I am a 64 yr old woman with a recent diagnosis of ADHD and using medication AMA

[gardenflowers]

I am a 64 yr old woman with a recent diagnosis of ADHD and using medication AMA.
I keep reading that ADHD doesn't exist, is blamed on SM, doom scrolling, bad behaviour.....
I want to help inform people about the existence of ADHD, to say that its been around for a long time and does have a serious impact on the individual.

What meds are you on and how have they helped? How did you get them?

How old were you when your realised you likely had it? Did you find it made peri/menopause symptoms harder to manage? Also if you went privately who did you use and would you recommend?

Usual ADHD meds, went thru NHS, took around 18months. Some help with learning to think things through more clearly

Told I was fidgety as a child. A lot.
Peri was ok on the whole I was lucky

There’s several different ones - what do you use?

I dont want to give any personal information, sorry. I have been prescribed two medications and one had unmanageable side effects. They are both common ADHD drugs

Not really an AMA then!

ADHD became a medical condition in 1987 I think, so no diagnosis was possible when I was young

Why did you try to get a diagnosis?

Sorry. Can you tell its my first post. If it helps, I dont think giving names of medications would lead anywhere as diagnosis precedes prescribing medication, and prescribing seems quite personal

Although i have always been happy with who I am, managing my ADHD has been a huge strain. I wanted confirmation that it has been a struggle, and the chance to try medication instead of always trying so hard to be organised. And I didn't want to suffer any stigma

While working

Not all ADHD meds work in the same way. Not really sure how useful this thread will be for informing people on the impact of ADHD, if won’t disclose the medication and the effect it has for you. It is also an anonymous forum so no idea why you are being quite so secretive.

Ok. I was reacting to current news that ADHD isn't really a thing. I was not so concerned about meds as I lived with the condition for decades without any support.

I’m also interested to see what medication you are taking and how it’s helping. My son started his medication yesterday and I’ve been on it a few months. The difference in my son is amazing so far. He says the difference in me is amazing too. He’s 11 and has been struggling so much both at school and home.
I’ve tried two different medications at various doses. I can’t say I had any difference between the doses.

In what way has managing your ADHD been a strain? What are your particular struggles and how have you dealt with them prior to medication? What made you decide on medication? What kind of ADHD do you have?

Because I have managed ADHD for so long, I found it difficult to change how I focus and manage life so I take the lowest possible dose and feel a bit clearer in my thoughts. A higher dose was challenging becasue i focused closely on every thought I had. I have taken medication for around 5 months. The medication's help with emotional regulation is noticeable, e.g.calmer marriage, but at a price as I feel a bit flat. I was told this is common.
All my working life i had to try very hard to be on time, to be prepared for work meetings, to concentrate on work issues. I have always needed to write down everything. It was possible, but hard work. Constantly.
I have inattention and hyperactivity.
I hope your son does well!

Do you think naming them would somehow out you? I can't see the point of this at all in that case. Kind of makes me wonder if you actually do take any meds or have the condition you refer to.
Faux-mysterious is very tiresome.

It’s interesting that you were referred on the NHS at your age considering you say you have managed all your life. Usually people need significant impact on their everyday life to be referred (and diagnosed). “Fidgity as a child” does not a diagnosis make.
I agree there’s little point to a thread where you invite questions but won’t answer them. Ask me anything means that posters ask you questions and you answer them. Clue is in the name.

Strange to start an AMA in the wrong topic and not want to give such basic information?

Haven’t you done this AMA before?

I know you said it took about 18 months, was this for both the diagnosis and the prescription? My adult son seems to have been waiting years.

Did the diagnosis give you the relief you hoped it would? I know this is a weird question but is life any easier? When people speak of coping mechanisms have people helped give you these or do you think only teens for eg get helped like this? (Sorry I know it’s a lot!)

@fridgegrazerif it helps at all, I was on the NHS waiting list for 4 years and then asked to go via Right To Choose. I had an appointment within 6 months or so then waited another 9 months for medication. If your son hasn’t requested a referral via Right To Choose he can do so via his GP. There’s till a wait but at least it’s quicker. My NHS autism assessment appointment came through recently-over a year after I was diagnosed via RTC 🙄

I’d be really interested to know what kind of meds you have been prescribed as I have wondered whether older people would be prescribed stimulants. Could you say a bit more about which didn’t suit you, and which did? I can’t see how this would be outing.

Well, this has been very informative! Thank you @gardenflowersfor your valuable contributions to your own AMA.