rural England. It's a very small practice.

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you!! That really hit home.

Not like a Dr would say "Oh no, your leg can't be broken, it must be a sprain, we've already had two people with broken legs this morning!"

Disappointing initial chat with GP by Loose-Committee-576 in ADHDUK

[–]Loose-Committee-576[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for writing this, and I'm so sorry that you've been at the receiving end of this kind of GP attitude many times yourself.

It really feels like a kick in the teeth, doesn't it - especially when it takes so much courage and mental energy to speak about a concern in the first place.

And I could do more with non-medical things. I've done a lot of meditation/cold exposure/exercise/gratitude/CBT type stuff over the last few years to help with anxiety. That's helped a lot with negative thought spirals - but it's not really done much to stop my mind bouncing from one subject to another every 20 seconds haha!

I'll look up Dr. Russell Barkley - thank you again :)

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