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Adult ADHD Advice
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It's a positive step forward PPN
Hopefully you will experience a sense of relief when you are diagnosed.You also have all of us here for some support!
As i've mentioned before, several adults I know have gone without family input (for a variety of reasons), and it is not necessary for Dr Fitzgerald assessment. The adult assessment is based primarily on self reporting.
I think the important thing to focus on is why you're going, as in, what functional impairments do you have? What seems more difficult for you than others, what really makes you think you have ADHD? and perhaps write these down this evening, so you can tell him when you go in.
He will go through a checklist with you, and you comment on it. These are the kinds of things covered, (i['ve copied and pasted from the additude website, as I find it very busy - oh the irony!)
Another way of describing or understanding domains of difficulty is the Brown Model. Some people find this helpful:[discussed in more detail/from http://www.brownadhdclinic.com/add-adhd-model/ ]ADHD – Primarily Inattentive Type (Formerly Known as ADD)- Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or during other activities (e.g., overlooks or misses details, work is inaccurate).
- Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities (e.g., has difficulty remaining focused during lectures, conversations, or lengthy reading).
- Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly (e.g., mind seems elsewhere, even in the absence of any obvious distraction).
- Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (e.g., starts tasks but quickly loses focus and is easily sidetracked).
- Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities (e.g., difficulty managing sequential tasks; difficulty keeping materials and belongings in order; messy, disorganized work; has poor time management; fails to meet deadlines).
- Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (e.g., schoolwork or homework; for older adolescents and adults, preparing reports, completing forms, reviewing lengthy papers).
- Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., school materials, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, mobile telephones).
- Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli (for older adolescents and adults, may include unrelated thoughts).
- Is often forgetful in daily activities (e.g., doing chores, running errands; for older adolescents and adults, returning calls, paying bills, keeping appointments).
- Often fidgets with or taps hands or feet or squirms in seat.
- Often leaves seat in situations when remaining seated is expected (e.g., leaves his or her place in the classroom, in the office or other workplace, or in other situations that require remaining in place).
- Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is inappropriate. (Note: In adolescents or adults, may be limited to feeling restless.)
- Often unable to play or engage in leisure activities quietly.
- Is often “on the go,” acting as if “driven by a motor” (e.g., is unable to be or uncomfortable being still for extended time, as in restaurants, meetings; may be experienced by others as being restless or difficult to keep up with).
- Often talks excessively.
- Often blurts out an answer before a question has been completed (e.g., completes people’s sentences; cannot wait for turn in conversation).
- Often has difficulty waiting his or her turn (e.g., while waiting in line).
- Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations, games, or activities; may start using other people’s things without asking or receiving permission; for adolescents and adults, may intrude into or take over what others are doing).
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So I went yesterday. I was worried about nothing. I'm officially diagnosed with ADHD. I was also told I have Asperger's and (no surprise from my previous posts) Generalised Anxiety Disorder. Still laughing about the fact I didn't think I'd get one diagnosis and ended up with three. Just have to go to my regular GP and get blood pressure and weight checked for a strattera prescription.
Great news PPN! Apologies should have mentioned (although i think referred to several times on this thread) that Fitzgerald tends to diagnose ASD & ADHD together regularly enough (although not always!). His position is that there is high co-morbidity (https://www.imt.ie/clinical/mental-health/common-diagnostic-errors-in-child-adolescent-and-adult-psychiatry-07-07-2008/ ) and while in my experience of working with people, often the dual diagnosis is missed, I think he's a wee bit enthusiastic in this area
Advice appears to be give Strattera a belt for a couple of months, and then if not working, ritalin can be tried. As mentioned, strattera is not stimulant based, and therefore preferred by some people, as they don't get the speedy/jittery effect that some people report with Ritalin, but also many people consider it less effective. Some people e.g. Cannex have given detailed information on their experiences with medications, back towards the start of this thread. suck it and see i suppose!0 -
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Great news PPN! Apologies should have mentioned (although i think referred to several times on this thread) that Fitzgerald tends to diagnose ASD & ADHD together regularly enough (although not always!). His position is that there is high co-morbidity (https://www.imt.ie/clinical/mental-health/common-diagnostic-errors-in-child-adolescent-and-adult-psychiatry-07-07-2008/ ) and while in my experience of working with people, often the dual diagnosis is missed, I think he's a wee bit enthusiastic in this area
Advice appears to be give Strattera a belt for a couple of months, and then if not working, ritalin can be tried. As mentioned, strattera is not stimulant based, and therefore preferred by some people, as they don't get the speedy/jittery effect that some people report with Ritalin, but also many people consider it less effective. Some people e.g. Cannex have given detailed information on their experiences with medications, back towards the start of this thread. suck it and see i suppose!
Ah yeah, I'm going to give it a belt for a while and see how it goes. A bit apprehensive about Strattera since I've been on two SNRIs before and it didn't go well but if there's a chance it can improve my concentration by even 10%, I'll be happy out. I think I was initially a bit disappointed it wasn't Ritalin because you can tell fairly quickly if it works for you. Sure you know yourself, delayed gratification and ADHD don't go hand in hand.0 -
Great news PPN! Apologies should have mentioned (although i think referred to several times on this thread) that Fitzgerald tends to diagnose ASD & ADHD together regularly enough (although not always!). His position is that there is high co-morbidity (https://www.imt.ie/clinical/mental-health/common-diagnostic-errors-in-child-adolescent-and-adult-psychiatry-07-07-2008/ ) and while in my experience of working with people, often the dual diagnosis is missed, I think he's a wee bit enthusiastic in this area
Advice appears to be give Strattera a belt for a couple of months, and then if not working, ritalin can be tried. As mentioned, strattera is not stimulant based, and therefore preferred by some people, as they don't get the speedy/jittery effect that some people report with Ritalin, but also many people consider it less effective. Some people e.g. Cannex have given detailed information on their experiences with medications, back towards the start of this thread. suck it and see i suppose!
i will second what is said about Fitzgerald. I didn't wanna say it yesterday but a family member works in mental health and misdiagnoses of aspergers come in all the time. Trust his diagnosis of ADHD but not the aspergers for now anyway. Research aspergers yourself and make your own mind up about that one. One wonders whether he is on the spectrum himself as his thinking on the co-morbidity of the conditions is a bit concrete.
Regarding the drugs for ADHD- I was put on strattera first as I've a history of drug abuse (social-not serious) so that was first port of call. The last i tried was ritalin but i stopped taking it as it made getting to sleep even worse than it always has been. I take 5000mg of good cod liver oil and vitamin b every day and that helps0 -
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