Talk to me about adult ADHD

[Thefitfatty]

Just been diagnosed, and started on Concerta. Anyone else not figure out they were ADHD till they were in their mid-30's? Can anyone tell me about their side effects? Or what I can expect now that I'm on meds?

Boo !

Joining from the other threads too.

butter My DH has his own OCD type issues, and we quite often butt heads. I am a lot more at peace with myself and my condition, whereas he is quite in denial about his (in so much as he can be post diagnosis). This often comes down to him feeling that if there's no space in the house then there's nowhere for him to let his habits roam free, whereas I start crumbling at the seemingly insurmountable task of attempting not to live like we're in a jumble sale. Whereas I can get his issues and understand its a slow road, he will not try to see this from any other perspective and wants to bury his head in the sand. Its highly frustrating. The dcs pick his habits up too, which makes me stabby. Sorry, that doesn't help you - I've just ranted!

My DH has his own OCD type issues

My Dh is OCD as well! LOL. It makes for some interesting fights.

Just seen this .. I've been looking up adhd, because ads aren't touching my depression and a lot of the symptoms seem to apply. Bipolar isn't quite right. Not that extreme. I've struggled so long, I'm just fed up. Yesterday I went to my gp and cried, told him I'm fed up of battling on and no one taking it seriously. Now I think I'll have to go back and ask him if it could be Adhd - he's going to hate me isn't he? Self diagnosing!

I don't necessarily want meds, just to understand what's wrong with me and maybe be a bit happier.

So many things rang true ... Interrupting others, finishing sentences for them, unable to concentrate, impulsive decisions I then regret ... I'm told I'm intelligent but can't take things in, concentrate or revise.

I feel upset, I'm 51 and my whole life has been ruled by this behaviour. No gp has ever done anything other than give me ads.

Any tips on how to get a diagnosis?

Thecat

About the bipolar. When I got my diagnosis of ADHD the psych also put forward cyclo...something or other. There was a thymic in there IIRC... as a potential comorbid condition.

It's like a super mild bipolar I think. Or "right moody cow syndrome" as I translated it

I can see why he thought it might fit. And I'm not yes I am saying he's wrong. But honestly I think the ADHD is causing the cycle of highs and lows. When something catches my interest I can get REALLY enthusiastic about it, but if you look inside my head, it's the enthusiasm causing the slightly manic air, not the other way around.

Likewise if I get a bit blue, it's because I've fucked up. And I over react to the fuck up because there is the "oh not again, I'm crap" issue. So I think the symptoms and realities of ADHD might have given him the impression that I have another thing. That I don't have.

Same with his tentative disagnosis of mild OCD. I think the ADHD, hyper focus specifically, makes me seem obsessed. And I am. But reading about OCD, it doesn't feel on my skin the way obsession is described with people who are sure they have it.

Pretty much ADHD and dyslexia fit me like a glove, whereas everything else feels like Cinderella's slipper being jammed onto my ugly stepsister foot.

ipost your third and fourth paragraphs could have been written by me. Likewise ocd .. If I get something my head I obsess about it ... Say researching something I might want to buy ... For hours and hours ... Or I think I need a change of job and start applying for jobs like mad ... Only to realise the next day or so that I'm not up to it

I've been convinced I'm a horrible lazy crazy person ... it all didn't make sense. Then someone mentioned bipolar and I thought, hmm, maybe ... But it's not that extreme.

I was diagnosed around 3 months ago at 31, after my DD2 was diagnosed and whilst filling on the questionnaire for her, DH and I both looked at each other and DH whispered "maybe you should make an appointment..."
I've been on Strattera for a month as I have severe anxiety and it was thought maybe stimulants weren't the way to go in case it exacerbated it. Impulsive behaviour has definitely improved since taking the meds, I'm a bit demotivated though and struggling to find my get up and go. I haven't seen any difference in focus which is a shame as my main goal was to improve my focus enough to drive. I've tried a few times and it's pretty dangerous when your brain skips off somewhere else as you enter a roundabout
I have my first follow up appointment tomorrow so hoping there will be some suggestions as to where we can go from here in terms of improving my focus a bit.

They do so love to patch things up with ads don't they?

I'm similar here, I can get obsessed but then once the hyper focus phase has worn out I can drop it. It's almost like a temporary ocd. Unlike dh who if his guard slips or if he's having a rough time, will happily run back into the arms of his behaviours - I need something else to hyper focus on!

Thecat

Everything you said about diving head first into research, and then the grey "down" when the research abruptly ends and I just toss it, cos translation from Google to life does not compute... it's like you are my "separated at birth" twin.

I know comorbid conditions are common with ADHD. But .. sometimes (not always) I wonder if that's because ADHD symtoms (or mood related consequences of ADHD symptoms ?) are being perceived as symptoms of something else.

Wow ladies. It's like I'm reading my own story! Totally get the ups and downs and I've been trying to wean off my anti D's but the lows have always been so much deeper and darker I'm not sure I ever completely will.

It's almost like a temporary ocd

To me that phrase pins down elegantly and precisely why it can look like OCD, but isn't OCD.

Hmmmm. Following....

It's like I'm reading my own story!

