I know there have been several ladies who got diagnosed as adults and started meds. I have some questions.
There is no doubt in my head I have inattentive type ADHD. The one that as a kid was a lazy, distracted, didn’t apply herself, didn’t complete assignments, etc. It actually severed me well through most of my career, which was constant juggling tasks, high stress, high pressure. 2 years ago, I moved to a new position that is decidedly not high stress and not a constant juggling of tasks. It’s been a great move for my stress level, but I am so bored. And totally becoming a stereotype government worker counting down days to retirement.
So my questions 1. if you did get diagnoses, did you get a full neuropsychiatric assessment? How? Where? Covered by insurance? Tell me about it. I know some primaries will try meds without the exam, but I’m mostly curious about the full assessment.
2. Do meds help you complete the boring, routine tasks that are mind numbing?
I'm so interested in the response, how you described yourself is me to a T. I know I need to make a dr's appointment to be evaluated but I just haven't. UGH.
1. No, but it is something I will probably pursue in the future. Honestly, I didn't/haven't because I don't know where to start, and there are so few providers in the area who will take insurance, and those that do have long wait lists and I didn't feel I could wait that long. I hit every marker to some degree, and my therapist, while she can't diagnose, did ask if I had considered meds. I take that as her agreeing that I do have ADHD. My meds are prescribed through the nurse practitioner at her office/group/whatever it's called. I did go through the questionnaire with the nurse practitioner, and again hit every marker. The fact that the meds work as they're intended for me is, in my mind, confirmation and I don't feel the need to get a full assessment unless I need it for accommodations or something. The only other reason I'd pursue a full assessment would be to confirm my suspicions that I'm autistic as well, as that is not something you can just check off the symptoms on a list.
2. YES. She started me on Strattera at the lowest dose and the effect was subtle but noticeable right away. I put my damn laundry away. I have now put my laundry away consistently for about 6 weeks. 6 Fucking Weeks, when I have lived out of "clean" laundry baskets for years. I unpacked the suitcase from a trip within a few days of being home and not the next time I needed the suitcase! I will do the damn dishes before they're overwhelming, and our dishwasher broke and I'm not overwhelmed by dishes and chomping at the bit to buy a new one. I've done a bunch of computer work that's been super tedious and wrote SM posts for a whole week. WHO THE FUCK IS THIS PERSON ON MEDS. I have since upped the dose, but didn't see much difference, so she's added Welbutrin which theoretically boosts the effectiveness of the Strattera (and TBH I probably needed to be on an antidepressant). I find that I need fewer breaks for the tedious tasks, delay less, and get distracted less. When I do get distracted, like if the kids need something, I find it much less frustrating, too. It's not magic, it doesn't "fix" things, but man, if I knew life could be like this I would have done it years ago.
I highly recommend finding a therapist if you don't have one already (The practice I go to has several offices in the area if you want the recommendation). I hold a lot of resentment to my parents for my childhood and a lot stems from the obviously undiagnosed ADHD. I can recognize that in the 90s ADHD, particularly inattentive type, was not really understood in girls, but man there was so much more support they could have given me even without a diagnosis. I am really bitter and angry about it now.
1. I was diagnosed about 2.5 years ago. Yes, I went through a thorough evaluation by a psychologist. He did a couple talk therapy sessions with me, then my eval was about 4 hours long one afternoon. It was logic puzzles, math worksheets, matching games, some kind of “follow the directions annd click the right answer” thing on an computer, and some other things I can’t recall at this point. Some of the items he did with me, others were timed for me to complete on my own. Then he did a write up that took a couple weeks to complete. It was exhausting, but the outcome was what I had expected. My eval was NOT covered by insurance, but if I had gone with a different doctor, it would have been. I just didn’t have the time to find someone who my insurance did pay for. The wait times were astronomical. It cost me about $1,200 out of pocket to have the assessment. My primary doc would NOT prescribe any meds without an assessment and diagnosis.
