PLease Help--Somebody? | ADHD Information
Thank you all for your advice. Sorry about the long posts. Happy belated birthday Richochet! Congratulations on what sounds like a possibly fruitful first trial of meds. For me the key has been patience and a willingness to keep trying new things. I currently take welbutrin, concerta (ritalin slow release) and neurontin aka gabapentin. I arrived at this regimen via a lot of self-education here and elsewhere and with help and support from numerous people both professional and non. I applaud your forthright efforts to reach out to others and believe in can only be helpful. PS try not to get too worked up about comments or feedback you read online here and elsewhere, for as a programmer you probably know better than I, that a single misplaced character or byte can turn a "do-while loop" into do-nothing goop or worse.Nice hearing from you.
Ghead.
Take what I say for what you want. I'm a medical school student starting my clinical rotations, so I'll admit that I don't know the answers to the world, but what I do know I can share with you, and I don't do it to be disrespectful or to hurt you, oddly enough you can only benefit your care and mutual understanding with your doctor if you pay attention to what I'm going to tell you.
Doctors are not the bad guys, they are not trying to screw you over, and they don't get "benefits" for pushing certain drugs. You are not a guinea pig (newby) and no one is trying to get you addicted to some medicines. Doctors are usually concerned with being as efficient as possible for all the patients they see, and sadly enough, the health care in this country only affords the average doctors visit to 7 minutes on average.
This doesn't meant that you cannot make another appointment and it doesn't mean that non-specialist doctors don't have more time for you. Your GP doctor who talked to you about your life problems and back ache and your child is doing what he is supposed to, which is to be a primary care physician and to fix the problems he can and to direct you to specialists when he is not the expert in his field (a doctor who knows a little about a lot).
When you go to a psychiatrist, he's not going to ask you about your back, and since he already has a 3 hour report on you, and this is the initial meeting, he's going to prescribe something that is generally thought to treat your symptoms. Psychiatrists are not very good at 'working out your problems,' it sounds like if you want to talk out your problems you should make an appointment with a psychologist. You are not depressed, you 'believe' that you have ADHD, and probably rightfully so, and there are probably 15 different ways to treat it. Oddly enough, Strattera isn't a bad choice, and fyi, most anti-depressants have no activity in people who are not depressed, so therefore they are not drugs of abuse or dependence. They do have possible side effects, but again, the side effects are extremely mild with welbutrin compared to other anti-depressants, hence why it's the first line of treatment.
Not to make this post any longer, but other than the fact that your doctor was impersonal (with the cell phone), and didn't have a copy of your file (not his fault, he isn't responsible for receiving faxes in his office and it could've gotten misplaced) he sounds like he tried to work with your concerns. He/she will not be able to evaluate you and the medicine that you're on for another 6 weeks, because that's how long it takes for it to "kick in." So if you want him to call you and ask how you're doing, you're never going to get that from any psychiatrist.
Your GP is giving you ritalin, and just so you know it is legalized speed. So the effects you got from your illegal drug use in the past should mimic what you're taking with the ritalin. And whereas welbutrin isn't addictive, ritalin is. It seems like you have a lot to learn about your illness, and I'm glad that you're looking for information, more knowledgable patients make more reasonable decisions with their own healthcare. But in my opinion, stop taking the coffee, stop taking anything with more caffeine than a pepsi or coke. And try to stay away from self-medicating with vitamins and ginseng, you could potentially do something that is extremely harmful to your body with the cross reactions with the prescription medications you're on. So if you have to take them, then write down the doses and bring in EVERYTHING you take to your doctor. If you don't believe me, then you don't believe me. I can only advise you of what I know.
I hope this has been helpful to you, again if I've offended you that really wasn't my intent. Good luck.
Cheers,
Haseeb
windbrand39170.6158564815I am glad you received the support from the GP.
Everyone responds differently to the different meds, just as everyone has different tolerances for caffeine (I can sleep easier with it). At therapeutic doses, taken orally, ritalin has a good track record. It has been around more than 50 years. You are being cautious and taking it slow as you should with any new medication. Many find that with medication, they do not want as much (or any caffeine). Make sure you have discussed your caffeine intake with your doc. Adults have more potential heart issues, so combining stimulants can be risky.
I hope you are on the right path for effective treatment.
help a lot of people in these boards by being subjective and
informative...with a bit of sympathy and I know people thank you...but I
would like to double thank you.
The caffeine has calmed me down, just like you. But that is not to say,
that it is not a stimulant. So, in order to be safe, I have not had any
caffeine, not even a coke. I was a lot calmer today on the ritalin. I am glad
I asked for a small dose. But I was able to do my job and concentrate. I
even had a piece of birthday cake! So the appetite thing is fine with me.
Normally I skip lunch because my brain is too busy to stop for it or I
forget.
I expect things to differ a bit as the days pass.
I sure wish I didn't need any medication or all the coffee or anything else.
I always think that if I were on a deserted island I would like to be happy
and not complaining about what I need...good thing I like fish!
As for the comment from the poster defending the psychiatrist, I have
friends in the medical field...practicing. And they are offended by
profesionals like him. Nol...HE NEVER read my 3 year history report or
whatever. His purpose was to get me evaluated so that the insurance
would pay him for him prescribing and treating me. How do I know? Well,
it was the first thing he told me in the first visit. The psychologist did call
me at home and even called the night before the appointment for the
evaluation to remind me...since he got the voicemail during the day.
Not every psychiatrist is like that guy. Not every doctor is like mine. I may
be a newby...but I follow my instinct and I would have died once, had I
not followed my instincts and gone to ER against my doctor's advice. I
hope I am not offending You. But the medical field is not perfect. And
neither is the patient. I am trying to do my best to get help, trust my
instincts and get information here. I would love to have found a
psychiatrist who I could trust. I was hoping he would at least mail the
report to my GP as he was asked to do...and his assistant assured me
when I called to check if she had done so, the next day, that she would
put it in the mail that same day because they were slow.
There are a lot of great doctors out there in many fields. Just like every
profession, it pays and has incentives. Most doctors, I trust. But guys like
that one...no thanks. The only reason I didn't go to another one is
because the one before him cancelled the appointments two or three
times and it takes a month or so to get an appointment with these. My
insurance is not that great...I guess and not many accept it.
Whatever. I suppose I am offended...since really...you are attacking my
instinct and not my knowledge. If I had the knowledge I would not be
here in this post. When people say...I am going to be honest...they mean,
I am going to lie to you.
So if you say, i am not trying to be offensive...well. That's all I'm saying.
For everyone else in this forum: you have been very helpful to me and
non-offensive. After reading this post I just about wanted to never post
here again. I don't post in forums in this way and share so much personal
stuff. But you have all made me feel comfortable doing it. However, this
poster just wanted to defend her field and not consider my feelings or my
side. I am hurt by it. But decided to just express myself instead of leaving.
