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Post by manson88 on Oct 13, 2015 12:27:49 GMT
Hi manson88 18mg concerta had very little effect on me, even the great sleeping came to an end after a couple of weeks. I think they start you on 18mg to see if you have any distressing side-effects then start titration from there. I'm on 36mg now and my concentration is no better, I'm tired all the time and can't sleep. I think I'll need to increase it and I want to give it a chance, but I'm moving house, so don't know when I'll next see a specialist. I'd mention the good sleep and lack of distressing side effects at your follow-up appointment and let them know that you'd like to see if your concentration will be improved at a higher dose. I mentioned to my consultant that I'd been reading up about it and realise that 18mg is a very small dose and would like to continue at a higher dose. I hope it goes ok. Thank you vagueandrandom. I feel positive about 18mg of concerta xl. It least it's a bench mark I could stay at it if I had to. But I think it's probably a normal action for us to think like this. Give it a tweak and see what happens if it's too strong at least I know that 18mg works. My employer has already said that I'm doing well and my performance at work has been great. Even though at the moment I have moved out from my family a big change in life, but I didn't take the decision lightly. There's been a couple of days when the energy has been low but I feel better when the concerta picks up.. Thanks manson88
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Post by shinkansen on Oct 13, 2015 12:52:03 GMT
I guess everyone's experiences are different. Since July 2015 (3 months now), I've been on 72mg Concerta XL. Sleep and appetite are both fine. There are some initials benefit including a lifting of mood and feeling calmer. And I don't feel so bored at work: you know - where something else seems more interesting.
It's been nearly a year since my ADHD diagnosis and, as mentioned elsewhere, an ASD assessment is next. Pills are not a magic fix. Self discipline, moderating drinking and regular catch-up chats with professionals are even better medicines.
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Post by manson88 on Oct 13, 2015 21:00:18 GMT
Well I'd like to get a multi sensory test done.
Get tested for the other conditions. Possibly dysprixia and autism.
It's something that I would keep to myself. It's more curiosity than need. But I'd keep it to myself. Spose it only means to me.
I'm the only person who understands my own needs. I'm expert in my own condition.
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simbo
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Post by simbo on Oct 23, 2015 16:10:39 GMT
I suppose I thought that medication was going to be the answer that I needed, everything would be so much better! Well after a week or so on 45mg Concerta XL I can say that things are feeling better. Everyday is still hard but the meds give me that little bit of time to think, help me to focus and make me less restless. It's been a bit of a journey getting tons dose that works but I think I might actually be there.
It's not made a completely different person, I think it has enhanced who I am. I am happier and not so snappy, people around me have noticed this probably more that me. I have been less impulsive, in reality I think the meds have given me time to think and realise that I don't actually need that new item. My bank account tells me that is the case! I still spend hours Google surfing, but hey it's not all day every day!
I suppose the bottom line is I have time to think, and that little bit of time makes all the difference to most things in my life. I still take everyday as it comes, some are better than others but I'm sure as I start to make sense of my ADHD and how to work with it this 'normal' world the better days will happen more often.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2015 7:19:10 GMT
I suppose I thought that medication was going to be the answer that I needed, everything would be so much better! Well after a week or so on 45mg Concerta XL I can say that things are feeling better. Everyday is still hard but the meds give me that little bit of time to think, help me to focus and make me less restless. It's been a bit of a journey getting tons dose that works but I think I might actually be there. It's not made a completely different person, I think it has enhanced who I am. I am happier and not so snappy, people around me have noticed this probably more that me. I have been less impulsive, in reality I think the meds have given me time to think and realise that I don't actually need that new item. My bank account tells me that is the case! I still spend hours Google surfing, but hey it's not all day every day! I suppose the bottom line is I have time to think, and that little bit of time makes all the difference to most things in my life. I still take everyday as it comes, some are better than others but I'm sure as I start to make sense of my ADHD and how to work with it this 'normal' world the better days will happen more often. That is exactly what my meds provide me. It's not a different world, I'm still the same person, but there seems to be a little rest and organisation in my head where before there was none. I constantly keep working with every little improvement I make and try to figure out where my limits are, what I need to do to calm down when I feel overwhelmed or anxious and how I can get into a sustainable rhythm (so to speak). Last Summer, for instance, I went to London and the city completely overwhelmed me as soon as I got off the train at Paddington. The walk we made to South-Kensington was pure torture. By the time we got to the hotel I was completely exhausted and unable to recover during the following days in London. That was the second time the city did that to me (the first time was 20 years ago) so my experiences with London were anything but positive and one would expect me to steer well clear of the city after that. Ironically though, last week we actually went to London to find a place to live and we expect to move there within the next month! I started my meds soon after that visit last Summer and the visit last week was a world apart. I still get overwhelmed, I still get tired, but considering the fact that we are under very high pressure to move to London much faster than expected, that I had to learn everything about the London housing market in two weeks time, and that I had to balance it with my professional obligations as an academic researcher, it has been "easy peasy". Just because I have that little bit of extra time I can control the important things a lot better and have to worry less about trying to control the rest. I got off the train at Paddington during rush hour and got hit by the fact that it was even busier than last time, but was able to regain composure almost immediately by allowing it to happen. Rather than trying to resist what I couldn't escape, I ended up dragging my wife around the station to see if we could find the Paddington shop so we could buy the book. There's still nothing easy about it. Even with meds I have to deal with a lot more than other people. For me, however, the difference is significant enough to make it feel like I can cope with everything from now on.
