Light at the end of the tunnel?

Hello

I'm a 50 year old who has been checking into this possibility of having ADHD over the last 2 months or so. A friend e-mailed me a couple of months ago asking me if I had ADHD to which I was first insulted; and then laughed thinking he was a hypochondriac because he said he had it himself. But something stuck. He described my inner thoughts concerning my own behavior for all of my life. He said in reading my letters that I was "all over the place" ; and that I couldn't seem to keep on track (unless I'm griping about my life of coarse) . Anyway he said thatmaybe I should take some of the online ADHD tests available just to see if I fit the mold. Well ; I did and you know what? I aced them! All 3 of them! Gosh; the thought that there might be an explaination for my being "loser minded" was absolutely thrilling. So I talked with my physician; and he in turn refferrred me to a specialist which my insurance company turned down ; and after two months of red tape; I'm finally going to get screened on the 18th. This has been practically the most stressful two months of my life as I really don't have alot of patience. (Maybe thats why doctors call us "patient" huh?) The thing is that I have been reading alot of posts and the symptoms that are displayed really blow my mind! I have the same things! I never been so happy to have a disorder (possibly that is). I do have a question though. Well a couple actually.

Wouldn't hyperactivity cause a person to be an over acheiver? or a workaholic? (Thats completely opposite of me) I can't even hardly start to consider a project. (Thats why I'm self employed as an unsuccessful  freelance artist) You would think a hyperactive person would be going 100 mph all the time, and be a great worker! 

Also I have read posts that say that some have trouble sleeping. Not so with me. At bed time I'm out like a light! I'm absolutely exhausted from being so stressed all day (And I don't even have a stressful life style) So do any of you have good sleep habits?

I guess I'm asking here because the 18th seems like an eternity away! 

• Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
• Predominantly Inattentive Type and
• Combined Type.

Inattentive type of ADHD tend to daydream and have difficulty focusing. The following criteria are used to diagnose children with ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type. Symptoms must have been present for at least six months, with onset before age seven:

• often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities

• often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities

• often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly

• often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behaviour or failure to understand instructions)

• often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
• often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework)

• often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books or tools)
• is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli

• is often forgetful in daily activities

Yeah; most of those apply to me. Many of them I had to learn to compensate for. Like knowing how forgetful I am; so I write down the things I need to remember sometimes. I even write my address , phone #, and any other pertainent info I might need before getting on the phone  because I don't want to forget under pressure. 

Avoiding sustained mental effort? Whew! I have avoided life in general for the last 10 years! I have to take it in small increments. Luckily I am blessed with a wife that has a great career, and is very understanding of my  "hindered" approach to life.

I try not to be in crowds if I can help it. You can imagine how awkward church on Sunday is. I'm one of the first out the door when it is over. I got so tired of peoples feeling being hurt because I couldn't "tune in" when they would speak to me in a room full of other people, and other conversations going on.  I know they thought I was rude; but until now, I had no explaination for it.

I just wanted to add somthing else. Last year I was seeing a psychologist for depression for about 6 months. My wife had asked me this question and got me thinking about it, and I wondered if anyone here had the same kind of dilemma. Why didn't my phychologist discover the ADHD or ADD when I saw him for a 6 month period. I even asked him about Paxil (because of the commercials) He didn't even test me for ADD. Is that common?

I think many doctors may still associate ADHD as a "little boy's disease" or something that is "just in your head" thinking we could change if we wanted to. I was going to different shrinks and MD's for 5 years (God, that long?) to try to figure out what was wrong! I was put on every antidepresant out there and then I was put on Xanax for anxiety attacks! Finally after being treated for 6 mo by this one shrink, he diagnosed me with ADHD.    My life has greatly improved  while on Adderall. Horay!    

I find it strange that when one with "patience" problems (such as myself) waits; it's kinda like when you are on a long car ride home, and you have to go to the bathroom. The closer to home you get; the worse you HAVE to go! I get tested tomorrow; and I'm a NUT today! Shaking; fidgety; my nails are all down to the quick; and I feel really emotional. My back is spasming badly in two spots, and I can hardly stand up. I hope this madness ends soon! I'm sick up and fed of it!

I've been reading about Straterra and Ritalin making some depressed. Whoa! Do the doctors still prescribe these to an already depressed person? And whats with the sexual side effects? If you lose your sex drive; you can get depressed too! I guess at least in the above example of the long car ride; difficulty in urination might be a good thing!