Hi

Basically I'm pretty sure that I have ADD. I went to a therapist, phyciatrist and my doctor and none of them want to help me. They just say that I probably had it as a child, but now as an adult, I couldn't have it because you grow out of it. This really upsets me because it's ruining my life, it seems to be getting worse and I don't know what to do.

missy;

Find another doctor. Adult ADD is a very real thing. The hard part is that adult ADD is only just now being recognized, and in many places it is very hard to find a practitioner who understands adult ADD.

I have found that getting properly diagnosed is difficult, time consuyming, and often expensive. It is compounded by the fact that so few know how to diagnose ADD in adults.

Hang in there, and find a doctor who is up to date, and hopefully specializes in adult ADD.


good luck!

ME :D

Do some research, print out or copy anything you find. In particular, look for research that supports add does NOT go away when a child diagnosed with it grows into adulthood. If your doctors are unwilling to look objectively at this, then by all means, find doctors who will.

It's very real. My concern would be, what else don't they believe is real in regard to your physical and mental health?

They just say that I probably had it as a child, but now as an adult, I couldn't have it because you grow out of it. This is a REALLY BIG CLUE that they know nothing current, say in the last twenty years, about ADHD.

Missy19,

ADHD is a chronic condition that occurs across a person's life span.

As that happens,the symptoms change accordingly.

The old notion that people "outgrow" ADHD is just exactly that; "old".

While some symptoms like hyperactivity may diminsh over time, that doesn't necessarily mean that impulsivity goes along with it.

In addition, the number of symptoms needed to help substantiate the disorder decreases over time as well.

However, that's referring to 30+yrs old.

A thorough adult ADHD assessment requires lots of corroborating information from the person's family and friends, etc.

The things that are needed the most are answer to questions like :

1) Is there a history of ADHD in your family (includes extended family)?

2) Did anyone in the family drop out of HS?

3) Is there a hx of alcoholism/chemical dependency ?

4) Is there a hx of Learning Disabilities?

5) Did you mother drink, do drugs or, most importantly, smoke during her pregnancy?

6) Is there a hx of occupational problems (frequent job changes)?

7) Is there a hx of multiple speeding tickets or traffic violations, or license suspensions/revocation?

8)Other things to look for include: 1)pre-mature birth; 2) low birth weight;3) hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain); and 4) birth complications.

Academically, the following information is important: 1) Past report cards,2)comments form teachers who knew you well, 3)college transcripts.

The clinician needs to go over the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, paying special attention to the onset of the problems, as they must be present from an early age (there is no more cut-off age), occur across multiple settings and ,most importantly, the behaviors in question created problems (impairments) in a person's major life activities.

Barring all of the above, there needs to be questions about the person's medical history, especially with respect to head trauma and traumatic brain injuries.

A thorough medical checkup to rule out things like thyroid problems, as well as a vision and hearing screeing is also called for.

This is a rough outline of the questions that should be asked, although there is no standardized format or one exact way to do this.

Possible tests that might be given would be :Parent checklists, Teacher chekclists, an IQ test or cognitive screening(to rule out low IQ as a factor), academic screening to look for learning disabilities,a self-rating scale or perhaps 2 different types, as well as personality testing to look for depression, anxiety, etc.

Computerized tests don't work for dxing ADHD.

Test scores (from any type of test) also should not be used in determining the dx either.

This is complicated and involves a lot of knowledge and understanding on both the clinician and the clients part.

The more the client knows about ADHD, the better they can advocate for themselves.

Lastly, I've always found it more helpful to try and focus on the solution and not the problem.

The Forum is a great place to get that knowledge,as there are some extremely sophisticated consumers in here with lots of experience to share.

There may also be some members who might be able to point you to an experienced ADHD specialist in your area.

Hang tough. It gets better.

tc
mctavish23(Robert)

thanks for all the opinions and suggestions. I'm just kind of scared because I am having such a hard time and it's affecting my life so much and it seems like noone cares. I can't get anything done. I didn't finish highschool either. I got as far as part of my grade ten and thats it. That really upsets me because I wanted so badly to finish but I couldn't finish anything that I started. All I know is that I don't want to have to feel like this forever. I have so many interests and I can't follow through on them. I just wish that someone would take me seriously.

Information about Risk Factors such as quitting H.S., are exactly the type of data needed to help with the diagnosis of adult ADHD.

Here's a quick and easy reference book that would really help you in figuring all this out:

The ADHD Book of Lists ... by Sandra Rief (2003).

She didn't write a "new" book on ADHD.

What she did was even better.

She took all the important research from the last 15 years or so and categorized into list form;with references.

Virtually everything you've expressed concern about is addressed in plain English.

