My DS hasn't been on Medadate - but he is on Concerta and is doing very, very well.  Lisa

Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum here but, I hope to be able to contribute something here.

I am a 32 year old software developer that was diagnosed with ADHD about 8 months ago. Since being diagnosed my life has changed completely.

Before I began taking medication my life was nothing but a gigantic emotional roller coaster. My wife and I have three children and I could never sit still or simply read a book. My first experience began when the diagnosis phase was underway. I became extremely agitated and could not even complete the tests that were being given to me. I would often apologize and they asked me to describe how the testing process made me feel, think, and act. I told them it was like climbing a wall covered in oil and I could only leave after I made it over the top. The tests made me want to literally throw the computer through the window.

They began to ask me how it my days at work were in regards to frustration. I told them that everyday was like being asked to run an emotional marathon, and I cannot continue on like this for the rest of my life. The psychiatrist put me on 10mg of Methylphenidate that were in 5mg pill form. The first time I EVER took the pill.... WOW!!!! Within 15 minutes I actually sat down and read a book for approximately 2 hours straight!!!!!! That was the first time in my life I had ever done that! The doses began to increase within the next few weeks to ultimately 30 mg a day.

The next appointments were better but now, I began to question if there were other medications out there. I apologized for complaining since I had never been happier with the results but, I still wanted to improve more. The doctor then put me on 38 mg of Concerta, which I am still currently taking. The difference between the other medication and Concerta... WOW!!!! I LOVE MY CONCERTA!!!! I do not even have the mood swings that I was getting with the other medication. The time release medication is far superior to the other 10 mg methylphenidate pills I was taking before. I simply take one pill in the morning and I am fine until about 10 to 11 pm at night. I have never had a hard time sleeping either since I began using medication. Before I used to wake up all through the night and had a difficult time resting and sleeping. The hardest thing about Concerta for me is the fact that I have dry mouth quite a bit as well as when the various doses work their way into my bloodstream I get REALLY sleepy for about 15 - 20 minutes until my body has adjusted.

I can now drive in the car and not get frustrated with traffic. I can now go to a shopping mall with my wife and not get frustrated, and I can now work quite easily without the frustration as well.

I did not mean to ramble on but, it is almost like I have a new life, and I just wanted to share that with everyone here. If anyone here has any questions please feel free to ask. I just want to help anyone out that I can.

HarleyMan......mega congratulations on your success with medication. Thanks for sharing your the experience of one who lives ADHD. Its all about quality of life issues and through the use of medication, youve achieved that. Way to go!!!!!

[QUOTE=Luvmykids02]
HarleyMan......mega congratulations on your success with medication. Thanks for sharing your the experience of one who lives ADHD. Its all about quality of life issues and through the use of medication, youve achieved that. Way to go!!!!!

[/QUOTE]

Thank you.

It is hard for me to even describe how many changes you go through, feelings, thoughts about quiting, thoughts about continuing, hell, even the day to day mundane tasks are a life changing event in regards to pre-med days and after the meds are being taken.

I had to change everything in my life... Even right now, reading all of these posts, I am flooded with emotions. It is like having to go through puberty again. Puberty was bad enough at 14 let alone 32!!!! I find myself going back through old letters, emails, and reports that I had written last year, and I keep wondering "What the hell was I thinking???" Those are the tough ones because I then begin to feel embarassed, self conscience, etc.

It is a roller coaster but, it does get better. My family is more at ease with me at night when I come home now. I am not as emotionally drained as I used to be. It is a very hard road, but forums like this make it much easier.

Even right now I feel kind of ashamed for typing all of this and will let it end with a simple "thank you."

Even right now I feel kind of ashamed for typing all of this and will let it end with a simple "thank you."

There is nothing to be ashamed about HarleyMan. You took ownership for the fact that you did have a problem and sought out help. This not only improves the quality of your life but also your family. Its never too late to get help and for that I commend you. Be proud!!!! Your contribution here gives parents insight from the inside out as accurate information enables parents to educate themselves and better understand how to help their children. So.....a big thank you goes out to you!!!!!

[QUOTE=ursucha]HarleyMan: Thanks for sharing your experience. I have a daughter w/ADD and my husband is questioning if he may also have add. He is unable to concentrate, get things done and listen. He is always frustrated from work and gets very little done around the house. He has a difficult time with every day tasks and thinks he has such a stressful life, when in actuallity he has it pretty easy. I am concerned that he could lose his job if he performs at work like he does at home. He has an appt. w/the Dr. next week and is going to discuss his "issues", but you don't hear of too many people who are "older" being diagnosed. Thanks for sharing and letting us know that you aren't too old to be diagnosed.   [/QUOTE]

The whole reason I decided to seek help in the first place was due to "work related" performance reviews. I understand where you are coming from, and my wife explained it to me as well. We were only a few days away from having our third child, and I was going to be on vacation for an entire month. My wife pleaded with me to look for help. The performance review as well as the wife, were the reason I decided to "see" if there might be some type of truth to everyone else's claims...

Many if not all of the people I know were not surprised by the results and also were only encouraging me to find help, but no one knew of any other way to get through to me. So my boss blatantly laid it on the line for me. Since then... We are starting up our own business, I have been promoted, and MANY people argue over who will be on my team for specific projects. Before it used to be the other way around.

Does that make any sense?

Hi: I have a question for you all about Conceta. My son is 13 and was just recently diagnosed with ADHD. He's been on 'Conceta 36 mg. for about 3 weeks this summer. I've seen a huge change in his behavior, for the better. MY question is his focus. We went to a meeting at the school last night and he was still destracted my everything. Not focused at all. I'm concerned about school starting today and if the Concerta will be able to do what it's suppose to do for him there, with focus and distractibility. Do you think he needs a higher dose or something else for his focus? Behaviorly it's been a God send at home. What do you all think? I'm put this in it's own post as well, as I think it would be good to get as much info as I can.

Thanks,

Island Gypsy