ADHD and medications, already have the diagnosis, can someone tell me about what's going on at Volvat?

[AnonymBruker]

Feel free to answer in Norwegian, I can use Google Translate and my partner. I understand a little bit, though. Enough to post here, at least! 

Well, I got the ADHD diagnosis in the US a couple of years back, and I refused meds because... I don't know? Some sort of misguided idea about how Big Pharma is turning everyone into zombies... Then I moved to Norway, managed fairly well despite my misfiring dopamine, but as life got more complicated (relationships, children, pursuing a new MA), it was clear that what others seem to handle, I don't. 

As I said, I have the diagnosis already, and my fastlege has these papers. He told me that the DPS will have me waiting at least six months for meds. I am considering Volvat, as they could take me in within just a couple of weeks. However, they insisted that I spent at least two sessions with their psychiatrist before receiving my first prescription. Now, I am no stranger to the perils of private health care, but are these two sessions mandatory just because of... money? Is it like that here, too? I don't have a lot of money these days, so it's sorta annoying if I just end up on my phone for two hours. 

Do they do the same thing at DPS, two hours of... presence? Or is this exclusively a Volvat thing? 
If this is required by law or something, I'm all for it, but if it's just for profit I'm so annoyed I might just wait for DPS.
 

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

[AnonymBruker]

Høres helt riktig ut at du skal gjennomgå en kontroll på en ubehandlet tidligere satt diagnose, og hvorfor du nå ønsker medisin men ikke ønsket det tidligere. Kudos til Volvat som også setter ned foten enn å bare skrive ut medikamenter som faktisk krever oppfølging, både fysisk og psykisk. Du har gjerne fått diagnosen, men det betyr ikke at det er riktig og du får nå ny gjennomgang. Oppjustering til riktig dosering tar også tid. Du må bare smøre deg med tålmodighet

 

Anonymkode: 4e234...c0f

[AnonymBruker]

AnonymBruker skrev (6 minutter siden):

Høres helt riktig ut at du skal gjennomgå en kontroll på en ubehandlet tidligere satt diagnose, og hvorfor du nå ønsker medisin men ikke ønsket det tidligere. Kudos til Volvat som også setter ned foten enn å bare skrive ut medikamenter som faktisk krever oppfølging, både fysisk og psykisk. Du har gjerne fått diagnosen, men det betyr ikke at det er riktig og du får nå ny gjennomgang. Oppjustering til riktig dosering tar også tid. Du må bare smøre deg med tålmodighet

 

Anonymkode: 4e234...c0f

Volvat insists on these two sessions for absolutely everyone, even if someone very recently got the diagnosis somewhere other than DPS - like, at a self-employed neuropsychologist's, for instance. I can very well understand if they saw my papers, then decided they had to evaluate me again because of my particular situation, but that's not the case here.

You didn't answer my question - why are these sessions mandatory for everyone at Volvat's?
Further, when Volvat prescribes ANY medications, fastlege will then be able to continue the prescription, so they won't do the follow-ups. 

Thanks for your judgmental tone, though. Really appreciate it. 

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

[AnonymBruker]

Jeg kan tenke meg at Volvat har et medisinsk ansvar for å dobbeltsjekke slik at de ikke gjør en feil når de skriver ut medisiner til en ny pasient. Særlig med denne typen medisiner. At det er kun for penger synes jeg ikke høres sannsynlig ut. Volvat har ikke noe dårlig rykte sånn sett.

Håper du vi få flere svar i tråden fra noen som har erfaring med akkurat dette.

Anonymkode: 811ea...919

[AnonymBruker]

AnonymBruker skrev (2 timer siden):

Feel free to answer in Norwegian, I can use Google Translate and my partner. I understand a little bit, though. Enough to post here, at least! 

Well, I got the ADHD diagnosis in the US a couple of years back, and I refused meds because... I don't know? Some sort of misguided idea about how Big Pharma is turning everyone into zombies... Then I moved to Norway, managed fairly well despite my misfiring dopamine, but as life got more complicated (relationships, children, pursuing a new MA), it was clear that what others seem to handle, I don't. 

