Adult ADHD Advice

When I was a baby and young child I hardly ever slept, and although intelligent and creative, found it very hard to focus on anything at school, and right to this very dat. I can be all over the place and at time hyper-reactive to situations. My late mother believed I most definitely was a case of ADHD as she had never quite known a child like me, and in very positive ways too I might add. I find stressful situations, especially other people’s situations, very hard to cope with, although I have coped well with my own serious illness in the past, which is now cured.

Who did you go to, if you don’t mind me asking and were you happy with them?

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I signed up to reply to your post! I'm currently patient with him and he's probably the worst psych or doctor in general I've ever seen and I'm only still patient, because it's next to impossible to find someone else who specialises in adult ADHD and doesn't insist on doing a new assessment that'll cost me another 700ish (Dr. Murtagh for example won't treat me without doing a new assessment).

To the reasons why he's not recommended:

- highly unreliable

Like: being late for appointments or not showing up (remote)

- not sending prescriptions in time, even with 2-3 weeks notice

- loves to talk about himself and what a great doctor he is (during the appointment you pay a lot of money for)

-doesn't listen and speaks over you

- believes Concerta is the only medication that works

He insisted I travel from the South up to Dublin for a review appointment which could have been done over the phone and spent most of the time talking about himself. I'm patient since last June and still not at the right medication dose, even though I keep telling him.

So rather check the ADHD Ireland website for consultants and get on one of their waiting lists. There's probably a reason why he isn't listed there. Good luck for your daughter!

I think Tyvense is not listed as adhd medication in Ireland, but to stop smoking. That may be why.

I paid 650 for my assessment the first time with a psychologist, because my previous psychiatrist doesn't do them and told me she can only prescribe stimulants with an official diagnosis. So if course I'm a bit reluctant paying another 650 :/

Tried Strattera before, but it didn't work for me. Maybe because she never adjusted the dose. Titration was non present in general, that's why I moved to a psych who specialises in ADHD.

Did well on Equasym (which apparently was an alternative for the psych), but needed a dose adjustment and for some reason he moved me to a higher dose of Concerta instead. Trying to get back on Equasym for the past 2 months now, but for one I have to run after them constantly to get my prescriptions and then it's again for Concerta.

On the waiting list with myclinic at the moment as they said they would accept the diagnosis and I just need the initial consultation. They said it'll be July until they make new appointments.

Quite frankly it's shocking how hard it is made for people who struggle with organising and staying on top of things. Very frustrating and disheartening.

My understanding is that you need a diagnosis to get medication. Why can’t your psychiatrist diagnose you now? You don’t need a childhood diagnosis but you do need to have had symptoms as a child (whether they were recognised as ADHD at the time or not)

Be very careful with Anti Depressents

From my experience its very possible you could balloon in weight if you don't take the necessary steps

Could I go to my doctor and ask them to switch me to this from the SSRI I am on?

Hi,

Has anyone any experience using Zak Powers at the Bergin clinic?

Have an assement at the end of the month over zoom, and filled in a few forms already, mostly ticking the box 1-4 on how you feel.

When he completes the assessment he refers me onto a psychiatrist (if needed) who comes up with a treatment plan, but I need a doctor onboard who will write me the prescription in the long run.

his cost is 300

psychiatrist is 340 (if needed)

A lot cheaper than any other places ive seen

Many people i know have both relief and grief following diagnosis. Obviously relief that there is an answer - something at last explains why things have been so difficult for me, but that in itself can cause anger and grief - why did no one notice, why didn't I have help, I could have done x y or z if i had help. Its really common.

Thriving Autistic are doing a lot of post diagnosis work with people. (despite the name, they work with anyone who might have dyslexia/dyspraxia/ADHD/autism or might be exploring that). There are therapists, OTs, speech therapists, coaches and they all are neurodivergent themselves, so they've all been there, Well worth looking in to.

Things getting more difficult for me at the moment. Financially speaking, I just can't afford €165 for meds and getting a prescription every month with the increase in fuel and electricity prices and have had to resort to more 'natural' and non-medicated ways of dealing with my ADHD. The only bright side is that I am learning of new techniques that I would maybe have been less interested in trying out if I was still on medication.

Secondly, the Disability Allowance. Refused the first time 2 months ago because I 'could do more training' even though I have a level 8 degree in Business from UL (I can't afford a masters even with the grant - I'd get the 'non-special' rate), because of not being able to justify my means - I have received cash from my parents to pay for my youngest child's OT sessions and I supplied OT receipts. Also, my condition does not affect me enough according to them, even though nearly all my jobs have lasted less than 6 months and were in small businesses my relatives owned. I was let go from all of them. One of the other two jobs was got for me by my mother and the last one was through an 8 month work placement at university. Only my current job (at 30 years of age) at a petrol station I managed to get myself ... if that isn't being affected in the workplace then I don't know what is

I have read all the DA refusal threads and submitted a fresh application a month ago. Letter from psychiatrist included, my own personal letter with 4 A4 pages talking about how it affects me finding and maintaining employment. I submitted my parents payslips and details for my relatives that gave me the jobs. Still they fired back and asked me about 10 other cash transactions which were from my wife - she prefers to withdraw her money and give it to me. Some I spend on things like kids lunches and diesel, some I lodge in my account. Loads of transactions like that I just can't prove, but that's what they're asking about. My children do not have bank accounts with a debit/credit card, how do I prove that I lodged €250 in birthday money to my account to buy sportswear for my son online ? What's annoying is that on refusal they don't tell you specifically which transactions they do not feel have sufficient justification included, this would help enormously in preparing an appeal.