[Luce]

I have made an appointment with my dr to get a referral for an ADHD assessment later this week. My child was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, and as time has gone on I've realised more and more that I am so much like her. The disorganization in my mind drives me mad, especially at work, where I can never keep track of all the tasks I am supposed to manage and I am constantly being chased up for things everyone else seems to have completed yesterday.
I am afraid the dr will laugh at my concerns. I am almost certain undiagnosed ADHD is an issue for me, but I think the dr will think I'm wasting her time.
But anyway... my question is: for those you diagnosed as an adult, what led to ADHD being raised as a possible issue for you? Did it come from your own suspicions or someone else's?

[sunsetsunrise]

Hi Luce ( Love the name : light) I am in my 50s. I have thought for years that I was ADD. But a pdoc told me many years ago that I could not be ADD because coffee makes me hyper. So I just thought he was right.

Recently a therapist told me I absolutly am ADD. And he is wrong about the coffee thing as a dx. So I am still not positive. I truely believe I am. I do have the symptoms. Although my regular doctor told me she would not give me medication for it. Because I have anxiety problems. That's all I can say about it relating to me.

As for your concerns. I cannot imagine why a doctor would laugh at your presenting symptoms. I cannot imagine why a doctor would think you are wasting her time. If she does think that, would you be willing to go to a different doctor? Because you deserve someone who will respect your intuitions.

Good luck with your appointment. And trust your heart's knowing. Perhaps I should not say that here. but I am saying it anyway.

[kikki27]

Originally Posted by Luce

I have made an appointment with my dr to get a referral for an ADHD assessment later this week. My child was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, and as time has gone on I've realised more and more that I am so much like her. The disorganization in my mind drives me mad, especially at work, where I can never keep track of all the tasks I am supposed to manage and I am constantly being chased up for things everyone else seems to have completed yesterday.
I am afraid the dr will laugh at my concerns. I am almost certain undiagnosed ADHD is an issue for me, but I think the dr will think I'm wasting her time.
But anyway... my question is: for those you diagnosed as an adult, what led to ADHD being raised as a possible issue for you? Did it come from your own suspicions or someone else's?

What made me got dx I could not focus always loosing things could not stay still for nothing .I got dx last year and Iam 28 now I feel so much better with ritalin and I agree if your doctor want give you a proper dx then I would not be with him or her.You cant be scared to ask your doctor and let them know what you are going through

[Yoda]

My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in kindergarten. I read books, journals and attended seminars to learn more about ADHD and began to realize that I had many of the symptoms of inattentive type. I have been on meds a bit over a decade now.

My son was diagnosed with ADHD in kindergarten during testing for special education services. Originally he did not have hyperactivity; it was purely a distractibility/attention issue, but as he has gotten older the hyperactivity has also become a problem for him. He has been on meds since he was 7 which help immensely with both the inattentiveness and the hyperactivity.

[sunrise]

During a couples session, my T said something about another couple's son, and described a certain behavior, and said he had ADHD. I just kind of froze inside and suddenly thought, "I wonder?" because I felt like he was describing me. After a number of months I brought this up with my T, he asked me a few questions about symptoms, and said I might have ADHD but he wasn't qualified to diagnose it. He gave me the name of a PNP, I went to her, and she seemed pretty certain after an interview and doing her diagnostics. I don't really like to admit to myself I may have this, but once in a while, I look at a diagnostic and I am off the scale. I guess I always associated ADHD with children and symptoms of hyperactivity, which I do not have. My PNP told me ADHD often presents differently in girls. She said it is also hard to diagnose sometimes because you need to tease out what might be depression symptoms, what might be anxiety, etc. There is some overlap. Plus adults with ADHD often have more than one thing going on. My PNP first gave me Wellbutrin for it, then added Vyvanse later as we didn't get good enough symptom management with just W. She told me that there is not going to be one magic drug that can help with all of a person's concerns. I was having some anxiety and she told me the drugs she prescribed would not help with that, but that we would have to manage the anxiety with a different drug or with non-medication methods (which is what I did).

ADHD is probably something I would never mention to my regular doctor. I am glad my T could recognize it and refer me to someone who works with it on a frequent basis. I am actually not sure my regular doc is qualified to diagnose it. I did mention to my doc at some point that I was taking ADHD medication and she commented that if I got more sleep, I might not need the medication. I told that to my PNP who told me that getting a good night's sleep is not going to treat my ADHD. (I think she was secretly rolling her eyes a little at my doc's comment.)

Good luck, Luce.

