[jpb4815]

I have often thought that I was ADD or ADHD. I even described to my doctor the reasons why I was questioning it. He put me on concerta and it would me up the first day and I never took it again. I was sure that since it did not slow me down maybe I wasnt ADD after all.

A few years later I am still a spazzz, my brain switches thoughts like a TV when somebody has sat on the remote. I never stop moving, and I have a hard time focusing, unless I am manic. Then I have laser focus. This effects my performance at work, and has had a hand in destroying my marriage.

To those of you who have BP and ADD/ADHD how did you sort out the symptoms? Did your Doc/Pdoc figure it out, or did you have to advocate for yourself?

[bioChE]

I'm both, and was diagnosed by a doctor in the state I used to live in. The symptoms of each are separate and distinct. The ups and downs of BP exist in a semi-continuous rhythm. The lack of focus, attention, and hyperactivity of the ADHD are continuous and prevalent throughout.

You're probably right that if Concerta wound you up that you're not likely to have the disorder. Personally, I can take a dose of Vyvanse and then go take a nap.

[BastetsMuse]

How I found out was through an astute psychiatrist. I'd already been med-compliant for my bipolar, and so he brought my husband into the office and asked us a few questions...

..."is she grumpy in the morning before her coffee?"

"does she get really involved in things where interrupting her gets you yelled at?"

...and a few others, but those and a questionnaire he used caused him to diagnose me as ADD, inattentive type. It's been a lifesaver to take Adderall (oh yeah, he asked me what drugs I had abused too, and speed was on the list - speed and pot). I can focus and I don't have the anxiety attacks I used to have from sensory overload (I live in Nevada, land of restaurants in casinos).

So I take Geodon and Adderall and they cover most of my BP needs. I also have klonopin for anxiety.

Once I became stable, my symptoms were assessed. I advocated for myself because I had a previous Dx of ADHD. (My pdoc had thought, "well, maybe it wasn't ADHD after all. Maybe it was just mania.")

My insurance 100% paid for a diagnostic test. IQ test and all that. I did it because it was free, so why not? I ended up with a Dx of "severe ADHD".

It doesn't even matter, though. I can't take ADHD meds because they'll make me manic.

[jpb4815]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Once I became stable, my symptoms were assessed. I advocated for myself because I had a previous Dx of ADHD. (My pdoc had thought, "well, maybe it wasn't ADHD after all. Maybe it was just mania.")

My insurance 100% paid for a diagnostic test. IQ test and all that. I did it because it was free, so why not? I ended up with a Dx of "severe ADHD".

It doesn't even matter, though. I can't take ADHD meds because they'll make me manic.

Does that impact your work life, having the BP in check(as much as you can) but not the ADHD?

Yeah, it's difficult to get work done efficiently.

What takes someone 1 day to do might take me 1.5 or 2 days. It's just hard for me to get a hold of my thoughts sometimes, which makes it difficult for me to concentrate.

I often work on the weekends to catch up since I'm always behind. Like this entire weekend I'm going to be working...

When I was on Adderall, I got everything done way ahead of schedule. But it also made me manic as hell... because I stayed up for nearly 4 days straight, had scary hallucinations, and almost accidentally killed myself on the highway

[Cocosurviving]

I started getting behind at work. I was always on top of my reports and case loads. My emails were full unread, voicemails full and some of my reports started being sent back to me!? I just did not know what was going on. My moods were up and down. I thought I had ADD. I tried to get back on my A game at work. I would start one assignment them put it down and start another before finishing the other. Then I had to answer the phone and return calls. For a few days I would come in and do as much as I could. Well I got called into the hot box. I had just had a surgery so I was just getting back into the office. Once they started telling me it was noticed I was falling behind and it wasn't like me....what's up? I had a melt down in the conference room. I cried and told them something was wrong with me and I had no clue what it was. That I was going to make an appt with my doctor. Now I did work at a health insurance company and I was employed as a mental health social worker....but still does not mean there really going to care. So I went to my primary then was sent to a DO. They said I had adjustment disorder. That my stressful work environment was causing all my symptoms. I was given a antidepressants Celexa which made me get worse. I was put on work leave. I started therapy and I told my therapist that I was going to get another opinion bc I know I do not have adjustment disorder. I've been away from work and I'm getting worse. She agreed with the diagnosis. I told her i was sure I had ADD bc my son has ADD/ADHD. I would have sessions with her and I would be on fire. I would be mad at the world. Looking back I was so manic it was unreal. I did get a second opinion and that's when I found out I had BP1. I later had a talk with the therapist manager. I was able to read my chart notes. She had a note that I came in her office in a manic like state. I asked her manager why did the therapist not discuss that with me and my primary so we could reevaluate things? We concluded the antidepressant flipped me into mania bc I did not have a mood stabilizer to go with it. No I do not have ADD but yes the symptoms are very similar. I really thought I was the only person that thought ADD first....