Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 6, 2010 20:11:12 GMT
....wish me luck. I'm off to see the psychiatrist Tuesday about ADHD meds. My psychologist said he has spoken to the one he thinks I'll see so hopefully it will make things alot easier, thats of course if I see the one Tim has spoken to and not someone else in the psychiatrists team!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2010 20:18:46 GMT
Good luck mate is Zena gonna come with you? my other half came with me he helped take in everything that was said as i was very nervous. Please keep me updated about how it goes?
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Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 6, 2010 20:38:02 GMT
Ty hon, I'm not sure if Zena will go with me coz she is working nights this week coming!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2010 19:56:20 GMT
If I were you I would ask someone to come with you for support and backup. Good luck mate keep me posted.
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Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 7, 2010 20:23:36 GMT
I dont really ahve anyone else to ask...lol. I think I'll be ok, I can sometimes say a bit more when I'm not around people I know if that adds up. It also depends on if I like the person..I know it sounds odd, but apart from Tim, my psychologist, I'd never opened up to anyone else. I've seen shrinks yrs and yrs ago, and had loads of social workers, but I was so shy back then, I wouldn't even look at any of them. When I first went to see Tim, I though 'oh here we go again, they will probably decide to go at me for being a tranny instead of help me with my other probs' but I was pleasently suprised. I know it may sound really freaky, but it's been on my mind now since it happened.....but I had a dream Tim called me, and eventually I got the message he left and it was to just meet him at the pub! Thats it, dream over, but yea, he asked me to go to the pub, and I think it has something to do with opening up to him, and something to do with my past. Mamma had different boyfriends throughout the yrs when I was growing up, she split with my real Dad when I was still a baby, the were never married either. But most of the men she picked afterwards always ended up being bad blokes, some would do things to me n my Sister, some would beat on Mamma, one was even going to shoot us all with a shotgun that he had in bed one night. So I guess I never really had anyone to talk to, no real father figure, and opening up to Tim, maybe thats what I needed all along! I dunno, maybe I'm reading too much into this dream, but thats how I had figured it out anyway, lol. I must sounds like a right bleedin' nutter now! As for my Mamma, she's ok now with my StepDad who has never hurt her, or me n my Sister but we still dont get on really, he makes it difficult for Mam to even have vistors, so I could never really talk to him either. I can just hope that the person I speak to Tuesday doesn't harp on about me being a tranny, and isn't nasty to me, else I'll just cave in
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Post by andy12345 on Feb 7, 2010 21:08:10 GMT
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Post by laura on Feb 8, 2010 18:33:22 GMT
good luck for tomoro
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Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 9, 2010 18:28:13 GMT
Thanks all. I went on my own, he took a brief history but knew most of it from Tim, and said about trying Ritalin. He gave me the script, and said to this other guy who was in the room that he had to write it a certain way else the chemist wouldn't give it me. So guess what, I took it to the chemist, who said he hadn't writen it properly, and by the time they called him he had gone home. Sooo, they are going to talk to him tomo and I'm to go and get a new script from him then. Bloody typical aint it, you'd have thought that him telling the guy to write it properly would have made him write it properly hiimself? ? I didn't really have time to talk to him about much else, but I am going back to see the other doctor in two weeks to see if I am ok on the Ritalin, or need to come off it. If I'm ok then they will up it for me aswel, so maybe I can talk to him about the other stuff then too. So yea, soon, I will be trying the meds that will help change my life by all accounts. Now I just hope it works!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2010 18:42:50 GMT
Great news Ryan a real result, im chuffed to bits for ya. Everything will come togther you will see.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2010 19:44:53 GMT
Very pleased for you--great news. I gather it's been a long haul and I'm glad to hear they are helping at last.
What is it with psychs and scripts? Mine was always getting it wrong & having to send a new one. Had to tell him in the end that there was only room in the relationship for one of us with ADD, and that was me thank you very much, so could he please Get A Grip. And the chemists are so fussy.
Be interested to see how you get on with Ritalin.
Best wishes.
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Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 9, 2010 23:03:01 GMT
Thanks both.
Hugh, it's not really been that long for me tbh. I was asked by my hearing therapist a year or so ago about going to see a psychologist, which I said yea, but didn't go through with it. A while later I realised I need to talk things through with someone n find out why I seemed so different to other people, and why I am the way that I am, and why I have these impulses.
I asked the hearing therapist to refer me again n she did. I wasn'ts ure what to expect when I went to see Tim, and found it hard to start talking, but he started me off, and we had a good hour of talking n he mentioned Adult ADHD, which was quite shock in a sense, as I thought he would just tell me I had ocd and depression or something like a personailty disorder like my Mam has. Then I found here and got talking to like minded people and everything kinda clicked into place really!
Anyway, that was last year and we had quite a few sessions talking about things in more detail and he got alot of my history and my gf even came with me once and had a chat too. He then said about doing three sessions of assessments and I was diagnosed toward the end of last year.
He couldn't prescribe but sent a letter to my GP telling him what was what and that I might like to try the meds. So I went to my GP who said I was to see someone else, a psychiatrist. I thought my GP was being funny to be honest at first and wasn't very happy as I thought all I did with Tim was a waste of time......I didn't realise that it was coz to get the meds it has to be a psychiatrist that has to give the all clear. So yea, more or less a year, possibly less for me.
I was relieved, but then angry in a way because it's taken 29 years, no real education, thousands of pounds worth of debt, a lifetime of failure is how I put it, to realise what was wrong with me! I'm trying to learn all I can about ADHD now, as I hear that is the one thing that can help us ADHD sufferers to cope a bit better, with meds maybe along the way!
