|
Post by supine on Apr 17, 2013 20:08:31 GMT
Sorry if this has been answered in another thread, but I've seen posts that mention how they can help, and I'm aware they are not a panacea so I got to wondering what they don't really help with?
I go to a private Dr tomorrow for a diagnosis, GP has spoken to this Dr and because he is private won't enter into a shared care situation where the NHS continue with any required meds - so I'm also going on the books for an NHS referral and stuck paying private fees for now.
Am a bit messed up today :/
|
|
|
Post by prunesquallor on Apr 18, 2013 18:10:48 GMT
I think meds are not a panacea because:-
- a) some people don't get much benefit from them. It's a matter of trial and error for each patient with each med
- b) many people with ADHD also have some other type of developmental or learning problem, which may be masked by the ADHD. So the meds may be very helpful with one's ADHD symptoms, but one may still need the other condition(s) to be dealt with
|
|
|
Post by DKL - darkknightslover on Apr 18, 2013 19:32:24 GMT
Hmmm... My memory is still not great. However I do notice my memory aids more and so "remember" to use them better. I also don't wander around the supermarket in a dream world carefully considering my options as much either I have been incredibly lucky and have landed on a successful medication scheme on my first go! I have found that I'm still very much me, but on a really good/better day - like you were half asleep all your life. I'm less stressed, I'm more motivated and I don't snap at people (as much/quickly). However I am still more distractable than your average person, I can still forget a lot of stuff, I still massively over share about my personal life/problems, I still have problems picking out conversations in noisy places and I have problems with hyper focus at inappropriate times/prioritisation choices "on the fly" I.e. I have to visually see what I need to do in order to choose which are the most important. They are all marginally better though, or so I like to think. A lot of it is finding your strategies - which are a lot easier to find when you're not fighting your brain fog! Sent from my GT-I9000 using proboards
|
|
|
Post by supine on Apr 19, 2013 9:43:03 GMT
Thanks for the feedback, that's really useful to know, especially about being yourself but on a good day.
Yesterdays consultation took so long that we didn't start the DIVA 2.0 test so I'm doing that on Monday, but from what he said he's pretty much already convinced I have ADHD.
During a discussion about medication etc. my wife seemed really concerned, and the Dr. seemed pretty sure that I would be 'a different person' effectively when on medication - my wife thinks this could introduce new and possibly damaging dynamics into our already strained relationship - can't say I blame her, I tell her we're splitting up and getting divorced about every 6 months (we've been together 18 years now).
Any tips on how to track what is better/worse when taking meds, or is that up to the Dr to tell me?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2013 9:56:27 GMT
This has got to be the goal we all aim for I guess? No point in looking at it in any other way, imho.
18 years though... well done!
|
|
|
Post by supine on Apr 19, 2013 11:56:58 GMT
This has got to be the goal we all aim for I guess? No point in looking at it in any other way, imho. I heartily agree, although I can see why my wife might be worried, I'm her bread and butter Thanks, although not an easy ride as I'm sure partners of ADHD sufferers will attest. My wife's mental as well
|
|
|
Post by DKL - darkknightslover on Apr 19, 2013 12:21:41 GMT
My relationship with my husband has become much more harmonious as I'm better with "remembering" important things to do and have more motivation to do them. He is also "mental" as are many of our friends (in fact one of them got diagnosed with ADD which lead me to it!) Which helps a bit The biggest thing the medication has given me is the opportunity to glimpse what a non-fogged brain feels like. Until that point I had no idea how bad I actually was. Think of the frog in hot water analogy. It has helped me learn more about myself, and how other people view me/how my behaviours affects others. You see the chaos as well as the organisation behind the organised chaos. The other huge thing that has really helped is a self management course I've been taking part in. It's only the pilot, but everyone taking part has been really positive. Look up ADD Aptability and/or Rebecca Champ. She does one-to-one coaching and will do it over Skype. I've mentioned her a few times before, so I hope I don't get told off for advertising her services so much I am not her - just to clarify! I did come up with coping strategies that helped before I started meds, but now they are more effective and through the course I've learnt a lot more about myself that I wouldn't have gained on my own, or if I did, it would have taken a very long time to do. I think overall the meds are a tool. You are still you, you still can hold the same beliefs, but they make it a bit easier to choose to change. As a science graduate I liken the effect of my Dex as like a catalyst in a chemical reaction. I'll have to find a picture to put up to demonstrate what I mean. Sent from my GT-I9000 using proboards
|
|
|
Post by supine on Apr 19, 2013 14:49:05 GMT
Thanks DKL, I didn't think you were Rebecca, although now you mention it..... I'm looking forward to seeing what they (meds) can do, maybe even as soon as next week. One of the last things the Dr said to me was "Did I taken any amphetamines when I was younger" Which I had, did a wrap of pink champagne speed with a friend when I was 17. When he asked me what happened (I fell asleep) he said it was 'diagnostic'. From the context it kind of sounded like he was saying it was a textbook response for someone with ADHD. Thanks for taking the time to reply, it's set my mind at rest a bit
|
|
|
Post by li0nberries on Apr 20, 2013 9:08:08 GMT
I found pretty much the same as dkl. Exept instead of discussing my private life, I'm more generally inappropriate. I'm now on 25 mg mph 4x a day and 20mg once a day. I tried long release for two days but felt so awful went straight back to quick release.
I find that I function best at 30mg (v high dose :-() but I don't like it because that just isn't me. 25mg gives me a reasonable balance of functioning to an extent while still feeling like myself, wether that's good or bad.
|
|
|
Post by supine on Apr 20, 2013 10:40:06 GMT
Hi Lionberries, when you say it just isn't you, can you elaborate? Is there some aspect of how you are normally (ie without meds) that you miss when you're on meds?
|
|
|
Post by supine on Apr 22, 2013 15:49:12 GMT
Just got back from my DIVA 2 assessment, almost 100% ADHD Combined, need to have ECG/Blood Pressure and Blood tests now before being started on Concerta.
I feel both relieved and aggrieved and mentally very tired...off to bed to read for a bit and eat some comfort food I think.
|
|