Beginning the search for an answer | ADHD Information

Jim,

rule out brain injury (just to be safe) but I 100% relate to what you are saying. I'm quickly learning that ADHD effects people differently. The "traffic jam" included. I have an appointment with my doc this am...he tells me that my anxiety is adding to the ADHD problems and visa versa and that it's making already hard info processing even harder. Some days it seems like nothing gets through.

When folks talk to me if they don't keep it short and to the point then I'm off somewhere else in my head even though my eyes are still on them.

I'm newly diagnosed (at 51) so I can't give too much advice other than to say that I understand what you are going through beacuse I feel the same.

I'm glad you found this site.

[QUOTE=jim_in_nh]

I guess admitting there was a problem had to be the first step. I am 46 years old and for at least 10 years have been mentioning severe memory problems and periods of confusion when trying to follow and speak to more than one person, I guess the comments in my work PRD'd about lack of follow through and task completion wasn't obvious enough. I've work in retail 30 years. I never seemed to have attention issues working my way to Store Manager. Over the years my work has changed, now having a lot more long term ongoing projects and processed to keep on top of. My boss has described me as "spinning my wheels" always working but not getting things done. One of them even nicknamed me Ronny Reagan, a pretty bad attempt at humor about my memory. I have a bad time trying to process a conversation with more than one person. It seems like a traffic jam in my head? I don't seem to see that on any post? Speaking with one of my manager under me that I am friendly with, he mentions that most of the people I manage know they need to say what they need to in less than a minute or I walk off or abruptly change the topic. I do cut people off sometimes because I know I will forget what I want to say unless I speak right then. I seem to have a longer processing time when someone asks me something before I reply. I feel pretty certain the delay on addressing this has hurt me at work.Twice in the past I was prescribed antidepressants for what I was describing to my Primary Dr. I used to say I was avoiding people at work and at home because it was too hard to carry on the conversation and I would get frustrated and nasty. I just wanted to be left alone! The thing is, after a few day on the stuff it was like a switch was flipped and brain was firing perfect. My head was clear!My primary has sent me to a neurologist. He has started me on Cocerta 18mg. We will adjust up from there. It has been 2 weeks. Except for mid/late morning, when I do feel the fog at least thinning a little bit, I am not impressed. I am still fighting to stay focused when people are talking with me There was one day ironically had forgotten I took my dose and took a second. That was a much bigger improvement. I am waiting for the results of a brain MRI. My doctor is making a connection to a big surgery I had 10 years ago. I guess he wants to rule out and brain injury while I was under.Does any one else have this confusion issue?

Welcome Jim. I edited your post only to make the font bigger so its easier for members to read so that they can respond

[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=jim_in_nh]

Welcome Jim. I edited your post only to make the font bigger so its easier for members to read so that they can respond

[/QUOTE]

Jim,
You are not alone, Im 43 and have recently been diagnosed with ADD, I had always wondered what was wrong with me, I just knew I struggled with conversations,among other things. I also was confussed alot and everything just seemed hard. I began to isolate myself, because it made things somewhat eaiser. I then delt with depression, but antideppression meds didnt help. I also thought I must have a brain tumor or something. I then researched my symptoms online, went to a pshychaitrist that knew exactally what it was. It took me a while to accept it, and as I read more about it and realized that it is a "gift with a side effect". I read a book The Gift Of Adult ADD by Laura Honos-Webb. I think it is important to let you know that everything you are feeling is ok and you are not the only one feeling that way. I too was there and still am, but it gets better the more you learn about it and educate yourself. After I was diagnosed, I continue to meet people who are as well. I am on meds, it took a few different kinds before I found the one that worked for me. It has changed my life, I am so much more together and I dont have the anxiety that I once had. Conversations are so much eaiser and I focus on what is important in my life intead of the distractions. :) Thanks for the reply. I guess ADHD can be very different for each person. I am sure we all have different wiring to some degree. Our daily environment and different personality traits all come it play. That being said is a my Neurologist the right Dr or is a physiologist or Psychiatrist better to treat ADHD? (Brain damage being ruled out) I see my doctor on the 25th. I am hoping we can raise the Cocerta dose. I really would love to be able to think clearly and follow a conversation. At least I am on the path.
How is your treatment going so far? Any Tips?