Obviously coming here has opened up a few more things for me, such as other problems, like my impulses seem more severe than most people here, and some of the things I used to do as a kid dont tally up with ADHD like walking on my tiptoes for years, covering my ears when cars and lorries went past, or even when kids at school were playing n stuff! BUt I'll see how I go on the meds like Tim said to do.
The psych today said the meds wont help the impulses, which does worry me, but he did say they might help me not to forget where I put things and help me to focus, but he also said that for some people they dont help at all!
I guess I just have to wait n see really!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2010 23:42:47 GMT
Thanks for the background. It's always helpful to hear everyone's stories.
If it's any consolation, I did find the meds helped my impulsiveness, Strattera more than Ritalin but it made a difference too. Not a complete switch-off, but definitely more control, more ability to say "hang on, don't do that just yet..." to myself.
You're right about learning as much as possible helping cope. I think it's probably because the more we apply our minds proactively the more control we feel we have and the less we just react and feel out of control. There's lots of good stuff coming out now, too.
Your servant aye.
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Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 10, 2010 21:06:01 GMT
Soo, I have the Methylphenidate tablets here and will start tomorrow AFTER calling my GP surgery and making sure I can take the Amitrityline with them as they are mentioned in the information sheet.
The pysch said he looked and made sure, but since he attempted twice to do the prescription, he still got it wrong today even though he had done it while the pharmecist was on the fone to him to tell him exactly how it had to be writted as it's a controlled drug....So I dont count his 'looking to see if other meds are safe'. The chemist said she couldn't see anything to say I couldn't take them, but since these meds are actually worrying me, I want to make absolute sure I can take them with teh amitrip.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2010 23:22:57 GMT
Hi Ryan
Ive been on amitriptyline and concerta at the same time. My Psych said it was safe though obviously you want to hear that from your GP surgery and not just take my word for it. I did stop the amitrip but that was nothing to do with any complications with the methylphenidate. The only things I miss are the freaky dreams!
Best just to take things one day at a time see how things work out with your new meds. We'll keep our fingers crossed! ;D
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Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 10, 2010 23:27:30 GMT
Hi Freewill,
What is Concerta? I hear about it on here a few times, but I dont know, lol! Is it another name for Ritalin, or Methyl..whatever it's called?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2010 23:55:16 GMT
Concerta is a slow-release version of ritalin. Same drug (i.e. methylphenidate), different capsule. Ritalin normally lasts a few hours and I had to take 2 a day, but only 1 Concerta a day. Concerta usually a higher dose. Works in exactly the same way, but is sometimes prescribed e.g. for kids who might forget to take a tablet at lunch-time. I took it because the standard ritalin gave me a really nasty rush first thing. Concerta was much gentler. AFAIK in Concerta there is a small amount of the drug in the capsule coating to give you a small immediate dose. The rest of it then releases over the day. Still wears off after abt 8 hours though. Otherwise exactly the same as Ritalin. See aadduk.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=medications&action=display&thread=397.
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Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 10, 2010 23:57:43 GMT
Ah ok, thanks Hugh.
I posted just about the meds, in another thread, but it might aswel go here too.
I have heard lots of bad things about this stuff they gave me to take, the methyl stuff. I worry coz it says people have died from taking it or have a heart attack. Is 5 mg enough to kill me or give me a heart attack? they are starting on a low dose the shrink said, to then build it up abit if I feel ok on it.....but I worry so, so much about it, it scares me.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2010 0:25:47 GMT
I wouldn't worry so much. It's not addictive in prescription quantities, and if you don't like it you can stop taking it. It only lasts a short time in the body. I used it on a stop-start basis (e.g. not taking it at weekends when I didn't have to deal with any situations where ADD was a problem)--with the agreement of my psych. My experience is that it feels like drinking several espressos at first, but that settles down.
AFAIK, the cardiac issues were reviewed in 2006 by the FDA in the US, and the conclusion was that there was no risk for children with no heart abnormalities (very little of the research covers adult use). I think the key question is do you have a heart problem? If so, you should really talk to your doctor. Did you have a blood pressure test before being prescribed? I don't know if it's normal, but my psych wanted one just to check.
Starting low and working up is normal, I think. It's generally regarded as a fairly safe medicine, and the low dose is to give you a chance to get used to its effects gradually. I couldn't find anything on Ritalin causing sudden death. Some people have abused it, and that has caused problems, but they have used a lot more than the safe dose (e.g. IV use).
There is a risk to all drugs. But if you have given them a full breakdown of your health and medical history, and they have checked any drug interactions and are still happy, then you may think the risk is quite low.
I came off because it messed up my liver function. This is incredibly rare--I was just very unlucky. But it took time before it happened, and it was caught before any ill-effects. So side-effects can happen, but many people take methylphenidate without any adverse effect. If there is a problem with Ritalin there are alternatives. Straterra works in an entirely different way, for example.
Hope this helps. I can understand your concern, and if in any doubt review with your doctor, especially if you have or believe you have any heart problems.
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Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 11, 2010 12:16:07 GMT
Thanks Hugh,
I'm waiting for a gp to call me back...Supposed to be at quarter past twelve, but hmmmm, will see!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2010 12:52:17 GMT
Hope your meds help Ryan. Fingers crossed
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Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 11, 2010 13:37:04 GMT
Thanks hon. Im just about to eat, then will pop my first one! I'll let you know how I get on. I know when I did speed many moons ago, all it did was give me gut ache n a fast heartbeat, lol. I know it's not the same, but its similar so I'm told!
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