Attention Deficit Disorder

Minus1 · 08-12-2003 1:43am #1

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of adult ADD, and in particular if they can recommend a psychiatrist or neurologist who specialises in it, ideally in the Cork area.

Thanks.

Paddy20 · 08-12-2003 2:50pm

Minus1,

It would seem that your first port of call, should imho be your GP. Who can refer you to the type of help that is available for this condition.

P.:ninja:

LegacyUser · 08-12-2003 7:52pm

Anywhere in Dublin either!
I've taken a few on-line tests; i am sensible enough to know that this is in no way a daignosis but it has made me more convinced than ever!

I can't concentrate to save my life, I daydream like there is no tomorrow,
which off hand may not seem too bad but when you accdentaly walk out on the road because you just weren't paying attention; it's not good.
I'm in my final year in college and my grades have slipped with every year.
I just can't seem to write down what I know!
I could go on!
So if there is anywhere that'lldo test etc.
I'd be greatful.

xx · 08-12-2003 10:50pm

Originally posted by Minus1
Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of adult ADD, and in particular if they can recommend a psychiatrist or neurologist who specialises in it, ideally in the Cork area.

Thanks.

Dude, without wanting to sound facetious, its called ADHD now - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Might make researching it a little easier for you. I wouldn't recommend going to a GP though; they might just try to dose you with pills from the outset. I'd seek out some psychological help on this one instead.

Paddy20 · 08-12-2003 10:54pm

I am sure that your own 'Doctor' is the best person to help you. Your Doctor has the list of all the 'specialists' available!. So, as I have suggested, go and talk your problem over with your Doctor as soon as possible, you have nothing to lose - and everything to gain ?..

Be lucky.

** Special note: Specialists normally prefer you to have been referred 'to them' from a medical professional, such as your GP. In the first instance.

P.:ninja:

xx · 08-12-2003 11:03pm

Depends on your GP really, dude. Do you trust them to refer you or is there a chance that they'll go down the pill route instead?

eth0_ · 08-12-2003 11:27pm

Originally posted by Minus1
Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of adult ADD, and in particular if they can recommend a psychiatrist or neurologist who specialises in it, ideally in the Cork area.

Thanks.

You need to go to your GP and get a referral to a specialist (i.e a psych or neurologist). A GP can't make a diagnosis and medicate something like ADHD. But beware, a lot of the goons masquerading as mental health professionals in this country don't believe ADHD continues once adolescence has passed. And I know you're well past adolescence

Minus1 · 09-12-2003 12:27am

Thanks for all your replies, guys...

Well, not to put too fine a point on it, I've lost most of what faith I have had in the medical profession... hence seeking opinions from people outside same as to someone who's not going to waste my time messing me about (yes yes, phishtankers, I know this sounds just like me talking about my exes, it's a bit of a common theme in my experiences, but anyway, moving on...)

A friend of mine (who now lives in the US) recently mailed me telling me he's been diagnosed with AADD (Adult Attention Deficit Disorder) (not ADHD (H=hyperactivity) by the way, I gather ADHD is just one of several varieties of ADD). He described his symptoms at length and my response was "that's me you're describing". So after a lot of discussion back and forth, he reckons I need to find a good neurologist or psychiatrist to help me figure out where to go from here. My friend is fortunate enough to have found a guy who is both neuro and psych, but I have a sneaking suspicion such may be thin on the ground this side of the water.

[edit: typo]

Paddy20 · 09-12-2003 1:33am

Have you checked out the award winning site: www.irishhealth.com
Could prove very useful to you, and its free and reputable!.

P.:ninja:

Minus1 · 09-12-2003 2:30am

Sadly, that site, like vhihealthe.com and any other irish-based sites, seems to have buffer-all references to adult ADD, which is rather discouraging.

Mind you, I don't know for sure that what I have is ADD; but it certainly seems very similar in the opinion of both me and my friend overseas who has it (and who recently, correctly, sent another friend of his to be tested and treated for it).

Right, time to find me some men in white coats... *sigh*

xx · 09-12-2003 11:20pm

Originally posted by Minus1
My friend is fortunate enough to have found a guy who is both neuro and psych, but I have a sneaking suspicion such may be thin on the ground this side of the water.[edit: typo]

Yeah, you'd be pretty right. One of my cousins has a masters in neuro from queens, but alas she works in london so I can't recommend her to you. About the only other psych I know in ireland is a lady in navan in county meath. Bit far away for you though, methinks.
But fear not, give me about....well, a few years anyway, and I'll be a fully fledged psych(o) of one kind or another. But something tells me you can't wait

Paddy20 · 10-12-2003 12:58pm

Minus1,

Sorry you did not find what you were looking for on:- www.irishhealth.com
I must say that surprises me, as they have thousands of 'Public debate' forum archives, on just about every human malaise.

Plus they have a 'first class'; -

'Ask the Doctor' ! question and answer, free service !, which really is excellent, even if you are 'somewhat sceptical' about the medical profession, as you suggested in your first post. I still think it could prove worthwhile, why not give it a try ?..

Good luck.