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simbo
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Post by simbo on Nov 12, 2015 9:13:10 GMT
So finally passed my Anatomy exam, with a little focus and organised revision, not really sure how that happened!, i walked out with 98% result which I am so pleased with. The meds help but learning what works is also starting to make a real difference.
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Post by vagueandrandom on Nov 12, 2015 11:00:25 GMT
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simbo
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Post by simbo on Aug 27, 2016 14:04:33 GMT
It's been a while since I posted on here. It's just over year since my diagnosis and starting medication. Most of the past year has been spent coming to terms with what that actually means, in reality it has not made a difference, but has allowed me to better understand my past. Medication has had a impact, I am more focused (most of the time), less fidgety and certainly less impulsive (my bank account is proof of this!). My family notice when I forget to take them, me not so much. Just before my diagnosis I left my job as a headteacher, at the time I was running three schools becoming more and more overwhelmed, less and less organised and found myself struggling. It was scarey walking away from a career after 21 years, but a year or so on I still think it was right decision. I now enjoy the luxury of working for myself, taking on work that interests me, gives me time with my family and allows me to utilise my strengths. The meds have definitely helped there, having to organise myself, work from home without getting distracted has been a challenge but concerta has given me a bit of an edge with this. I don't think I've changed much as a person, I think people now see the best of me, I've learned to use my ADHD traits, embrace them and make them work for me. Don't get me wrong sometimes this does not always work, I've spent the last two days researching laptop chargers because I convinced myself I needed a spare! On the positive side if I ever get asked to do a review on laptop chargers I have a wealth of knowledge! The bottom line for me is that a diagnosis hasn't really changed me, it has allowed me to understand the many struggles I've had in the past. The medication has been positive in the main, whilst I don't really notice a huge difference, those around me do. I guess what I'll never know is where would I be now if I hadn't chased a diagnosis!
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Post by marionk on Aug 28, 2016 10:31:31 GMT
Hi simba, I find your (and others) comments on sleep on this thread particularly interesting because I have very similar experience from mph, and it wasn't what I was expecting!
I'm also very interested to know what you have found you can do despite your ADHD to earn a living?
I am in the frustrating position of being something of a jack of all trades, I have a massive amount of knowledge on a lot of things (mostly potentially useful stuff, no modern trivia) but am not good/qualified enough to be able to earn money with any of them.
ok time to trim out the waffle and click 'create post' . . .
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Post by annie on Aug 30, 2016 9:08:20 GMT
Hi simbo
Lovely to have people coming back to update us on their experiences - especially when the treatment seems to be bringing some benefit.
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simbo
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Post by simbo on Aug 30, 2016 20:45:00 GMT
Hi simba, I find your (and others) comments on sleep on this thread particularly interesting because I have very similar experience from mph, and it wasn't what I was expecting! I'm also very interested to know what you have found you can do despite your ADHD to earn a living? I am in the frustrating position of being something of a jack of all trades, I have a massive amount of knowledge on a lot of things (mostly potentially useful stuff, no modern trivia) but am not good/qualified enough to be able to earn money with any of them. ok time to trim out the waffle and click 'create post' . . . My sleep has generally been much better since being on meds. It would take hours of fidgeting before eventually settling down, now this is very rare. I was treated for restless leg syndrome for a couple of years which never really helped. As for work, I spent 21 years working as a teacher, then headteacher. This all went to pot about two years ago, I ended up taking on three secondary schools but never had the organisational skills to manage the workload of this. Now I work freelance in the educational and criminal justice system as a quality inspector. It's an area that interests me and my ability to hyper focus is particularly helpful. Basically following an evidence trail to ensure that prisons and other justice settings meet government standards. My ability to think outside the box and hyperfocus are real benefit, I find that I dig deep and always want to know more. I also have an interest in fitness and retrained as a fitness trainer, again working freelance at a couple of gyms. I like having the option to accept or reject work. It's never easy working for yourself but 2 years in a earn enough to live a comfortable lifestyle. Between the two jobs roles I get to use up endless energy and use my hyperfocusing ability.
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simbo
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Post by simbo on Aug 30, 2016 20:46:04 GMT
Hi simbo Lovely to have people coming back to update us on their experiences - especially when the treatment seems to be bringing some benefit. Thank you. Like most I was pretty active on here and then got waylaid with other apps!!! Sure many will understand that.
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