Perhaps this'd be a good poll to take? I'm 63, going on 26-emotionally, and wondering if there are other men posting here who are on, or near, "The Back Nine"?
I'm nowhere near retired--married 30 years, therapist and one kid remaining at home (age 16). This ADD (inattentive) hasn't gotten better. I've tried all meds--even Focus Factor. Always the same result--mental nervousness side effects.
Anyway, I'm new at this forum-so far, I'm impressed with what I'm reading. I look forward to getting and giving help.

Im 50 myself, FramazeledKepi , but Im only 18 emotionally myself

and no the

This ADD (inattentive) hasn't gotten better.won't get any better as this is what we are

this is the model and type of human we are and being that there is nothing wrong with us as this is the way we were born and this is the way we are supposed to be , based on the the blueprints I am looking at anyway.

We ain't broke so we can't be fixed........

Its the rest of the world that thinks were broken, who are really the ones who are broken, because they are the one who can't understand our unique individuality and our even more unique quirks.

Happy to meet you and Welcome to the Forums

________________________________________________
As I am very lazy when it comes to typing so I have created a welcome page and ADDed a link here to get you there
My Welcome Page (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3345)
Garry

P.S. In case your not sure, I take my ADD as a very positive gift in my life, and am very happy to be ADD, but now Im even happier as with the help of the Forums, now Im starting to fully understand our individual Gifts.

I'm 60, and discovered,wiithin the last couple of years, that I have all the symtoms of ADD . When I grew up during the 50s, there was no such thing as ADD, and I suffered some painful experiences through grade and highschool. I heard all the same B.S. from the teachers: he's lazy, can't or won't get his work done, he daydreams a lot, fiddles around too much, doesn't listen or pay attention, he could do better but he won't try, and on and on. Most teachers' method for curing me was to yell at me a lot and insult me in front of the other kids. I grew up thinking I was stupid and hopeless.

Later, I found that I wasn't so stupid . I passed military and civilian trade schools with high grades. Later in life, I obtained a BS in Science with honors. My work life, however, was a different story. I've lost several jobs, have had to quit a few and have had to change "careers" more than once. Even with training and education, I was never able to perform well on a job. I was too slow, couldn't get things done on time. Due to anxiety, I made lots of mistakes and appeared dumb. I couldn't seem to get things right no matter how hard I tried. In fact, the harder I tried the worse things got.

At this time, I intend on retiring within the next few monthes. I've been lucky enough to hang on to my present job long enough to retire with a reasonable income. Worklife's been mean, and I'm tired of taking B.S. from aggressive, uncaring, pushy people.

If the world would have known about ADD when I was young, maybe things would have worked better for me. At least I'm glad to find that there is a probable reason for my difficulties.

Luckily for me, I've gotten out of the employee employer thing. I am a therapist in private practice In the past, I've worked in bureaucratic settings --------- these people are so anal. The biggest disaster of my work life was taking an administrative job in a national employee counseling corporation with varied tasks. Luckily, my out of state supervisor came for a site visit-----------one look at my workspace and the style of record management and she told me her son had ADD and LD She suggested I get tested. Well, I have both conditions. Even today, keeping up with paperwork is quite a challenge
Keep on truckin.....................

I am 53 and a physician. I am in a bind in terms of work. Because of some other health problems, rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension to name a few a took a job working for a huge medical buracracy (sp) and have lived to regret it. With experience in ER and family medicine I have gone from being the director of the ER to now answering to now have split responsibilities basically 1/2 supporting a an administrative nurse practioner as her "medical director" she is administrative director, and the other 1/2 time doing administrative, nit picking, paper working compensation exams. I am miserable both with the frustration with my adhd and the paper work and the lack of autonomy and my physical problems. I take metadate, wellbutrin and an occ anti anxiety agent but I feel like I am going to explode. If I quit this job I lose any chance at a financially stable retirement, kid in college, 13 year old at home, usual debts. When I tell my wife this job is killing me she says don't be melodramatic. The other concern I have if I quit this job I would probably screw of the next one with authority issues. I guess disability in terms of my physical problems is a possibility with work's liberal disability but I just can't seem to even marshall the resources to stand up for myself that much. Other than being in solo practice for 13 years this job at 5 years is the longest I have lasted and I am getting pretty frustrated with it. Any suggestions?

I'm in my 40's and I hate that you made me say that :-)

I'm 50, and while I don't post to this particular forum much, I used to post fairly often on the other fora here. I, too, was diagnosed late in life, and have struggled with school, work, relationships, etc. without knowing why. I only knew that I wasn't like everybody else, and no matter how hard I tried, I was never able to be like them. I am now on wellbutrin for the depression, ambien (once in a while) for the insomnia, and I have tried strattera in the past with no luck. The wellbutrin does nothing for the ADD, but my pshrink doesn't prescribe stimulants for adults, so that's about all I can do.

