Been a tough week or so. The spouse has been a bit on my case, even though she has had the flu. Not sure how she has the energy to pick on my being unorganized. I am certain it is very frustrating to the ones you live with.
I did get an appointment with a new doctor for the 24th of March. So I will hopefully get an Rx then.
I did have to cancel an unrelated doctor appointment the other day since she had the flu and there were others in the house sick as well. I could not leave her here to take care of people. Just a bit of a 72-hour thing I guess. The challenge for me seems to be re-scheduling the appointment and the related follow-ups that were dependent on the results. It seems that when one thing happens it is hard enough to try and "fix" that issue; but then everything else is related, so you need to also handle those along with all the other things that pile up.
Always something more. I know, I sound like a whiner. Just wanting everyone to know that they are not feeling any different than I do, so there are others out there struggling too. Keep your chin up. Take a breath. Take a sip of decaf (though I prefer the extra-strength coffee). Now, what is the first step for you?
Go do it now...
Here is a start on helping with organization.
Showing posts with label Mental Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mental Health. Show all posts
19 March 2009
12 March 2009
Day 1 - On Hold
It Was to be a Day of Freedom
Yes, the "Day 1" titled posting was the day of my first appointment with a doctor to prescribe a medication to help alleviate the symptoms associated with ADD/ADHD. I must tell you, I have not looked more forward to getting a prescription or having an appointment in quite a while. To me, it was going to be the start of some kind of regularity or normalcy to my life. (I am not even certain if those terms do it justice.) I wanted to track it as Day 1 with the meds so that anyone reading this and trying to gauge my experience, would have a timeline.
So, to start, a bit of levity. This shares the day-to-day trials. You have to laugh at yourself before you can keep your sanity. I was able to download the pre-registration forms for the appointment to put in my symptoms, insurance info, etc. from the practice's website. Somehow, in the very act of filling out the form, I lost my pen. I had not even gotten up from the desk. Leave it to me to be able to lose the pen while actually filling out the form. After recovering by finding a new pen nearby, I was ready to leave. As soon as I grab the folder with the results of my day-long battery of ADD/ADHD testing. Uh-oh! I put it in a real safe place...where I would not lose it...where the kids would not see it to draw on it...CR@P!
So goes me. I am able to have all of this happen to me while trying to get to the appointment to help me with organization, memory, and all that stuff. Talk about coincidence or irony...why not. Another moment in my day. As I look at it now, it is pretty funny to me.
Got to the doctor's office, on time, I have about a 45 minute chat with her where she asks me some questions that simulate some of the more simplistic tests which were done in the full-day testing.
'So, I cannot prescribe anything today as we need clearance from your cardiologist to make certain there are no contra-indicators as you are being treated for hypertension. If you can get that, I will see you back here in two weeks and we can discuss medications, therapy and treatment.'
Ka-thud! (Those were my hopes hitting the floor.)
Day 1 is now on hold until the 26th and today is about getting my cardiologist to write a note. More on my Pre and Post Day 1 later.
Yes, the "Day 1" titled posting was the day of my first appointment with a doctor to prescribe a medication to help alleviate the symptoms associated with ADD/ADHD. I must tell you, I have not looked more forward to getting a prescription or having an appointment in quite a while. To me, it was going to be the start of some kind of regularity or normalcy to my life. (I am not even certain if those terms do it justice.) I wanted to track it as Day 1 with the meds so that anyone reading this and trying to gauge my experience, would have a timeline.
So, to start, a bit of levity. This shares the day-to-day trials. You have to laugh at yourself before you can keep your sanity. I was able to download the pre-registration forms for the appointment to put in my symptoms, insurance info, etc. from the practice's website. Somehow, in the very act of filling out the form, I lost my pen. I had not even gotten up from the desk. Leave it to me to be able to lose the pen while actually filling out the form. After recovering by finding a new pen nearby, I was ready to leave. As soon as I grab the folder with the results of my day-long battery of ADD/ADHD testing. Uh-oh! I put it in a real safe place...where I would not lose it...where the kids would not see it to draw on it...CR@P!
So goes me. I am able to have all of this happen to me while trying to get to the appointment to help me with organization, memory, and all that stuff. Talk about coincidence or irony...why not. Another moment in my day. As I look at it now, it is pretty funny to me.
Got to the doctor's office, on time, I have about a 45 minute chat with her where she asks me some questions that simulate some of the more simplistic tests which were done in the full-day testing.
- Remember the following three words for me "Apple, 26, Penelope".
- What did you have for dinner last night?
