Just diagnosed with Adult ADD

[brando]

Hello,

I am a 33 year old male, I am new here and also just diagnosed with adult add (inattentive and impulsive subtype, but not hyperactive). The diagnosis was based on three parts:
1) intensive clinical interview (almost 2 hours)- discussed history, school problems, etc
2) answered 50 or so questions from some type of checklist.
3) did a computer based test (I think it was Conners' CPT- where you have to click a mouse button to every letter that appears on the screen EXCEPT "X"- it was VERY frustrating)

Anyways, I am wondering how other adults with add out there have gotten diagnosed, and what they did about it afterwards. I feel somewhat of a relief that there was a explaination for my poor school performance and work/ social history. The psychologist was smiling and almost excited that I displayed such a "classic" set of symtoms and history- in a twisted way I guess I was kind of proud:)

Thanks,
Brando

[HooDunnit]

Good going Brando and welcome to the forums. My son is severely ADHD but I am not so I'll let others talk to you about what it is like to be an adult with ADD. Congratulations on taking the bull by the horns. You mention your school and work history. Can you tell us more about that?

Barry

[brando]

Hi Barry,

Thanks for the support. As for my school history, ever since I can remember (back to first grade even), I had a knack for avoiding school work, or homework (i.e would not do it, no matter what, even though I participated in classroom discussions). This caused frequent visits to the principal's and conselor's office, where I was constantly lectured about applying myself, that I showed great promise but didn't follow though. If I can characterize my mindset in school it would be chronic tendency to "fade out" and daydream while in class, unless I actively participated in class discussion. This was a trick I learned early on that got me through school, although in math and science subjects I generally did poorly because the coursework was lecture and homework based.

I should add that I am considered by others to be very intelligent, and have found myself in a very technical career- I am a software engineer that is essentially self- taught. I do however feel that there are things that can hold me back and cause poor work performance- making very common mistakes to details (which when working with software and computer architecture can lead to big problems), and also having difficulty to focus in meetings and training (mind is always 'fading out' like in school). My job duties are always in a constant state of change, with many things going on at once, which I sometimes feel my add tendencies work better with- who else out there is the type to have 3 emails open in draft, 2-3 IM conversations going on at once, and other work open as well?

I have applied to grad school in the fall for MS in computer science, and have a good deal of anxiety about it that I will not be able to keep up with the course work (my undergrad career is a series of half finished courses and drop outs that I was somehow able to string together to graduate).

Brando

[Sorka]

Hey Brando,
Welcome
I just got a book called ADD Friendly ways to organize your life.. it's really good and you might find it helpful!

I am undiagnosed so no help on the other question..

Denise

[HooDunnit]

My son has some of those characteristics. He is 17 and 1/2 and is very good at doing things / good technically. He sits at his desk in the evening trying to do his homework, but has his Toshiba laptop flying with IMs from all the people (mostly girls) on MSN. As you say, it is multitasking or the need for constantly diverse and changing information. Then he will get dressed and bugger off on his motorcycle for a while. I will ask, "Did you go somewhere?" and he will say, "I just wanted to check the headlight." And I don't doubt that that is the reason. He never lies or does anything bad. But he has trouble settling down for long periods of academic effort.

Do you see how heavy Marlon Brando is now? I just watched him in that movie with Johnny Depp. My wife has a crush on Johnny Depp. She things I'm OK, but I'm just not Johnny Depp. Would you like to be Marlon Brando?

Barry

[1mom]

welcome, brando!
i have a 13 yo with adhd (severe range). my husband (undiagnosed) has recently started thinking about his own dx. he said he saw the "add adult" commercial on tv (strattera) and that rang a bell in his head. i was wondering what made you start investigating?
from what you described, it sounds like you had a pretty thorough screening. with adults, your personal history plays a large part in the dx. i've heard many, many people say that their dx/assessment took anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, so it sounds like you've chosen a good professional to work with. good for you! finding someone you trust is the most important part of dx and whatever treatment program you choose.
keep us posted.
prayers,
1mom

[brando]

hi 1mom,

As far as what got me investigating, I had long suspected something was up, but had no idea what. About 10 years ago I spoke with a conselor at college and shared my suspicions about having ADD, he suggested that I make an appointment for a screening, which at the time I never did (in fact I ended up dropping out about a month later).

You said your husband suspected after seeing the Strattera commercial- that also hit home with me, as I literally have had that situation at work many times- one time my supervisor even started snapping her fingers at me and said " Hello Hello! You there?!" when I was drifting:)

One other thing about the parent/child connection. Last night I shared my diagnosis with my father and I learned when he was in school he had difficultly in reading and had to come up with a system to learn the material. He thought that he had to work a lot harder in school than others, which gives me an idea that he may have had some of the ADD when he was young.

Brando

[AnneM]

Hi Brando ... Good to see you here ... and I have found your post very interesting. My son is nearly 16 and has exactly the same subtype of add that you have (i.e. inattentive/impulsive but without hyperactivity)... dh I believe likewise. The way you describe yourself in school is very similar to the problems my son has had ... and the "fading out" and " Daydreaming" although participating in discussions is defniitely spot-on! ... I should also add here that since his diagnosis (at age 13) and the introduction of meds this has improved a lot!

I know I am personally not being much help to you on "adult adhd" but I want to thank you because I have found this very interesting looking at my own son and wondering how he will do in the adult world so you have been a big help to me!! ... THANKYOU!

[shardstar]

Hi brando,

Welcome! I was just dx'd in February. I know what you mean about it being a relief that you finally have a reason for past failures in work and school other than you're lazy, you're stupid, or you're crazy. You finally have a reason that you can now do something about, if you choose to.

