Posted by Racer on March 1, 2008, at 18:51:53
In reply to Re: Devastating News - dopamine123, posted by your#1fan on February 29, 2008, at 23:39:28
> At this point, dammit, forget stimulants, i need something in a hurry to help me concentrate! anything! Abilify? but if i demand these things to any doctor, they will refuse.
>
> I mentioned Wellbutin to my doctor, he stated "your not a doctor, you insist on asking on medication instead of letting me treat you"
>
I've left those statements from your post, because I think they help illustrate the problem I mentioned before -- that people often lose sight of the real problem, because they're focusing on what they think is the solution.Quick and dirty, here are the sorts of symptoms you've been writing about here:
Lack of focus
Emotional outbursts
Losing things
Mood swings
Brief and intense anger
Inability to concentrate
Impulsive actionsI'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but those are enough for the point I want to make.
You've been attributing these problems to ADHD, but you really haven't been talking about them as distinct symptoms -- you're using the diagnosis, which obscures the issue. Your doctor is absolutely correct about something: you're not a doctor, and you are asking for specific medications instead of letting him treat you. The only thing that I've ever seen happen with that sort of dynamic is -- nothing good for the patient. The problem isn't that doctors are bad, the problem isn't that you're not smart enough to figure out what you need, the problem isn't anything personal at all -- the problem is that doctors are human beings. It's pretty basic -- in that situation, you and he both get some ego involvement, and make no mistake: the doctor wins. The doctor has the prescription pad, and that's the only thing that really matters. The only way I can think of to change the dynamics and work towards a solution is to change the playing field. The question is, how can that be done?
My suggestion is to write down the specific SYMPTOMS you're having trouble with, and take that in to your next appointment. Carry around a little notepad, and make a note of all the problems you have as they come up. At the end of each week, check and see what sorts of themes come up. Use those to discuss SYMPTOMS with your doctor, NOT diagnosis. Don't offer him a diagnosis to agree with or disagree with -- just describe your symptoms and let him offer a diagnosis.
And once he's done that, ask him what he suggests for treatment?
You might start out by telling him that you aren't going to ask him to treat your ADHD. You're going to tell him the symptoms you're having, and ask him what the best treatment would be for those problems. That way, he might be able to step out of his side of the conflict more easily.
I honestly think that plan would offer you the best chance of a good outcome.
You already know that I think therapy would be a good augmentation for any medication he prescribes, but I'll make the plug again, anyway ;-) Has he ever suggested it to you, by the way? Or offered any referrals?
And one more thing: you've alternately said you had ADHD or bipolar, but you've never answered the question of what your doctor has diagnosed? Do you know what he's diagnosed? Knowing that might help.
As for the other problems, I do have a lot more to say, but I think it's got to wait for another time. I care about you, and I really wish that I could help you get a good outcome from all this. I also have some things I have to get done today, and today I am going to put myself before you. I hope you understand.
poster:Racer
thread:815073
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080221/msgs/815615.html