34 here, and some days I feel sixteen and others FAR OLDER (probably the anxiety and depression on that front). I think you folks have some amazingly good insight to offer. Especially for people like me, who have only been doing one thing and one approach my whole life. I am only in the last few years learning how to work within my wiring, so to speak. Some of the coping strategies you all have developed, whether you realize it or not, would likely be of really good use to the rest of us.

I know you must have some, especially with the breadth of knowledge and different fields of experience you represent. Here's to you from someone who will be playing close attention, and probably asking lots of stupid questions. :-)

I'm also older. I will be seeking a peer coach committed to accomplishing serious goals. Peer coaching or mutual life coaching, co-coaching, etc. means people pairing up using certain guidelines to make regular contacts and support and reinforce mutual achievement.

I have important current goals and know from past experience that I need this kind of support to score. I recently posted question to the moderator about how to start a post in the new peer coaching forum.

If interested let me know. nnamelet

Sleep apnea will ruin your life. Have you gone to a sleep clinic and gotten a Cpap machine? As a physician you ought to know about those things.

Without going the full route you can get an inexpensive machine via E-bay. Life will be immeasurably better!

Nnamelet

It's also worth knowing that because the "executive centers" are the area of dysfunction in ADD that causes the lion's share of the symptomology we're so familiar with, and they regulate sleep patterns as well, that 75% of Adult ADDers experience "pattern sleep disturbance", this may or may not be accompanied by further sleep issues such as apnea. In my case, correcting it was a simple matter of having my proscription changed to allow an additional dose of adderall before bed. Counter intuitive? Heck yeah, but it worked like a charm. No more difficulty getting to sleep, no more waking up fifteen and sixteen times a night, and no more near impossible times waking up in the A.M. Sleep clinics may not be aware of the ADD tie in here, but they can detect theta wave intrusions which is what causes this problem in ADDers and they can also detect any apnea issues. A sleep lab is well worth the inconvenience. Good call nnamelet!

That's amazing. Clinically documented, or did you discover this?


It's also worth knowing that because the "executive centers" are the area of dysfunction in ADD that causes the lion's share of the symptomology we're so familiar with, and they regulate sleep patterns as well, that 75% of Adult ADDers experience "pattern sleep disturbance", this may or may not be accompanied by further sleep issues such as apnea. In my case, correcting it was a simple matter of having my proscription changed to allow an additional dose of adderall before bed. Counter intuitive? Heck yeah, but it worked like a charm. No more difficulty getting to sleep, no more waking up fifteen and sixteen times a night, and no more near impossible times waking up in the A.M. Sleep clinics may not be aware of the ADD tie in here, but they can detect theta wave intrusions which is what causes this problem in ADDers and they can also detect any apnea issues. A sleep lab is well worth the inconvenience. Good call nnamelet!

Clinically documented. Although, my initial exposure to the data was through a taped symposium for the 2003 congress of american mental health care providers that Dr. Bill Dodson conducted on current standard of care for ADHD. My Doc actually attended this and bought the tape to learn more about adult patients like me in the Navy. It's a rare doctor in the military that will go the extra mile for his patients like that. As it was, I still had to approach him about taking the meds at night. He had forgotten about that part of the tape and I actually had to "re-familiarize" him with it. LOL! He suggested I try it on a weekend first, so as not to potentially go sleepness and cause a work loss during a working day. He's still a Navy doctor after all. Hee hee. It worked so well though that now he is working on getting the pediactric psychs on board with the info too. I'm his guinea pig case study for the military. LOL! It's all good though, I couldn't have asked for a better doctor. If it weren't for him Iwould be untreated and would probably have been booted from the Navy.

E-boy, are you hyperactive?

Since Adderall often calms hyperactive ADDers, while kind of "wakes up" we inattentives, I wonder if that would be a factor....

Sax,

Yes I am hyperactive subtype, but the patients Dr. Dodson dealt with in his experience with the sleep issues ran the gamut of subtypes and syptom variation. 97% of them responded to this approach by having their sleep patterns normalize.

To Fram, Were you formally screened for ADD? Normally when they do a formal screening they also check for disorders that mimic ADD or can be co-occuring (or co-morbid), like anxiety, depression, bipolar, and a few others. A common problem with some ADDers taking stimulant meds and suffering undue nervousness or anxiety is undiagnosed and consequently untreated co-morbid conditions, such as an anxiety disorder. It may well be that, if that were the case with you, that adding some effective anti-anxiety medication would deal with that side effect and allow you to enjoy some symptom relief on the stimulants. Of course, everyone is different and some people simply don't tolerate stimulants well. Strattera is a non-stimulant option (but frankly has some of the same pitfuls as it makes your body's natural stimulants last longer in the brain), as is Wellbutrin (in doseage ranges of around 400mg). I believe there are a few other meds used off lable to treat ADHD as well, but they aren't very widespread in use. Your physician can help you find the right med, if you feel you need one. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), and life style management (esp. nutrition, fitness, and generally taking care of yourself, as well as finding a niche that suits you in life which is a quest all on it's own) are every bit as important as medication in treatment, and for some individuals they are all that is necessary.