I guess admitting there was a problem had to be the first step. I am 46 years old and for at least 10 years have been mentioning severe memory problems and periods of confusion when trying to follow and speak to more than one person, I guess the comments in my work PRD'd about lack of follow through and task completion wasn't obvious enough. I've work in retail 30 years. I never seemed to have attention issues working my way to Store Manager. Over the years my work has changed, now having a lot more long term ongoing projects and processed to keep on top of. My boss has described me as "spinning my wheels" always working but not getting things done. One of them even nicknamed me Ronny Reagan, a pretty bad attempt at humor about my memory. I have a bad time trying to process a conversation with more than one person. It seems like a traffic jam in my head? I don't seem to see that on any post? Speaking with one of my manager under me that I am friendly with, he mentions that most of the people I manage know they need to say what they need to in less than a minute or I walk off or abruptly change the topic. I do cut people off sometimes because I know I will forget what I want to say unless I speak right then. I seem to have a longer processing time when someone asks me something before I reply. I feel pretty certain the delay on addressing this has hurt me at work.
Twice in the past I was prescribed antidepressants for what I was describing to my Primary Dr. I used to say I was avoiding people at work and at home because it was too hard to carry on the conversation and I would get frustrated and nasty. I just wanted to be left alone! The thing is, after a few day on the stuff it was like a switch was flipped and brain was firing perfect. My head was clear!
My primary has sent me to a neurologist. He has started me on Cocerta 18mg. We will adjust up from there. It has been 2 weeks. Except for mid/late morning, when I do feel the fog at least thinning a little bit, I am not impressed. I am still fighting to stay focused when people are talking with me
There was one day ironically had forgotten I took my dose and took a second. That was a much bigger improvement. I am waiting for the results of a brain MRI. My doctor is making a connection to a big surgery I had 10 years ago. I guess he wants to rule out and brain injury while I was under.
Does any one else have this confusion issue?

Welcome Jim. I edited your post only to make the font bigger so its easier for members to read so that they can respond

Luvmykids0240251.979849537Yes, I agree that everyone is different. In my situation, I talked to my family pract. Dr. about my lack of concentration, and feelings of depression. He decided to send me to a psycologist. I went to him once a week for about 3 weeks and he knew what is was, He also has ADHD and related to everything I was telling him. He then refered me to a psychiatrist, because he informed me that meds had helped and he wanted me to be sure to get the right kind. There are so many and I have read and found out that according to your on body chemistry, they can work or not work. Most people with ADHD can take Adderall but it put me in a state of feeling lathargic, and zoned. My Dr. then put me on Focalin and it has helped me. Things are clearer for me and easier to accomplish task, along with less anxiety. I think you are on the right path, follow what you are doing and ask your dr what the next step is.

Welcome,

am 65yo. Dx 4 yr ago. getting good tx w/ meds and counseling and 12 step support. Wow,,,what a relief and improvement in my life. Happier and can participate in group activities like never before.

I am happy that i found this site. I haven't officially be dignosed yet, I just sent test back to my teherapy. I have taken many tests on line in researching what is wrong with me. All results clearly show that I have ADHD no question about it.

My concerns as I said on the other thread is that I am 40 years old and I have had this all my life unknowigly.. I think that I am soo deep in that will take alot to be able manage or control it. I am not into pills at all, can I get this under control without pill?

Thank you

Welcome shooa....

jim in NH...I too have struggled w/ weight all my 65yrs. the anti dep is the good ticket for me. we need to be persisitent in our attempts to get the right combp of meds (for me it is zoloft and buspar. 12 steps have been a major help for me. I too am in retail and i'd welcome a private messagge if you like.

i/d

Thanks for the replies. I was my Dr this week and the Concerta 18mg was making some improvement in the mornings, but I was getting a yawn fest in the afternoons.
My Dr bumped me up to 18mgx2 to see if we can get the improvement to last all day. If not we will go to 56mg. I have to say I am more aware of conversations and are following them better. The fog seemed to be thinning. I must say it does hype me up quite a bit. BP and all look great though. Cutting way back on the coffees.
Has anyone used Concerta and move to anything else that did not hype you up so much? I must say the clearness in not anything close to what I experienced on Paxil before when they thought I was depressed. I would push for that but I used to be morbidly obese and I know that stuff packed the weight on me. I've been off the antidepressants for about 5 years, from before I had gastric bypass in Boston. I have dropped 13lb in one month on Concerta. Still -150lbs from my high weight. I am hesitant to even bring up how great I felt on the Paxil.