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Post by Lesley on May 24, 2013 19:48:07 GMT
So pleased it went well, Jan. Hope it all goes smoothly with getting to see an NHS specialist and getting treatment.
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Post by Lesley on May 24, 2013 17:42:09 GMT
Hi Lisa, I am an undiagnosed adult with an undiagnosed 5 yr old (assessment on 4th Sept) I live near Devizes, Wiltshire but I think you are my nearest support group? I am unable to make the group as I am a childminder but would like to keep in touch, as although it is a long way to go for me I am coming to the stage where I would like to meet someone like me and discuss how it feels. Do you ever have evening or weekend meets? Lottie x Lottie, the Bristol group meets in the evening - 2nd Friday of the month from 7 to 9 pm. Details here: aadduk.org/help-support/support-groups/bristol-adult-adhd-support-group/xx
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Post by Lesley on May 23, 2013 20:52:02 GMT
Said it on another thread, but in case you don't see it - hope all goes well tomorrow.
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Post by Lesley on May 23, 2013 19:52:39 GMT
Hi Amie
pm means send a personal message. You do it by finding the person's name in the Members List and at the top of their Profile, opposite their name, is a red link that says Send Personal Message (possibly only when logged in. I can't remember and don't want to log out to find out).
I hope you manage to sort something out for your son soon xx
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Post by Lesley on May 23, 2013 19:43:53 GMT
I'm sorry you're being given the run-around - it really is unforgiveable! There are a couple of people on hear who take atomoxetie. I think I remember "mrsh" posting about them don't think they had taken full effect at the time but someone commented that they were good for them. mrsh's thread is called Sick of UP and DOWN!!!!! and is in the Venting section (have to be logged in to view). I think I'm the other person dizzydee mentions. I've been on Atomoxetine since January, and while the original dose (40 mg) did nothing for me, since I was put up to 80 and then 100 it's been helping a lot. It's the only ADHD medication I've taken so I'm afraid I can't help with comparing it with others. I can say, though, that I had no side effects at all. And I can remember (but can't now find) planetdave saying on another thread that the horror stories about it are all from a few years ago and they haven't been hearing the same sort of thing recently. But, if your psych recommends Concerta and there's no medical reason why not, you shouldn't have to settle for Atomoxetine for your doctor's convenience. Hope you manage to sort them out xx
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Post by Lesley on May 23, 2013 19:08:12 GMT
I'd concur with the idea of talking it through with a counsellor or therapist. And you might also want to look into Mindfulness Meditation. I'm doing a course in that at the moment and am finding it useful (though I seem to have just hit the 'novelty's wearing off' point. But it's now half-term so I'm going to give myself a break and then go back to it).
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Post by Lesley on May 14, 2013 21:38:14 GMT
Hi Kate and Curtis
It was great to meet you too. Hope to see you in June.
Lesley
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Post by Lesley on May 10, 2013 0:02:18 GMT
Hi Tara
I'm going. See you there.
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Post by Lesley on May 2, 2013 19:06:53 GMT
I can't post the link at the moment, but if you go on to the aadduk.org site home page and look down the middle column you will find details of the Bristol support group.
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Post by Lesley on May 2, 2013 18:59:47 GMT
Hi Tara
Congratulations on getting a diagnosis so quickly. And all credit to your wonderful Mum.
It is overwhelming, isn't it? I recognise that mixture of relief and sadness. And the great relief at finding external, objective corroborating evidence.
What to do next? I'd suggest spending a little while just getting used to it. And thinking about what you would like to do, and what you would need for it to be possible. And definitely going to a support group. I go (intermittently) to one in Bristol - being among kindred spirits is amazingly useful.
In a while, if you feel you need a bit of objective, and understanding, help with your next steps, you might consider (if you can afford it) a session or two with a specialist ADHD coach.
Good luck
Lesley (Inachisio)
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Post by Lesley on Apr 7, 2013 21:48:09 GMT
Interesting. I've never had vertigo, but I have a longstanding problem with excess earwax (less of a problem now than it used to be, fortunately). I was told my ear canals were unusually narrow, but perhaps that's not the only reason.
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Post by Lesley on Mar 12, 2013 17:10:31 GMT
Hey, that brought tears to my eyes. Massively well done! And thank you for sharing it with us.
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Post by Lesley on Mar 12, 2013 17:06:28 GMT
Just to reinforce what mizmog said, I was diagnosed without any childhood evidence. I suppose it must depend who you see, but if it's someone with any amount of experience at diagnosing adults, they're likely to have come across your situation before.
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Post by Lesley on Feb 20, 2013 8:32:10 GMT
Think of it as helping your Dad, who you say has tried to keep in touch, rather than helping your siblings.
Feel good about what you're doing, not bad about what you're (not) feeling.
Make sure you are getting support, from your own family or friends.