As I said, I have the diagnosis already, and my fastlege has these papers. He told me that the DPS will have me waiting at least six months for meds. I am considering Volvat, as they could take me in within just a couple of weeks. However, they insisted that I spent at least two sessions with their psychiatrist before receiving my first prescription. Now, I am no stranger to the perils of private health care, but are these two sessions mandatory just because of... money? Is it like that here, too? I don't have a lot of money these days, so it's sorta annoying if I just end up on my phone for two hours. 

Do they do the same thing at DPS, two hours of... presence? Or is this exclusively a Volvat thing? 
If this is required by law or something, I'm all for it, but if it's just for profit I'm so annoyed I might just wait for DPS.
 

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

Du blir ikke medisinert uten videre om du ikke har fått diagnosen i Norge. Legene har et såkalt forsvarlighetskrav. 

Anonymkode: ee640...d2d

[AnonymBruker]

I tillegg har USA et mye slakkere forhold til å gi ut adhd-diagnose enn i Norge, så de vil vel også sjekke ut om diagnosen du har fått er reell etter norske krav 

Anonymkode: dd036...4b6

[AnonymBruker]

AnonymBruker skrev (19 minutter siden):

I tillegg har USA et mye slakkere forhold til å gi ut adhd-diagnose enn i Norge, så de vil vel også sjekke ut om diagnosen du har fått er reell etter norske krav 

Anonymkode: dd036...4b6

That is absolutely true, pretty much anyone can get a diagnosis in the US. I do believe I have a legitimate claim to it, though. 
But, again, these two sessions are mandatory for EVERYONE coming to Volvat, and they are not part of the actual ADHD screening. You can do that too at Volvat, but that'll cost you around 15000 NOK. 

You, too, would be required to show up for two sessions at Volvat before they gave you your meds, even if you had very recently been diagnosed in Norway. 
 

AnonymBruker skrev (1 time siden):

Du blir ikke medisinert uten videre om du ikke har fått diagnosen i Norge. Legene har et såkalt forsvarlighetskrav. 

Anonymkode: ee640...d2d

Again, that's not what's going on here. 
There is no doubts regarding the legitimacy of my diagnosis. Forsvarlighetskrav or not, nobody has actually questioned my diagnosis and it seems I don't have to jump through any hoops that you or your neighbor wouldn't have to jump through.

It amazes me how many of you just don't get what I'm asking. Should I have written it in Norwegian, or have you just decided to be against me because I'm from the US and seeking medical attention in Norway?

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

[AnonymBruker]

AnonymBruker skrev (1 time siden):

Jeg kan tenke meg at Volvat har et medisinsk ansvar for å dobbeltsjekke slik at de ikke gjør en feil når de skriver ut medisiner til en ny pasient. Særlig med denne typen medisiner. At det er kun for penger synes jeg ikke høres sannsynlig ut. Volvat har ikke noe dårlig rykte sånn sett.

Håper du vi få flere svar i tråden fra noen som har erfaring med akkurat dette.

Anonymkode: 811ea...919

I mean, yeah - every health care professional prescribing any drugs to anyone would have to be sure the patient actually needed them, I get that. I'm just curious whether they do this at DPS too, or if it's only Volvat.

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

[AnonymBruker]

1 minutt siden, AnonymBruker said:

It amazes me how many of you just don't get what I'm asking. Should I have written it in Norwegian, or have you just decided to be against me because I'm from the US and seeking medical attention in Norway?

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

Hvorfor skulle noen være mot deg fordi du er fra US? Veldig merkelig tankegang. Litt på linje med at Volvat bare vil ha pengene dine?

Er det en personlig fornærmelse mot deg hvis noen misforstår spørsmålet ditt?... Det må da være en fordel at folk svarer så tråden kommer opp på forsiden og du kan få flere svar.

Anonymkode: 811ea...919

[AnonymBruker]

AnonymBruker skrev (14 minutter siden):

Hvorfor skulle noen være mot deg fordi du er fra US? Veldig merkelig tankegang. Litt på linje med at Volvat bare vil ha pengene dine?

Er det en personlig fornærmelse mot deg hvis noen misforstår spørsmålet ditt?... Det må da være en fordel at folk svarer så tråden kommer opp på forsiden og du kan få flere svar.

Anonymkode: 811ea...919

It just feels like you think I'm some unprofessionally diagnosed foreigner who expects to just leisurely stroll into any old medical care facility and be showered with strong meds, no questions asked. Perhaps I'm touchy exactly because I'm from the US, I feel that many Norwegians believe me to be uneducated and conservative, naïve and uncultured - and, also, in the US healthcare providers are REALLY interested in your money, so of course I suspect the same of Volvat. 