Hope I am doing the right thing.
I'm so glad you've said your peace. I sometimes step on toes here not meaning to offend. I sometimes forget I'm talking to a person and not just a message board. After posting some more posts other than just medical issues I felt that I was in the company of people who could relate to my issues. espeacially when getting reactions from fellow mebers too. One of my issues is feeling isolated . When I'm by myself I tend to feel low and listless, just being in the company of others keeps me in step . I could never learn as much about the many facets of ADHD without being amongst all those here who post. To them I am thankful.
I tend to learn more from my mistakes so when i offend someone here i try to thinkabout thier feelings more than my need to understand.
Growing up unmedicated I have still have learning issues . The one I think helped me the most . Lesson that is. That just because someone starts off saying something I've already heard , I need to pay full attention to understand they may be trying say something else. Thank you for expressing opion . I too have gotten second opions. I feel much more confident about my treatments.
Not, saying this happens to you but caffine turns my rages up a little quicker!
P.S. opps I changed the masks and now I cant find them agian. its that dern ADHD THANG AGIAN
how many ADDers does it take to change a light bulb?
Uhhhhhhhh, I don't remember.
Sammo39170.876099537Sammo...thanks for your reply and vote of confidence...I like your masks...kind of reminds me of my many faces.
I grew up un-medicated as well. But my father was a very strict Marine and he had ADHD, or so my family thinks.
I hope I never offend you. You seem to be a really honest person and sympathetic.
Yes...I will admit I have stepped on some toes and feet. I tend to blurt things out and don't realize what I have said until I "get it". But for the most part, everyone around me realizes it was unintentional. My daughter laughs at me when I get frustrated and then we joke. I do the same with her.
Anyhow, I just wanted to thank you for your reply. I am learning more and more everyday here.
Ricochet,
It sounds like a good start with positive results from the ritalin. That is further confirmation that your diagnosis is correct and you are on the right path. I too wish I did not need meds (mine are thyroid and blood pressure meds), but am glad that at least if I have to have a disorders, they are easily treatable.
Sammo,
I have been impressed by your ability to re-examine you statements and not be offended. These are traits that come with some form of maturity (I did not say age-mind you ). I too like the masks, especially the one with the yellow and blue feathers on his head. Oh... and no caffeine for you.
one , 1 ADDER is all it takes to change a light bulb ,
FOR GODS SAKE EDISON INVENTED THE DAMN THINGS.
the masks are on a wall at the indianapolis childrens museum.
I identify with the monkey , maybe because i was born in the year of the monkey and a virgo. both busy, clever, incomplete
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Woo HOOO i dont know how but i got senior status while posting today woo hoooo . anyone know what that means?
Sammo39172.0624421296I just wanted to give you an update...you are all becoming friends. This is strange...I only have a few good friends and I have never felt comfortable on a forum before. But I suppose the topic here is so personal...not to mention knowing people who are so much like me.
Anyways, I have to tell you that I had made the appointment with my regular doctor after talking with the psychologist who did my evaluation. He mailed me a copy with proof that he actually faxed the report a week earlier to the psychiatrist.
Today was the appointment with my doctor. I found out the psychiatrist had not sent the requested evaluation and notes or anything to my doctor. Whatever...I brought the report the psych sent me. My doctor was glad I did. He actually closed the door, we talked about my symptoms and he went over the evaluation report.
He asked about my own daughter because he was concerned I may have passed it to her. Fortunately, she doesn't appear to have it, because she is the one who has been helping me with my symptoms since she was 3!
He started me on Ritalin, 10 mg. twice a day. I told him and requested a low dose to start. He knows me well. He know about my history with pain killers and how I really avoid taking medicine. He said that Ritalin tends to calm kids down and it may speed me up. Is that true? I want it to calm my brain down. I am fidgety and have the attention focus problems and he said we should start with Ritalin, since it's the first and safest. We then talked about side effects a bit, but for the most part he feels I should be okay, since my blood pressure has been great and remains great.
What a great experience. From the psychiatrist who doesn't care to the physician who takes the time to listen and go over stuff with me. He also took my blood pressure and asked how my back was doing.
So, is it true that Ritalin may speed me up? And does this mean I don't have to drink 8 shots of Espresso? I totally forgot to ask about that.
Jaderock54-
I had no idea bout the adderall, and i am taking it. Only for the last 2 weeks.
I did not know that I would have to drive out to get the perscription. What a pain!
Wellbutrin is an antidepressant that works well for ADHD symptoms in many people. I take it in conjunction with a stimulant (when I need it).
Keep in mind that many doctors like to try non- stimulant meds first, because if they work it is much easier for the ADHD patient. Stimulants are a controlled substance and they are only supposed to prescribe 30 days supply at a time. Which means remembering to call for a refill, pick it up, and take it to the pharmacy (they cannot call in these refills). That's a lot to remember for some one with ADHD. That is also why I only take the Adderall when I really need it, even though my doc thinks I should take it every day.
"The problem here is that the psychiatrist talks to people with the door
open, answers constant personal calls on his cell phone, and probably
had a total of ten minutes in two sessions with me. Not to mention the
fact that he did not ever look at my evaluation report. By the way I read it
today because the psychologist who did it mailed the report to me. "
Not a good doc...
Thank you, Vickie!That's my concern. Trust is important when dealing with doctors, and I really don't trust this guy. As a matter of fact, he has not even tried to reach me to find out what the problem is or anything. Which is exactly what I suspected...he really doesn't care. Perhaps he already forgot about me.
By the way...Happy Friday!!!
For me it's just a small price to pay to help keep me a functional human being
..
I'm very optimistic about future ADHD treatments anyway, so the way I see it, in 10 yrs. time there won't be a need for controlled substance meds since there will be better options out there (maybe I'm a little overly-optimistic?)
I might be taking Wellbutrin but I doubt it will do the job on its own. I'll probably still need the stimulants. BTW jaderock can you take wellbutrin as needed b/c right now I take effexor xr and if I skip just one dose that's a serious problem. soberxinsanity39164.6830902778The problem here is that the psychiatrist talks to people with the door
open, answers constant personal calls on his cell phone, and probably
had a total of ten minutes in two sessions with me. Not to mention the
fact that he did not ever look at my evaluation report. By the way I read it
today because the psychologist who did it mailed the report to me.
I am not depressed. I am actually one of the most positive and happiest
people I know. I am goofy and I do get frustrated sometimes when my
ADHD gets in the way. I am smart, and I make stupid mistakes that
bother me a great deal. But that is normal. I would not want to live a life
where I was never mad or frustrated. It's good to let out a good loud
whine once in a while. I do tend to keep my feelings to myself
sometimes...that I am smart enough to realize on my own. It comes from
growing up with a military officer father who demanded a lot from me
without whining and/or questioning. Yes...it's ironic that as a kid with this
I had to refrain myself more than all my friends did, around their dads.
