I have been a satisfied "customer" of Dr. Craig Liden and The Being Well Center in Gibsonia, PA for over 20 years. Before that, I saw a series of professionals who practiced within clouds of misinformation, and who had little to offer in the way of treatment. They said things like, "If Ritalin didn't help you, then you don't have ADD," and, "Medication doesn't work for everyone."
I met Dr. Liden at a conference. He told the audience that response to any one medication is not a diagnostic criteria for ADD/ADHD. He described his thorough approach to evaluation, diagnosis and treatment, and how it often takes trying many medications and different combinations of medications before seeing improvement. Before long I was traveling a significant distance to see Dr. Liden and benefit from his expertise.
It took a couple of years, but I ended up in a really good place. It was finally a "wow" moment - when we hit on the right combination of medications at the right dosage, I could actually function better! I could follow a conversation without zoning out or interrupting. I was aware of where my limbs were so I didn't trip all the time. I did better at my job because I was thinking before I acted. I started a successful relationship. It lasted. We got married. We had two boys.
When the boys started struggling with attention, we took them to The Being Well Center, too. They got to their own good places. Our home life became less chaotic and adversarial, and their teachers immediately noticed their increased "maturity." Then the boys' pediatricians freaked out. "These stimulant dosages are off the charts! This could be dangerous! It could impair their growth! They could die!"
And Dr. Liden reassured us. He sent us the "white paper" he had written explaining the reasons for such "robust" doses, debunking the growth myth and citing studies on the medications' safety. He reminded us that we all had EKGs before we started treatment, so we could rule out the cardiac complication some had with stimulants. He pointed out the very real health risks that befall teens and adults with poor attention and impulse control: dangerous choices regarding drugs, sex, alcohol, driving. He offered to talk to our pediatricians, but they refused. "He's not going to be able to teach me anything I don't already know. But these doses are off the charts."
We stayed the course. The boys continued to be healthy. The oldest is almost as tall as I am.
Dr. Liden died December 24th.
I am heartbroken, to say the least. Dr. Liden has been there for most of my adult life. It was a tremendous boost of my confidence to have someone so knowledgeable and so understanding in my corner, fighting so relentlessly for me to have a better life. Having him shepherd our kids through their attention struggles made him almost part of the family.
I am reminded of how uniquely talented Dr. Liden was now that I am searching for a new provider. One wouldn't even see us when she saw the doses the boys were taking. "You need to find a specialist." Another hadn't even heard of one of the non-stimulant medications we are taking. Another accepted the boys as patients, but he will only prescribe the "standard published dose" of their medications. I am sad, because my sons' lives are about to get a lot more difficult.
I am interested in your experience. Do you have a MD or DO or CRNP who really "gets" ADHD? Are they open-minded and versatile with medication? Are they willing to go against outdated conventional "wisdom" to provide treatment they know is safe? If you are willing to share their name, I would be very grateful. I won't rule out travel.
Thank you very much,
Dad
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