Of course algorithm boosts from all your misunderstandings are nice, but I'd much rather have an answer to my question. 

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

[Kullsyrevann]

AnonymBruker skrev (12 minutter siden):

I mean, yeah - every health care professional prescribing any drugs to anyone would have to be sure the patient actually needed them, I get that. I'm just curious whether they do this at DPS too, or if it's only Volvat.

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

This is standard practice at DPS as well. Even if you got the diagnosis as a child, you could very well have health concerns as an adult they need to take into consideration before they write out the prescription. Or it could be substance abuse in the picture, where you have to provide urine samples to prove you're clean. If that's not the case, you usually answer a quenstionare (ASRS), followed by x amount of sessions with a professional. The psychiatrist has to be sure you fit the criteria before your GP is allowed to hand out prescriptions as he/she is not qualified to make that decision alone. 

[AnonymBruker]

Kullsyrevann skrev (1 time siden):

This is standard practice at DPS as well. Even if you got the diagnosis as a child, you could very well have health concerns as an adult they need to take into consideration before they write out the prescription. Or it could be substance abuse in the picture, where you have to provide urine samples to prove you're clean. If that's not the case, you usually answer a quenstionare (ASRS), followed by x amount of sessions with a professional. The psychiatrist has to be sure you fit the criteria before your GP is allowed to hand out prescriptions as he/she is not qualified to make that decision alone. 

Ah, thank you so much! So, they do this two session mandatory thing at both places - because it's Norwegian law, not a cash grab. That makes me willing to pay for Volvat, just to have it done sooner. 
I assumed I might have to prove I'm clean, but I have no (recorded) history of drugs, as I've vehemently denied ever doing anything illegal. I did party in college, though - but nobody knows that and it hasn't been a problem later. Is it likely they'll ask for a urine sample if there are no records of drug use? It doesn't matter, of course, I'll gladly pee for them. Absurd situation to be in for me, though, as a 37 year old mother of 3 with no discernable, uh, characteristics of alienation. 

Googled the ASRS thing, it is pretty similar (if I remember correctly) to what I filled out before receiving the diagnosis. 

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

[AprilLudgate]

AnonymBruker skrev (4 timer siden):

Volvat insists on these two sessions for absolutely everyone, even if someone very recently got the diagnosis somewhere other than DPS - like, at a self-employed neuropsychologist's, for instance. I can very well understand if they saw my papers, then decided they had to evaluate me again because of my particular situation, but that's not the case here.

You didn't answer my question - why are these sessions mandatory for everyone at Volvat's?
Further, when Volvat prescribes ANY medications, fastlege will then be able to continue the prescription, so they won't do the follow-ups. 

Thanks for your judgmental tone, though. Really appreciate it. 

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

Some patients seek private help when they are not satisfied with other health care options.

Since you want medication they have to see you a minimum of time, private does not mean «I order what I want». 
 

It’ s to make sure they give tou the right kind also. One size does not fit all. 

 

[AnonymBruker]

DundreMilfin skrev (4 minutter siden):

Some patients seek private help when they are not satisfied with other health care options.

Since you want medication they have to see you a minimum of time, private does not mean «I order what I want». 
 

It’ s to make sure they give tou the right kind also. One size does not fit all. 

 

Oh great, another person who didn't read my post OR any of the comments.
This has been solved. 
Yes, I know private care isn't medication shopping, did I seem to think so? 
"Some patients seek private help when they are not satisfied with other health care option" - REALLY? Is that so? You don't say?

I'm sorry I'm so annoyed, it's probably my unmedicated ADHD and/or boorish American-ness. Thanks for treating me like an absolute child, damn

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

[AnonymBruker]

Det er en del kartlegging i forkant av medisinering på dps også. Regner med det er samme som på volvat. Det er viktig å ha ei bunnlinje å kunne sammenligne med når medisineringen starter og skal evalueres. De skal vurdere om du har noen risikofaktorer som må tas hensyn til (for eksempel om blodtrykket ditt er ok eller ikke), og hvordan det er viktig for deg at medisinen virker for å kunne velge rett medisin. Det finnes flere forskjellige preparater som kan virke på litt forskjellige måter. Noen får bivirkninger som gjør at de må prøve andre sorter. Da er det viktig at de har gjort et forarbeid slik at de vet hva utgangspunktet var i forhold til endringen som har skjedd. 

