attention deficit disorder

Thanks Jen,

The "brain zaps" are exactly what I get, even taking the Effexor regularly. My GP didn't believe me, but when I was taking the slow release form once daily, I would get the zaps even if I was a couple of hours late taking the daily med. Sometimes even before the dose was due. I now take the SR form twice daily. It works well. I am only on the lowest dose tablet.

Thanks for the advice re concurrent use of eg prozac if the psych suggests coming off the Effexor. That is very reassuring information.

Di

Moby wrote:If you have read that thread, you will know I think I may have attention deficit disorder, masked in the last few years by the sleepiness of OSA.

Di,

I recommend that you take a listen to the following:

Interview with Jerald H. Simmons, MD. regarding ADHD.

-james

Thanks J S Skinner.

That is an interesting interview.

I'm super-scattered this morning, so can't think of anything very intelligent to say, but thanks. I don't think it actually applies to me, but I am sure all parents need to be aware of this.

As an aside, I think all the US people here would be interested to hear the Dr's assessment of the sleep clinic industry over there (in the last quarter of the interview).

Di

Just wanted to give an update. Helps me arrange my thoughts.

For the last week I've been watching myself with ADD in mind, and what have I learned?...Hmmm. It comes and goes. Yesterday I thought I must be imagining or faking it - till I got to work. I walked in from the car park with one of my colleagues and 1) I then just assumed I would continue the shift working with her although I had been allocated on a different team. It was really hard to get my head round that transition and 2) I then used her name when addressing another colleague. I used to be ashamed of those sorts of silly errors, but now I see them as ADD things and though I am embarrassed and have to apologise if I have offended (fortunately in my workplace they laugh it off but I apologise anyway), I accept that it is my faulty wiring and not "my fault". I felt really calm and on top of things at work. It was quite a straightforward shift, not busy. I made an effort to not rush around trying to take care of everything and everyone, and made sure I got my breaks.

However, this morningG!!!!!! I woke up( AI 0.9 HI 3.2, sleep 7hr 45 min) and straightaway a million thoughts were rushing through my head. It took a lot of concentration just to get out of bed, make the bed and get dressed. I forgot to have breakfast because I got fixated on making a certain phone call, which meant finding the number...etc.

My symptoms seem to be directly related to the amount of control I have had to exert in the previous waking hours. I worked till 10 30 last night.

Because I have really been on top of things this week, using my post-its and getting things done in an order, and concentrating on getting essential things done, then lo and behold! there is no time to do the exciting things which grab my enthusiasm - I think this morning there is a kind of unstoppable rush of brain waves or whatever it is that makes me so distractible.

Anyway, I feel more settled now. Thanks for listening.

Di

I have ADD too.
I really feel like I slipped through the cracks as a child. I got horrible grades for a long time, and nobody wondered why. I have major problems with reading and haven't read one single book for pleasure my entire life. Its just too hard. (although I do have 2 degrees......I must be able to read a little). I think I have a learning disability too. But trying to find help for a child's disorder, while in my 50's is very difficult. I guess they think I'm too old to worry about?
Perimenopause really made it much worse.
I've learned to avoid alot of social gatherings, as its just too much stimulation. Living life with ADD is really like watching 7 movies at once.
With my fibromyalgia, I'm too sensitive to most meds, so I'm struggling through without them. I've tried Adderall, and it just made me nervous.
My short-term memory is horrible. I can't get involved with certain things (like fighting for less development here in my county), because I just can't think straight. I'm sure I would embarrass myself at the meetings.
My mother has it too, and unfortunately, my 18 year old son. But he is incredibly gifted at the same time.
I think I'm really gifted too......but can't find what it is I'm gifted in. hahaha I'm like an artist without a medium.
Maybe using this CPAP machine will help.

Dear Country4ever,

I am sure the cpap will help a lot. Give yourself time to adjust to it. It is a challenge, as there are a few lifestyle changes involved as well as sorting out the therapy itself )equipment, any pressure changes and so on).

I am very interested in reading about your progress, please keep posting.

I am in a hurry (DUH) or would write more. LOL re the seven movies at once. Spot on!

regards

Di

I meant to say, give the cpap time to work before addressing the ADHD. The ADHD will probably improve on the cpap.

regards

Di

Thanks Moby!

Maybe the CPAP will help me discover I'm a genius. hahaha Actually, I'll be content just to be slightly less confused!

[quote="Country4ever"]I have ADD too.
I really feel like I slipped through the cracks as a child. I got horrible grades for a long time, and nobody wondered why. I have major problems with reading and haven't read one single book for pleasure my entire life. Its just too hard. (although I do have 2 degrees......I must be able to read a little). I think I have a learning disability too. But trying to find help for a child's disorder, while in my 50's is very difficult. I guess they think I'm too old to worry about?
Perimenopause really made it much worse.
I've learned to avoid alot of social gatherings, as its just too much stimulation. Living life with ADD is really like watching 7 movies at once.
With my fibromyalgia, I'm too sensitive to most meds, so I'm struggling through without them. I've tried Adderall, and it just made me nervous.
My short-term memory is horrible. I can't get involved with certain things (like fighting for less development here in my county), because I just can't think straight. I'm sure I would embarrass myself at the meetings.
My mother has it too, and unfortunately, my 18 year old son. But he is incredibly gifted at the same time.
I think I'm really gifted too......but can't find what it is I'm gifted in. hahaha I'm like an artist without a medium.
Maybe using this CPAP machine will help.

