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Post by Fullhouse on Mar 31, 2004 19:33:29 GMT -5
Hello,
I'm new here and I'm looking for information about ADD in adults and information about meds. I was 46 last year when I finally realized what was "wrong" with me. I have two children with ADHD. One is 23 and one is 16. I always associated ADD with the "hyper" part, so never thought that I had it, only because I am not nor ever have been "hyper". I'd like to know how some of you got the proper diagnosis? (What type of Dr. did you see?) And, about your experiences with meds. (Dosages, brands, etc.)
Many Thanks!!!
Fullhouse
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Post by ohmama on Apr 1, 2004 0:05:01 GMT -5
Fullhouse, Welcome to the forums, how did you find us? If you'll scan the topics I know you will find tons of information. There are some excellent books by Russell Barkley and others that go into great detail on add/adhd. One of my favorite authors on this subject is Dr. Daniel Amen who uses SPECT brain imaging along with other tests to diagnose and treat many mental disorders that overlap with add. To get you started I suggest checking out his website and taking the brain system checklist test for yourself. www.brainplace.com If you read one of his books you will be amazed "Healing ADD" or "Change your Brain Change your Life". On his website you can see actual images of the brain before and after using medication as well as all the different types of add and their symptoms. |
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Post by shardstar on Apr 1, 2004 13:15:43 GMT -5
Hi Fullhouse and welcome! I'm sure you will find a lot of support and advice here.
My daughter was dx'd ADHD/combined type last summer and while we were in the process of having her evaluated, I realized that I was having a lot of the same problems. I had recently been promoted to the position of Office Manager where I work and I was finding it so difficult to get those tedious tasks and monotonous jobs done. I thought back to my childhood and realized that while in school I had a hell of a time focusing and getting things done. I was always well behaved and didn't make waves though, so I guess no one put two and two together. Anyway, things were bad at work, I felt like if I didn't do something, I was going to get fired any day!
When I made the decision to do something about it, I first went to my Primary physician and told her what I thought. She agreed that many many times ADHD is inherited, so there was a good chance that I was ADHD also. She referred me to a Neurologist in my area that specializes in ADHD, so I went to see him, and he dx'd me ADHD/inattentive. Since my daughter is doing really well on Strattera, he decided to try me on that, and sofar I think I'm doing a lot better. ( I take 80 mg. a day. ) I don't feel like I'm going to get fired any more and I'm working to repair past problems.
I'm glad that you are interested in taking that first step to get diagnosed. It's hard to admit that something might be wrong with you, but it's also very helpful to know what it is, and how it can be treated. I think that most adults see either a Neurologist or a Psychiatrist to be diagnosed. Some see a Psychologist but those cannot prescribe meds.
Good Luck with your journey, and keep us posted!
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Post by stew4me on Apr 1, 2004 21:55:57 GMT -5
Hi and welcome. There are a lot of really good people here. I just recently went to the Dr. Was sure I was ADHD but tried to get around it. But I was losing all train if thought and was going through a lot of other problems. (Elderly Dad fell the day before my birthday broke his hip) So there was some depression too. Actually I am going to the same Dr.(phycologist) that my 11yo DD goes too. Am just trying different meds right now. Havien't settled on anything definant.
Glad you are heading in the right direction. And we are all here when you need us.
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Post by Fullhouse on Apr 1, 2004 21:58:27 GMT -5
Hello again,
Thank you for the "Welcome". I heard about this site from Mayleng on the SchwabLearning web site. I appreciate your replies. I think that I will stick with a neurologist because our insurance just kills us with anything that they classify as "mental". On a 150 dollar bill from a psych Dr. our insurance would only pay around 30 or so dollars for the visit. The rest comes out of our pockets. So the neurologist makes more sense financially. I definintely think that ADD is genetic. When I ran across all of my elementary school report cards last year, I was truly stunned by how much the teachers' comments resembled those on my children's report cards. That was when the light really went off. It is my understanding that Straterra takes a while to work ~ is this true?
