I was scratching my head about this for a while, then twigged that Karen must have followed a link from my site to a friend's web site. On that site is a short tale about a guy who was called 'Harry the Homo' at school some 30-odd years ago, when such terms were the norm.
Mark -
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Mark -
I checked out your website and the parts that I read were really great. I plan to go back and read the rest.
I didn't find the right link to the tale referenced above.
What is a "brain functioning test"? I'm not sure if I had this type of test when I was diagnosed.
I agree with responses so far. Many "professionals" are quite clueless about ADD. When I went for my own evaluation with a psychiatrist, he asked me a billion questions, about my childhood, work, school, relationships, you name it. He then told me that the brain function (or neurological) testing is pretty irrelevant for adults, because in oral history, and ruling out of other medical conditions that can cause ADD-like symptoms (head injury, thyroid trouble, diabetes, etc), is all that is necessary. The most important criteria is that you meet the basic symptoms, they these symptoms cause trouble in at least three areas of your life (home, school, work, social, etc), and that the symptoms have been noticed since childhood. I met all these criteria, therefore I was diagnosed with ADD.
I agree with the others... if you feel very strongly about this, seek another opinion, and askt the professional whether they have experience specifically with adult AD/HD.
I would get a second independent opinion if this is an option for you. I think it's almost always worth it with relatively serious medical issues.
The main advantage to being diagnosed with add is that you have access to medicine that may help, and it's an answer. However, if you have a different condition then you'd also have an answer.
[QUOTE=karen52]Mark when were you diagnosed. Your ADD or ADHD, Med?[/QUOTE]
I was diagnosed about 9 or 10 months ago, and I'm not a 'classic' case (according to Mr Shrink anyhow). I'm too impulsive to be ADD, and not hyperactive enough to be ADHD. However I do have the constantly tapping feet and drumming fingers of the 'H'. My theory is that the 'H' was mostly beaten out of me as a kid.
Meds? My doc is still working on that one - the rules in the UK are that these drugs can only be given under the supervision of an 'expert' in adult ADD, but there are not enough 'experts' to do both diagnosis and supervision. It's not unusual to go 2-3 years from diagnosis to med over here.
Jesus Mark, have you thought about going over to Holand. Hell, if dieing is ok... If you could have a pharmacy there mail your meds to you, if that is not illegal.(or if it is...)[QUOTE=karen52]
I empathise with your story about Harry the Homo. And I agree with the most beautiful girls, however my 1st grandchild, a girl, is not due until June!
[/QUOTE]
Ermm... You've lost me there, sorry
Mark -
In the past 2 wks I have seen 2 dr.s the first one blew me off. The second one talked to me got a family chart going. He told me he belived I have low dopamine levels ( which is a sign of ADD). I dont think he belives in adult ADD. But he prescibed me wellbutine xl. I talked to my dad and he said all his siblings and him have been diagnosed with it. Get a second appinon.[QUOTE=karen52]
I empathise with your story about Harry the Homo.
karen [/QUOTE]
These kinds of phrases are so strange to me. Of course, I live in an area where about 10% of people are gay/lesbian and out, and most people are well-informed enough not to make derogatory statements about it.
[QUOTE=yellowdog]
[QUOTE=karen52]
I empathise with your story about Harry the Homo.
karen [/QUOTE] These kinds of phrases are so strange to me. Of course, I live in an area where about 10% of people are gay/lesbian and out, and most people are well-informed enough not to make derogatory statements about it. [/QUOTE]
I was scratching my head about this for a while, then twigged that Karen must have followed a link from my site to a friend's web site. On that site is a short tale about a guy who was called 'Harry the Homo' at school some 30-odd years ago, when such terms were the norm.
Mark -
I dunno, Buzz. Sometimes I wonder how much these experts really know about ADD. Just look at the people on this forum - we all have so much in common with ADD - yet in other ways we're all affected differently. Expecting everyone to conform exactly to the same set of conditions is probably completely wrong, yet that's precisely what the testers do.
It also seems that those who go for diagnosis have to prepare, gather as much evidence as they can and present their case almost the way a lawyer does - expecting the doc/shrink/whatever to diagnose ADD on their own seems doomed to fail. It seems that shrinks will always try to find other reasons first - even if ADD is the obvious answer.
But as I said, I really don't know.
Mark -
Mark when were you diagnosed. Your ADD or ADHD, Med?
Oh Suzanne, it must be so confusing for you.
I was lucky my family doctor knows about my long history of Tourette's Syndrome and when I said how I was distracted and procrastinating and disorganised at work, she knew that most people with Tourette's have ADD as well. Even so, she referred me with "possible" ADD, or depression, or anxiety.
Some people think every kid has ADHD, and some people think it doesn't exist, especially in adults, so it's really hard to get a serious diagnosis. I had 3 different ADD specialists ask the same diagnostic questions 3 times. I could almost hear them mentally checking off their list.
On the other hand my father is a psychiatrist and never picked it up. (I'm 25 now)
I suggest reading 'Driven To Distraction and thinking if you can relate to the descriptions. Then go and get a second or third opinion. Don't give up because it might cost too much or seem futile. It's your health and happiness that's most important.
Hi all - I'm soooo confused. My Psych evaluator tested me and retested me (True/False and NSOA -Never, sometimes, often, always) type questions of childhood through 21) plus brain functioning tests. Although there were some defecits in working memory only from the brain function tests he concluded it's not ADD.
Bearing in mind he's my evaluator and not my psychotherapist he recommended a different Anti-Depressant and a med for chronic anxiety.
I had to leave work 2-1/2 months ago because I was overwhelmed by my responsibilities at home and work - it sure felt and acted like inability shut out stimuli i.e. all the demands upon me. I totally lost ability to remember things and multi-task so left job before I made an utter fool of myself.
I'm so discouraged and can't get out of this funk - and my family needs me to be whole.
You know the saying " If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck - it must be a duck. No?
What do you think?
Buzz/Suzanne (47 year old woman)