Posted by IsoM on October 12, 2002, at 2:45:40
In reply to Re: hardwire vs chemical problems with ADD -- IsoM, posted by Jo Ann on October 11, 2002, at 23:48:15
Jo Ann, I can offer my experiences but how much it will prove helpful to you, I’m not sure. While I have ADHD, I also have narcolepsy & both could contribute to my ‘marshmallow’ brain & mental blahness I often feel.
“I was just wondering if you had tried any meds, and if so, which ones.”I tried Ritalin but disliked the sharp demarcation in mood & mental clarity between doses. It also left me feeling more tired & mentally dull than I used to be when each evening. Dexedrine does a far better job of keeping me alert without such a let-down. I divide my dose up somewhat differently each day though, depending on what sort of tasks I need to do & whether I feel brighter some days than others. Instead of taking a full dose each morning & afternoon, I take part of it in the morning & the rest of the first dose about an hour later. I do the same with the afternoon dose. The rise isn’t as sharp & obvious but the let-down as the dose wears off is much gentler. I often won’t get the mid-day slump between doses this way either.
Some days when my mind is more engaged with mental stimulation, or I have no pressing need to be particularly bright, I’ll skip my afternoon dose. I don’t wish to develop any tolerance to the Dexedrine so it has a weaker effect in the future. I take Celexa too & have for a number of years. I believe it’s helped with impulse control.
Provigl is another med I take. I had originally tried it to help with narcolepsy but it didn’t keep me awake even at the highest dose so I discontinued it. But I’m back on it as the benefits for my ADD, while subtle, are noticable when I don’t take it. It helps with focus &, for me, is a great addition as an antidepressant.
-------------------------“I was diagnosed with ADHD about a year ago, and my trouble seems to be identical to yours, and probably many others. The psychological testing that I underwent in order to be diagnosed showed that I was above average in some areas, below in others. There was no medium.”
I’ve always said that I’d make a great pendulum – I swing from one end to the other, not in mood but skills. I have very strong good areas but strong weak areas too. I’m honestly not sure how much that’s part of ADD. Many people will say the same thing who don’t have ADD but I don’t know if it’s to the extreme degree I (& probably you) have it. I’ve tested at very high in genius IQ but my achievements (ha!) have never matched my so-called capabilities. I feel like a handful of loose gems that should be strung together into a beautiful necklace but with no string able to hold it together. Good qualities but little useful from it.
-----------------------“I realized at the age of 22 that something was not right, I could understand mathematical concepts without any difficulty, but I could not apply them if my life depended on it.”
Ah yes – women often can be VERY good with math, especially with equations & formulas but have much more trouble with using those concepts with word problems. I know I am. Perhaps ADD accentuates the difficulty even more?
------------------------“On the other hand, I had no problems writing essays, or doing something that involved creative thinking. I also write everything down, it has to be on a list to be accomplished. I make lists of lists, it is the only way I can stay organized.”
An ADDer’s place can look like post-it hell – so many bright coloured notes about that we don't even notice them. I use big, bright sheets of paper hung on fridge door handles or in the middle of the bathroom mirror so I’ll notice them. My favourite place to keep important lists & notes are in folders on the commputer (the hard-drive). I lose notes & lists constantly but I’ve yet to misplace the computer. I always know the info can be found in the right folder. I’m thinking of buying a special timer that can be set with 12 different alarms & sounds to help people with ADD keep track of time.
----------------------“When I was working full time at a veterinary hospital, I could never understand why I thrived on chaotic days when I had no choice to multi-task, and I was always most efficient during those times.”
I function similarly. Perhaps the adrenaline is really pumping keeping dopamine levels up & focus & mental clarity bright. But I always feel washed out & drained mentally the next day if it was intense. I pull right back for desperate need to recharge.
-------------------------“It was the days that the clinic was not busy that I would make mistakes, and have trouble getting things done. Have you experienced this at all?”
Part of my diagnosis was a computer test that measured alertness & accuracy when stimuli & the pace it was presented increased, & when it decreased. I did far better when the pace quickened. My mind sharpens & focus is much better when I feel a degree of pressure or stress. It’s a common problem with ADD with hyperactivity, I was told.
---------------------“How long ago were you diagnosed?”
I was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago but I had trouble finding a doctor who thought I really needed meds. I got the line “if you’ve gotten by so far at your age, there’s no real need to medicate for it now” so often, I gave up. But I finally have doctor who respects me & believes my problems. Because I’m older & am very intelligent (I know it sounds boastful but I’m only adding it for better understanding), & have developed many good strategies over the years to overcome some of the problems, most didn’t feel I could really have ADHD – even with a diagnosis from a psychologist.
-------------------------“Also, I am trying to cut back my meds with diet, but I find it difficult to obtain useful information. Have you personally tried anything?”
I really think for anybody’s mind to work at its optimal level, a good diet is needed to supply the needed nutrients. While I’ll notice myself not feeling mentally as good when I’ve let my diet slip, I’ve never found anything that made me think that any amount of nutrients could solve ADD. I eat well, make sure I get enough protein (for amino acids), phytonutrients & do take supplemental vitamins & minerals. For me (the way my genetics affect me), I find that I do need extra magnesium & B complex vitamins. My favourite source for them is nutritional yeast flakes. A good diet enables me to feel my best & the supplementation makes sure I get enough that’s not generally there in high enough levels in most foods now.
poster:IsoM
thread:122401
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021006/msgs/123324.html