She really explains ADHD in adults, as well as a section on girls/females with ADHD.

You'd literally have to go to 100's of sources to get this type of information.

If a person takes the time to read up on ADHD and become more acquaintetd with it, then it's much easier to explain things to others.

Lastly, here's the title of a popular book thats been around for awhile.

I'm listing it not so much for you to go and read, but more so for you to check out the title.

"You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid Or Crazy?" by Kate Kelly & Peg Ramundo.


Good Luck

mctavish23
(Robert)

Missy,

Regardless of whether or not you have ADD, if I were your friend I'd advise you to find another doctor.

I agree with Imnapl that having such an antiquated view would not make me very confident in the doc's other abilities. This goes for any doc, but is especially problematic with the therapist and psychiatrist.

It's really disheartening that you'd get these responses from three different docs.

Good luck with it all.

Thank you all for caring so much. It's so nice to know that there are people out there who care and who are like me. I will try all the things that you guys suggested. Thanks and God bless. I'll let you know how it works out.

There is more and more RESEARCH that ADD does not disappear with age.

You will have to educate your doctors. (Sad but true...)

1. (a) Find the books and research journals.
(b) Photocopy them.
(c) Use Hilighter on the important parts -- (or have a friend/family do it, if reading is a problem for you.)
(d) do the tests on www.amenclinic.com (http://www.amenclinic.com) and print them up.

2. Take these papers in to your Doctors.


If s/he does not want to Rx you the stimulant drugs, ask for a trial of "Wellbutrin" or "Effexor". Tell the doctor that these medications are being prescribed "OFF LABEL" by various ADD practitioners. (eg Dr. Hallowell & Dr. Ratey who wrote "driven to Distraction", etc.)

Emma

thanks for the info. Just out of curiosity, do you know how well effexor works for ADD? What does it do?

missy where do live i mean the state. there is a section here in the forums to recieve some help it is under your state at the last page.

Have you tried to see a neurologist or a neuropsychologist who diagnose AdhD? I had a really good and thorugh dr. Check into the major hospitals around your area. I am in Cleveland and went to Metro General it is a huge hosptal and I didnt have to pay the hospital took care of it

I live in Alberta, canada. And no, I have never went to a neurologist or a neuropsychologist. Would that cost me money? I don't have health care. I can't offord it.

Does anyone know how effexor works for ADD?
Also, does it cost to go see a neurologist or a neuropsychologist?

Missy

I think your best think for you to do is call the hospitals. And see if they have aplan. I am not familair with Canada. Are you close to Calgary?

I am actually closer to Edmonton than Calgary. Calgary is about 4 hours away for me.

Missy
I went to the Canada forum, I saw your thread there if you scroll down to the other threads and click on them there is information that can be helpful. hope this helps.

ADD's main culprit is dopamine, but it's also thought that norepinephrine is involved.

Effexor is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) that also blocks the reuptake of some norepinephrine. It doesn't affect dopamine directly.

It's certainly not the first line of defense against ADD, but it's more likely to help than Paxil or Prozac, which only act on serotonin.

Missy, I don't know how long you have to live in Alberta to qualify for the government medical plan, but here is a link. Contact them.
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=147021&postcount=8

I live in Alberta, canada. And no, I have never went to a neurologist or a neuropsychologist. Would that cost me money? I don't have health care. I can't offord it. Premiums are based on income. Low income=premium assistance. Some people pay nothing.

How long have you lived in Alberta?

I've lived in Alberta all my life

Good, then there won't be a waiting period to get on the medical plan. :)

I live in a rural part of B.C. where specialists are few and very busy. I finally got smart and asked my doctor for another referral out of town. I am now waiting for surgery with a really good surgeon in rural Alberta.

Thanks for all your help and good luck to you.

Missy,

I am Canadian also and have included a link to the Alberta provincial health insurance page. This province does indeed have a public health insurance plan to which you are probably (as a bona fide resident) entitled.

In Ontario, what happens is that when you see a physician or hospital, your health number is recorded from your health card and the doctor/hospital submits a bill to the province for services rendered.

http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/ahcip/


If you haven't been registered and dont have a health number, you should

read the following faq in this link:

http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/ahcip/faq/registration.html

and get the required documents together and go and register

you can find out more by calling the numbers listed in this link:

http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/contact/AHCIPcontact.html

good luck on this!

cs

thanks. I do have a health care number, but no insurance. I don't have much money because I am a stay at home mom. My fiancee works but we have so many bills each month that it's impossible to pay for health insurance. I really think that it's important that I get health insurance for my family and I.

