Posted by 10derheart on July 20, 2012, at 20:05:34
In reply to Re: Experience with adult ADHD?, posted by ron1953 on July 20, 2012, at 18:10:17
But you "believe in" ADD in kids then, since you made the distinction? Does it magically disappear as you grow up? If so, what do you base that on?
Anyway, I couldn't disagree more. I would hope you understand that just because the dx was BS for **you** hardly means it is b*llsh*t in general or doesn't exist, if that's what you mean. It seems pretty dismissive to tell me my brain *is* wired like everyone else's when I've struggled with my difference (which I prefer to disorder) for years, or that my symptoms don't exist. Why did I recover about 80-85% of my ability to function like any average adult after finding the right med for me (Strattera)if ADD is BS? Wouldn't the meds have either had a bad effect or no effect? Taking my medication - a vital tool in treatment - is the difference between a chaotic, nearly unmanageable mind and life, and being able to contribute and participate without constantly needing massive help from family and friends. And I don't mean help with a tough job or challenging college classes - I mean I used to need help finding my car keys, remembering most anything, cleaning my house or navigating a grocery store without freaking out from the massive input of sounds, colors, decisions, etc. I could go on...but this is already too long.
I precisely fit the vast majority of symptoms reported by hundreds, no, thousands of others in books, newsletters, magazines and blogs about ADD. When I first discovered there was a name for this and read about real adults describing their daily lives, I was astounded to the point of saying, "How the hell could these people/this author KNOW all these things about me??" It was past uncanny and a tremendous relief not to be defective, crazy or alone. Before identifying this, I thought I was lazy, crazy, stupid, weak and not trying hard enough. Are all of us experiencing nearly identical clusters of symptoms....what? Experiencing mass hysteria? Imagining the symptoms, even when we don't know each other?
Do you dispute the various scans (PET, SPECT, MRI) that show specific and clear differences in areas of the brain that are "on" or "off" between those who fall in the ADD spectrum and those who do not?
http://www.akidjustlikeme.com/id92.htm
I think these are real, tangible proof that during focus and memory tests certain brains do not metabolize glucose the same as others, and therefore functioning is impaired or absent.
I had what I call diagnosis by prescription about 10 years ago. Not necessarily the best way, but understandable under the circumstances. (When a fairly "rough" stimulant like methylphenidate [MPH] does the opposite of ramping you up or causing any "hyper" sensation, but instead steadies, calms and relaxes you, it obviously means something varies significantly in your brain....)
The only pdoc I had access to at that time did not have the time or flexibility (military clinic) to administer a battery of tests and do an extensive personal and family history. This is the optimum way to isolate true ADD since it does show up somehow in childhood, and especially to try to tease it out from other problems its manifestations overlap symptoms of depression, anxiety and bipolar, just to name a few.
With me, there was no psychologist readily available where I was (overseas) to do a proper evaluation anyway. But I had done months of my own research and taken many self-tests. I discussed all this with my pdoc and therapist and even tried psychotherapy alone for a while longer. When things really did not get much better and as I was already suffering from depression and taking an SSRI, my pdoc slowly added MPH and it was.....life-altering. This combo of an AD and MPH was a common and accepted treatment for the condition in 2002. I suspect it still works for some fortunate people like me. After a few months and raising the dosage of Ritalin to 80 mg/day, my concentration, focus, memory and organizational skills all vastly improved. Later, when I switched to Strattera it was nothing short of miraculous how the endless noise in my brain jerking me from thought to thought, task to task, quieted and the executive function area of my brain began to actually....well, function. I will never forget after just a few days of Strattera thinking, "So this is what other people's brains are like?!! Wow!"
Dx and tx of adult ADD has been a huge positive life change for me. No sh*t ;-)
MDD (presently in complete remission); ADD-Inattentive type; mild anxiety (not fomally dx'd)
Meds: Strattera 80 mg q day
poster:10derheart
thread:1021854
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120718/msgs/1021869.html