[Luce]

Thanks for your responses everyone. I went to the GP today and she was SO supportive and validating. After getting my work and educational history and current concerns etc she told me that just last week all the GPs in their center had a professional development workshop about ADHD in both children and adults, and she absolutely agreed that further evaluation was warranted. I was really, really worried that she would invalidate my concerns, so that was such a relief to me. She told me that prior to the prof. dev. last week she knew very very little about ADHD, particularly in adults. I'm so glad now that I did 'forget' to get an appointment for the last three months!!
I should have contact from the agency I've been referred to within the next two weeks. The sooner the better, I say.

[kikki27]

Originally Posted by Luce

Thanks for your responses everyone. I went to the GP today and she was SO supportive and validating. After getting my work and educational history and current concerns etc she told me that just last week all the GPs in their center had a professional development workshop about ADHD in both children and adults, and she absolutely agreed that further evaluation was warranted. I was really, really worried that she would invalidate my concerns, so that was such a relief to me. She told me that prior to the prof. dev. last week she knew very very little about ADHD, particularly in adults. I'm so glad now that I did 'forget' to get an appointment for the last three months!!
I should have contact from the agency I've been referred to within the next two weeks. The sooner the better, I say.

Thats good so now you will know if you got it not

[sunsetsunrise]

Originally Posted by Luce

Thanks for your responses everyone. I went to the GP today and she was SO supportive and validating. After getting my work and educational history and current concerns etc she told me that just last week all the GPs in their center had a professional development workshop about ADHD in both children and adults, and she absolutely agreed that further evaluation was warranted. I was really, really worried that she would invalidate my concerns, so that was such a relief to me. She told me that prior to the prof. dev. last week she knew very very little about ADHD, particularly in adults. I'm so glad now that I did 'forget' to get an appointment for the last three months!!
I should have contact from the agency I've been referred to within the next two weeks. The sooner the better, I say.

great job, Luce. You had the fear, but pushed through and did what you needed to do. And the answers you got were respectful. I am very glad you will be able to get a dx for this. And then treatment.

[hatteras duck]

In 1972, I was 7, I had a teacher who said I "day-dreamed". I was put on ritalin for 10 years. I never had any evaluations. Was never tested. In 1981 while in college was finally tested for dyslexia - yeah I have it. In 2001 took the GAD's rating scale and meet the DSM-IV criteria for Asperger's. I also have a 143 IQ (tested at the same time). ADHD re-evaluated and is not a problem.

[ezbi]

First time I ever heard of ADD was when my son was dx back in the late 80's. The little bit of reading I did on it at the time asserted that it was a condition that kids "grew out of" and there was no such thing as adults w/ ADD. Even tho I recognized some of the symptoms in myself, I wrote it off because I was an adult and didn't think much more about it.
Years later as a single woman trying to support myself for the first time in my life I was struggling trying to keep a job. I had be an excellent student but when it came to the real world I just couldn't function. In desperation I went to see an EAP counselor in an effort to not lose yet another job. In our first session he spotted the ADD, by the third he was helping find resources for a firm dx. After seeing my PCP, then a psychologist, going through testing I was confirmed AD/HD both hyper and inattentive type. Been on meds for over a year now and my life is astonishingly much better!!! Just keep asking questions until someone is able to provide a knowledgeable, well considered answer!!!!

[Vita]

3 years ago, during summer holiday, I sat down and recollected oddities of my behavior and comments I had recieved, and the idea struckme. I called a former college, now in psychiatric research (on ADHD, migraine and depression) for a screening, and tested positive - I saw him, and he confirmed my suspicion.
Then I knew, and thoght allright.
To get treatment I had to get an appointment to a psyciatrist through a physician, after a medical examination. It took a year before i started that process, which took another year. Finally the psychiatrist quickly confirmed ADHD and put me on Rtalin.
It really was worthwile. An easier life.

[Skully]

I used to run around the classroom like crazy because i could not sit still in class. that let to my dx of adhd. It has carried through to adulthood but now the hyperactivity presents as irritability. The mood swings stink!!!!

[DesertDancer]

Love the pic!! -- but I love the quote even more. Are you the source?

[DesertDancer]

ezbi, I can sooooo relate!! -- oh, my goodness, I have had *so*many*different*jobs.* I loved temping!!

Luce, I'm glad you're following through for you. Woot!

I began to think I had ADD when a participant in a class I was teaching commented on how we would often get off-topic, circle around and discuss three or four related issues, then come back to the topic. I jokingly said I had ADD. Another participant leaned back, nodded, and said, "Oh, well that makes the things you do make so much more sense!" I was taken aback at the time -- I was just joking, 'cause *everybody* has ADD, right? -- but after mulling it over I began to do some reading, and...wow. What a shock! That was several years ago. Since then I've made a lot of lifestyle changes, and I'm very happy with how it's working for me.