:ninja:

yellum · 10-12-2003 1:41pm

Jesus Christ Paddy stop pimping that website.

Paddy20 · 10-12-2003 3:52pm

yellum,

I can not see any constructive alternative suggestion from you on this thread. So climb down off that high horse ?.;) , and take a chill pill.

P.:ninja:

Figment · 10-12-2003 4:07pm

A change of Diet should be your first action. That is often a cause.

Stark · 10-12-2003 4:15pm

Originally posted by Paddy20
yellum,

I can not see any constructive alternative suggestion from you on this thread. So climb down off that high horse ?.;) , and take a chill pill.

You'll find one on www.irishhealth.com

eth0_ · 10-12-2003 4:16pm

Originally posted by Paddy20
yellum,

I can not see any constructive alternative suggestion from you on this thread. So climb down off that high horse ?.;) , and take a chill pill.

P.:ninja:

He's right man, you're pimping that site....did you design it or something? :P

Beruthiel · 10-12-2003 4:47pm

keep on topic ladies!

B

Emerson · 10-12-2003 5:00pm

Go to your doctors if you want to get put on the usual endless spiral of drugs, in effect poisoning yourself in an attempt to improve your health.. I've seen it all too many times. It just doesn't work..

I have a particular interest in nutrition myself and have read an awful lot on the subject.
AD(H)D sufferers and most of the western world in fact are generally deficient in essential Omega 3 oils. Your eyes and brain are made up of a certain proportion of these fatty acids and a deficiency in them leads to many problems including ADHD, cognitive impairment and depression.
I would advise supplementation with a fish oil like Equazen EyeQ, which I take (doesn't taste like fish) or perhaps flax seed oil.

Generally, without a doubt, poor diet is to blame for most of our medical problems nowadays. We simply aren't eating enough nutritionally dense Fruit and Vegetables (containing Vitamins, Minerals, Phytochemicals, Enzymes & Fibre) but instead lots of "empty" calories like Breads, white rice & sweatened cereals, not to mention Coffee and animal products which leave our brains and bodies depleted of nutrients impairing their function and putting them under pressure. Years of this abuse of our bodies mounts resulting in disease. Every single different fruit and vegetable has a protective effect on your body against many different types of disease. Green vegetables like Broccoli, Cauliflower and Sprouts are rich in Omega 3 oils also as well as many, many other beneficial properties.
I'm currently reading "The Eat to Live Diet" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman which really is an insight into the whole world of nutrition and where we have gone so terribly wrong. I would wholeheartedly advise it to anyone who is serious in improving their health.

For more reading material on the Omega 3 issue go to:
http://borntoexplore.org/omega.htm
http://www.mercola.com/2002/jul/20/adhd.htm

http://www.durhamtrial.org/
http://www.biovita.fi/suomi/terveyssivut/durham_bbc.html

yellum · 10-12-2003 7:19pm

Originally posted by Paddy20
yellum,

I can not see any constructive alternative suggestion from you on this thread. So climb down off that high horse ?.;) , and take a chill pill.

Again with the useless medical advice, I am in no need to take a chill pill or any other pills because I think you are giving stupid advice. No alterbative is better than an incorrect and blindingly wrong initial suggestion. Tis better to stay silent then let people know out loud that you don't know.

Back on subjec, I know Minus1 and know of his intellect so the guy will have done some keen research before posting here. I severely doubt a website thrown together by a bunch of money grabbing gits will be of use when he already has utliized the oracle known as the internet. I would not think the Irish medical profession is cutting edge in fact my experience with my fathers Diabetes shows that the US is 4-5 years ahead in the treament of that alone.

People are becoming less trusting of their doctors and that can be good. People need to pay closer attention to their own health and monitor themselves and not pay some guy that did his training 20 years ago 50 Euro for him to go "hmm " and just give you the usual standard painkillers orf if he thinks its something in your brain he gives you Prozac.

While Alternative treatments and Homeopathy might not be of any use in some instances there are many times when they do work and work very well and aid where modern medical treatments fail miserably.

Minus1 · 10-12-2003 7:33pm

Hi all,

Thanks for all your helpful comments; I shall try to deal with each of them in turn.

eth0_: a GP visit is on my tentative to-do list alright; however, I'd rather avoid spending half a day sitting in a waiting room full of screaming kids if I can...

Paddy20: thanks for your comments too, a tad over-insistent though they may have been with respect to that site you mentioned (trust me... I found no references to adult ad(h)d on there, or on vhihealthe.com, despite putting quite a bit of effort into searching for same). I may give the 'ask a doctor' approach a go as you suggest, however.

Emerson: I shall definitely try and follow up your comments, though my diet is pretty good in terms of the issues you describe (no caffeine, no alcohol, a minimum of processed foods etc, very little salt and refined sugar, lots of fresh fruit etc), and this thing has really been plaguing me for as long as I can remember, regardless of dietary changes when I left home, moved in with girlfriends etc.

ADDam: hang in there man, know the feeling (currently repeating second year of college myself, in a subject I should be able to do with my eyes closed). Look on the bright side, there're probably better support facilities up in the big smoke than there are here down south.

Attention Deficit Disorder

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