But I am not depressed. I am optimistic. But I am not blinded by some guy
with a degree who uses it to make money and not care about people. You
can't tell me I am lucky to have gotten a psychiatrist who barely listened
or talked to me, read about me or had to ask me why I was there. I think
he had his own memory problems.
When I see my family doctor, I will make the decision with him. Just like I
have always done. When you go to see the doctor he shares his
knowledge and information with you and you do the same. The fact that
places like this are available to help inform me before I see him are
awesome. But ultimately, my doctor is the one who knows me. Honestly, I
am a bit apprehensive about taking medication. Side effects scare me. But
most of you are telling me that you are taking the non-stimulants with
stimulants. Great...because you think they are helping you. I am happy for
you. But what if you were treating ADHD with only the non-stimulants.
I tried cocaine ONE time in my life. While I watched everyone doing the
"woah...hooooh!" I was wondering if I had received flour. Because it did
nothing for me. I never tried it again, what for? I took speed a couple of
times. While everyone was wired, I was off drawing and finally able to
concentrate. But I quit right away. It was illegal and it was not something I
should be doing. So, I self medicate legally. I do the 8 shots of espresso.
Along with B vitamins. Take Ginseng and Monster drinks. But a day like
that, still allows me to sleep. I can take a nap in the middle of the day and
be up all night with all the thoughts. I am tempted to erase all of this
because it's too long and I am really exposing myself.
I am going to take a risk in hope that you can understand how frustrated I
am. I am not depressed...but I am very upset. I think it would be great to
just be normal and be able to succeed in my work. It's sad that I have a
stomach ache and no one will give me Tums. Know what I mean?
If stimulants work, give them to me. If pain killers work, they give them to
me. I am far from addicted. But I am realistic...and that's all that I want.
The proper treatment for what I have. Not to be over medicated or
medicated for things not wrong with me. Ha, ha...I am thinking about the
commercials about the flu symptoms. Why take stuff for stuff you don't
have?i like the long post. cofidence and trusting also important . hey put it in prespective its not as long as a ten page childrens book. we gotta know what youre getting at . at least you use good english. i see many glasses half full too, and i see them from the bottoms of the glasses sometimes. thank you for sharing here , many smarter people than i here hope you to see more like you .
Rico,
Ur cool, 2!
I did read all you wrote, even tho I can't write all I read.
Or wanna say, for that matter.
You'll do okay.
You
R
A
!
See you on the Summit.
ricochet
ADHD IS DIFFERENT FOR most people. one of the hardest things for me was realizing that my first impression was usually wrong . It took me a long time to let things filter in my mind before making reactions. Some drugs are created for a specific reason sometimes have side effects. tose side effects then become the drug of choice for cetian ailments. case in point viagra was designed for heart patients. but we all know what its side effect is.
welbutrin which ive never taken is one of those works great as a side effect meds.
ive done alot of sole searching lately . having AADHD-L is something i can never escape ,can never deny, can't self medicate, and can't be left alone with.
youre in my opinion lucky to have the dr you have . I belive they see thousands of people who need help. some family doctors just give you something and see if works if it doesnt they give you something else. My doctor never told me to see a therapist for the first year so i could retrain my emotional reactions due to the drug. I was mean , snidy , voicestrous , competitve , and like a raging bull. it wasnt the medicine. I just didnt know how to react to the clarity ,the medicine i was on didnt change the fact that i was thin skinned .
my advice don't worry about who's in the waiting room. just be thankful that that specialist is there for you and is trying to help.
i would take the specialists advice over the family physician!
if you do take the meds also see a therapist or the meds are gamble.
stop self medicating . i couldnt funtion without caffine either just to get going .
i stpped acting like i knew more than the doctor . i switched to green tea for caffine enough to get me going not enough to effect my sleep .
stress is a major factor for me. My AADHD-L makes my attention span about four minutes and cognitive connections about 30seconds . therefore learning directions from somebody talking is impossible . add stress then im about 2minutes for attention and 10 sec cognitive. i cant listen or learn when stress is present. i barley function when things are well . these drugs that are being offered to you also help with stress - a side effect make sense?
Not being given the drug for what it is typically prescribed for, but it does a dam good job treating your condition too!
Luck.
BTW,
Wiggling is okay.
Specially if with your wOman.
I like wiglgling wiht mine.
We're even getting married!
How abotu that!
Thanks...you are so cool and in love. BTW...I do men...I am a woe--man!
Congrats again!!!!
soberxinsanity,
Thank you for your reply. You have helped me out. I have learned to trust
my instincts about doctors...mostly the hard way. I once told a doctor's
nurse to stick it when I KNEW I my case was an emergency. They told me
that they would not authorize it. I went anyways, and ended up in surgery
the next morning, since it was after midnight when I was seen in the ER.
I called my primary care physician this morning and the psychologist who
did the evaluation. The psychologist said his findings were positive and
even pulled the report. He said it was his opinion that I had ADHD, and
not some other disease or injury. He wrote my address on an envelope as
he spoke with me to mail me the report. He suggested I contact my
primary care physician. What a great idea!
So my doctor's office said to get the psychiatrist to forward the evaluation
to my doctor. His assistant was a bit surprised as I showed up to
supposedly pick up the Strattera samples, and said, 'Thanks but no
thanks.' I told her that I had never taken psych medication and I was
being careful. I told her the doctor had not read or looked at the
evaluation when he decided to prescribe the medication on my second
visit. I said I was going to let my doctor, who knew me well, and knew all
about my health conditions prescribe what was best for me. I told her, 'I
don't mind taking something, as long as it's the correct medication for
me.'
I told her that int he meantime, I would have my 8 shots of Starbucks on
the days I am working. I will look normal with my Starbucks cup as
opposed as some groggy, vomitting, and moody and strange person who
may not be able to work.
She was complacent. I then asked if she would mail the information
today. She said she would.
Then this afternoon, the doctor's office made an appointment for
Wednesday.
Part of me wants to just rush and take SOMETHING...anything. But the
other part of me is telling me that I could regret it if I take something
without feeling like it is the best option for me.
I don't know why this psychiatrist would do prescribe this...perhaps he
thinks I am searching for drugs and am some addictive person,
although...I wonder what made him think that...since he barely knows me.
My bet is that he wants to try out the drug on someone, and a newby is
perfect. Not to mention whatever bonuses he may get for pushing the
Strattera. I am just guessing. For all I know my doctor may try it on me as
well. But I trust my doctor more than the psychiatrist.
BTW...this doctor is not the same one who wouldn't allow me to go to the
ER with severe abdominal pain.
