(no subject)

[meganbmoore]

I spent an hour-and-change in the waiting room at the doctor's office only to learn that my doctor is uncomfortable diagnosing ADD.  Ok, fine.  I completely get that.  And he gave me a referral and had my copay refunded because he didn't want to charge me for part of what I needed when he was sending me to someone who could do everything I needed. 

Here's the problem:

1.  I specifically mentioned that part of why I was setting up the appointment that part of why I was coming in was that I had ADD, wasn't on medication for it, and wanted to change that.

2.  It's after 6 p.m.  I can't call until tomorrow.  I spent months trying to remember to set up this appointment.  The only reason I finally managed to was that I posted on the problem, and then had comments coming in for a couple hours to actually keep it fixed in my head as something that needed to be done.  See the problem?

I also changed my day off for this week so I could do this, and now I'll likely have to change it again.  Which...won't be a problem since I'm never late and never call in, but I don't like doing that.

Comments

[animeshon.livejournal.com]

Bastard! Seriously the doctor should have know this and told you about it. I hate that. I went to see a doctor over here about my Aspergers and he basically was like "I don't believe in Aspergers". Cool, thanks for telling me that coming to see you was a waste of my time.

I hope you manage to remember to make another appointment

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I suspect it's actually a case of the information not being passed on to him. This wasn't a case of "I don't believe in it" but of "I'm not comfortable diagnosing this particular problem but I will happily send you to someone who is." But still...

[animeshon.livejournal.com]

That is better, but still you had to waste a whole lot of your time

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

It's certainly possible -- I've "fired" doctors in the past when I quite liked the actual medical staff, but found their reception/front desk staff absolutely maddening to deal with. Kudos to him for referring the copay, though; even if it's just a trivial amount, having to pay for all the time spent sitting and waiting for a futile visit, time that maybe could have been avoided if he'd gotten the message about why you wanted the appointment, would have just been adding insult to injury.

(And when you do make that referral, y'know, this story of how much time and effort it took for you to remember to make that first appointment would be a great example to give the new doc of how this is negatively impacting your day-to-day life.)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

(Yeah, that was my first thought.)

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Communication: No one in the medical industry has it.

[ms-treesap.livejournal.com]

Urgh >:( I hate it when something like that happens.

[coraa.livejournal.com]

Ouch, I'm sorry.

I have a similar-ish problem. I have an anxiety disorder, and I am specifically social-anxious about phone calls. So invariably when I see someone and explain the problem, they say, "I'd be happy to refer you to a specialist. Just call this number to clear it with your insurance, and this number to get the referral ID, and this number to set up the appointment...."

I realize it's largely unavoidable, but still!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

In a way, ADD kind of creates an anxiety/nervous disorder, I think.

[octopedingenue]

You can have one without necessarily having the other, but they do aggravate each other. I'd probably still be at strong risk for developing ADHD and anxiety/depression separately anyway because of family history for both, but without each other they wouldn't be as bad. Badly wired brain, I kick you!~

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Part of why I really need to get on something for the ADD is that I can't stand the constant level of stress and anxiety that I know much of is a result of worrying about the ADD.

[octopedingenue]

You might talk to the new referred doctor about possibly getting on something for the anxiety as well, at least until you have the ADD more under control. So you're not running freaking out going "ARE THE DRUGS WORKING YET? ARE THEY WORKING YET?" It could make a difference too if you have ADHD, which can manifest differently in girls/women than the running-around-screeching cliche.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Crichton is peeved on your behalf. Is there someone you can ask right now to nudge you and remind you until you set up the new appointment?

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Someone has volunteered.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[mymorphine.livejournal.com]

Ass of a doctor! Jeez. One of my best friends has similar issues with doctors and CFS. Here's a big hug in text form about this, and good luck. Really.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I think it's more his staff's fault than his, actually.

[mymorphine.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I just read that. Sorry, it took a while to write that comment; it's a subject that, for one reason or another, hits rather close to home for me. Still - best of luck, honestly. :)

[octopedingenue]

He's uncomfortable diagnosing ADD? Because it's, what, damaging somehow? You're going to use that diagnosis to get an abortion? WHAT?

My sympathies to you. I'm on meds and stuff and I still only this morning rescheduled a dentist's appointment tomorrow that's been on my "I should really reschedule that" list since, like, October. (And scheduling an eye appointment despite being on my last pair of contacts? Umm.) But I've had good experiences so far with my mental-doctoring-people, who all believe in, y'know, mental things that need doctors. Sheesh. I originally found my psychiatrist through a recommendation from an ADHD coach I heard speak; maybe hitting up a similar source would help.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

A lot of doctors, I think, are uncomfortable with behavior modification drugs.

[octopedingenue]

And that's one huge misnomer/problem right there: people, including doctors, confusing drug therapy with behavioral therapy. I can talk all the antidepressants and stimulants I want; they're still not going to help me if don't set timers and never write appointments down, and/or I stay in bed all day telling myself how worthless I am. The drugs don't magically alter my behavior or personality overnight, they just make it less crushingly hard to do the minimum of normal that other people manage.

There are all sorts of bad brain/drug reactions you gotta watch for that have you staying awake for days (BTDT!) or randomly bent on suicide or whatever; I wish more often the reaction would swing the other way into AWESOME overload.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming this was your regular primary care doc? If he's a general practitioner, he might just be reluctant to diagnose or prescribe for mental health issues in general, beyond short-term meds or referrals; from your description of his attitude it doesn't sound like he disbelieves in adult ADD or pscyh meds in general, but maybe doesn't feel like he's as qualified as a specialist to handle that sort of thing optimally.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yup, general practitioner. And that was the impression I got.

[shewhohashope.livejournal.com]

Argh.

Unhelpful medical professionals are the worst.

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

I see you have someone to remind you, but if need be, I can do also do it on IM.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

GAH.

[troubleinchina.livejournal.com]

Grr, frustrating. *hug* Anything we all can do? Pokes and prods and following up?

[woodburner.livejournal.com]

Psychiatric clinics and doctors who cause trouble that's specifically difficult for your particular mental problems are disturbingly common. I've had a lot of this kind of trouble too.