So... *clicks on Staind song* it's been a while. First, updates: Steph has an interview next week. Yay! Conferences this week. Boo. And the week after next, it's spring break, yay, which will, with any luck, feature additional interviews. Also, I'm writing a new book, not right now though, because right now I'm writing this, unless you're looking at this after I post it, because then I might be working on my new book, or going to the bathroom.
I'm running Windows 8. It's not bad. If I thought any of you were actually interested in this, I'd write more, but I know better. I just thought I'd mention it, because I thought there might be a chance some of you might be buying a computer in the near future and I didn't want you to worry about it running 8.
Now it's ADHD story fun time! So, back in late November or early December, a whole rash of NFL players got suspended or in some form of trouble for taking Adderall. Not having any idea what this was, I looked it up, and saw the symptom list for ADHD Predominantly Inattentive type, which read like something of a biography to me. So I talked with Steph about it, and wouldn't you know, she told me that I'm not normal. I made some other calls to my medically inclined family members and heard similar things, so mid-December I made a call and set up an appointment with the doctor. Only I didn't, because out in Vermont you can't set something like that up without transferring every medical record you've ever had and filling out all the new patient paperwork. So I called and got my paperwork from an office over in Newport, as Steph doesn't like the dude here in town (he told her when she went in to get her thyroid meds renewed that she really should be pregnant - girl's hair was UP). With Steph's help, I got all the paperwork filled out, back in the mail, and we came home for Christmas.
When we got back, what should I see in the mailbox but the envelope I'd sent out the previous week marked as "insufficient postage". Yippee! So, I popped it in a new envelope, put 2 stamps on it this time, and stuck it back in the mailbox. 2 weeks later, not having heard anything, I got in touch with the guy here in town. After all, he couldn't tell me I should be pregnant, though it did occur to me he might tell me I looked like I was, but I was willing to deal with that, as I'd been looking to see a doc for a month at this point. So I went over there, filled out all the paperwork again, and went back to waiting. A week later, on the same day, both doctor's offices called, and a very confused medical records clerk over in Colorado did too. Since the office here in town could see me first, I set up the appointment with them, and now, the last week of January, I went over. I told him what was going on and he told me, "I don't doubt that you have this, but it's not something I write scripts for, but I can refer you to a psychiatrist". Okay, that's kosher, so when we got done, after several anecdotes about how I would've done well as a crewmate on a 16th century Spanish Galleon, among other things that bear little relevance on today's world, I was referred to the mental health lady for an appointment that Friday.
Steph went to that first appointment with me, as I thought it would be good to have an objective observer there to answer questions. As it turns out, this was a good thing. Example: Lady - do you fidget? Me - Nope. Steph - (laughing) yes honey, you do (points at my hands which are playing with my hood strings, then pats my shoulder). We finish filling out all the diagnostic tests and she tells me that it would appear I have ADHD. Well, good, right? I mean, I've known (as well as anyone diagnosing themselves via the internet can) for 6 weeks, but hey, they've caught up. We set up an appointment for the following week to discuss lifestyle changes and meds. Only, the lady gets sick and cancels, so it gets bumped back a week. The next week there's a lot of snow falling out of the sky, so it gets pushed back another week, so it's now mid-February and I have my second appointment. The lady tells me she's going to recommend to the doctor that he prescribe a certain kind of med, and this stuff should work really well, because I seem to have some depression symptoms going on as well. What? Why aren't you prescribing this? I thought I was being referred to a psychiatrist? I look at the certifications as I leave the office that day, and see that I have, in fact, not been seeing a psychiatrist, but a clinical social worker. I look up the med she's going to recommend when I get home and see that it has nothing to do with treating depression, and is generally recommended for folks who suffer side-affects from more traditional ADHD treatments.
So, to summarize, I saw a psychiatrist who was actually a social worker who was going to recommend meds based on a condition I didn't believe I had that the meds didn't actually treat to a doctor who didn't write scripts for this kind of thing. If you were wondering if this is typical of my life, I can only answer yes, yes it is. The rest of the story is a bit boring, so I'll keep it quick. I called my sister, a board certified behavior analyst, and asked for suggestions on how to proceed. She suggested I get in touch with the county mental health center. I did, they couldn't see me for 6 weeks, and they didn't diagnose, but did treat, ADHD. They referred me to a place to get a diagnosis, since they wouldn't take the one I already had. This place had a 6 month waiting list. So I pulled up a list of all the psychiatrists within 100 miles, made a crap-load of calls, got in to see someone, and have, for the last 5 weeks, been on meds. I know the pervasive feelings about ADHD and its treatments, but I have to tell you, this has been a revelation to me. The first day I was on the medication, a person called while I was listening to music, and I didn't have to turn the music off in order to focus on the conversation. When the GPS gives directions in the car, I don't have to turn the radio off. Multiple people can be talking in a room at once, and I can focus on what's being said to me instead of needing it repeated one or more times. I can sit all the way through a movie. It's been incredible.
I hope all of you are well, staying out of trouble, and that you enjoyed reading this. Steph and I will be back in Michigan around the 4th of July. Until then, keep it rockin' for the kids.
