Announcement: We’ve done away with our land line. In lieu of it, we got another cell phone so now have “his” and “her” phone numbers. For folks wishing to call me, use our “cell phone” number. For folks wishing to call fosteronfilm, use our old land line number. Please do not text message us as we’d rather get an email or voice call (and don’t want to pay the additional fee).
Saw my (a new one, actually) pdoc and got my Adderall prescription upped from 20mg to 25mg. At first the doctor was puzzled as to why I was concerned about tolerance symptoms and striving to take weekly Adderall holidays, and then I realized she thought I took it to treat ADD. But I don’t have ADD; I take Adderall to counter Lupus/MCTD-related fatigue.
Seems the colossally incompetent nurse practitioner I saw last year, who bullied and lied to me to get me to take Celexa, hadn’t bothered to determine the reason the doctor had prescribed Adderall for me originally, and had simply entered in the usual diagnosis for said script. And it’s lingered in the computers all this time 
. This is the same woman who told me–after a single, Likert scale questionnaire upon which I indicated that I was stressed (being unemployed at the time) and sleeping erratically–that I’d end up in a hospital if I didn’t get back on antidepressants.
I still get irked when I think of the hubris and presumption of that woman! I mean 1. She wasn’t a doctor; 2. That was the first time she’d ever seen me, and she hadn’t even exchanged more than a couple sentences with me before proclaiming me on the verge of institutionalization; 3. She never asked why I was prescribed any of the psychotropics I was on or had been taking, when a single question would have informed her that I’ve never been diagnosed with or suffered from severe depression*; and 4. Telling a patient that they’ll “end up in the hospital” after less than five minutes of in-person interaction is egregiously irresponsible unto malpractice.
And now I discover that she entered in an incorrect diagnosis, too. That woman’s a menace. I hope someone gets her out of patient care and puts her someplace safe, like dish washing or ditch digging or something, anything which doesn’t involve anyone’s health, welfare, and/or wellbeing.
But, anyway, we got me straightened out in the computer. Finally. Haven’t really noticed much change between 20mg and 25mg. I’m still relying on caffeine to boost me up to productive energy levels.
*I have suffered from borderline mild depression–diagnosed by an actual doctor who talked to me and discussed my emotional state with me before jumping on the “give her antidepressants” bandwagon–but there’s a huge difference between feeling unmotivated and irascible (mild depression) and needing to be hospitalized (severe depression with psychotic features). Glargh.
Writing Stuff
Much and many things to accomplish in the next few weeks. terracinque, fosteronfilm, and I are helping dire_epiphany out by editing the guest bios for the Dragon*Con program book. Deadline: Monday. I need to write/complete two stories by month’s end, preferably three although I’ve got more of a deadline on that one. And then there’s Dragon*Con. Eep.
Received:
– Hold request from new podcast ‘zine, PodCastle (sister to Escape Pod and Pseudopod).
– Note from Jetse de Vries that the story he held from Interzone‘s May electronic submission period for a second read made the cut and is being sent on to the editorial horde for discussion and debate. Crossed fingers galore!
New Words:
– 1700 words on the short story I’m writing for mroctober‘s anthology project. Working title: “Hollow.”
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Have you considered filing charges against her with the AMA, or whatever board represents her?
I realize you’re not one to try and sue her, but as you’ve pointed out, she IS a menace, and the next person she incorrectly diagnoses could end up much worse than you were.
I did consider it at the time, but psych. patients are in a uniquely difficult situation when it comes to malpractice-esque complaints, and it would require far more energy and time than I had or have free. Not to mention my health care is an HMO, and I have a niggling suspicion that they wouldn’t actually care. I did send her a (polite and professional) email explaining the error of her “diagnosis” and have kept it for future documentation if necessary. But if I ever hear of someone filing a class action lawsuit or mass complaint against her, I’m totally there.
*hugs* That really sucks 🙁
But I’m very very happy you’ve had the error fixed and are getting the right stuff now!! 😀
Seriously, even if you are working with the worst HMO, filing a quality of care complaint with a psych provider through the insurance can at least confirm whether or not this is endemic to the provider’s practice, or whether you were an isolated case.
It usually doesn’t take more than a letter to complain to the state board. Even if they don’t investigate immediately, they’ll have a record of it to prompt one should someone else send one in.
Judging from the things I’ve seen, heard, and experience over the last decade, I’d recommend that people review their medical records (the actual documents transcribed in office) every few years.
Glad that you saw someone new who had a brain and some bedside manner. Long may it be the reigning course of your experiences!
Just reading about your psychiatrists and other health-care stresses makes my blood pressure go up! Those sorts of things make me sooooo mad!
That nurse practitioner you were seeing sounds all kinds of incompetent — hopefully you’re thinking of making a complaint! Adding inability to have faith in one’s medical “professional”, on top of everything else… Glad you’re getting things worked out at any rate… 🙁
Dude. Interzone. That’s like being called up to the show. Only in Britain. Which I’d actually prefer, considering how strong the pound is against the dollar right now. I’ll yank an eyelash for the sale.
I found your blog very interesting. It may be of the interest to you to check out other great site that talks about
do you have any bad experiences with hospitals come and share your thoughts here at
http://www.hospital-complaints.com
Wow! Congratulations!
Hello
I’m new here, just wanted to say hello and introduce myself.
Adderall & Lupus
I have been diagnosed with Lupus and Sjogren’s Syndrome for over 7 years and the doctor took me off Plaquenil because I was getting some bad rashes. I asked him about Adderall after doing some research on the internet because I have absolutely no energy and my housework and paperwork have are getting totally out of hand. His reply was that I needed to see my family doc and the family doc doesn’t prescribe this without going to a psychologist and having the tests ($2000-$3000).
Can you share with me which doctor you were prescribed this medication from and the process? I think I’m feeling a little desperate!
Thank you.