Wish me luck. I just am getting fed up with all this difficulty I am
experiencing. I just want to be able to concentrate and stop wiggling all
the time. I look like a speed freak on crack sometimes. I feel embarrassed
when I catch myself wiggling around during a meeting or something.
Geez. Then people will direct a question at me and I only realize they are
talking to me when they say, "Hey, we are talking to you...earth to you...!"
Thank you for your reply, again. Sorry so long a post.
Hi,I came back from the psychiatrist's yesterday and wanted to share my experience.
I was evaluated as being very ADD by someone who specializes in that and the psych himself sent me there. So, I took three hours worth of tests and the specialist sent the report to the psych.
Today, the psych was ready to write a prescription, and said have you ever tried Welbutrin? I asked what it was. He said it was an anti depressant that worked well for attention disorder. I told him I did not have any type of depression, and would rather not take medication for something I didn't have. He then asked me...what did I think I had. I told him I have what the guy said I had. What guy? He asked. The guy you sent me to for an evaluation where I spent three hours. Well, he then said he didn't have the report. I told him he should have it. He says his assistant probably has it with the files. But I see he has my two page file in front of him. He doesn't have the report and never asks for it or saw it.
So then he said okay, I will give you Strattera. What do I know? I go to the pharmacy and they say that insurance won't cover that drug. I call the doctor. He insists that he will ask for a special authorization. It will take some time, meantime, come over tomorrow and pick up samples. My next appointment is in one month and the milligrams he prescribed were 25. By the way, I told him, I have NEVER been on any psychiatric medication before. But I take Darvocet regularly for back pain.
Now I am thinking, something is wrong. I feel like he didn't really care what I have. Why is he wanting to prescribe antidepressants? Why this Strattera that has some antidepressant history? Why should I go through a trial of horrible symptoms that I read about here, if there are other things out there. I am not an addictive person. I drink 8 shots plus of coffee when I am working to help me concentrate, but I don't have to drink it otherwise. Actually, on the weekends I don't drink any. I am not, and have never been an alcoholic or a drug addict. But I did see people in the office waiting room that scared me. Some were acting retarded...could it be the medications?
What do I do? Do I take the evaluation to another doctor and start over? It could take another month to get an appointment. Should I try this stuff? I finally found a freelance job that pays and would hate to blow it. I need help, not to sabotage what little I have. I suppose I am desperate for help. Any of you who are adults who have taken this and only have ADD or ADHD...not any other stuff...Can You Help???
I want to let you know that I am not an adult-I'm a teenager, but I hang on the adult board since there is more activity than on the young adult board..
ADHD, depression, and other similar disorders are very closely related. Wellbutrin can affect the same neurotransmitters as the ADD meds do. Strattera was originally an antidepressent but they saw it worked better for ADD so they changed the indication to ADHD.I am taking Effexor right now, and my doc wants to change me to Wellbutrin to help with my mild depression (which probably stemmed from the ADD) and the ADD itself. The new "atypical" anti-depressents that are coming out tend to help a little more with focus as well as mood, because they work on other neurotransmitters (mainly norepinephrine, which is the target issue with ADHD)
So for the doc to suggest an anti-depressant for attention problems makes some sense, although anti-deps. are used more as a last-resort treatment for ADHD. I'm surprised he didn't suggest a stimulant med. There was also a recent study showing that stimulants were more effective for ADHD than straterra is. The way you are describing your doc, he sounds a little fishy to me, doctors should be more efficient with their work..and sometimes the patients are smarter than the doctors are! Maybe you can suggest the idea of a stimulant to your doctor?? I'm not understanding why he is considering anti-depressants and straterra. Again, those are usually used when nothing else has worked, or in conjunction with a stim, as in my case.
How long have you been seeing this doctor? Do you feel like you're making progress since you started with him? I always ask myself that--if I haven't gotten any closer to where I ultimately want to be in treatment, I look further for better options. I'm not going to tell you my story here since this post is long enough, but I do understand what you're going through, at least partially.
Hope I helped a little..take care.Hi everyone!
I have searched for this post I made and got side tracked with the rest of the board. But I am now beat and ready for bed. TGIF!
Well, I wanted to thank you again for your thoughts and advice.
I have allowed about a week after the effects of the Ritalin wore off, almost completely. Then I called the doctor and told his assistant about it. He increased it by 10 mg. per dose, twice a day. So I got a bit scared. What about five? She told me not to worry about the doses, that the doctor would not prescribe anything unreasonable. So I took the rest of my pills back, the 20 mg. ones and then the insurance would not cover the 30 mg. pills...because now it would be Ritalin LA. So I went back and got the bottle with the 20s again. The doctor was out through Tuesday. So she and the pharmacist told me to take one and one-half twice a day before breakfast and lunch.
If this did not work, I thought, I would rather suffer through my condition without medication. I just do not like the idea of putting this much stuff in me.
So I took my second dose of 1 1/2 and I felt horrible. I hardly could not make it to the end of my day. I pulled through, because I am tough.
Last night it took a while for the bad feeling to go away. It was intense and a little nauseous. I took it again this morning and it worked better than ever. So, perhaps this was the right thing. I read that 60 mg. a day was the max. So, I feel bad that I have to take that much. I was worried about it most of last night. I was a bit saddened. I guess I was disappointed. But I was optimistic. The first time I took it it was a very weird thing for the first day as well.
My hyperactivity actually was calmer today. It came back some later this evening. But not as bad as before. Before, my hyperactivity was more intense when the medicine's effect wore off. Still, tomorrow is another day. At some point I would like to be stable. I would also like not to take it on weekends when my body is accustomed so that I don't have weird reactions when I go back to it on Mondays.
But we'll see. Will you all just put some power of suggestion out there for me and cross your fingers that this is it for me?
My biz has been on hold, sort of speak. And I need to get that back into the mainstream. Meanwhile, I at least have some temporary checks coming in. But my biz is my priority. Well, honestly, my daughter is number one, then the health...this condition too, and then the biz. But everything else will just follow these. It's not like I am totally warped with my priorities.
Oh, I will try not to let people get to me with their posts and comments. I really will try. But sometimes, saying your peace is just healthy. Don't you sometimes agree? (sometimes.)
Thank you again! BTW...Vickie, you are really a great help here. Can we just nominate you for an award? I am serious!
Hi Ricochet: I wanted to respond real quick (still at work suppose to be finishing up for the day :-). Your last post sounds just like me. I too increased my dose and though it felt a whole lot better I still was not myself at all. I use to be very outgoing, quick witted and self confident. I just don't think I can do the Ritalin type meds and I always feel very strange on them. I recently switched to Adderall and what a huge difference - I am back to working on my business in the evenings and am happier due to the decisions I have made to make the switch. I am getting my sense of humor back and it does not seem to cause such a irritating feeling (not sure if you had this, but I was feeling really depressed - BAD Actually). I will check back when I get home in a bit. Take care and keep in touch, I believe you and I have a lot in common and I know that I can benefit from speaking with you about this whole med and life thing.
