So this day ended up with me realising that I might have ADD-I. I'd like to say thank you to the forum for providing so much helpful information. I am going to investigate this further, but in the mean time, I would appreciate some more help.

Firstly: althought I have found some lists of symptoms (wikipedia), and the forums provide some common symptoms (mostly by the many "do you also..." threads), I would be very happy if someone could provide a complete list, with both "negative" and "positive" symptoms. There are probably a lot of symptoms that hasn't been scientificly established, but I would be really glad if someone who has been here for a longer time could provide with personal traits that persons with ADD-I often have in common.

Secondly: When I read through these forums, I find that I have much in common with everyone. However, many of you (generalisation) seems to have had some problems with school. I didn't have any problems at all making it trough with very good grades (I do recognize the problems with not being able to focus on what the teacher says, and the problems with starting on a project. Mainly, I think I made it through because of my parents, good writing skills and a genuine interest for many of the subjects in school). Are there others here who did make it not just average but good in school? What I'm really am trying to find out is if it's possible to get good grades and have ADD-I. I understand that this kind of question have far to many parameters (for example, support by parents, support by teachers, different schools etc.) to give a clear answer, but still, I think it would help me in my process.

Sorry for a lot of questions, sorry for bad English (not my first language, as you can tell) and thank you beforehand.

Well, if you can remember, try and list anything noteworthy from your school years. It's entirely possible you have ADD. How were the high school years?

hi moldorf

yes you can do well in school and have inattentive add.

me two college degrees and almost a third in just over three years of college!
bored to tears in my classes for the most part during early years
problems with math common dyscalculia amongst us adder's
trouble with hand writing
uncoordinated muscularly
daydreamer
active imagination
sensory overload serious as a child and worse as ive gotten older
muscle aches and pains
sleeping issues
I have been doing real well lately since i started potassium supplements
foggy brain gone
depression done
sleep improved
muscle aches and pains gone to
mood much improved
less anxiety

katts

Are you done with school? I passed highschool and College (magna cum laude) with flying colors. I did not do excellent, but at the time I was happy with what I had done, the effort I put into it equaled the grades and I had little interest on doing better. The grades were good enough for me to do what I wanted to.

My masters was rough but nothing impossible. It was in the PhD program (where I am now) where the ADD is starting to prove to be a wall I need to deal with.

I am not sure if my case I was just smart enough to get by, or a combination up upbringing, genetics, stimuli from friends, etc. that helped me pull through.

Had I stopped with just my B.S. I would have also been of the "no problem at school" variety, and who knows, depening on the job I ended at I never would have known I had ADD.

Good to have you aboard Moldorf. I am certain you will find much to answer your questions here on the forum. You may already have seen these but a few threads may give you some helpful pointers:

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23276

About diagnostic criteria, and

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9767

In case you pursue diagnosis and treatment.

The basic diagnostic criteria for ADHD are codified in the DSM-IV manual. In addition there are also some online tests that could serve as an indication such as http://psychcentral.com/addquiz.htm

And may I also make you aware of the new members introduction forum?

http://www.addforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14

Wow thank you for all the quick and helpful answers, I'll look into all the information provided.
Simulacro: I am 20 so I still got university ahead of me. Maybe it will be more difficult for me than I think...

rossragsdale: They were fine, no problems, the only thing I ever had a problem with was the second language I was learning (spanish and french). They were actually a real pain, I didn't do anything in class, didn't do the homework, but I still got pretty good grades because my mother would force me to study hard as... before every test :P
Maybe why I did so well is because of the school system in my country focuses a lot on seeing the big picture and making the connections instead of learning dates and exact rules... I've always been good at seeing the big picture, but am always forgeting the details.

I have been doing real well lately since i started potassium supplements

What prompted you to start taking potassium supplements?

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=I++believe+I+have+hypokalcemia+partial+paral ysis+should+i+see+a+doctor+right+away+or+wait+for+ my+next+appointment+in+a+month%3F&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fmembers.tripod.com%2F%7Echarles_W%2 Farthritis8.html this was a search on ask that i did

katts

Shroeder read this article too..http://www.ask.com/bar?q=I++believe+I+have+hypokalcemia+partial+paral ysis+should+i+see+a+doctor+right+away+or+wait+for+ my+next+appointment+in+a+month%3F&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fmembers.tripod.com%2F%7Echarles_W%2 Farthritis8.html by reading these research papers i have come to the conclusion that i have one of these hypokalemia partial paralysis syndromes so I experimented with potassium and am almost 100% better.. I emaile dr michael segal and he was kind enough to email me back and suggest that i do sound like one of these patients,,,
and since supplementing with potassium has helped me significantly it would seem to reinforce my suspicion!!

katts

Oops that was a repeat just learning the linking thing here is the first article from adhd article that brought about my suspicions
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47578

one more link and check out other nuerology articles by dr michael segal ph.d. md.
http://jcn.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/22/12/1408
katts

Hmmm I'm new here myself and doubting about whether I might, or might not have ADD. But I have some similar experiences as you Moldorf. High school was rather uneventfull for me as well, good grades etc. But I usually started working on things, because I didn't want parents to look over my shoulder to much, such as happened with my brothers :P, and indeed cause I had a reasonable interest in most of the subject. I myself am from The Netherlands and our school system is also more aimed at "Getting-the-picture", rather than learning dry dates and numbers. But apart from me, I see so many people here who, despite possible learning difficulties, attain good grades. Both in high school and in college. Such as the magna cum laude a few posts above.