Posted: 25 July 2005 at 11:52am | IP Logged

         For nearly 6 years I had been treated for bi-polar disorder, and had tried every known method available to my doctor, a psychiatrist in the Metro-Deroit aria.  After a barrage of medications, monthly trips to the Rehab 3 psychiatric ward in Wyandotte Hospital and two series of ECT-(Electro-Convulsive Therapy), suicide began to look like the best option for myself, and for those I had put through hell with my illness.  In six years, I went from;  "I don't want to lose everthing"...to... "I ain't got nothing to lose".

        On the day I had planned to sleep with the fishies, I was in my doctor's office.  I told him all my feelings except for the suicidal thoughts.  That kind of disclosure always led to the hospital, and after the ECT gig, I wasn't going there.  I told him I was tired all the time.  I couldn't focus mentaly on things, and forgetting things like orders at work.  He gave me a perscription for Adderall and said try this and let me know how you do.

        WOW!  I could not believe what was happening.  It was as though I had thrown a switch on it was so quick.  I was listening...even to my wife!  And whats more it was all registering.  I actually began to be motivated, finnishing projects I had abandoned and implimenting new ones with ease.

        One day several months ago, I began to question whether I needed to continue taking prozac for my supposed bi-polar condition.  While studying on the matter, I began to research on the internet where I found this forum, and learned for the first time the symptoms of ADHD and it was as if I were reading my own chart.  I took my findings to my doctor who just smiled and recomended I continue taking the prozac.  I left his office like a defiant school boy and within 4 weeks had weaned myself off prozac.

        Its been over 3 months now, and the only effects from stoping prozac have been improoved vision, much, MUCH improoved sexual functioning.

        So if you are being treated for ADHD and depression, it may be that ADHD was the reason for the other malady.  I do not recomend that anyone use my method of self-diagnoses.  I took a chance.  Looking back now, I think I would have done better to consult another doctor, because a person who treats his own afflictions has a moron for a doctor.

Posted: 25 July 2005 at 1:24pm | IP Logged

great story Kidd....its my dd with the adhd.  from birth she was different.  She had her own way of doing things and let me tell you she made me crazy.  by the age of 3 I knew she was going to be an indivisualist not a conformist.  but as a new mom figured I would worry about her in school.  when she turned 5 I took her in for kind. screening and they said she is stupid donesn't know enough to get into school and that i should send her to early childhood.  so I did.  She spent two weeks in this wonderfull class.  I learned from these teachers all about the different disorders that cause Cher to think the way she does.  They didn't focus on negative but postive.  she can do......type sentences were always used.

Then first grade came.  Awsome teacher, but she too struggled.  I hit a road block.  It just so happened, that I worked in a very ppopular day care and the districts psycholigist was a client.  I talked with her one morning to get her imput, she brought me some reading material and made a point of observing Cher.  We then had a meeting and I began all the doc. visits.... needless to say by the end of first grade we had and dx...adhd.  She is impulsive.  We also tried a battery of drugs before we found the right one. 

I got lucky, I was in the right place at the right time. 

I don't use Chers adhd as a crutch saying its her adhd.  I use it as a ladder rung to reach the next goal.

Every time i hear of a successful person with adhd I point out all of his/her accomplishments all b/c they have adhd.

Do you know of anyone successful that has it?

Posted: 25 July 2005 at 2:19pm | IP Logged

My son has ADHD. We always knew he was hyper, but the actul reason for it was unknown until he turned 3 and we took him in to talk to someone. They told us he should be on ridalin, which I (the father) fought for some time because of the idea of doping my son. Well, I finally got to the point where I conceeded and they put him on ridalin. This did EXACTLY what I said it would and doped his butt good. Soon I had him on concerta which seems to fit him better and not dope him out. My 3 year old daughter is JUST LIKE HE WAS and I know I am going to go through the same with her but I did it once and can do it again. Our third child is just now 1 and I can see a difference already. He is so tame and relaxed in comparison to the other two.  We'll see.

Posted: 25 July 2005 at 6:00pm | IP Logged

I was diagnosed with ADD and ADHD at a young age, the age of 4. However, before I was diagnosed with that, it was a misdiagnosis from "being hyper from too many asthma medications", the doctors thought. But it turned out to be ADD/ADHD. Childhood life with ADD had it's ups and downs. I was hyper at home mostly because it was a "safe environment" from my point of view. However, my mom was the only person who understood what I was dealing with since her job dealt with those kind of people. My father and siblings however didn't take it to well. Many times they said "You can do so much better without theraphy or medicine". Also, I have been getting theraphy since the 3rd grade, which I think it has really made me into a stronger person at points. Also since that time, that was when we started on the ADHD medication, it would either wear off or it would make me irritable or an opposite emotion which wasn't good at home. There were a few times the medicine made me aggressive, I hope that happens to noone else. I also have Asperger's. It's another obstacle I'm trying to deal with right now. I'm trying to deal with the reality of being an adult and trying to be more independent for myself. I know I will overcome all of these obstacles someday, for now it just takes much time. I must give it time. All in God's timing.

Posted: 26 July 2005 at 3:46am | IP Logged

I am 39 years old, and just figured out what is "wrong" with me a few months ago.  I do not have any symptoms of hyperactivity, but have extreme difficulty staying on task, staying organized, etc.  I have been able to maintain a successful career, but only through some good luck and sheer will, along with alot of serious effort forcing myself along paths that my spirit seems to fight endlessly. 

Learning about ADD was such an amazing experience!  For the first time there were REASONS for the seemingly easy things I struggle so much with.  Some of the reading I have done has helped me impletment processes that work better for me. After I was officially diagnosed I was started on stattera, which did not work for me at all.  So, at this point I am not on medication.  I am looking forward however to hopefully finding something that will work.  While it helps to understand what's going on I'm very weary of the endless struggle, and have found myself sort of narrowing my life down greatly because that's all I can manage.  However, I now have renewed hope and understanding which will no doubt lead me to the next stage of, well, I don't know, keeping my house clean and my bills paid?

Posted: 26 July 2005 at 4:25pm | IP Logged

I am new to this Forum and new to ADHD. I just wanted to tell a little about my experience and see if anyone would like to give advice. I was just diagnosed about 5 months ago. I always knew that there was something wrong I just didn't know what. Doctors have had me on 6 different Depression meds over the past 5 years. So this year my doc put me on Strattera for 3 months(no go) and started Adderall XR 20 mg (1 month) now I'm on 25 mgs. This also doesn't seem to be working. I cannot concentrate, I read paragraphs over and over again to make them sink in, I can't finish 1 task. The other day I put meat on the grill and went upstairs and ran bath water and finished my bath while I was cooking..Sound like anyone you know...As soon as I think of going to the store or actually doing anything I jump up and go. There is no thinking about it at all. I am very, very hyper, the only time I sit down is when I'm on the computer and I don't stay on too long I aways have to be doing something. My biggest problem is talking to people I can't seem to get the right words out ever. And It's like I don't even hear what they are saying like I'm not paying attention at all. I try to dominate the conversations because If I don't say what I'm thinking right then I forget what I was going to say. I have been reading the forum and it seems like this is typical AD. It just really seems to be getting to me for some reason. I guess maybe I'm just paying more attention to myself lately and picking out the bad things. But I am definetly frustrated. I don't hang out with any girlfriends because I can't seem to stand anyone. I asked my doc if I could be Bipolar and she said definetly not. I guess maybe I'm just in the same boat with everyone else, but is this boat going to stay afloat??