Missi I sure understand by what you going threw. Reading your post made me think back about my own sad experience with doctors and psychiatrist. I know how upsetting it feel to deal with Dr and Psy who don't want to prescribed any ADD meds and worst who don't beleived in ADD. It's not us patients who should teach them about ADD but saddly it seem we know more about ADD then them and they are the doctors.

I wait a long time before finding the right psychiatrist who was able to help me in this, hopefully you won't have to wait has long has I did. I also had problem in school, I fortunatly was able to finish high school but it sure was hard. I had bad grades in most of my courses, I remember my teachers telling me I was smart, if I apply myself better I will have better grades. I was thinking, what me smart? I didn't though I was because I was doing so badly at school but now that I think about it my ADD made it difficult for me to concentrate, no wonder I got bad grades. I didn't knew I got ADD back then, I didn't even know what it was, I though it was me and I was lazy and dumb. ADD medications would sure had help me back then and my grades would not had be so bad. School was so hard for me, with the help of medications it would had be so much eassier and with that I would had like school more but who can like school want it so hard! Lots of teenagers drop out of high school because of their ADD but our society don't know much about ADD and worst some don't even believe in it. Some peoples may think we are lazy and we don't try hard enough, I even though that about myself but when I knew about ADD I realise it was not just me who was like that, what I had is a disorder and I can get help.

I recently was put on ADD medications, Adderall. It had help me so much, what a difference. With the help of medication I am interest in things, I pay more attention, I can focus, I got a little more energy. If only I felt that way before. I am angry when I think I had to wait so long before being put on Adderall. I am also angry to think back about all theses doctors and psychiatrists who didn't want to help me, who didn't listen and beleive when I tell them I think I got ADD. But if you think at the positive side, at lest now I got help, now I feel better, I may had wait a long time but at lest now it better and hopefully you will got the help you need soon. Don't give up and Good luck!:)

Thanks for telling me about your problems with getting the help you need. It's sound exactly like my story. No one seems to believe me or they think that it's inpossible for an adult to have ADD. I'm only 22 yrs old. My fiancee doesn't even believe that I have a problem. It makes me so mad. This problem is so stressful and straining on my life. I can't enjoy anything or get anything done. My house is a mess because I don't have the energy to clean. I'll clean a little, but then I'll stop because I'm just too tired. I can barely get up in the morning. I really hate messes, but I just can't help it. The doctors I went to see never even bothered to test me or anything. I just hope I can find a doctor who will take me seriously.

Missy, phone or email the government health plan. If you are unable to pay the premiums, for whatever reason, it happens. Just tell them you've gotten behind and you need coverage. Do you have kids? They need coverage. That's why we pay taxes.

Doesn't Canada have national healthcare?

I'm not totally familiar with how your health system works...you should definitely look into this, bc it seems to me that people I know who live in Canada have mentioned this to me.

Hang in there :)

LOL figures, I never saw there was a page TWO to this thread.

Thanks for the replies.

Knowledge is definitely the best weapon. Learn all you can about ADD. Two good books that I've read are, Scattered and Driven to Distraction. There is also a wealth of information here on the internet. My doctors tried to tell me over and over again that all my symptoms could just be due to depression, because it can mimic ADD. After I read up a little on ADD I learned that depression only mimics it in some ways. I actually have never gotten a definitive diagnosis. The last series of tests that I took only showed that there was a 39% percent chance that I had ADD. I'm not sure how reliable those tests could possibly be since we have that Hyper-focus feature, that can kick in when you're taking tests. But I was able to convince a doctor, finally, to let me try medication for ADD. I just had to keep telling them over and over again "I know I have this" before anybody would listen. I hope this helps.

Depression can certainly be a comorbid feature of ADHD;especially in terms of problems with concentration.

You can also say the same thing about Anxiety as well.

In trying to discern the differences, the main thing to look for is the use of the word "ALWAYS."

ADHD has been found to be 80% genetic /inherited in etiology.

The other approx 20% is "acquired" via head injury or some type of toxicity like lead paint, or even chemotherapy.

Barring those, the symptoms need to be "present from an early age."

Therefore, if ADHD is in the "mix' here, that would show up first in terms of creating "impairments in a person's daily life activities."

It is complicated, especially with respect to children.

For example, with young children depression can often present as "reckless play."

However, so can ADHD ( in terms of ome of the symptoms of Hyperactivity-Impulsivity).

The most important thing for me as a clinician is to keep an open mind and ,if anything, ask too many questions.

good luck:)

mctavish23 (Robert)

re: Canadian Healthcare

Hi there, I am in Ontario. I don't know how good my advice about Canadian health care can be for you out in Alberta.

[NB for other Readers: Alberta's right-wing Premier Ralph Klein pretty much gutted the province of Alberta's health care system about 15 years ago. What exists here in 'Ottawa or Toronto, Ontario' might not still not exist in 'Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta'.]

