ADD

Hi,


I am not sure how to respond to questions in comments on here other than writing a blog.
Kelly asked what I take the concerta for, so I thought a little background was in order...


Last year I was seeing my wonderful GP for some minor reason when I asked her a question: "If the pill was causing my depression, would it be gone 2 weeks after I came off the pill?"


Her answer was yes and my visit with her suddenly extended.


My weight, depression, anxiety and some other symptoms had given her an idea but she would not say what it was.


So she gave me an online questionnaire to complete.  And I completed it wrong.
So she gave me a paper based test.  And half way through I accidentally switched my high and low scores.


When we eventually got the correct answers she told me what she had been looking for - ADD.  She laughed and said she didn't need my answers, messing up two tests was almost proof enough!


So I was referred to a psychiatrist and a psychologist.  The psychiatrist was for an ADD assessment and he agreed that it was what I had.  The psychologist is for ongoing assistance in dealing with the ADD.


I was started on dex for the ADD but after a few days realised it had gluten.  I have coeliac disease!


So after a very brief glimpse of what the meds could do I had to go med free again for quite some time.  You see there are NO PBS ADD meds for adult diagnosed patients that are gluten free!  


Eventually my doctor got approval to prescribe me Concerta - but I have to pay full price for it.


And it helps me enormously!


Not only does it help me with remembering, it also helps with impulse control, stress, anxiety and just a weird feeling of being able to now access all the information in my brain.


I want to clarify that I never thought I was hugely impacted by the ADD.  I am intelligent (Mensa member!), have a well paid job, a great marriage and a clutter free home.  But even so, the improvements the medication makes to how I feel are big.  I feel and behave calmer.  I have much less stress and anxiety.  I have much better impulse control.  I can think much clearer.


So there you go.


At the age of 39 I was diagnosed with ADD.


And that is one of the reasons I think this time I WILL get to goal!