Ritalin is a drug that has different effects in different people. For some it breaks the shackles of ADHD and for others it shackles them down. It's a drug that has to be tried though, because there are few alternatives to it (aderall being one of them). However, with any antipsychotic, antidepressant, antiepileptic and so on medicine you have to give it 4 weeks for your body to metabolize it properly and to develop the levels that were intended for you to try out before you decided to kick it or keep it.
Just a thought, you might find that it is an extremely useful tool for you in the future, that you missed out on because you never tried it. My father-in-law takes about 50mg of ritalin a day and he has been extremely satisfied with it at that dose. He tried it at lower doses and it did almost nothing for him over the course of the day, but he has become much more productive since he upped his dose.
Your body takes a while to process meds, so just give it the 4 weeks and if it doesn't work by then, then at least you can say that you tried and it's time for something else.
Windband, thanks for your post. You are actually very correct about giving it time. Let me count...it was....okay, so I had to look it up on the calendar: 15 days before I took the higher dose. But the effects were almost gone, from the lower dose, about six days or so earlier. I am going to give this some time. I believe this is about the highest dose I should be putting in my body anyways. I will actually tell my doctor that I would like to give it the four weeks even if it feels like it won't work. Unless I get weird side-effects, which I am not today, I will just wait it out.Crzmoma, I am looking forward to your input. I know everyone is supposed to be different, but then again, if we were all too different...there would be about a hundred different medications to go through. I am not sure if my analogy makes sense, but what I am trying to say is that we may share some similarities and I am open to your experience and thoughts. I am open to all of you, to be honest. But if Crzmoma thinks we may be similar...then Hooray!
(I love the clapper.)What I am also considering with the effects of the medication and my response, is that sitting down in an office digitizing video is tedious work. I am not deciding what to digitize, so the creativity aspect is not really there. There is some troubleshooting that gets fun, though. However, even the most normal human being would have a hard time staying focused doing this. I am really trying to base my judgment on other things.
For example, I have a very much older friend who is very close. She and I talk a lot and we work on films together. She used to be a nurse. Anyhow, she told me the day after I posted here that I was back. She said that since I began with the medication I had been a quite scattered during conversations and seemed to struggle to make a quick decision. Like I had to think and was indecisive. She said I was staying on course and was quicker in judgment. Feedback like that is fantastic! I could not know that on my own by my own observation. What I can observe is more internal.
I have always had a hard time sleeping. My Mom used to give me chamomile tea when I was a baby and growing up, to calm me down. I don't remember it working too much. I actually would draw and try to read until very late to fall asleep. Reading was so boring to me, and the struggle of having to re-read...well, that would help. Anyhow, I cannot judge the fact that I can work at night. I can be tired as heck and still have a hard time sleeping. I have always been this way. But when I cannot do it anymore, I will crash early and that's all there is to that. I am not superwoman!
Even if I was it would be a secret...wink, wink.I went online last night to check on the ADHD medicine covered by my insurance, and regular Ritalin is covered. But the LA and SR are only covered for people under 18. Some of the others need prior authorization. Adderal seems to be...not sure right now...don't remember, but there were other Adderal versions that were only covered for those under 18 as well.
So for anyone who has tried Ritalin and now is on Adderal, can you describe the difference to me? As it stands, I don't really feel the intenseness of the first day on the Ritalin now. I feel a little bit of it. Like I know I am under its effect. But slightly. However, I am really trying to grade my symptoms more than its effect.
Anyhow, you both do bring up a good point...until I give it a chance in time, and if it does not work as great as it should, I may not realize the alternative is better.
Thank you both!
Having ADHD comes with problems not only during the day but when you sleep (or try to) as well. Although my wife had ADD, she was treated with basically the same medicines as people with ADHD get treated with. And her Adderall would keep her up at night as well. Her doctor's solution to it was to give her a sleeping aid like ambien or lunesta as well that she could take at night. This kind of worked for her, but she ended up needing to take the maximum dose about 2 hours before she was ready to go to sleep for it to work usually. And even then it had little effect except to make her groggy the next day.
However, later in her life, she got really depressed and moody, from mostly life situations but I'm sure that her lack of enjoyment from life was a major player as well. She responded to it with drug abuse. And the way that she accomplished that was to take her maximum dose of Adderall and then take her sleeping pills at the same time. This gave her a concentration rush that allowed her to stay awake (speed's effect) and a calming sedating effect that relaxed her (sedation effect of sleeping pills) and together they made a euphoria for her... for all of 6 hours until the pills wore off. Then she would crash every afternoon in such a horrible way that she would have panic attacks and would literally be balled up somewhere crying for no reason (well plenty of reason if you asked her).
But I suppose the point of why I told you that was so that even if you do get a sleep aid you'll realize that it might not be as effective as you want it to be, and secondly, you should be really careful about how you mix the drugs, sometimes the side effects from mixing make you feel really bad. In the end after talking to her doctor about what she should change to avoid her from doping up with her meds, he changed her Adderall to a mood stabilizer and an anti-depressant and told her to use Benadryl type pills that you can buy over the counter to help her go to sleep (generic name is phenhydramine or something). This ended up being a much better solution for her since she wasn't working at the time and she didn't really need the Adderall to concentrate.
Hopefully you will be superwoman (or at least feel like it) when everything is said and done. You're proactive and you enjoy trying to find things that work. That and a healthy attitude towards life will take you much farther than you ever know. I wish the best of luck to you.
Hi Ricochet (and everybody!)
I apologize that this is so long, but I tend to just keep going on and on....
I just wanted to say "good for you" for being proactive with your care. I have just been formally diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD at the age of 33 after many, MANY years of frustration and anguish. I have always been smart enough to get through school OK, but I have never felt like I was performing at my potential and I have certainly always felt like I was very different from everyone else. If I listed all the ADHD "traits" I have and stupid things I have done because of being unable to pay attention I would be here until next week! Sure you guys can relate....
In college, I was a music major. I ultimately decided not to be a musician and dropped out of college after having essentially a nervous breakdown. I had major self-doubt issues because I could not stand to practice. I was talented and had skated by on that talent up until that point, but I was afraid that unless I could manage to get my butt in a practice room for a couple of hours a day, I would never be able to compete against the best of the best. I wanted to be able to do it, but the problem was that I could not deal with the repetitive nature of practicing. When I had to memorize something for a competition it was agony. I could DO it, but the process was miserable and tedious. Anyway, my self-doubt silently ate away at me until I started having panic attacks.
When I started having panic attacks on stage, I became depressed. I still didn't know what was wrong with me, but whatever it was had robbed me of the one thing in my life that gave me great joy. Anyway, my mom took me to see the psychologist at the Student Health Center. Within 30 minutes, I was up the hall in the psychiatrist's office getting a prescription for Paxil.