Hi Rosemary,
Thanks for that link.
Hmmmm.....actually, I had alot of those traits of a very sensitive person.
I am sooooo sensitive with my hearing that I've had alot of trouble tolerating noise throughout my life. (The smallest noises wake me up at night). And I can't stand certain fabrics on my skin. I actually notice too much around me. I have fibromyalgia and many of us have heightened pain awareness. Maybe these conditions are connected?
Very interesting!
I can remember times in my life, when life got overwhelming and I would go into a dark closet and sit and it would feel sooooo good.

Just saw my GP who wrote the referral as requested, though she isn't convinced about the ADD, she thinks I probably am stressed and need more counselling (ties in with the depression). I think I've been counselled out over the last 20 years, if there are any more issues they are unconscious and they can jolly well stay that way

My appt with the psych is on Friday after work. I still think I'm maybe inventing the problem, though today I
1) left my water bottle at the pool after my aquarobics class
2) lost my way on the way to the Dr's ( have been there numerous times before)

3) Went to the doctor's with a shirt button undone
4) fell in love with some "pin up girl" figurines at the chemist and bought 2. Supposedly as Xmas presents for my husband, though one of them is for me
5) went into the shop to buy pork medallions and came out with an expensive but delicious looking whole red emperor fish - a treat for my husband supposedly
6) couldn't find my car in the shopping centre car park on the way out
7) had to be "tooted" when the traffic lights changed because I was watching a helicopter change direction up ahead and I was wondering if it might be driven by a terrorist, and if so, what they could be up to.
Went to write in my "Post it " folder to take the referral to the psych Friday. The receptionist just reminded me on the phone.
9) Instead of doing that I found my dog's license tag which arrived this morning and attached it to his collar and had a game with the dog.
10)Went back to the post-it file to write about the referral letter, and decided instead to get the glue gun to attach the post it pads into the file so they don't keep falling off. Had a happy time doing that.
11) Put the glue gun back in the drawer, then searched for the spare glue cartridges to go in alongside them. Felt very productive for storing them both together.
12) spotted the computer on the way back and decided to update everyone.
13) Still haven't written a note reminding me take the referral letter on Friday.
Will do that now.

And this is a good day.

Sigh.

wrote my note, then realised i was only part way through unpacking the shopping...

Thank you all for not growling at me (yet) for venting all this here, as it's not really on topic i realise that.

It does help bring it home to me that I do struggle with organisation, and it's not all due to the OSA. The culture here helps keep me honest about what I do, how I behave.

Di

Thanks for posting that link, Rose. I had to check nearly every box. It explains so much about me. I'm going to have to research this more.

Jen

Moby,
Are you by chance going through menopause too? I have fibromyalgia and recently went through menopause, and both those conditions made the ADD so much worse.
Another thing maybe you could keep in mind.......this world has gone crazy, as far as activity, busy-ness, information, etc., etc. Not all of us have the type of brain to appreciate this level of activity.
In fact, I'm not sure its good for anybody to be as busy as we are, or to have as much minutia to always remember. Perhaps if you tried to approach life more from that position, you wouldn't always feel that you were somehow failing, or coming up short.??

I used to be a critical care nurse, then quit to raise my children. Now I'm a stay-at-home-mom without children here! I'm fortunate in that I don't have to work outside the home anymore. I'm sort of a loner....a hermit......but I think that has come from not being able to keep up the pace of life that's "out there". Its not how I like to live.

Some things just aren't important to remember. I think so many people are on these fast-paced treadmills and some people are fairly good at it and some of us aren't. But that's not a value judgement. Unfortunately, this society (in the U.S.) seems to be run by people who think fast-paced is good. I don't think it is.
What I'm saying is, perhaps you could try to accept that you are different. That you are having trouble with that treadmill.......and that's okay. Just try not to be on it so much!
Can you simplify your life more so that you feel its at a level that you can be more comfortable with?
I can truly relate to your mind. I spend my days in mazes that I can't find my way out of.
Very seldom can I accomplish much, because I'm too busy going in circles.
Right now, I'm trying to deal with too much "stuff" in our house. I'm drowning, not being able to get out of all this stuff. I'm not able to direct myself to get it out of here, or be better organized. Its a very frustrating feeling.
When my husband helps with a project, I'm amazed at how he can get it done in no time. I can't do that. So I try to approach very small projects at a time.
People who can handle alot of things have no idea the torment we spend our days in........just trying to sort through things.
So.....I guess what I'm suggesting to you is that you try to appreciate that we're all different, and some of us aren't doing so well in the world that's out there. It doesn't mean we're inferior......it means we operate differently. Unfortunately, the world that is out there is so different from the kind of world we would do better in, that we start to fall down and feel like we're failing.
There's a book out there about this called "Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception. " by Thom Hartmann. Its about being a hunter in a farmer's world. If I could read, I'd know more about it! I think I have a learning disability that plays into all this too.
Try to look at it that you are different. That you handle life at a slower pace, and that's okay.
I think I heard awhile back that one reason there are so many kids with ADD/ADHD now is that there is just TOO MUCH stimulation out there. We're supposed to be doing a bunch of things at once all day long. Its too hard.
So try to remove yourself from some of the stimulation, and above all, don't feel inferior for needing to do that.

socknitster wrote:Thanks for posting that link, Rose. I had to check nearly every box. It explains so much about me. I'm going to have to research this more.

Jen

I thought the book, The Highly Sensitive Person was pretty helpful. Most libraries in our area seem to have that. If I had young kids, I might read the one about kids, too. It really is about how to maximize these gifts rather than just seeing them in a negative light. When we have sleep problems with high sensitivity, it is a negative experience, though. It's just overwhelming.