[Lexi232]

Hi.

I was diagnosed with it when i was 4yr and was tested and they said i was adhd afterwards. Though my parents disputed it, and pretty much kept it all from staying with me as a school kid (Even tho schools quite often would bring it up in meetings, and would back up when she (one of my parents) blew her cap everytime).
I never really saw that I was really. But then I didn't know really what it was.

Then, a little less than a year ago (I'm 23yr now) i was having extreme sleepies, and unable to stay awake longer than 3 hours a day and was prescribed dexedrine. Which helped with many more things than just my sleepies. It was like it opened up a door and made me a person.. one that I could be in control of. I also wasn't depressed anymore (odd i know.. but .. it's true). I was able to organise and keep focused on things. Also my insomnia that comes due to a mind that wont turn off (insomnia has been a life long problem up until the cymbalta knocked me out - the extreme bouts of sleepies were caused by this -. And while i was on the adhd meds I could lay down, and actually go to sleep. When I woke up I felt rest. ) Then i started getting forgetful and couldn't finish sentences without forgetting what i was saying, so he changed me to Vyvyanse which i was on until recently. and I'm finding out just how adhd i really am. and how much if only my parents allowed me to be treated as a kid and growing up, I would have been so much better. I would have probably never tried to kill myself, I would of never had sib'd (Because the sib was due to my anxious feelings all coming out in one big bout and it was an impulse that could not be stoped beforehand.) I hear therapy for adhd is a must too, but my therapist is stucked on always bring up the bpd of things.

[Vita]

Ritalin has made life so much easier -at last. I am so happy that the suspicion popped into my head, at 55. Nobody else guessed. I was too successful.
Among the unexpected effects are reduced tension,mental and physical and better mood. Now I see my academic education as quite a feat, which has increased my self esteem quite a lot.

[manyriddles]

Originally Posted by Luce

I have made an appointment with my dr to get a referral for an ADHD assessment later this week. My child was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, and as time has gone on I've realised more and more that I am so much like her. The disorganization in my mind drives me mad, especially at work, where I can never keep track of all the tasks I am supposed to manage and I am constantly being chased up for things everyone else seems to have completed yesterday.
I am afraid the dr will laugh at my concerns. I am almost certain undiagnosed ADHD is an issue for me, but I think the dr will think I'm wasting her time.
But anyway... my question is: for those you diagnosed as an adult, what led to ADHD being raised as a possible issue for you? Did it come from your own suspicions or someone else's?

I began to think I had ADHD when attention issues started to be an issue for my son. I think a lot of parents have had similar realizations. The positive of that is you will be able to understand your child better and be the advocate she needs in school. My son's struggles have helped me understand my own behavior. I don't criticize myself as much for losing things etc. and I can go easier on him too.

[SlatkaMala]

Actually I just got diagnosed today.

I've always been scatterbrained since I was a kid. Always accident prone, too. I knew the material in classes all my life in school, but I often forgot the homework or choked on tests by making stupid mistakes. And I always, always lose things!

I've suffered from depression for most of my life. I figured it was from the abuse I've had.

Then my mom saw this segment on Good Morning America about ADHD and said that this one lady on there was just like me.

I took the online quiz on PC for ADHD and scored pretty high on it.

I talked to my Pdoc about it. He asked me some more questions and said that I was pretty text book case.

He told me that most likely the depression and anxiety are from the ADHD because I didn't understand why it was so difficult for me to do things my peers seem to do so easily. That fed the negative self talk and it snowballed from there. Therefore I was less able to cope with the abuse and traumas I have suffered and fed into the depression.

He says that he's pretty sure once I start on the meds for ADHD, things should finally start turning around. I sure hope so!!

[indiegirl]

About 8 years ago, I got into management, and I have changed jobs 5 times since then. I was working harder than ever and trying to succeed - working nights and weekends to keep up, but I couldn't. I went into counseling because I had gradually lost my self-esteem because of the disappointment of not succeeding at my new career. My counselor told me that I had many symptoms of ADHD. I had never thought about it until she mentioned it. ADHD was something I heard of when my daughter was in elementary school and some of her friends had it. My counselor referred me to a child psychologist who tested me for it, and diagnosed it.

I started a new job one month ago, and I am starting to take care of myself and really think about what I need to succeed. I think things will be looking more positive with this approach.