Late Diagnosis ADHD/ADD (Women) #2

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This isn't strictly on topic, but as it's hereditary, I'm guessing other people here will also have children with ADHD. I suspect my 5 year old son has ADHD and he has recently started swimming lessons in a private group setting. His behaviour has been quite difficult to manage, as he loses focus, doesn't listen to/follow instructions, sometimes tries to get out the pool or gets restless and ends up moving around the edge of the pool when he's supposed to be waiting his turn patiently at the side of the pool. Was just wondering if anyone else has struggled with similar and if they had any advice? The swim school have asked if I would get in the pool with him this week, which is fine, but just wondering how it is likely to go long term!
 
Hi everyone. I've just started the process of seeing if I have ADHD. I'm going privately via the medical insurance I get through work so it's taking days rather than years, but I'm going to have to speak to my parents about it soon as the psychiatrist wants correlation from someone who has known me since childhood.

I'm going to try very hard to frame it as looking for help for the future rather than blame for the past, but does anyone have any tips for that conversation, please?
 
Witchfinder Sargeant said:
Hi everyone. I've just started the process of seeing if I have ADHD. I'm going privately via the medical insurance I get through work so it's taking days rather than years, but I'm going to have to speak to my parents about it soon as the psychiatrist wants correlation from someone who has known me since childhood.

I'm going to try very hard to frame it as looking for help for the future rather than blame for the past, but does anyone have any tips for that conversation, please?
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I don’t have much to say aside from definitely don’t talk about “blame” as it’s no one’s “fault” if someone has a ND condition - but yes I think framing it as helping you with structure and systems for the future is really useful I think.
I have a GP appointment next week to talk about an assessment via ADHD Think I did last week.

Good luck with your process!
 
Witchfinder Sargeant said:
Hi everyone. I've just started the process of seeing if I have ADHD. I'm going privately via the medical insurance I get through work so it's taking days rather than years, but I'm going to have to speak to my parents about it soon as the psychiatrist wants correlation from someone who has known me since childhood.

I'm going to try very hard to frame it as looking for help for the future rather than blame for the past, but does anyone have any tips for that conversation, please?
Click to expand...

I didn’t bring anyone from my childhood and also couldn’t find old school reports but I was just asked questions on my childhood instead. I took my boss with me to my appointment instead and they answered questions about my current difficulties.
 
I told my psych that I had a very superficial relationship with my parents and their view of me as a child was going to paint a very different picture to the reality and he was OK with that. I also have limited memories of my childhood and a definitely undiagnosed mother who doesn't "believe" in ADHD. A very common scenario. That didn't impede a diagnosis as he had a lot to work with going on present-day difficulties alone.
 
testingonetwothreefoiur said:
I told my psych that I had a very superficial relationship with my parents and their view of me as a child was going to paint a very different picture to the reality and he was OK with that. I also have limited memories of my childhood and a definitely undiagnosed mother who doesn't "believe" in ADHD. A very common scenario. That didn't impede a diagnosis as he had a lot to work with going on present-day difficulties alone.
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I’m filling in my forms at the moment and really struggling with my lack of childhood memories to give proper examples
 
I have a doctors appointment tomorrow to talk about an ADHD diagnosis. I did the ADHD Think self assessment- has anyone else done this prior to approaching their GP? I don’t know the GP I’m seeing so I can’t think how it’s going to go. I think he’s young and the younger GPs at the practice tend to be really proactive.
 
I had a little cry at the GP after a difficult morning. He was good, the questionnaire that I did on the THINK ADHD website was enough for them to do a referral for me and then go down the Right to Choose path… he said there’s obviously a big waitlist but I didn’t ask how long.
 
WeHadFunRight said:
I had a little cry at the GP after a difficult morning. He was good, the questionnaire that I did on the THINK ADHD website was enough for them to do a referral for me and then go down the Right to Choose path… he said there’s obviously a big waitlist but I didn’t ask how long.
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it’s emotional saying it out loud to others isn’t it.
if you go down the route of psychiatry uk it’s quick! I was referred end of Feb and diagnosed last week and that was only that long because I couldn’t decide on a practitioner then waited for a particular one.
 
unidentified said:
it’s emotional saying it out loud to others isn’t it.
if you go down the route of psychiatry uk it’s quick! I was referred end of Feb and diagnosed last week and that was only that long because I couldn’t decide on a practitioner then waited for a particular one.
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Oh wow, that’s extremely quick! I’ve been waiting since August 2023 for an ADHD appointment with Psychiatry UK (I was originally referred May 2022 via the NHS route, which now has a 5-7 year waiting list in my area).

How quickly you are seen seems to depend on your personal circumstances, health history, age, dependents, location, etc.

I hope this doesn’t sound negative at all, I just want to highlight that the waiting time can vary from person to person, so it’s best to manage your expectations as for many people it can be a very long process.
 
peekachu said:
Oh wow, that’s extremely quick! I’ve been waiting since August 2023 for an ADHD appointment with Psychiatry UK (I was originally referred May 2022 via the NHS route, which now has a 5-7 year waiting list in my area).