Yes, I also am a huge fan of Dr. Amen's. I only wish that I could make it to his clinic in CA. That would be my idea of a trip of a lifetime! (LOL)
Thanks again for your replies and the warm welcome. And, thank you for your patience as I learn my way around this site. What did we ever do before the internet?
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Post by shardstar on Apr 2, 2004 11:13:44 GMT -5
Mayleng's great, isn't she!
I had the same thing happen with the report cards. One day I was cleaning up some old stuff at my parent's house, and I found a bunch of them. They all said things like "not living up to potential, could do better if applied herself, seems to be daydreaming". I got kind of sad because I thought "man I was really cheated! If someone had caught on and dx'd me then, I might be a whole lot more successful than I am now!" I feel bad about that sometimes, but then I look at my life and think that it's not that bad, so oh well!
You're right, Strattera does take a while to reach it's full effectiveness. With a lot of people it DOES start having beneficial effects pretty soon within starting. I decided to try it because I just didn't like the idea of being on a stimulant.
Dr. Amen is opening up (or already has opened) a clinic on the East coast. Would that be closer for you? I think it's in the Washington DC area. That could be a nice trip too.
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Post by Fullhouse on Apr 2, 2004 15:02:56 GMT -5
Are you sure we aren't related or something? (LOL)
After my Mom died, I was cleaning out some of her furniture and that's when I found all of my elementary school report cards. Mine all said the same things as yours!
I always associated ADHD with being hyper and I am not, nor ever have been hyper. Were you hyper as a child? I was always the quiet, want to please, type. But, I'd try and try and try and it never was enough. I'd give anything to go back 25 years and relive my life with the proper help for the ADD. I know medicines are not everything, but they certainly help to put things in a newer and better perspective, don't they?
And, yes, Mayleng, is great. I so much appreciate her help and guidance these past months. She's an angel.
I don't know what I would do without my internet friends! (LOL)
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Post by shardstar on Apr 2, 2004 16:57:26 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D Maybe we could be related!!!!!!
I was never really hyper either. I did love rocking back and forth in my Dad's rocking chair (ya' know those Lazy Boys) while I read. Something about the movement helped me focus. I think back when we were kids, they only dx'd kids who were so hyper that they were causing all kinds of problems in school. They thought that daydreaming, inattention, and the like were attributable to laziness or a weak will.
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Post by Fullhouse on Apr 2, 2004 19:18:11 GMT -5
Now that I think about it, I loved rocking chairs, too. My Mom always had almost one in every room. I've been looking at home movies lately, trying to see it (you know, the ADD) but, due to the fact that the movies are without sound and are old, I just don't really see it until I'm about 14 and then I can kind of see it. Make any sense? Where do you live Shardstar? I live in NC. Do you have siblings and are any of them ADD? I'm adopted, so don't really know about any siblings. I always think it's fascinating looking at one's family tree, though. Have a nice week end everyone...
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Post by shardstar on Apr 3, 2004 18:04:18 GMT -5
I live in New Jersey. I sent you an IM. Check it out.
I have one brother and he really suspects that he is ADHD also, but he hasn't done anything about it. I don't know if it's getting in the way of his life, like it was mine.
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Post by Fullhouse on Apr 6, 2004 15:37:55 GMT -5
Shardstar,
I can't figure out how to read your IM. If you could help my ADD mind to figure out how to read it, I'd be most grateful.
Many Thanks!
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Post by shardstar on Apr 6, 2004 20:04:13 GMT -5
That's okay, it took me a little bit of time to figure it out myself! You go to the very top where the ADHD SUPPORT words and the picture are and underneath it says something like "hey, Fullhouse you have "however many" messages, "however many" are new, so you point and click on the word messages, and the message comes up. Once you figure that part out, it's easy.
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Post by Fullhouse on Apr 7, 2004 21:08:38 GMT -5
Hello again,
I just wanted to thank everyone for their replies. It's so nice to be able to share experiences regarding ADD and to get much needed advice. Would anyone "out there" share with me what kind of meds you've tried and brands vs. generics ~ dosages, etc.
Also, I'd like to know if being on meds. has significantly improved your quality of life?
TEXT
Many Thanks!!!
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