Good luck, and take care xxx
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Post by Lesley on Feb 9, 2013 9:36:13 GMT
Know I love helping people though so wonder if the stuff you need doing doesn't have to be done by you (like essays) could you and a mate make your lists - and then swap - you do her stuff she do yours and you wouldn't want to let her down so get her stuff done easily and yours been done as well - just athought Must be something in the air! I was at an ADHD support group meeting last night where someone suggested just this - called it the 'Strangers on a Train' option (remember the old film? - Hitchcock?). I think it's a great idea, though i also don't have someone to swap with at the moment, unfortunately. Congratulations on a great day, Kathy - and it sounds as if you enjoyed the doing of it as well as the having got it done.
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Post by Lesley on Jan 28, 2013 16:11:08 GMT
Hi pip
I'm on my third week of taking 40 mg. I haven't had any side-effects, although there are some possible side-effects. I also haven't had any positive results yet, though the medication notes say it takes at least a month to kick in, so I'm not surprised at that.
Have a look in the Medications section of this forum for a thread (7th down at the moment) called Strattera (Atomoxetine hydrochloride) Drug Info. There are also other threads further down that section (on later pages), mostly with the name Strattera rather than Atomoxetine in the title.
Hope it works well for you.
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Post by Lesley on Jan 15, 2013 23:06:43 GMT
Yes, definitely a good idea to write things down, and to take it with you.
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Post by Lesley on Nov 10, 2012 20:52:12 GMT
Is it worth seeking a diagnosis?
Yes, definitely.
Reason number 1 - there is more than enough in what you have written about your life to make ADHD a very real possibility and to justify seeking a diagnosis.
Reason number 2 - the diagnosis in itself makes a difference. I was diagnosed 5 months ago and am yet to start medication (that will come next month, I hope), but I have found the diagnosis in itself a great help. (A), because I have been able to stop blaming myself and feeling shame about the things I do or, more often, don't do (not completely, but once you know there is a reason, you can start working towards getting rid of the shame). And, (B), because I now know for certain that I need to look for ways to organise my life which will actually work for me because they are designed for the way my mind works, not some super-organised normal person's mind.
... I realise others are worse off.
If you're struggling, which you clearly are, then you are entitled to seek help with your struggles. My diagnosis is of mild ADHD, I'm also of above average intelligence and had a good, if not outstanding, work record (I'm recently retired), and just about everyone else I meet or read about (including you) sounds as if they are worse off than me - but my struggles are still real and, as I said above, the diagnosis has helped - and I'm hoping that medication will help even more. And diagnosis and treatment will make a difference not just to you, but to your wife, your parents ...
I suspect that the "I'm not worthy of help" reaction is itself an ADHD trait - others on this forum may know if that is the case.
But it seems so hard to get diagnosed.
It may well be, unless you are very lucky with your GP and your PCT. Link up with a local support group, if there is one, read the advice on this forum and ask for any other advice you think you need, and go to your GP well prepared. And be prepared to fight. It sounds like you will have your wife as an ally in that, which is a great plus. (But equally don't assume you will have to fight. You don't want to alienate your GP if they are open-minded and inclined to take you seriously).
... I'm now doubting myself, am I looking at an ink splot and seeing a butterfly?
Probably something most, if not all, of us have shared on the way to diagnosis. Again, find a support group and go along and meet other people with ADHD. And read everything you can about it, online and in books - especially those that talk about what it's actually like to live with it i.e. personal accounts and case studies rather than more theoretical discussions. If you keep recognising yourself, that will strengthen your resolve and give you ammunition.
... I actually feel like I want to be ADHD ...
Well, why wouldn't you? It's got to be better than having the problems you describe and not being ADHD. This is blame and shame creeping in again - "I'm making excuses, I'm really just lazy/careless/whatever". No, you're not - there's a reason for the way you are, and you are on your way to finding out what it is.
Good luck.
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Post by Lesley on Nov 7, 2012 9:21:26 GMT
Atomoxetine? Strattera is a brand name for that.
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Post by Lesley on Aug 29, 2012 20:46:32 GMT
The first book about ADHD which I read was "Driven to Distraction" by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey. A lot of it consists of case studies of people with ADHD, which are easy to read, being narrative in form - you could read those and skip over the more hard-fact parts until you felt like going back to them.
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Post by Lesley on Dec 17, 2011 20:33:50 GMT
Hi Aren
I read your first three posts - may or may not read the others, they're probably beyond my levels of concentration! BUT the first half of your second post is probably the best description I have read of what life is like for me (barring the super-high IQ).
I've tried the NHS and didn't get very far - I'm going to try the private route - my doctor is open to the idea of shared care - but it will have to wait until after Christmas now.
I'm impressed you've got this far so quickly. It's now 20 months since I read the article that opened my eyes.
Good luck with the meds.
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