How quickly you are seen seems to depend on your personal circumstances, health history, age, dependents, location, etc.

I hope this doesn’t sound negative at all, I just want to highlight that the waiting time can vary from person to person, so it’s best to manage your expectations as for many people it can be a very long process.
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I noticed on psychiatry UK it has a specific notice on there about referrals from Kent - obviously I don’t know where you are!

mad that people can have a 5-7 year wait.

to be totally honest as my major issue is inattentiveness (over hyperactivity - so I don’t need medication…) I guess I need to work on structures I can put in place to help - I used to have good ones but they’re not available to me at the moment.
I have checked some books out of the library to understand it more - that social media guy who does the instagram posts I thought would help but it’s just raising awareness really isn’t it, which has its place but once you think you identify with the symptoms you need help with how to manage them… like I lose my keys a million times a day and it’s absolutely maddening - what structure can I put around that to help me remember where I put them or create a reflex of returning them to where they should go?

oh, I also asked about the whole self-diagnosis thing and asked if it was a result of the bottle neck for diagnosis? He said he thinks that self diagnosis will eventually fall away if (and he expects this to happen) they allow GPs to diagnose people rather than having to refer them etc etc. not sure if that is helpful to anyone. So for now I suppose I am self-diagnosed?
 
WeHadFunRight said:
I noticed on psychiatry UK it has a specific notice on there about referrals from Kent - obviously I don’t know where you are!

mad that people can have a 5-7 year wait.

to be totally honest as my major issue is inattentiveness (over hyperactivity - so I don’t need medication…) I guess I need to work on structures I can put in place to help - I used to have good ones but they’re not available to me at the moment.
I have checked some books out of the library to understand it more - that social media guy who does the instagram posts I thought would help but it’s just raising awareness really isn’t it, which has its place but once you think you identify with the symptoms you need help with how to manage them… like I lose my keys a million times a day and it’s absolutely maddening - what structure can I put around that to help me remember where I put them or create a reflex of returning them to where they should go?

oh, I also asked about the whole self-diagnosis thing and asked if it was a result of the bottle neck for diagnosis? He said he thinks that self diagnosis will eventually fall away if (and he expects this to happen) they allow GPs to diagnose people rather than having to refer them etc etc. not sure if that is helpful to anyone. So for now I suppose I am self-diagnosed?
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r/ADHD has lots of good tips!
 
WeHadFunRight said:
I noticed on psychiatry UK it has a specific notice on there about referrals from Kent - obviously I don’t know where you are!

mad that people can have a 5-7 year wait.

to be totally honest as my major issue is inattentiveness (over hyperactivity - so I don’t need medication…) I guess I need to work on structures I can put in place to help - I used to have good ones but they’re not available to me at the moment.
I have checked some books out of the library to understand it more - that social media guy who does the instagram posts I thought would help but it’s just raising awareness really isn’t it, which has its place but once you think you identify with the symptoms you need help with how to manage them… like I lose my keys a million times a day and it’s absolutely maddening - what structure can I put around that to help me remember where I put them or create a reflex of returning them to where they should go?

oh, I also asked about the whole self-diagnosis thing and asked if it was a result of the bottle neck for diagnosis? He said he thinks that self diagnosis will eventually fall away if (and he expects this to happen) they allow GPs to diagnose people rather than having to refer them etc etc. not sure if that is helpful to anyone. So for now I suppose I am self-diagnosed?
Click to expand...
I am in Kent, unfortunately 😢 It’s awful how access to healthcare is a postcode lottery. There’s no other option other than to go private, which most of us cannot afford, especially when ADHD can affect your ability to work and hold down a job.

I have seen lots of people across England on the ADHDUK Reddit and the Right to Choose FB group who’ve also been waiting 12 months+ with PUK, so it seems it’s not only Kent with longer waiting times. They used to say referrals were processed in date order, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.

I also present mostly inattentive symptoms, so I can empathise completely with you! I wish I could offer some advice but I’m just bumbling my way through life (hence trying to seek help). I always thought my forgetfulness, time blindness, procrastination, etc would sort itself out by the time I was an adult but I’m 30 now and feel no different to when I was 12.

I think the current bottlenecks are a combination of increased awareness and knowledge about ADHD, which has highlighted how many people were not diagnosed when we were younger (particularly for females and males with inattentive ADHD).

Unfortunately the NHS is stretched to its limit in all areas, so it’s interesting that your GP mentioned allowing GPs to diagnose patients, rather than referring to a psychiatrist. Would that not increase their workload, require funding for specialist training and therefore place more pressure on services? I really feel for NHS staff and the pressure they’re under!

I don’t know what can be done to improve things in the short-term, other than offering the Right to Choose with more providers to reduce waiting times. The reliance on private services is very worrying though 😔
 
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That’s really sad that people have long waits with psychiatry uk. I was shocked at how quick it was. I could have had an appointment the following week if I’d picked that practitioner. I’m on the NHS waiting list for ASD but the doctor I seen has said I should ask for a referral to them again.
 
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