This particular psychiatrist was great - he worked with me to find the best treatment for my panic disorder and I went to the psychologist for therapy. I even went through biofeedback and read everything I could about panic disorder and anxiety. But when I dropped out of college, I could not go to the Health Center anymore and needed a new doctor. I asked my family doc for a recommendation and went to see my NEW psychiatrist. He reviewed my history and asked the standard questions, including "does anyone in your family have a history of mental illness?" Well, my grandmother is bipolar. This always raises the doctor's eyebrow.... At the time I was taking a higher-estrogen birth control pill and it was making me very moody. I would get very PMS-y right before and very depressed right after my period. PMS-y, not manic. However, even though it should have been obvious that the mood issues were related to the BC pill, the psychiatrist thought it was enough of an indication that I was bipolar to try me on lithium.
BTW, Prozac helped me greatly with depression/panic disorder and also obsessiveness (I also took Klonopin for the panic issues), but I still never felt "right" which was why I was willing to entertain fiddling with my meds.
Lithium did not get along with the Prozac for some reason, and so I was told to stop the Prozac. I did. However, I started to become far more impulsive than I had ever been: coloring my hair a different color every week, blowing my paycheck as soon as I got it, staying up all night with my friends, getting a credit card and using it to buy an exercise bike I never used, etc. You get the idea. And I felt horrid. I would call and leave the doc messages, but rarely got a call back. His psych nurse hated me because I called all the time. Every time I said I felt awful, the doc would increase my dose of lithium. This made me worse and worse, until I could not stand it anymore. I ended up having to quit my job because I was unreliable. Finally one day I walked into the ER and told them I was not leaving until I got straightened out and I did not care whether or not they admitted me (they didn't). I talked with a doc who told me to stop the lithium and he would get me an appointment with a new psychiatrist. It took him a week to call me back (I am impatient!) but he did. I went back on Prozac for a while, but weaned off once I decided on a new career goal and got started with getting there. I was fine for several years.
I worked as a veterinary technician for many years, and eventually decided that I wanted to be a sales rep for a veterinary pharmaceutical company (or at least in the industry). I worked as an inside rep for about a year and a half before I finally managed to get a field position. I love my job, but it requires a great deal of organization and planning, and I have a terrible time with that. It is completely up to me to set my schedule, call cycle, programs, etc and when you are new, that is lot to deal with if you DON'T have ADHD.... Anyway, even though I can manage to do my job and muddle through, my progress at getting up and running has been slow. So I started feeling depressed and wondered if I was sabotaging myself. It felt a lot like I did back in college: "here we go AGAIN ruining something that makes me happy".
I had never figured out why exactly I struggled and ultimately developed panic disorder. I blamed it on self-doubt, but didn't know WHY I had self-doubt. I could never put my finger on it. When I started going downhill again I tried to figure out what the problem was. I watched a 20/20 special on people who worry and saw Dr Hallowell. He was not talking about ADHD, but worry. I can identify with this since I worry and obsess over almost everything. So I bought his book "Worry" and read it. In the book there are many case studies of different kinds of worriers, and most of them had underlying conditions (bipolar, GAD, etc). One such case was a man who turned out to be ADHD. When I read this, it was like an epiphany. My whole life flashed before my eyes and made sense for the first time.
So I bought "Driven to Distraction" and read it. It just proved to me further that this was my problem all this time. I was concerned about seeing a psychiatrist again and therefore dragged my feet making an appointment (my husband basically made me do it). But I did as much research as I could and went in with the mindset that if I did not think he was being thorough with me before jumping to medication, I would leave. I did not want him to diagnose ADHD on the first visit without much information. I wanted him to believe it was possible, but do what was necessary to rule anything else out. I have been this way my whole life, and so I do not feel any rush to find the right medication. I also did not really care WHAT was wrong with me. I just wanted to figure out what it was and proceed accordingly.
The good news is, he was thorough and he did believe I probably had ADHD. But since I was mildly depressed and tend to be obsessive, he wanted to put me back on Prozac first and re-evaluate things after it kicked in. I thought this was reasonable so I agreed (although the attention issues have always been there - but I appreciate his caution!). For my whole life I have been a big sleeper. I can sleep 10 hours a night, take a nap, and still go to bed at 10pm the next night. I fall asleep sitting, lying down watching tv, reading.... Anyway, he thought I probably needed a dopamine boost and figured our second step would likely be to add Wellbutrin. Since Wellbutrin does seem to have some usefulness for treating ADHD it was like killing two birds with one stone.
The second time I saw the psychiatrist I brought a bunch of self-diagnostic stuff I did online and lists of things I wanted to make sure he knew in order to help him be able to diagnose ADHD. Part of this was a list of "grievances" provided by my husband. He appreciated that I did all that, and after seeing that the Prozac had improved my mood but not my attention, he added Wellbutrin. He also gave me the formal diagnosis. He told me that Wellbutrin might trigger panic attacks, but I told him that was no biggee. Been there, done that.
He did tell me he was comfortable prescribing stimulants for me if needed, so I feel like he will work with me to find the right combination of treatments. Actually, the first day I took Wellbutrin, it kicked in after 20 minutes. I felt it wake up my brain (an odd but somewhat nice sensation) and my head cleared. The distracting "white noise" and thoughts in my head disappeared and it was quiet! I became calmer than I have ever been. I could think! I was sooooo happy!!!!!! However, on day 3 the side effects kicked in. Nothing too bad though ("brain buzz" and some nausea here and there) and now I only need to sleep 7 hours to feel rested. It also curbed my appetite. I don't crave food as much (a good thing since I am prone to impulsive eating).
So once the side effects wear off I will increase my Wellbutrin dose and take it from there. It may not end up working well and I end up on a stimulant, but that's OK. I already feel better and since I feel like my doc and I are on the same page I am not worried about it. I'll give it time to come to full effect and re-evaluate things.
The actual point (yes, there was one!) of this diatribe was to share my story and illustrate how I agree with you that it is important to be proactive with your care. I don't necessarily think that doctors don't care about us, but they aren't always good doctors. They also aren't experts at everything. My brother had petit mal epilepsy as a kid and had an allergic reaction to phenobarbitol. His neurologist insisted he couldn't have an allergic reaction because NO ONE is allergic to phenobarb. It was two weeks before he decided to switch him to Depakote/Tegretol. TWO WEEKS. In the meantime, my brother had a nasty rash, couldn't keep anything down and was spiking fevers. He also had at least one grand mal seizure, which he never had otherwise.
