Hello from a Newbie | ADHD Information

Hello everyone. I'm Shawn, 35 and I'm awaiting to be tested for ADD (scheduled Jan 9th). I have 4 children, 2 boys from a previous marriage Ronnie who's 17 1/2 and Dakota is 10.  They both live with their father in Okla. My oldest son Ronnie was Dx's ADHD when he was 5. Thankfully he's pretty much outgrown the needs for meds and is doing well on his own. He was on Ritilin and then Concerta when it came available, and finally med free at 14 years old.


I've remarried and together my husband Chris and I have 2 daughters Rhiannah  is 5 1/2 and Natasha will be 3 on the 18th of this month.


Rhiannah will also be tested for ADD  on Jan 3rd. Which is why I'm getting tested because of having 2 kids with it, and both have different fathers. I've done research on Adult ADD and you can pretty much put a picture of me by the description.  The only part that I was in denial about was organization, I've always thought I was very well organized. But I'm a huge procrastinator.  It was brought to my attention that I may have a combo of things... ADD/OCD, now I don't think I'm very OCD.. but enough that I can't stand things being out of it's 'place'  and no where a neat freak.

 
I read somewhere that a lot of people with ADD tend to be highly creative  and excel in fields of art, and I found this interesting since I'm a self employed graphic/web  designer. So, we'll see what the Docs say. Be cautioned, I ramble a lot. I'm concerned (and so is my husband) that if I do end up on meds that it may effect my creativity. Can anyone tell me if this is true or not?

Thanks.                                             ShawnB39032.4080555556

Welcome to the board, Shawn!

I was not diagnosed until I was 23 years old.  I am now 26 and have chosen to be med-free for 2 years now for a couple of reasons: one is that i don't have insurance... another is that I'm trying to research one that may work better than the strattera that gave me terrible nightmares. 

I am a dance teacher.  I own a dance studio.  I find that I cannot focus enough to be creative when I am not on meds.  I have not noticed that the medication alters my creativity in a negative way.

Don't worry about the rambling... I ramble too ;)

Welcome to the site. If you are on the right med and have the right dosage, you should be able to focus better but still not become a different or less creative person.

The wonderful thing about the meds is that if you find you don't like what they are doing to you, its only a few hours and then it wears off. You can just stop taking them.

Thanks for the welcome and replies. It's good to hear about the short lasting effects. I was afraid it would be longer lasting on the side effects. My youngest daughter (2 1/2 years old) has a seizure disorder and the first med they gave her (Topamax) at the very lowest dosage caused her severe side effects that lasted nearly a week! They said she reacted to that dose (only took two doses) but said she reacted like someone who took a large overdose. I suppose because they're both Neurological that I'm scared this might happen to my oldest daughter who's being tested for ADD at the same time as I am. Of course I'm worried this would happen to me because I have to care for them and Tasha was non-functioning. Has anyone had this serious of an effect to any ADD meds?

My oldest son never had one single side effect from Ritalin when he was on it. Thankfully.. So I know it can be safe and work correctly (as safe as a med can be that is)  With my daughters reaction happening only a month or two ago... it's in the forefront of my mind.

I'm hoping to find a med that works quickly (as I'm sure everyone does) it would be nice to be able to focus on my clients projects and get ideas  in my head sooner. I've noticed that I've been procrastinating more and more lately... because they allow me to, by my putting on the contract that I'll have a draft within a couple of weeks (sometimes I do need this when I have multiple projects going on). When I know that  honestly, the first week and 1/2 I'm not doing a damn thing but procrastinating! Once I finally say.. ok, I HAVE to have this done by such and such time.. I'll get down to business and always get it done on time. But I wait until the last possible minute to do it. Is this normal of ADD?

chasesbigsis--  I'm a dance teacher too!  I teach tap in NYC.  I just started on the generic for Adderall and I'm looking forward to being able to keep my focus through an hour an a half class!  Most students don't notice, except when I have to repeatedly go to my notes or forget my own choreography. 

ShawnB--  As far as affecting your creativity, medication shouldn't change anything.  What it will help with is channeling that creativity and having the focus to get things done!! 

I'm seeing a doctor who deals with a lot of ADD patients and his medication of choice (to start out) is Adderall (or it's generic, which is much more affordable).  He said he finds it works for many of his patients with the least amount of side effects.  Give me another week or two and I'll let you know if I agree! (today is my 3rd day). 

I am taking 5mg twice a day for three days, then 10mg, 15mg with the target dose being 20mg twice a day which I will reach in about a week and a half. 

As my husband and I like to say "Fake it til you make it!"

 

Hi Nicollyne, It's nice to meet another fellow developer/designer. That's good news to hear. I'm always doing that, (what I've learned from here as 'hyper focusing')  I would love to be able to focus and do things at a normal pace... or at least what I perceive to be normal.      

Being a WAHM with only 3 days a week (youngest daughter's in preschool) to really focus on work w/o taking away from the family time is hard enough as it is... then my procrastination kicks in and I end up not getting work done on those days (a lot of the time anyway) 

I'm really struggling right now with a Logo project, I need to get it done, but I can't for the life of me focus enough to get to the drawing board... well I did get some drafts done today, but I don't like them.

Welcome! As far as procrastination... well, it sure is normal for me! AT least that is, when i'm not on my meds. College was TERRIBLE for me because i would write 30 page papers the night before they were do... now granted, i would still get great grades on them, but cracking out a pater in about 12 hours like that... Totally stressful.

I work in web development also. I was off my meds over the summer, because tsome times i jsut need a break to let my body rebalance. I tend to lose alot of weight on my meds. But (see, i ramble too) i started back on them about a week ago. That first day back on them, i sat down and knocked out a site i had procrastinating on for almost a month and for which i really didnt' have a dealine in only about 5 hours. It was a 7 page site and it turned out great. I think the meds definatly focus the creativity you have, not hamper it.

Good luck! :)