2. Yes, I take 15 mg of Adderall XR. I noticed a difference IMMEDIATELY. It hasn’t made me a totally different person. I still get distracted, I still get bored easily, I still “don’t want to” when it comes to certain things, but there is still much more ability to focus and get things done. When I get in a “zone” - Look out, because it will allllllll get done. Since starting the meds, I’ve cleaned out my closet, reorganized my entire linen closet, cleaned my basement, etc. I’m talking things that I would previously start and never finish - check, done. Part of my issue is that I don’t love my work, so nothing is ever going to “fix” that unless I find something I truly enjoy doing, but it’s definitely made me more productive and able to pay attention when in meetings and on calls. I’m also significantly less forgetful. I wish my parents had some something for me when I was a kid, but it wasn’t really a thing then…back then it was “hyper” kids being put on Ritalin, not overachieving, quiet girls who were deemed lazy because they didn’t want to do anything. Instead, I was lazy and a quitter, and they couldn’t understand why because I was “so smart and could do anything I wanted if I’d just try.”
1. I had to answer a lot of questions and take a set of computer-based assessments of working memory, ability to complete math problems in a certain amount of time, etc. I was diagnosed after I saw a recruitment ad for a clinical trial and signed up, though, so I'm not sure how the process would have been different if I'd just sought treatment on my own.
2. I haven't been on medication in a long time now, but yes, stimulant medication did absolutely help me.
mala , OMG, I am also currently flitting around in my brain (aka hyperfixating) with the debate of ADHD or possibly autistic. Actually, your whole post I could have written. I struggle with the fact that in hindsight, it was so obvious and I know in todays world it would have been caught, but I was in elementary school in the 80s. So I was just the spacey, messy, doesn’t try girl who was constantly yelled at. Edit, and the sensory issues. I’ve “joked” for quite awhile that if I were a kid today, I’d get sensory processing disorder easily.
Please do send me local recommendations. I was going to talk to my primary, but that won’t be until June.
One of my best friends just got her diagnosis earlier this month at 37. For her the catalyst to get tested was motherhood. That completely unraveled all her coping mechanisms.
I tried to get diagnosed originally like 7 years ago. My doctor referred me to a psych, I lost that number. Finally got the number, called and was put on a wait list for almost a year, they called and left a new number to call, and I lost that number. So that went nowhere. Then over covid, I finally had the time and the frustration to try again, especially after both my kids had been diagnosed. I had a virtual appointment with a psychiatric clinic. The psych asked me questions but didn't do the whole neuro psych exam. Meds absolutely help me with the mundane tasks!! I can just...do things now. When I'm not on my meds, there are certain things I'd rather die than do, that are just no big deal on the meds. My paralysis is cut down considerably, and I don't make as many careless mistakes. I was on adderall initially but as I can't get it anymore, I'm on Vyvanse. I miss the adderall, but they are similar.
My husband did at like 45. He had the full work up, it’s in the city if you want to know exactly where. They were one of the few places that we found that did adult diagnosis. He does virtual check in visits now for the meds.
The medication works wonders! He decided to get diagnosed after switching to a more high paced job and is really thriving.
My husband and stepdaughters were diagnosed as adults (she is 21 and just started meds 2 months ago). We all see the same family practice doctor. H and SD basically just talked to our doctor, and then she prescribed meds. It could be it was that easy because DS also goes there, he was diagnosed just before his 5th birthday by a diagnostic specialist. It's pretty clear it runs in the family, so she may have just been comfortable with it in our case but maybe not with others, I have no idea.
I don't know how they feel, I can only report what they've said but H now hates being off meds, he says his brain is too busy and he can't get anything done. SD is fairly new to it but she said she feels like she gets so much done now. She is on Adderall, H is on generic Vyvanse now, DS is on short acting Ritalin (extended release makes him so pissy for some reason).
So I had a full workup, but they thought I just had unrelated memory problems and anxiety because I had been able to get through college and grad school (with a lot of struggle with time management). So they called it ADHD-NOS in case my psych wanted to try meds. Then I got pregnant and didn't pursue it. Then a year ago I was talking to my primary NP about my antidepressants and symptoms, and she was like, "Have you considered you might have undiagnosed ADHD?" She started me on methylphenidate, which has helped a lot. So I had a full workup that didn't really pan out and then got meds just based on my recounting of symptoms and history. 🤷♀️
So I had a full workup, but they thought I just had unrelated memory problems and anxiety because I had been able to get through college and grad school (with a lot of struggle with time management). So they called it ADHD-NOS in case my psych wanted to try meds. Then I got pregnant and didn't pursue it. Then a year ago I was talking to my primary NP about my antidepressants and symptoms, and she was like, "Have you considered you might have undiagnosed ADHD?" She started me on methylphenidate, which has helped a lot. So I had a full workup that didn't really pan out and then got meds just based on my recounting of symptoms and history. 🤷♀️
See I think my depression symptoms may actually be ADHD then I think it's probably both then I just spend the day overthinking and I don't do anything else. I also worry about adhd meds with high blood pressure bc I have that too.