- What is today's date?
- Name the last four Presidents of the United States. (To show I had my full faculties, I named Barack Obama first which seemed to really irritate her. I was still going to include the prior four, I just did not want her to think I was out of touch.)
- A couple more questions...
- What were the three words I asked you to remember?
'So, I cannot prescribe anything today as we need clearance from your cardiologist to make certain there are no contra-indicators as you are being treated for hypertension. If you can get that, I will see you back here in two weeks and we can discuss medications, therapy and treatment.'
Ka-thud! (Those were my hopes hitting the floor.)
Day 1 is now on hold until the 26th and today is about getting my cardiologist to write a note. More on my Pre and Post Day 1 later.
The Daydreamer
So, a child grows up in the 60's and 70's and never does too well in school. Can't seem to keep his mind on any one thing for too long. He is a daydreamer. Smart and able to pass quizzes, tests and exams with some ease; just cannot sit still enough to do homework and classroom assignments.
Report cards come around and there are a lot of comments about the boy acting out in class, not completing assignments and being a general pain. Though, the teachers seem to like him enough.
Parents are great "heart-of-the-nation" types from the farm country of western Illinois. Father grew up with lots of responsibilities on the farm and went into the military. Mother and father try to instill discipline and get the boy on the straight and narrow path. Just, why is it not working with him? Why can he not be responsible enough to do his work like he is supposed to?
Don't they know how within the first five minutes of trying to sit at the kitchen table and do a homework assignment that his mind wanders and it is impossible to sit and do the math sheet to completion. After school, the son's friends do their homework in 30 minutes (or in later years, an hour or so to do homework) and are already back outside and playing before dinner. For him, after 30 minutes he has completed maybe one of the 12 problems. He has played with the dog and his mind has been so many other places then math problems. He has been around the world, to the beach, to space, played football, sank a basket as time expired and won the war single-handedly. In his mind, here and now can be anywhere and anytime. Certainly not on a single sheet of paper.
This kid does not do his school work. He will not succeed at this rate. He needs more discipline. Punish him. More chores, no TV, don't leave the yard. Still, the problem gets no better. Is he just a bad kid? As the 60's turn to the 70's, certainly a pair of parents from the farms of Illinois do not see there is more to the problem. The Fairfax County School System; one of the richest in the nation and world can not see it. The boy does not know why he is not good with his school work like the other kids. ADD/ADHD? Hello, the 70s are calling, could you say that a little louder as they did not understand! Right, I never heard those terms back then. Did anyone?
That kid was me, of course, and no one uttered them to me anyway. I was just a bad kid who ended up in the principal's office or guidance counselor's office quite often during the week. I just would not pay attention. How dare I not conform!
The next morning..."Oh, the dog ate my homework".
Report cards come around and there are a lot of comments about the boy acting out in class, not completing assignments and being a general pain. Though, the teachers seem to like him enough.
Parents are great "heart-of-the-nation" types from the farm country of western Illinois. Father grew up with lots of responsibilities on the farm and went into the military. Mother and father try to instill discipline and get the boy on the straight and narrow path. Just, why is it not working with him? Why can he not be responsible enough to do his work like he is supposed to?
Don't they know how within the first five minutes of trying to sit at the kitchen table and do a homework assignment that his mind wanders and it is impossible to sit and do the math sheet to completion. After school, the son's friends do their homework in 30 minutes (or in later years, an hour or so to do homework) and are already back outside and playing before dinner. For him, after 30 minutes he has completed maybe one of the 12 problems. He has played with the dog and his mind has been so many other places then math problems. He has been around the world, to the beach, to space, played football, sank a basket as time expired and won the war single-handedly. In his mind, here and now can be anywhere and anytime. Certainly not on a single sheet of paper.
This kid does not do his school work. He will not succeed at this rate. He needs more discipline. Punish him. More chores, no TV, don't leave the yard. Still, the problem gets no better. Is he just a bad kid? As the 60's turn to the 70's, certainly a pair of parents from the farms of Illinois do not see there is more to the problem. The Fairfax County School System; one of the richest in the nation and world can not see it. The boy does not know why he is not good with his school work like the other kids. ADD/ADHD? Hello, the 70s are calling, could you say that a little louder as they did not understand! Right, I never heard those terms back then. Did anyone?
That kid was me, of course, and no one uttered them to me anyway. I was just a bad kid who ended up in the principal's office or guidance counselor's office quite often during the week. I just would not pay attention. How dare I not conform!
The next morning..."Oh, the dog ate my homework".
11 March 2009
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