^^That

It's identical to the point of being a bit freaky and "oh thank god it's not just me, I am not a lone wierdo" all at the same time.

Yes, very similar!

I have an appointment in two weeks so will raise it with my gp. In my experience they seem to hate Google diagnosis though, so I'm not feeling optimistic ...

Thecat

I was all keyed up to have to fight when I went to my GP. Because over here there is almost nothing for adults with ADHD. It is very much seen as something kids have... which then magically disappears for everybody when they turn 18.

She sent me immediatly to the local psych. His nurse jiggled appointments so I was seen in less than a fortnight. The psych, while a bit determined to give me a cluster of disorders rather than just one , was happy to test me after our initial chat and never once got his nose out of joint about my manic googling. He was really nice about it and honestly was very up to date on the latest re adult ADHD.

I know people can have crappy experiences. (And a lot depends on where you are) But it's also possible that it'll go pretty smoothly.

Hope it's okay for me to pull up a chair :)

Reading recent posts/articles on ADHD in adults and females is like reading my life history. Everything slots into place. I'm going to make an appointment with my GP and talk to her about it all - I don't know whether a diagnosis would make life easier or harder, but it can't hurt to start the ball rolling :)

Do you need to go to a psych to do the tova test?

I suspect I'm add. I'm bright but can't so basic household things. At uni I spent my finals getting up to go to loo/ looking out the window/fidgeting with pen as I didn't like sitting that long.

I have other issues me/cfs and overweight /depression and anxiety
I'm not sure I'd go to the gp for anotber diagnosis but I've wondered if they all link together.

over here there is almost nothing for adults with ADHD

Same in the UAE. Especially in terms of meds. In the US and the UK there's at least 10 different types of ADHD meds, in the UAE there's 3. Ritalin can only be prescribed to children, and then there's Concerta and Dexedrine.

Luckily the Concerta is working but I'm on a fairly high dose. My psych thinks Adderall would be a better choice for me, but sadly, I can't get it here.

Psychiatric issues aren't covered under my insurance here, but my doctor is pretty good and sorting ways for me to avoid paying every month when I go see him for a refill. But the pills themselves are pretty pricey (and legally I can only get 1 month's prescription at a time), so I never bothered with the Tova test as that cost additional money, and my psych didn't think I needed to bother after speaking to my DH & parents. He said he usually only recommends it when he doesn't think the person has ADHD so they have something physical to look at that says they don't have it (otherwise they may not believe it).

I have other issues me/cfs and overweight /depression and anxiety

Many people with un-diagnosed ADHD have symptoms like these, and they are common co-morbid conditions (I have depression as well). My diagnosis and starting meds has done wonders for my disordered eating habits and fixation on my weight, as well as my anxiety. (Sadly not helping the depression too much, but I'm more confident than I've ever been before).

Good Luck jorahmormont (love the name by the way). :)

Can I ask why people have decided down the medication route? Genuine question.

As I was diagnosed as a child and my parents really decided burying their heads in the sand was preferable, it's not something I'd considered until recently. I've never known how to be any different Iyswim. I've suffered with remitting depression for as long as I remember.

I have hashimotos now and my brain has been massively affected. Where before I could retain a list of things to do even if I didn't want to do them, now I can't retain anything. If I pop into town to pick up groceries I'll often forget what I need, though I'll happily go browsing pens or whatever else I've fixated on that day. Last week it took me 4 days to buy some bananas despite being in a shop that sells them everyday. I have begun to survive by routine, and suffer when it's knocked out of place. School holidays will send me into a spin soon. My dh got me cleaning last week by reminding me how good I feel after I clean the kitchen (I do btw), but I can barely bring myself to do anywhere else unless I get the run on from doing the kitchen. Generally means my kitchen and dining table are clean constantly at least!

I really struggle with cleaning. Is that common then?....

And friendships. I had a difficult childhood and assumed that's responsible for some of my issues but I think it could be this...

Can I ask why people have decided down the medication route?

Nothing else worked. Not lists, not berating myself and telling myself to listen harder, not meditation, not diet changes, not exercise.

Perhaps if I had less to juggle I could do it. But not when I'm working full time with young kids and a husband who all need my focus.

Mo1ngOn The minute I moved out of the house and away from my neat freak mother I lived in a pile of dirty and clean clothes, unwashed and washed dishes and general chaos. I'm not a cleaner, normally I will avoid doing it till it's simply unlivable, and then I hyperfocus and spend too much time doing it. I can't just tidy, it's all or nothing.

Dh is Ocd, so we try and avoid getting him cleaning because otherwise I won't see him for days as he'll be too busy scrubbing the walls with a toothbrush. We've hired a cleaner and that works for us.

As for friends, I really struggled with friendships for years. I never fit with anyone and was always teased and bullied for my fidgeting and blurting things out. How emotional I would get. Etc. It was hell.

Thanks thefit - were there particular areas you felt you just couldn't change or was it more of an overwhelming feeling of drowning? I've spoken to dh about this, I out so much down to my hashimotos, but I'm terrified of getting a job. I won't be looking until next September but I know I now cannot hold down the type of job I had before, but I cannot hold down one that doesn't interest me either.