rubytue, apparently your hormone cycle has a lot of influence on the dopamine/norepinephrine etc in the brain and both puberty and menopause can have major effects on ADHD symptoms. SO THATS FUN. I'll PM you the practice. Also the meds I'm on are non-stimulant. I literally haven't talked to anyone about thinking I'm autistic yet, other than mentioning it to my therapist and saying I wasn't ready to explore that yet. I didn't have friends until 4th grade, not other kids I'd see out of school to play with at least. And then it was one friend I was with all the time until 7th grade when she dropped me like a hot potato. I spent at least half of my recesses reading instead of playing. I ate rice, just rice, for fully half my dinners because I didn't like what was being served. I hate social situations. I hate unexpected crowds. I found therapy very difficult at first and realized it was because it was not how relationships are supposed to work. I'm supposed to talk, then you are, and we share, we learn about each other. But in therapy it is so one sided and it makes me SO UNCOMFORTABLE. I get overstimulated by random noise (and hate white noise machines, they're the worst), yet I always have music, a podcast or the tv on.
All the signs in school were there, too. I never did homework, particularly if it was just "busy work". By high school if it affected my grade I'd do it, but I'd often get up at 3am, do my work in the dead of night, then go back to sleep before my parents got up. The one time I did a project early instead of last minute was because it was interesting (and then got screwed over anyways because I wrote the due date down as a week after it was actually due). I missed so many deadlines in school and just took the letter grade down. I'm going to stop there before this gets into trauma dumping about my parents.
And arielroux,, I get it. My parents basically ignored the issues and didn't offer any support at all. "If you just applied yourself." What a crock of bullshit. (Still massively bitter.)
Post by W.T.Faulkner on Apr 18, 2024 9:22:01 GMT -5
1. I was diagnosed at 26, back in 2015. I got a screen done (pretty much a printed-out questionnaire) at a doctor's visit. He then prescribed me a small dose of Adderall and referred me to a psychiatrist working out of a local hospital, who did an eval (which felt more like an interview) and diagnosed me. He told me that treatment could be cognitive behavioral therapy and meds, but given my background (counselor/teacher), I probably would be familiar with a lot of the strategies alreaydy.
My primary care doctor made it clear that he wouldn't keep up the prescriptions unless I followed through with the eval. I can't remember whether the evaluation was covered by insurance, sorry -- at the time, my employer was paying 100% of my healthcare expenses, so it didn't matter to me, lol.
2. I take Adderall (non-XR) twice a day and still struggle with short-term memory, organization, etc, but it has helped me improve significantly. It also helped me maintain consistent energy levels throughout the day and sleep better, which is not something I thought would happen.
My sister has ADHD, DD2 was recently dx and since I have been researching more things for DD2- I feel like I fit the bill. I am not going to pursue a dx at this time. I seem to have made up my own tools that work for me now. I have found this magazine to be a wonderful resource www.additudemag.com/ There is a free webinar that I have registered for today that sounds great Unraveling ADHD Procrastivity: How to Outsmart Procrastination and Improve Productivity.
1) I just got diagnosed about a month ago. I did not go through a full screening, just told my GP I thought I might have it and she sent me the questionnaire. A referral for full assessment would have seen me waiting over a year (I guess I could have done a private assessment but that shit is expensive), and since my GP knows my family history and has known me long enough to prescribe stimulants without too much worry, we just kept it at that. She did request an EKG before I started meds because I'd never had one before and she said we might as well make sure there isn't anything wonky with my heart. No insurance required because Canada.
2) I'm on 10mg of Vyvanse and it does make a difference. I wouldn't say it's a magic motivation pill. I still have to use some of my coping mechanisms, but the barrier to doing dull work is lowered. I also feel very zen on it - I'm not sure if that's the intended effect but my H notices a difference in how much more calmly I approach things/parent our child. I told my doc I didn't want to try increasing the dose because I am afraid it will make me TOO zen and I'll be a zombie, but it's early days and I have read that people often end up increasing their dose as effectiveness of a lower dose wears off.
