99% sure I'm ADHD & now I have to circumnavigate getting diagnosed?? Cruel joke!

Family doctor will typically mis-diagnose as often as properly diagnose. I’ve been the whole route, and although in my case the “doctor” was right – that’s as far as he could go, he knew so little about it. They aren’t trained in areas of the brain – they are trained in internal medicine, colds, broken bones, that sort of thing.

After all I’ve been through – and it was a lot – I’d say don’t even diagnose yourself, use it only as a lead to get more information.

There are SO many things that echo or mimic ADHD it’s amazing. I had a 4 hour session with a neuro-psychologist, and were my eyes opened. I was correct, I’m adhd, but then, grandfather, mother, son – doesn’t that sort of put me into the more likely category? Plus, my troubleshooting and reasoning abilities helped – I can often tell the family doctor what’s wrong with me before he or she can, and I”m typically quite accurate.

But when I heard the list of OTHER possible causes of almost every symptom I had, wow – I wonder how many visit forums, leave thinking they have add, and try to self-medicate, only making the REAL cause worse, or being wrong?

Get a formal diagnosis from a pro – just do it. Hey, it took me nearly a YEAR, and I was lucky as instead of a 3 months wait, there was a cancellation – I got in 7 days after the referral was made. (now I wait 2 weeks for a follow-up with him, a month for a follow-up with the previous provider, and 2 months for a follow-up on the sleep study for more answers)

I’m not trying to tell you that you are wrong – you might be dead-on, but I’m saying that your life is too darned important to make a mistake on such an important diagnosis. You are an important person – go get something done to make the rest of your life better.

Impatience is one of my calling cards………. I can relate.

Procrastination is another. What an oxymoron, eh?

You hurry up while I figure out how to put things off until tomorrow.

Hey, I’m going to be 56 in a week, so I can relate to having gone through this for years, even 20 years ago when the narcolepsy diagnosis was missed on a sleep study.

I still have a lot more life left in me.

lucky, even though I paid extra to see him, I am not being treated by the ADD psychiatrist, just assessed. I still have to work with my family doc, whom I think less and less of every time I see her. At least there are caring people out there who know this stuff and who are respected enough by our docs that they will follow their recommendations rather than muddle through attempting to treat something they clearly know nothing about!

Why is it that, as an accounting professional, I am required to do continuing education, but my family doctor is not. What’s wrong with that picture?

LOL, billd, should I ask my doctor when she is going to stop practicing and start performing medicine???

Enjoying your posts too, think we have lots in common.

Make a list of your concerns and symptoms. (that way since you may be ADD, you don’t forget them like I always do!)

Be prepared to explain why you are seeking diagnosis/treatment/information etc. (my doc asked me “since you have lived with this for 54 years and have done ok why are you now wanting to look into this” I wanted to slap him – I thought that was quite uncalled for.)

This may not apply, but I was asked for copies of all my school report cards. And for any comments by family members over the years about my behaviour. Think back to when you were growing up and make notes about how the symptoms have manifested for you, then make notes about how it has affected your life. That will help give you the basis to talk about it with your doc. And print out the report you got from the quiz here. Good luck! Glad you’re getting in so fast.