Anyway, you are on the right track and I am sure you will find the right med! Everyone reacts different to each medication. Wellbutrin may work well for me, but not other people. Ditto for Straterra, Ritalin, Adderal etc. Sometimes the brand name drug works and the generics do not, or even vice versa. It can take a while to find the right one. You just have to do trial and error and be patient enough to evaluate each and find what works best for you. Best of luck to you!
For now, I am content to feel AWAKE all day....
Take care,
Amanda
Wow Amanda, that's a really long hard story... but at least it has a happy ending. I was reading it and getting depressed and then it was like... but everything worked out in the end and it made me smile
.But even though I'm in med school, I see so many of my colleagues who really are just big babies in white coats. It still amazes me how immature (even beyond high schoolish sometimes) that these "professional" students are. I think it comes from the fact that the majority of doctors and people who will become doctors are from rich white families and they never have to worry about anything other than school for most of their life and then butt kissing whoever they need to to get to the top. And it leaves this whole lack of understanding about why they really should practice medicine. The fact that I personally know people who are practicing medicine not to help people was a really rude wake up call.
But in the end, there are good people who practice medicine. But I think that psychiatry has definitely been underrepresented in medicine. The world of psychiatry still carries that "quack" type of reference. And it is so under developed that even medical professionals judge each other. For example: as a medical school student, I had friends who were having really really rough times in their lives (from poor grades, and usually relationship issues). These people were seriously almost borderline suicidal because of the stresses on their lives. But we were told that we could use our insurance to go to see a psychiatrist to get a diagnosis of any type of mental illness (major depressive disorder included) or get any medication with our insurance that was mental health related because it would leave a paper trail. The reason why a paper trail is "bad" in this case is because as doctors we all get sued for something sooner or later, and if there is a history of mental illness in your past, you by default lose your case in court... which as you can imagine be really really painful to deal with.
So we're supposed to save up cash (we have so much since we have paid 10,000's of dollars to get to where we are and aren't allowed to work) and pay under the table and then get sample drugs to take so that there is no paper trail that can be used against us! When I first heard this my mouth dropped. Why would the field of medicine encourage such backwards behaviour regarding mental health and then, literally, force us to practice good health practices with almost everything else? I basically then realized how much trouble that psychiatry was in this day and age, and was really kind of sad for all the people, who for 100's of years if not 1000's, who had to go through being ridiculed and not have access to any type of health care.
But I ramble and my brownies are almost finished, so I have to get going, thanks for reading, but don't lose the faith. There're some good doctors out there who have either experienced mental health first hand or are just extremely amazing people who deserve nothing but the utmost respect. They're hard to find, but when you do they are almost like a treasure that you don't want to lose.
Hey everyone! This is really a great place. We should call it the Optimist's Korner and let it be our little secret.
If anyone can read all the posts in one sitting they deserve an award! (we're all willing to tell a lot) I have read the stories and you should all write books. Sure...I already love to write, but I don't like to read, unless it's information related to something I am working on. Like I read lots of stuff relating to Zebra Lines on my video camera before shooting a short film. Anyhow, I am so lucky that you have all told me about yourselves. I have never before been open like this or even really been involved on a forum past one or two posts somewhere. This is really helpful. Where else would you get this feedback? I mean, we don't know that many people who would even share they have ADHD. I am an open person and I do not really mind. I think that with what I am doing in my life and what I am trying to do, and do well, I get a lot of "I don't know how you do it." and "You are do impressive." These comments don't get far with me since most of time I just 'foh-get aboud id!' (a la Soprano).
So I tell these people something like, 'Yeah, well...with my ADHD I struggle with that but I still do it and am glad when I am finished.' and people are funny, most of them hear it like, 'Yeah, well...with my impatience with details I struggle with that but I still do it...'
So I am getting ready to leave on a Saturday, to go to lunch with a screenwriter and a producer and then we are going to see a movie. But supposedly, the producer, a great friend, has some interesting news to share with us about a project.
It has been a great week for me. Every night this week I got home and received a call from someone or more than one person. First night it was a call where I was trouble shooting a task of transferring files from the Mac to the PC and from Final Cut Pro to an audio format and the OS system on the Mac had issues because it had not been updated...and you already know how hard it is to hear people on the speaker phone, especially with a big dog who kept sniffing the mic on the phone it heard my voice coming through and barking once in a while. I love dogs! So it took about 3 hours total. In between that, I got a call from my producer friend and we talked personal and business for an hour. Then got back to the team. Finally all worked out and was called a Rockstar. I told them, really...I was figuring it all out on the spot under the pressure of it. So it's not like I had the answers.
The next evening another call came in asked to speak at a film workshop and promote my business as someone who has worked on films and is starting her own production company...and that is something I am finally able to keep up with all of its daunting tasks, by the way. So I will be in a panel addressing people. I am thinking about how best to do this because my mouth gets dry when I talk more than two minutes. I will have to drink water and carry mints....I guess. Does anyone know of a natural remedy for this?
Then I also got a lead to do a documentary for a film festival under my business name. I spoke to the person that runs the fest and he is a successful producer himself. Well, he is retired and now in politics and that. But he said no one entered in that category last year and if i could do it he would help me. Then perhaps even distribute it, which is something I already had planned on some fronts. So, I was supposed to sleep on it and come up with an interesting angle. 45 minutes later I had an angle. I brainstormed by myself and created a project on my email program with my vision. WOW!
The next day I spent putting it down as an official production plan and included everything in detail down to the people we would need to interview. I got everything but a script. Then emailed the producer who gave me the lead who is also working with me on the production company and asked her to email the man if she had his email the PDF. I want him to know I am a Pro!
Then I ran off to get the prescription from the doctor's office...I swear they are ADDers. Ha, ha! I am there as they are closing and the doctor still has not written the prescription but finally we talked and he did. I was down to a couple pills. So, he met my mellow beautiful daughter, which is good. She is so wonderful! She's 14 by the way, and my ROCK.
I went to the pharmacy and there was a problem, they ran out of Ritalin. But they had a little left and gave me enough for about six days, I think, and they told me they would never do this anywhere else...but my charm won them over. YEY! So finally I went out for dinner to secretly celebrate all the wonderful things that are happening. Even if nothing materializes, it is great to experience all of this.
My optimism is always there. Sometimes I begin to swirl in self-doubt and really try to remind myself that everything happens for a reason and my instincts should be what I listen to. Not my head; my gut. It can help me through. And I always have to be active and keep active or I get down on myself. But if I keep moving, if a least any direction...which for all of us with ADHD is typical, something will give somewhere, and it if not...way later or soon later, you will realize it happened for a reason. We meet people that will come to play later or learn something we use later.
My problem is that ADHD is problematic when I forget things and squirm too much, and can't sleep and feel crappy the next day (somehow I still don't get cranky), or when there is a detailed task that I just can't get started with. Other than that, I am lucky to have ADHD. I am still creative. I am still can talk and socialize, except I hate the dry mouth thing because it's embarrassing!