Jeg kunne godt betalt for å få dette gjort på volvat hvis det gjorde at jeg slapp ventingen på dps.

Anonymkode: 0b38d...3a5

[AprilLudgate]

*

Endret 7. oktober 2022 av DundreMilfin

[Avstand]

AnonymBruker skrev (5 timer siden):

Høres helt riktig ut at du skal gjennomgå en kontroll på en ubehandlet tidligere satt diagnose, og hvorfor du nå ønsker medisin men ikke ønsket det tidligere. Kudos til Volvat som også setter ned foten enn å bare skrive ut medikamenter som faktisk krever oppfølging, både fysisk og psykisk. Du har gjerne fått diagnosen, men det betyr ikke at det er riktig og du får nå ny gjennomgang. Oppjustering til riktig dosering tar også tid. Du må bare smøre deg med tålmodighet

 

Anonymkode: 4e234...c0f

Psykisk????😳😂🤣 Det er ikke hardt å starte på adhd medisin, det kan ha bivirkninger, men sjelden, veldig sjelden så ille at det kreves tett oppfølging. Jeg fikk neon få kapsler om gangen da jeg startet, sikkert nettopp for å hindre at jeg evt tok for masse eller misbrukte og de ikke visste hvordan jeg reagerte.

[Avstand]

AnonymBruker skrev (2 timer siden):

That is absolutely true, pretty much anyone can get a diagnosis in the US. I do believe I have a legitimate claim to it, though. 
But, again, these two sessions are mandatory for EVERYONE coming to Volvat, and they are not part of the actual ADHD screening. You can do that too at Volvat, but that'll cost you around 15000 NOK. 

You, too, would be required to show up for two sessions at Volvat before they gave you your meds, even if you had very recently been diagnosed in Norway. 
 

Again, that's not what's going on here. 
There is no doubts regarding the legitimacy of my diagnosis. Forsvarlighetskrav or not, nobody has actually questioned my diagnosis and it seems I don't have to jump through any hoops that you or your neighbor wouldn't have to jump through.

It amazes me how many of you just don't get what I'm asking. Should I have written it in Norwegian, or have you just decided to be against me because I'm from the US and seeking medical attention in Norway?

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

I have add and have the medications, ungortunatley I dont know about the things U ask. But I can answer your last question here: People here like to be against others. The more boring meanings you have, the more likes you’ll get. Always seing the worst in anything. Like the answer U got, that its good that Volvat doesn’t give U medications without check….. sorry, but in this forum there’s a lot of nervous wrecks. Nervous boring wrecks that doesn’t want people to live. 

[AnonymBruker]

Du vil sannsynligvis bli bedt om å fylle ut ASRS, ta blodprøver og EKG samt blodtrykk og bli intervjuet om symptomer og plager, psykisk/rus/somatisk. Dette er helt standard og vanlig praksis. 

ADHD-medisiner kan ha alvorlige bivirkninger både somatisk og psykisk (inkludert selvmordstanker og psykose), så lege må forsikre seg om at du får rett type medisin. 

Anonymkode: 302bf...9cb

[Kullsyrevann]

AnonymBruker skrev (1 time siden):

Ah, thank you so much! So, they do this two session mandatory thing at both places - because it's Norwegian law, not a cash grab. That makes me willing to pay for Volvat, just to have it done sooner. 
I assumed I might have to prove I'm clean, but I have no (recorded) history of drugs, as I've vehemently denied ever doing anything illegal. I did party in college, though - but nobody knows that and it hasn't been a problem later. Is it likely they'll ask for a urine sample if there are no records of drug use? It doesn't matter, of course, I'll gladly pee for them. Absurd situation to be in for me, though, as a 37 year old mother of 3 with no discernable, uh, characteristics of alienation. 

Googled the ASRS thing, it is pretty similar (if I remember correctly) to what I filled out before receiving the diagnosis. 

Anonymkode: f4f62...169

I know it's mandatory for people who have drug abuse in their journal or on their criminal record. If there's no trace of that, it should be good to go. I can't imagine our healthcare system would spend resources on checking the urine of every single person who's coming in for an ADHD diagnosis. That would be costly and poor time management.