What do I do now that it's "gone"?

[lemming85]

I wrote in a previous thread that I started that in the last 1.5 weeks, my lifelong ADD-like (I'm still in the very early stages of testing) symptoms have suddenly very much diminished or disappeared. At first I thought this was an indication that if I can do all these things now, then I surely was able to do them before and just wasn't trying.
Now that I think about it, this period of sudden normalcy just makes me realise how non-functional the previous 24 years were in comparison... and how, if anything, the last 24 years weren't a result of a lack of trying. The fact that things are easy to do now... like, remember to pack something in my bag for the next day, just underscores that it wasn't easy before. Its almost as though a switch has been turned on in my brain and everything is suddenly working.
The thing is, as I've said before, im not sure what to make of it, and i was doing screening tests and stuff when my psych got booted from the clinic. Now I have an appointment with the head soon, and I'm not sure what i should do. if i have been miraculously 'cured' of my lifelong symptoms, should I even bother still going to see a psychologist, even if just to understand what the heck is going on and how to make it last? I don't even know how long this is going to last. I dont know if a 1.5 week (and counting) holiday from ADD symptoms is definitive proof I've never had ADD in the first place. What should I tell the shrink?

[BoringMike]

I wouldn't give up on speaking with a professional. See if they can trace the root of the cause of lack of symptoms. If your add symptoms are gone for good, whatever happened to make them go away should be researched so other people can benefit from this discovery.

Congrats on the new life, take a day at a time and let's hope it lasts forever!

[lemming85]

I know it sounds crazy, and I'm sorry to bug everyone on this board about it, but it's something so new to me i dont know what to make of it. the best and most obvious link i can find is improved sleep. I'm waking up early, and feeling naturally tired (in a good way), that allows me to sleep soundly at night. it's been that way ever since a really long plane ride across the world completely reset my messed up sleeping rhythms in a way i never could have done by myself. then again, there have been other periods in my life where i have slept well, yet the symptoms never went away-- they were always just a part of me.

[Vickie]

I would finish the evaluation.

I have managed my symptoms most of my life (self medication with caffeine, movement and other tactics), but my coping methods fail me at times. I have always been "uneven": do well for a time; then crash for a time; recover; and do well again. I also do better in an emergency or with heavy demanding deadlines. For instance, I do OK when I can mix the paperwork with other tasks such as laboratory bench work (where I am moving around and multitasking many assays at once), and can have a ongoing challenges that I see as interesting problem solving exercises (this problem solving replaces the negative self-talk in a dialog (or music) that runs through my mind all of the time). I currently have a pure desk job with a heavy load of more boring tasks and my coping mechanisms do not work as well in this setting, so I can get to overwhelm (by overtaxing my attention ability) by mid morning. This is where meds have helped me alot. With the med help, I no longer depend on the adrenaline rush or physical movement to keep my mind going, and am much more consistent regardless of the challenge or amount of interest in the particular task (although I have to motivate myself more for the really boring tasks).

[weareacc]

Could this be Sleep Apnea (Apnoea)? Often confused with ADHD as it can cause the same symptoms.

(i'm not trying to lessen your situation- just a thought)

[fridayschild]

I would finish the evaluation. I was dxed last year, and before that I'd managed my symptoms well enough, with caffeine, exercise, meditation, yoga, that I'd gone through long periods of clarity. Right after I started the process of diagnosis, I felt very clear and symptom free--I think it was the placebo effect. If this is something you've had consistently for 24 years, it probably isn't gone. Just a window.
When I started taking meds, I didn't have the "wow, I've never ever felt this before" feeling. More like, wow, I thought I had to be marathon training to have this mental clarity, or I thought I had to be newly on a job and really excited about it still.
My point is that for me, ADHD symptoms have waxed and waned over the years. Doesn't mean I don't have it. And I'm happy to be getting treatment to manage it consistently.

[FrazzleDazzle]

Lemming, definitely complete the evaluation, as well, but I would hold off on any medication at this time...because I would also recommend seeing a medical doctor to rule out other conditions that may cause ADHD symptoms. ADHD doesn't just go away. As Weareacc stated, it could be a serious long-term medical issue, such as sleep apnea. I remember some time ago, someone came on this forum and stated they no longer had ADHD when it was discovered they had had untreated sleep apnea all along.....and another member who had POTS (postural orthopedic tachycardia syndrome) that was a cause for her ADHD symptoms. Mention to your physician that your ADHD symptoms had subsided for the period of time and they should help you uncover any other, possibly very serious conditions that may be contributing to your issues. It gives hope that your issues may be very much treatable and curable.

Here'a a forum sticky you might find helpful on the 50 conditions that mimic ADHD (conditions for which are OFTEN, unfortunately, misdiagnosed and mistreated as ADHD)

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26832