Adult Attention Deficit Disorder

[C.Ann]

Wasn't there someone who once posted on here that they were afflicted with this condition and was having a pretty dramatic change in their life (for the positive) once diagnosed and treated?

If so, would you mind posting your experience here again? Thanks so much!

 

[WillyJ]

I may have mentioned it before C. Ann.. .


Back in the early 90's I all of a sudden starting experiencing periods of extreme fatigue- times when I literally couldn't get out of bed or stay awake any length of time. And even when those periods would pass I had problems. . . like having a bill to pay, having the money in the bank, and having the checkbook in front of me, and just not being able to write the check and mail it.. . and no idea why.


Finally went to the doctor and was at first diagnosed with clinical depression- went on meds and it helped but still wasn't right. .

Then about fours ago i was re-evaluated and diagnosed as having Adult Attention Deficet Disorder.. . they put me on Adderall and that did the trick. No more fatigue, function just fine. . certainly didn't solve all of life's problems, but at least I don't have to fight to get through the day or struggle to day simple tasks. . .

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by WillyJ
I may have mentioned it before C. Ann.. .


Back in the early 90's I all of a sudden starting experiencing periods of extreme fatigue- times when I literally couldn't get out of bed or stay awake any length of time. And even when those periods would pass I had problems. . . like having a bill to pay, having the money in the bank, and having the checkbook in front of me, and just not being able to write the check and mail it.. . and no idea why.


Finally went to the doctor and was at first diagnosed with clinical depression- went on meds and it helped but still wasn't right. .

Then about fours ago i was re-evaluated and diagnosed as having Adult Attention Deficet Disorder.. . they put me on Adderall and that did the trick. No more fatigue, function just fine. . certainly didn't solve all of life's problems, but at least I don't have to fight to get through the day or struggle to day simple tasks. . .

-----------------------------

Thanks, WillyJ.. So glad to hear that things are going better for you now..

What exactly did they do to evaluate the situation and come up with an official diagnosis?

Did the Adderall cause any side effects for you? And how long did it take before you noticed a change?

 

[missypie]

I have a friend who was diagnosed in his 40s. He tried several of the common drugs and they all drove him nuts. He just lives with it, but he's glad he knows why he is the way he is.

 

[zagafi]

My dh thinks I have adult ADD, my best friend thinks I do, but I don't think I...HEY! There's a chicken!

Ok, seriously, I have often wondered if I do have ADD. I've also wondered if medication would really make a difference. It's nice to know there are other adults out there wondering about this as well.

Did you go to your GP or to a specialist for the diagnosis. How *is* ADD diagnosed, anyway?

 

[KarenC]

I suspect my husband has ADHD...and my son was diagnosed with it last year. There is not a definitive diagnosis for ADHD (adult or otherwise). When we first suspected the issue, our doctor had us read the book Driven to Distraction. It's written by a psychiatrist who has ADHD himself. As I read it, I recognized my son in it...when my husband read it, he recognized himself.

The next thing the doctor had us do was to have our son, his teachers and us take a survey about his behavior patterns. The link below has an assessment that's very similar to what my son's were like, although it is geared toward adults.

http://www.strattera.com/1_4_adult_adhd/screener.jsp?ccd=adultadd274

My husband has developed effective coping strategies so he can do well at work so he hasn't explored treatment for ADHD. But having two men with impulse control issues in the house makes for some "interesting" conflicts at times!

Hope this helps!

 

[piratesmate]

Originally posted by KarenC
..... But having two men with impulse control issues in the house makes for some "interesting" conflicts at times! .....

I feel your pain! DS was diagnosed with undifferentiated (w/o the hyperactivity) & we were told that meds were a bad idea at the time. I was homeschooling him due to the extreme difficulties with regular classes. DH just "learned to cope."

I have to say that there were days I wanted to head for the hills when they were both bad - like during full moon & when a front moved through.

WillyJ - I never heard of the fatigue problem with it, although it sure fits DS. When he got mono I thought I'd never get him out of bed! He got married about a year ago & that doesn't seem to be a problem anymore.

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks all! It's not me that I'm concerned about, but rather someone else..

I was able to track down the standardized test they use to diagnose adult ADD and there is NO question that the condition is present.. Now - seeing a doctor(actually I'm going along with this person today), getting an official diagnosis and getting treatment..

I've read that Strattera is better because it's a non-stimulant.. Anyone here use it? Do most insurance companies cover it - or do they try to force the less expensive stimulants on the patients?

Anymore info or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated..

 

[mt2]

I was diagnosed when I was 27 years old. DH would get so mad at me when he would ask me about something that just happened on TV and I couldn't tell him. I would look at the show but not watch it.

My condition was maginified when i was in my last semister of college. DH was living in CT at the time and I was in TX to finish school. When I finally got to CT, he had to go on a boat for 3 months 11 days after I got there. Too much stuff overloaded my system and I could barely function.

The test they gave me in CT I scored 13 1/2 points out of 15. The DR wondered how I survived in a happy marriage, moving, college, etc.

In TX was retested and scored 47 out of 50. I had gotten off the medication when I was pregnant with my twins and needed to start up again.

I can honestly tell you that if I was diagnosed as a child my life would have been completely different. I'm not complaining about my life now. I'm very happy with it and the choices I've made.

Good luck to you and the person you know who might have this.

I was on Dexadrine in the beginning and I'm now on Adderall. I dose that I take is very small.

mt2

 

[KarenC]

Originally posted by C.Ann

I've read that Strattera is better because it's a non-stimulant.. Anyone here use it? Do most insurance companies cover it - or do they try to force the less expensive stimulants on the patients?

Anymore info or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated..

I know that the stimulant medication my son takes (Concerta) is only covered by insurance until he's 19. I'm assuming other forms of the medication will be covered when it's not so important to give him one pill that lasts all day. I'm not looking forward to him figuring out how to adjust his meds while he's away at college, but I assume he'll be somewhat more mature by then. If he's not, I might bite the bullet and pick up the cost of the drug myself. $1200 a year for drugs is certainly cheaper than wasting a year's worth of college tuition (the first clue to my husband's non-diagnosed ADHD was the 11 year plan he followed to get through college. )

Our doctor didn't think Strattera worked as well as the stimulants for teenagers, can't say for adults. But on the stimulant, my son is not at all jumpy. It stimulates the synapses (sp?) in the brain that don't connect the way they're supposed to--I wouldn't get too hung up on what kind of drug they prescribe--as long as it helps the problem you're trying to solve!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

We have ADHD in our family and found that Strattera didn't work as well as the stimulants meds like Concerta.