I like your friendly, modest, yet highly knowledgeable style. Maybe you can help me resolve a puzzler.

I somehow ran aground in Moderator Tara's Peer Coaching forum. I got confused about her "guidelines" when I submitted a post to that interesting thread (I have experience with "mutual life coaching". I got a rather backhanded reproof about following certain procedures she outlined. Now I can't even find my way to her e-mail address to let her know that I remain mystified but wanted to make a final contact before I give up.

I wondered if she was aware that sometimes ADD's don't follow directions precisely not because they are pigheaded, but because they're confused?

I have a D.Sc and skills in some computer areas. But owing to brain wiring that folks in this general web site enjoy, I also frequently experience aggravating technical difficulties negotiating the AddForum. It's funny. I can understand some complex psychological relationships & policy issues but may fail with in areas that more normal folks take as routine.

I'd hoped to contribute usefully to and gain from that Peer coaching forum - but if I can't better figure out how to navigate or what mistake I made I may have to bail out.

If you have access to the Peer Coaching area you can see my posts under namelet there.

Cheers, Nam

Tara, is also known as "LivingwithADD" and you ought to be able to find her under that name in the member listing. From there it's as easy as sending her a private message. The link to the members list is in the top of the main page. Hopefully, this is some help to you. In the event that you still have difficulty I can message Tara for you and supply her your contact info and we can get things resolved that way. I'd hate for you to leave us when you obviously have something to contribute.

Newbie here. I'm 56 and just discovered recently that I have and have had classic ADD symptoms most of my life. I will be seeing a psychiatrist in 3 weeks.

My problem all my life has been not being able to pay attention when others are talking and impulsive behavior with associated job as well as relationship consequences. Just being able to LISTEN and ABSORB for a change would be great.

However, I have a question in regards to the medication that is prescribed for ADD. Other than Strattera, most are stimulants. When I take caffeinated beverages, I get wired, nervous, and jittery. It seems to make me MORE impulsive, disorganized and unfocusable. What does that mean? Will all of the stimulant meds have that affect on me? If there are members here that have the same reaction to caffeine as I do but a particular ADD stimulant medication is working for you without my caffeine-like side effects, please let me know.

of the 300 some known long acting stimulants bee bop, only a couple of them work to treat ADD. It isn't the fact that they are stimulants that does the work, but that one of the isomers of their molecules is a dead ringer for a missing neurotransmitter.

Many of us have paradoxal reactions to drugs (IE the drugs don't have the desired effect. The term implies an opposite effect, but that isn't necessary for them to call it paradoxal, just that it be substantially different than expected.) Stimulants are a class of meds that we commonly have these reactions to, but not everyone does and it is quite possible that short acting stimulants like caffiene could have that effect on you. It is also quite possible that you may have other underlying conditions. This could be in the form of a misdiagnosis of a disorder that mimics ADD, or a co-morbid condition in addition to the ADD. A good DSM-IV screening by a specialist can iron that out. Taking any kind of stimulant with an untreated anxiety disorder can make some of us quite nervous, and even result in severe anxiety attacks.

As a side note, the "Non-stimulant" meds that work for ADD are actually stimulating too. They just don't do it directly. Strattera prevents re-uptake of epinephrine which is a naturally occuring central nervous system stimulant in our bodies, and wellbutrin similarly indirectly stimulates.

The bottom line here is that different meds affect different people in different ways. I know of some folk who simply cannot tolerate adderall, but do quite well on ritalin, and others who only find relief on dexidrine. Your best bet is to seek the above mentioned screening if you haven't had one already, and to be up front and honest with your doctor about any unpleasant effects of medication. With good communication with your health care provider you can iron out a care program that works for you.

Interesting, substance-rich reply to Beebop

Appreciate the compliment Nnamelet, but I really do better as a cheer leader than an "Expert". I've made my share of mistakes and been corrected on several occasions. I do try to stay informed, but there is simply so much information out there that I doubt anyone has it all. That's why I try to make it very clear I am no doctor, and my advice is no substitute for care from a qualified professional. I just try to share my own experiences and reading, and help people feel more confident to advocate on their own behalf. Ideally we are partners with our treatment providers and the treatment works best when we are active and assertive partners. It can be quite difficult to find a specialist that really knows what they are about, and doing your own research and discussing things with your care provider can make all the difference.

Rah rah rah, anyone? ;-)

It looks like I'm the baby.:o


I'm only 28 (almost 29)