Like pps, I'm sad this wasn't discovered sooner, particularly when my (admittedly much younger brother) got diagnosed. I guess at that time I was already in university and 'doing well' and nobody thought "hey, maybe our girl child has this too!" I don't think getting diagnosed earlier would have changed the outcome of my life, but I think it would have removed a lot of unnecessary stress and given me better coping mechanisms earlier. "Just make a list and prioritize" was bullshit advice for someone with my brain.
macmars45, having my twins right before my daughter turned 2 was my catalyst for bringing it up with my doctor too.
My regular doc recommended me to their behavioral/mental health side of the practice. I did not have the full assessment, but she did have me do forms, we talked, and then she asked me how my parents would have described me and how my husband would describe me if she had reached out to them. She then prescribed Vyvanse. OMG. I could hear silence for the first time in my head. I am a teacher in a middle school, so there's really nothing the same day in and day out at work, but I am able to stay awake during the formal state testing days and I am able to actually get housework done at night/weekends once I actually make myself get started. I don't nap on the days I remember to take the meds in the summer, which before I was napping entire days away.
I am now in the process of getting my 7yo evaluated officially as she is showing way more similar symptoms now that she's started anxiety meds for panic attacks. One of my 5 yo most likely has it as well, but I will hold off til either this summer if the person doing my daughter's has openings, otherwise I'll wait for it to start to affect him at school later on. I'm assuming though we'll see some behaviors start in the fall when he's in a full day dual language kinder setting rather than play based daycare.
I was diagnosed as an adult (early 30s). I paid for the full neuro-psych evaluation, a few thousand dollars out of pocket since insurance wouldn’t cover it.
I tried straterra first bc the evaluating psychologist recommended non-stimulant so it wouldn’t make me more over-active (tho that’s not really how it works?? But whatever). That gave me a super elevated heart rate (side effect for a small % of people).
I tried Adderall xR next, and I’ve been happy with that.
On meds: I find the barriers to starting tasks are much lower. Time is more constant (where otherwise it draaaags on boring things and flies past when I’m focused). Distractions aren’t as overwhelming, it’s like I can notice the distraction and choose to ignore it vs it taking over my whole brain without me realizing.
Side note: working jobs that are high-stress, involve multi-tasking, etc., might make you FEEL more productive because they’re more stimulating, but you’re still losing a ton as you have more cognitive load switching between things, etc.
I tried straterra first bc the evaluating psychologist recommended non-stimulant so it wouldn’t make me more over-active (tho that’s not really how it works?? But whatever). That gave me a super elevated heart rate (side effect for a small % of people).
It's a norepenephrine (I can't spell nobody sue me) re-uptake inhibitor. As part of the neural process in the brain dopamine and norepenephrine (and a few other neurotransmitters I think but I can't recall the names of) are produced, used and then essentially recycled by the body. The re-uptake inhibitors slow down the recycling part of the process so there are more of your body's own neurotransmiters available in the brain. At least that's my understanding from my own research into it.
EDIT: and now I realize you probably know how it works and didn't actually need an explanation. Sorry.
On meds: I find the barriers to starting tasks are much lower. Time is more constant (where otherwise it draaaags on boring things and flies past when I’m focused). Distractions aren’t as overwhelming, it’s like I can notice the distraction and choose to ignore it vs it taking over my whole brain without me realizing.
Side note: working jobs that are high-stress, involve multi-tasking, etc., might make you FEEL more productive because they’re more stimulating, but you’re still losing a ton as you have more cognitive load switching between things, etc.
This makes me think of meditation, where they tell you to just observe the thought. Which makes no sense to me. I can’t observe a thought without spinning on it. Lol
and yeah, I do realize that about the high stress job. But, I was so much more engaged with that. Now, I can barely bring myself to do the minimum, which I can crank out in 10 hours a week. I can meet my requirements. But, it’s a slog and I am not excelling. And I’ve never noy excelled and… don’t like it lol
I was diagnosed by a psychologist with the full battery of tests, but it was 12ish years ago so not local to us. My insurance covered it (I think 100% or at least a small copay) but that will of course vary a lot by your coverage.