I decided to try the med route and I see that I am doing so much better now. I am taking 80 mg. Strattera. It really seems to help me focus and not procrastinate as much. I also have friends that I have shared this with who have been a Godsend helping me keep on track. Since starting meds, I don't need their help as much though!

Good move on getting dx'd. You're on the road to helping yourself become a much more successful person. It's never too late!

[brando]

hi AnneM, shardstar,

AnneM, because up until this time I had to essentially work with ADD on my own, I can attest that some things in life came easy while others difficult. In particular, my creative/ intuitive side has always been very strong (I am also a successful commercial musician). The same thing I noticed that made me different also allowed me to contribute things a lot of others couldn't. In the professional world, I see how much creativity and unique ways of seeing things are such an asset; it is my belief that the ADD mind is capable of excelling at those very things (if only it could be done more efficiently or with more consistent results!).

shardstar, thank you very much for the input, I am actually looking into the Strattera route, and will be discussing it with my pdoc. That medication looks interesting, and I have somewhat of a bias against the stimulants (although have been very poorly self medicating with coffee all of my teen/adult life). Did you have any significant side effects? People seem to talk about them (negative side effects) a lot online, but I realize that information cannot give an accurate picture to it's overall efficacy rate.

Thanks!
Brando

[shardstar]

Wow, that's funny, I used to self medicate with coffee too! It seemed to be the only thing that could really get me going.

When I first started on Strattera, I used to get dizzy a lot, and profoundly tired in the middle of the day. The first day I started it, I decided to take it at night, because of the drowziness SI, and I was up all night. So I figured that maybe it was a fluke and did the same the next night, and was ip all night again! Out of despiration, I went out and bought some melatonin, and started sleeping really really well. After a while, I switched to taking it in the morning, and stopped the melatonin.

When you first start Strattera, you have to ramp up slowly. I started with 25 mg., then 40 mg., then 60 mg, and now I'm up to 80 mg. Every time I upped my dosage, the profound tiredness came back for a week or so, but it wan't an all day thing, so it was manageable.

It's been about three months that I have been taking it, and I've noticed that the dizziness is completely gone, I usually only get tired between 11:00 am and 1:00pm, but if I have a Diet Coke I perk right up, and I am sleeping great. For me, it's a great med. Sometimes I think that people give up on this drug too soon, because they see the SI's, and aren't willing to wait them out to see if they subside. I did, and I'm really glad. The only thing I would check into, you being a guy, is that Strattera sometimes has BAD male SI's. Not always, though, so it may be worth a try. Good luck...

[Honeysmom]

I was just dx'd last year also. I haven't tried Starttera, instead I take Adderall. It's working so I don't want to mess with it. I think it works really well. I am much more able to organize my day and my time. Once I start on the right track then I think some of the momentum carries me through. If I don't take anything, I just sort of walk around my house not knowing where to begin and I can't prioritize anything.

I am glad I started meds.

Becky

[aaa-alison]

Hi. You are not strange about feeling happy when you recieved your diagnosis. I thought I was the coolest chic in the world. I read that most women had ADD while men had ADHD. Well I thought I was so cool. I have ADHD-I'm a real feminist. I got diagnosed this year with the above mentioned and Gen. Anxiety Disorder. It sounds to me like everything is going to work out great for you. The medication or behavioral therapy-which ever route you take to lessen your syptoms-will have you better focused than ever. Plus, much less frustrated with missing zero's and one's. The great thing about ADD/ADHD people is that we are smart, creative, intuitive and visionary. Keep your chin up and know that you are special. Everything is going to be okay. Make sure that you do not drive when on medication or take alchohal or other drugs until you are used to the effects of the ADD stuff. And even then, I find it best to lay of alchohal and heavy cold medicines-cept when I need to really sleep. Also talk to your doc. about any other meds you may take and how they will relate with your new medication. I am on Concerta at 74 milligrams and Prozac-(I had to join the Nation) at 40 ml. It's a nice mix for me. Wish you the best.

[brando]

Hello,

Thanks for the info Honeysmom and aaa-alison. I understand the stimulants to be a faster acting effect than the SNRIs such as Strattera, but my pdoc seems to be biased against prescribing any stimulants (says she only prescribes them for children). She mentioned Wellbutrin as a good ADHD drug, as well as Effexor. I think I am going to suggest the Strattera, due to the good responses I have read online.

I am taking the GRE in 3 weeks, in anticipation for grad school, so the quicker I can find something to help me out the better. I am in the process of self-studying for the GRE but obviously for an ADDer it's tough to keep the momentum!

Brando

[1mom]

brando,
you really HAVE investigated your dx. i think it's great that you discussed it with your dad. enlightenment for yourself and perhaps for him, too.
i'm waiting for the day that my dh can talk to our son about their adhd connection. maybe it will come from our son, instead. it has to be affirming to know that the adhd is genetic.
i just pray that my son also grows up seeing the positive side and many gifts of having adhd. i try very hard to point them out. i don't want him to see it as a handicap, but something that will help him succeed in life and add to his uniqueness. with so much negative media, it's a real concern. but, hearing from guys your age gives me hope for him.
incidentally, my dh take Wellbutrin (for 'depression', he thinks ) and everyone notices how much he's changed. the anger and temper flares are gone. also, he's much more content with life overall. doesn't feel like a caged animal at work, is more interested in things outside of himself, and is more able to complete what he starts.
like anne said, we do appreciate your input. parents crave the first-hand information from adults with adhd, so we can learn how best to guide our special kids. thanks for that!
good luck with your studying. you'll do great with your determination and personal insights!
prayers,
1mom