IDEA #1:
If you go to a hospital-based Psychologist, Canada's medicare will cover their services. If you cannot get into a hospital-based Psychologist.

Plan B: (if IDEA #1 does not work):

Go to the hospital Emergency Room. Tell them you are "in crisis" and ask to speak to a Social Worker. The hospital Social Workers can often -=FACILITATE access to get into see the Psychologist=- at a local hospital. Tell them how desperate you are for diagnosis, and how ADD symptoms are ruining your life, etc. (eg underacheivement in school/career, depression, whatever your particular problems are created/magnified by the ADD, etc etc.)

Neither Edmonton, nor Calgary is certainly no slouch of a city. There is at least one Medical School, and at least one university with a graduate level Psychology department.

I have heard that 'Calgary Foothills Hospital' does some addiction work and training of nurses and doctors. Since ADD and Addictions are often inter-related (although not always so), you are MORE likely to find *ADD-aware* Doctors (and other healthcare staff) at such a facility. (A friend trained there, actually.)

I cannot give advice for what is in Edmonton.

IDEA #2: (This got me my $1200 Assessment for free...via a provincial gov't bursary)

Your best bet to get a free assessment is to go to a College or University. Tell them that you want to be a student, but that you "think you have an LD or ADHD", and really need to be assessed.

Assessments (8 hrs) by a Psychologist are generally funded for "students with disabilities", by the provincial Ministry of Education.

I have found that it is harder for FEMALES to get Assessments. (Women/Girls are not so obviously hyperactive.)

IDEA #3:
If you cannot get anywhere, call the "ASD" (Access for Student with Disabilities) at "Athabasca University". Tell them that you suspect you have a serious LD or ADHD (or both) and that you are desperate to get a "psychoeducational assessment" because your learning problems are wrecking your life, etc.

If all this fails, send me an e-mail.

-Emma
:)

Hey Missy19,

I hope you check this again because you are not alone or hopeless. I was diagnosed 10 years ago by a phsychiatrist(did I spell that right?)
anyway now no one believes me and I cant afford to go back to him.

Many doctors think people just want the meds. I went to a nuerologist who told me I didn't have it because I did not get fired from every job.

The longest job I was ever able to keep was 2 1/2 years wow right?

I also quit school in the tenth grade now 20 years later I am attending college and on the deans list and in the honors society. If I can do it anyone can!

I haved moved more times than I can count and have had more jobs than I can count, but little by litle I am making progress.

It doesn't have to take as long for you, I found out I was ADD really late, before that I just thought I was the biggest screw up in the world.

You are not alone,and you sure have a good head start on me.

I really wish there was something I could do to help you.
You will be ok, us Adders are pretty good at getting into messes. but even better at getting out! :)

I feel totally let down but hey i just keep on going, i must run off duracell or something. This is my e mail i recieved the on the 12.5.06:

Thank you for your email regarding our letter of 5 May 2006 addressed to Dr
S Salujha, Consultant Psychiatrist, copy of which we sent to you. I
apologise for the delay in responding.

Please note that such letters are sent in cases where authorisation is
required from the local Primary Care Trust before the Maudsley Hospital is
in a position of offer an assessment for ADHD.

You will by now have received copy of our later letter dated 14 March 2006
to Dr S Salujha as authorisation has not been forthcoming.

You will see from our letter of 5 May that we would be happy for you to be
re-referred to the Adult ADHD Service if required.

With best wishes.

Pauline Ramsey
Unit Administrator

Just what do you have to do, iv'e been battling for 32 yrs now, how much longer do they think you can hold on, it's just so frustrating!! like someone else said they can find the money to hand out anti-depressants, so why not fund something that might just actually help me. I don't understand this world sometimes :confused: :confused: :confused:

i'm in the same boat. i have no money to go to doctors. i really want to get tested for add, b/c i'm having really hard time. i've read about it and read how other people describe having it and i can totally relate. i'm so desperate but i can't do anything that requiers spending money on doctors visits.. it's so not fair.

There are some natural things that are supposed to help like exercise -yuck I know. Check out brainplace.com

I think the scariest part of it all is realizing how ignorant the health care people are that you have been depending on. If they are this stupid in an area that there is so much information, you have to wonder what else they are ignorant in that you haven't had the opportunity to research yourself.
That alone makes me not want to "educate" them but to move on to someone that is competent enough to keep themselves educated.

Link to the Q's and A's.

Albertans pay a premium for health care per month. However in some cases, people may be exempted for economic reasons. It's possible you may qualify for this and therefore would get all covered services free.

http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/ahcip/ahcip_premiums.html