I have found no difference on medication unfortunately. The one that probably worked the best gave me a higher heart rate and made me panicky, and I haven't found any others that seem to do anything at all. And I am pretty sure I've tried them all. IDK why I even come into threads about ADHD anymore because they always depress me when I see how life changing meds have been for others. Every day of my life is a slog (unless I'm doing something fun or relaxing) but it seems that's just how it's going to be. I do find myself more forgiving of myself the longer I've known about my diagnosis - I can't be too mad at myself for being unable to do something well because of a disability that is not my fault. I will never be a rockstar employee but my employers have always liked and respected me well enough so I guess I'm managing fine, even without meds.
Despite that I do think it's worth a shot, it seems medication helps a lot for most people. I can definitely tell a difference in my H if he doesn't take his meds for a day.
I started seeing a therapist and psychologist about 20 years ago for depression and was immediately given ADHD meds, too, because of everything I described to the doctors.
When I moved back to MN about 10 years ago and had new doctors, they would not prescribe me any controlled substances until I had the formal testing. My insurance paid it 100% and was done right there at the same practice. Now, mind you, this was a large practice with many doctors and therapists. I assume if you go to a small practice, you may have to be referred elsewhere for the testing.
Re: medications.
When I first started meds 20 years ago, concerta was the magic pill for me. It was truly a miracle drug. I was on my game all day at work AND when I came home. Unfortunately, one day, my body decided to say Nope, it's not gonna work anymore. I tried almost every drug out there at that time (this was several years ago) and nothing worked.
Then, about 3 years ago, my Dr suggested Genesight, and It was very eye-opening. It showed that my body metabolizes medications at an extremely high rate. (as a sidebar, It also explains why I can out-drink all my friends and not get drunk. )
So now I am on 60 mgs of methylphenidate (which is a very high dose) but I only get 2 hours of "relief" from it. I have to plan my day accordingly on when I take it. Luckily, I'm pretty good at work with doing stuff; it's my home life and school life that suffer the most.
mala, Yes I'm glad you mentioned our cycles and peri-menopause. I've really started researching this correlation in the last few months, and it's mind-blowing.
My IUD has reached its five year life span (I'm on kyleena) and I swear my ADHD has gotten so much worse the last 2 months because of this. I'm currently searching for a new gyno who specializes in perimenopause to help me with this.
Post by gretchenindisguise on Apr 18, 2024 11:57:05 GMT -5
I was diagnosed about 2 years ago after reaching out when I had both kids diagnosed. I am in the field so had self-diagnosed but finally decided to pursue it. Then she made me get an ekg and like the true adhd-er I am, that was a barrier I was unable to overcome and I didn't manage to get back.
Things spiraled so much this year, I finally reached back out. She started me on straterra and I ended up being so severely backed up GI wise, I had to go off it. Now we are trying effexor and I'm not so sure it'll work - but we shall see.
She is worried about doing a stimulant because I have random bouts of heart fluttering and she was worried about the cardiac side effects. I'm a little frustrated by that because I see how well they work for my kids.
Oh—I did want to throw in the same place diagnosed 2 of our friends with ADHD (also in their forties) and one with ADHD/Autism. I think we should get a discount for all of the referrals we’ve done lol
Since I’m in a state of hyper fixation, I’ve managed to get rejected by a couple places due to no availability and found one that got as far as asking for my insurance card. I also kind of know that if I don’t wrap up everything by COB today, it won’t happen. Maybe I can stretch out to Friday.
1. No full evaluation. But every medical professional I’ve ever spoken to and talked to about my symptoms has confirmed that I do indeed have textbook ADHD so I never saw the point.
2. Yes, but the side effects for me were too much to handle. I haven’t been medicated for a while. It’s a struggle either way, it’s pretty depressing.
1. I had testing done in 2017 when parenting, work, and grad school were way too overwhelming. I don't remember much of the testing except it was incredibly boring and difficult to pay attention.
2. Concerta was awful. I had horrible headaches when it would wear off. Vyvanse has been life changing but unfortunately it costs $250 each month after insurance and I'm unwilling to pay that. I'm trying Dexedrine right now as that's most similar to Vyvanse. This is only moderately better at $150 each month. Infuriating.
It hasn't taken away my desire to NEVER DO MY CHARTS but it does make it easier to sit and complete them. I am able to concentrate and finish what I start.
Side note: as a provider I won't diagnose adults with ADHD as there are so many who come in to my office saying they watched a TikTok or read an article and think they have it. So I will refer out. I'm not sure anyone else in my office will do it either.