I don't want to take sleeping aids. I took one of the recommended dose of two of the Tylenol PM once about a year ago, and it totally knocked me out! I slept very good, but about less than hour after taking it, I could not keep my eyes open. I have not taken it sense. I finally got to bed early on Thursday and had a good night's sleep. Maybe some people need less sleep than others. But my body sometimes will get upset with me and I have to get to bed earlier so I can wind down earlier and sleep. I just wish we could have our days be like two in one so that I can get more done. I have been like this forever and I don't think that the medicine is really slowing ME down. It is quieting my brain so that ME can focus and get some things completed.
Amanda - The ordeal with practicing....I can totally relate to. I don't enjoy practicing either. I like to jump in and do it instead. When I filmed I was supposed to "practice" and I could not motivate myself to do it. So I played when I got the camera and that was it. The day before went over the manual again and then just jumped in. I was told the footage looks great. So, maybe I didn't need to practice. But the whole story is like a book. A great beginning, a climax, and it has a good ending.
Windbrand - I am glad your wife has you. It must have been so horribly scary for you to find the love of your life suffering like so when you came home. Your patience with her is great karma. Your comment at the end is very sweet and encouraging for me. I have a lot of respect for what you experienced and how you stayed through it.
Crzmoma - It wasn't that you communicated wrong it was me who read it wrong. But not really. We may still have a lot in common. But yes, we should talk about how this is affecting us. Like I said, it's the dry mouth thing that bother me. Thank you for being kind.
I am glad that you are all here and helping me and each other. I guess I am just glad I am here because it's very helpful for me in more fronts than one.
Sorry about the long post....wish me luck with these things. I wish the best for all of you as well.
(wow...did I win the length challenge?)Thank you Vickie. I will print the coupon and take it with me to my next appointment. My 15 yo dd was diagnosed when she was 7 and started meds when she was 8. We moved from CA to OK three years ago and gave her a year's break from her meds (last year). I started her back on Ritalin LA three months ago. It worked well for her before and now she does not feel right. She states that she is very snappy and easily irritable, but focused. She likes the generic much better.
I believe the thing that bothers me the most is I have managed quite well without the meds and thought the medicine would help me focus to get more done. It has been the exact opposite - I have a hard time getting started on a task, my house is a mess (which is not like me at all), I have to do creative writing sometimes at work and have mis-spelled words and am easily distracted. I believe that the Methylin ER actually enhances my ADHD symptoms? Also, I am taking more of the medication to get the same results I did when I started taking it, however, the initial medicine I started was Ritalin LA - which worked great for me and since then the pharmacy has given me the generic and it is not the same. I phoned the pharmacy to inform me that they gave me a generic (without telling me) and they said it is the same as the Ritalin LA.
Ricochet: I am so sorry to have posted this within your thread and thank you for allowing me to do so .
Well, it sounds like you are on your way ricochet.
Crzmoma, you may need to try a few meds to find one that does not have the negative effects. Even different delivery forms of the same med (methylphenidate in this case) can work differently for a person. Do not give up and do not settle for partial effectiveness or unacceptable side effects. Another option would be focalin (it is the dex isomer of methylphenidate). At the focalin site is a coupon for a free month trial of the med (with a prescription of course):
http://www.focalinxr.com/index.jsp
Hi!I have been busy and wanted to post here today. BTW...it's my birthday!
Sammo...how ironic that you got Senior status...! I signed on and got Groupie status!
I think it may have to do with the number of posts or the number of months posting...probably automatic. Probably has nothing to do with age.
Okay...so I have had my Ritalin increased to 20mg. since the 8th of this month. It's starting to wear off, but I am not going to ask about increasing it until at least next week. Only because I want my body to get ween itself into this as my mind does. I think I may be more receptive to how my mind "feels" than my body. And if this is something I have to deal with long-term, I want to be as safe as possible.
During my doctor's visit the day before yesterday he was happy it seems to be working for me. I also told him I have not had coffee. He said that was good, since I shouldn't add stimulants to my body.
Vickie...I hope to hear that I am doing this "safety" thing correctly. I am not experiencing any negative side effects. I am able to concentrate longer on work and pull myself through the mundane parts. I can tough it out. Also, my memory is a bit better. Although I did forget my cellphone at home yesterday, I am remembering things more often than not. Of course, the effects of the new dose are wearing off, but I should be okay not to ask to increase it until it's almost all worn off, right? What do you think?
Hey Sammo...! Did you make those masks yourself? I forgot to ask you last time I was here...and now REMEMBERED!
If you did, do you sell them? Are they paper mache'? Oh...tomorrow is Friday and I am DP for a movie. I have been shooting every weekend this month. Next weekend I will celebrate my birthday and not have to work. But I will look forward to doing it again soon.
Happy weekend!
Hi Ricochet (and other members):
I have been reading your messages (and all of the responses) and thought I would jump in - a little late of course . I was recently diagnosed by a Psychologist and was referred to my GP for medication. My Psychologist stated firmly - no Strattera. I am already taking Wellbutrin 300mg per day and have been for the past three years. It does work great for me and it has a bit of a kick to it. I have been placed on Ritalin LA 20mg (I am actually taking the generic right now). I am not sure if I like the stimulants as I am a Marketing Manager for a franchise here in the backwoods and I have a ton of work to do. Although my focus is better, my personality is gone. I no longer laugh, smile, am silly or giddy. I get irritable, easily, and the stimulants seems to make me not want to work on important tasks. I have been a graphic/website designer for the past 15 years and I find it difficult to stay on work tasks or carry a conversation. Ever since my diagnosis, I have been hyperfocusing in on my ADHD (combined) and cyclothymic disorder - researching and trying to understand more and more about it. She stated that we would do talk therapy for the cyclothymic disorder as it is mild and mostly hypomania (so no mood stabilizer thank goodness).
With that being said, I like Wellbutrin and it has done wonders for me - but, it may not work everyone.
Oh, and Happy Birthday!
[QUOTE=ricochet]
Crzmoma, I am looking forward to your input. I know everyone is supposed to be different, but then again, if we were all too different...there would be about a hundred different medications to go through. I am not sure if my analogy makes sense, but what I am trying to say is that we may share some similarities and I am open to your experience and thoughts. I am open to all of you, to be honest. But if Crzmoma thinks we may be similar...then Hooray! (I love the clapper.)
I apologize, I should have been a bit clearer - life is in such a hurry these days and I am just trying to keep up - most of the time my fingers are faster than my thoughts. I believe that the experiences we share with the medication and starting our businesses while having a clear ADHD diagnosis is what we have in common. Possibly more?
I have tried every single available medicine with my daughter when she was diagnosed 8 years ago (Ritalin SR just came out on the market). We always converted back to the SR and her doses have always been high.