more AD(H)D questions

[ijack]

Forgive me for all these posts, but I don't know too many people IRL that have experience with it.
Do you find that your hormones come into play with how severe your symptoms are? I think I'm about to get AF (still a little random since I'm nursing) and I'm a mess - I feel like my life is spiraling out of control and I don't know if the hormones are making it worse or what is going on.
Do you suffer from anxiety or depression related to your ADD? If you do, do you feel that the meds help with that feeling at all or no? I feel so down about everything right now and I'm trying to figure out if it's a symptom of the ADD or something else that is going on. I'm on zoloft, but it's not doing much and I'm trying to determine when I should wean and start ADD meds.
I just want to feel normal and therapy isn't really doing much, but I'm not sure what it is supposed to be doing. I know that feeling like a failure can be a symptom of ADD and everyone claims I'm not as big of a mess as I think I am, but I just feel so out of it.

[Deleted]

Maybe you also have PMDD, which I have. I havent been diagnosed with ADD yet but I do think I have it. My sister has been diagnosed with both ADD and PMDD. I wonder if they go hand in hand.

But yes, I am not on any medications now since we're ttc, and you describe perfectly how I feel before AF. It sucks.

Maybe talk to your doctor about switching to Prozac? it really helped me.

PMDD www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004461/

[ijack]

Did you take the prozac all month or just at certain times of your cycle (I know some people do that)?
That site has good info, thank you. And it's a good reminder to start tracking some of my symptoms.

[Kore]

I feel like the anxiety meds help me tremendously. It's hard to say if hormones amplify my symptoms, since I haven't had a true ovulatory period in over a year. I've been very even-keeled.

Are you taking meds for ADD? I can't remember now. My ADD meds definitely increase my anxiety a bit.

[Deleted]

May 14, 2012 10:17:53 GMT -5 ijack said:

Did you take the prozac all month or just at certain times of your cycle (I know some people do that)?
That site has good info, thank you. And it's a good reminder to start tracking some of my symptoms.

I took it all month because it was easier to remember but my sister was prescribed to take it only 2 weeks before her period. However, she is refusing to take it at all.... but thats another story.

[Deleted]

Hard to say. I have ADHD and I'm on medication finally (vyvanse) but I don't take it on the weekends generally and I don't notice a big difference in my moods between weekends/weekdays.

While I believe ADHD is often present along with other mental heath issues, I don't think that you necessarily MUST have another issue if you have ADHD. Typically people with mental health diagnoses are more likely to have multiple issues than someone who has none, but that doesn't mean it is always the case (correlation does not equal causation, in other words)

I have noticed in the last several months that I've been very antisocial and I don't feel sad but I'm not interested in relationships and activities the same way I used to be. I have no idea if that is related to the medication or just the fact that my DH works nights so I've gotten used to being on my own a lot. There has also been a lot of upheaval in my social life in the last couple of years so I'm kind of burned out on that too. So, it could be related or completely not.

My best advice would be that if you think you have some other stuff going on, make sure you're continuing to talk to a professional and see if you can talk through those things or get a different combination of meds.

[ijack]

May 14, 2012 11:23:02 GMT -5 Kore said:

I feel like the anxiety meds help me tremendously. It's hard to say if hormones amplify my symptoms, since I haven't had a true ovulatory period in over a year. I've been very even-keeled.

Are you taking meds for ADD? I can't remember now. My ADD meds definitely increase my anxiety a bit.

I'm not yet. I have a rx, but I need to wean first and I'm unsure as to when I'd like to do that. On one hand I think I really need to be medicated, on the other I feel guilty about giving up nursing.

[Deleted]

because of this thread I called my doctor to get a referral, even though I can't go on the meds for like, 2 years. I want to at least see if I DO have it and get a diagnosis.

[ijack]

good for you!! I saw a therapist before I could go on meds too and being diagnosed did help (because then I knew I wasn't just lazy, there was more going on).

[Deleted]

Thanks. I DO feel like I am lazy but I seriously can't help it unless I have a fire under my ass. I do my best work when I am pressured with a deadline-- but then I dont sleep. Its not a way to live.

speaking of which, I need to get off of here and work.

[Deleted]

and I hope you can get some answers. I know how debilitating it is to just be unable to do anything because of the gripping depression and lack of self worth. Then it goes away and I feel like myself, but its a vicious cycle.