I really didn’t like that place

Supposed to be going to dinner with Critter tonight. I’ll have to call her and find out when she wants to go.

Still thinking about the psychiatrist office and how it bugged me. I think it was just the whole attitude of the place. There are signs all over saying that if you are on any schedule II drug (and they list them in case you’re confused) then a) you must bring your meds with you to every appointment so the pills can be counted to make sure you are taking them correctly and not selling them to friends b) you must submit to a urine test at each visit to make sure you actually took the missing pills and didn’t sell them to friends c) failure to bring all your pills with you will result in not being seen and a missed appointment charge which, they are quick to point out, insurance will not cover. There is a full page of incidental fees posted at the reception desk, all of which boils down to “if we have to think about you or talk to you or anyone else about you in between appointments we’re charging you for it.” For example, if for some reason you re-schedule an appointment beyond your current supply of medication and they have to call in a refill on your scrip to the pharmacy then you only get a ten-day supply (to make sure you come back) and you get slapped with a $10 phone call fee and another $10 refill by phone fee and a $25 admin charge. If your primary care physician has to call and get some information from the chart they have on you (which they absolutely refuse to physically release to anyone including your primary care physician) then that’s another charge to your account. If another treating physician actually wants a copy of your chart then that’s another charge (per page) to the account. I can’t imagine they have many repeat patients.

On top of all that, there seemed to be some confusion (on their part) as to whether or not I could afford their services. Apparently I should have gotten dressed up to go see them, but I thought blue jeans and a black t-shirt was acceptable since it was my day off. Anyway, even after me telling them I had a high deductible and would be paying the full cost of the visit and after they checked on my insurance they ever so delicately told me how much today’s visit would probably cost, and how much any follow-ups (God save me) would cost and how did I want to arrange to pay for all this. I pulled out my credit card and told them “with this” and I also told them that whatever today’s session ended up costing to put it on the card, I was good for it. Of course they ran the card and settled the bill before I ever went back to see anyone. Then once I got into the session there was discussion about how some insurance companies didn’t recognize adult ADHD (although she called it Adult ADD, apparently I wasn’t twitchy enough for her) and was I sure I was going to be able to pay for this if that was the case. I explained my insurance plan yet again, and said that whether or not the charge goes towards my insurance deductible, as long as the IRS considered it a tax-deductible medical expense then I could use the debit card from my HSA and everything would be just fine.

So a total lack of people skills and an inability by trained psychiatric professionals to tell the difference between drug-seeking addicts and people in genuine need of help is how I have decided to sum up my experience there. I’ll have to talk to Dr. K (since she sent me) and see if their confirmation of my diagnosis, along with the self-scoring adult ADHD test I mailed off to my therapist to have a look at will convince her to write my scrips herself from now on. If she tries to send me back there then what the hell, I’ve been undiagnosed and un-medicated for thirty-seven years, I can probably muddle through without the drugs. That place really left a bad taste in my mouth.

I’ve noticed that while I sill have the nervous impulse to tap my feet or my fingers I’m more conscious of it now and I make myself stop. I guess that’s part of the drug’s effects. I still feel closed in, a little. I’m a little light-headed today too but I’m not sure if that’s from the drug or because I seem to need a nap. Whatever. If nothing else, since Adult ADHD is covered under the ADA I can ask for a “reasonable accommodation” to use my own organizational system that I’ve been using for many years now (my Treo and a modified Franklin-Covey system of prioritizing things) instead of the stupid little notebooks we were given and are randomly asked to produce as proof that we have them with us. I have been fussed at on more than one occasion because mine is usually residing in the center console of my truck along with whatever other miscellaneous things (pen, sharpie, box cutter, name tag) that I need for my job but frequently forget to bring into the building with me. I never forget the whole load, and there are a lot of times when I remember to bring it all in, but the least little distraction or variance in my routine when I’m getting out of the truck at work and I’ll end up leaving something. I probably won’t get all formal like that about it though unless she just keeps on about it.

I think that was everything. I probably need to take a nap so I’ll be alert at dinner tonight.

Quick Update:
Critter has to work tonight and may not have anyone to watch the kids, so dinner is looking iffy. She originally thought she was off and we could go for lunch when the kids were in school so it wouldn’t be an issue. I’d love to take them all but I really can’t afford to. We might have to re-schedule.