ADD and MENOPAUSE

[pegasus49663]

:sad: I am going to my doctor tomorrow to find out if i have ADD and if i am starting Menopause. I have not seen any other posting about menopause and having ADD. I guess that i maybe getting ahead of myself but I do have some of the signs. Yesterday was the worse day that i have had in a long time. Nothing seem to make sense to me or even not make sense. :cry: All i did was cry and cry and the funny thing is that i didn't know why i was crying. I called my counselor and she told me to just settle down and don't make any big disision about anything. My husband has had enought of this ( my emotional stuff and all) I am snaping at him alot. Anyway I have made a apointment to see the doctor and find out if I do have ADD and then go from there. I don't even know why i am writing this execpt that i just wanted to tell someone. You see i have about two friends where i live (just moved about 2 years ago) I left my family about 100 miles from me and well i get kind of lonely. So please if this makes no sense for give me thanks

[Tara]

A lot Women in peri-menopause and menopause will have an increase in their AD/HD symptoms. AD/HD is greatly affects by hormonal changes in women.

Patricia Quinn MD has done some great research on AD/HD and hormones. The book gender issues and AD/HD has some great info about it.

[pegasus49663]

Thanks living with add, My doctore has said that he is almost certain that I do have ADD. I am going in to see a gyon for some test. Till then i am just trying to understand why i feel the way i do at times and reading more about ADD. I did talk to my dad and he did conferm that i did have problems in school. He said that i was very opinonated and voiced my thoughts and feels. (gee wonder what happened to that girl) I have always thoght that I was this way because i am an only child now i have to wonder if i didn't have ADD all along. That realy scares me becasue if i have been blameing being an only child for being this way and its not the reason WOW. Things are going pretty good with me and my hubby right now and i hope that it will stay this way. I just hope that what ever happened to me on Monday will never again, the feeling of no control over your emotions and feelings was realy scarey for me. Well thanks for your reply it is welcomed.

[dixiepeep]

I never knew or realized I am ADD till I had to have a hysterectomy. It will make your symptoms worse. I had a total hyst and know the mood swings well. I hope the doctor can help you with hormones. I finally think I have my hormones somewhat balanced *(after three years of trying) I think I had a lot of hormone problems due to adymyosis and endometriosis. My reproductive organs were never good even as a youth. The fogginess from ADD made work almost impossible. Now that I take meds I can cope. If you need some good friends on hormone issues go to www.hystersisters.com. They are simply the Best friends.

Originally Posted by pegasus49663

Thanks living with add, My doctore has said that he is almost certain that I do have ADD. I am going in to see a gyon for some test. Till then i am just trying to understand why i feel the way i do at times and reading more about ADD. I did talk to my dad and he did conferm that i did have problems in school. He said that i was very opinonated and voiced my thoughts and feels. (gee wonder what happened to that girl) I have always thoght that I was this way because i am an only child now i have to wonder if i didn't have ADD all along. That realy scares me becasue if i have been blameing being an only child for being this way and its not the reason WOW. Things are going pretty good with me and my hubby right now and i hope that it will stay this way. I just hope that what ever happened to me on Monday will never again, the feeling of no control over your emotions and feelings was realy scarey for me. Well thanks for your reply it is welcomed.

[glyphon]

I'm in perimenopause and can look forward to YEARS of scatterbrained, "what the heck" ahead of me. My mom didn't stop ovulating until she was 60.

AFTER menopause does it get better? Please, somebody, say yes!

[person]

I was so glad to see this thread. I am going through some really rough times right now between my daughter's hormonal problems and my own. She is about to turn 13 and seems to have many of the problems I did at her age. I am 44 and going through perimenopause and my moods are all over the place. I was trying to start Strattera but the 2 days I was on it were shear torture and even though I've read in here that can go away after a while - with all the hormonal stuff I'm experiencing - I just can't do it right now. I have been having severe depression, anxiety and extreme anger. And they all link together - I'll get insecure which will trigger the anxiety and I'll get paranoid about something and get angry. It's awful. I am trying to find an gyn which might specialize in menopause type problems. I am wondering too if I might be becoming diabetic - my parents both were and my sugar was borderline last I had it checked. Have to go have that checked out. But I was good to read in here that AD/HD will have an effect on perimenopause symtoms. Thank you all for the info - I'm going to check out the website too. Great information! Good luck to you all.

[Kimalimah]

Just wanted to let you guys know you're not alone with this mess. Menopause alone is a nightmare. I have been struggling since my mid 30's with perimenopause and now the real thing. It's so frustrating because my ADHD tends to make me appear "flaky" and the drs. have tended to just brush me off.

I was officially diagnosed this spring and have my first appt. tom. at the ob-gyn since starting Ritalin. I am hoping that now that I am on medication I will be able to better communicate with her.

This too shall pass...but God I hope its over soon!

Kim

[Alexa]

Yep...it's a double whammy!!! I had a total hysterectomy at 38 (it will be 8 yrs next Thurs 9/16) I had been on HRT for about a year and a half previous to the surgery. I also had been smoking since I was 17 except for a 3 yr break from mid '92 to mid '95. Long story short(er) I had unknowingly been 'self medicating' my ADD for MANY years!! I quit smoking again in Sept of '02, and shortly after that EVERYTHING crashed!!! Weight gain, mood swings, you name it. My HRT was no longer working and even after many months of getting that back under control things still weren't right. It wasn't until my 11 yr old daughter was diagnosed AD/HD in May and extensive reasearch on it, I found the missing piece to my puzzle. I was diagnosed in July and now on meds. It's a very 'slippery slope', as I have stated in several posts a 'blurred line'. What is product of the ADD? What is product of homones? and what is a valid issue??? For what it's worth, when you are dealing with female adult ADD in conjunction with menopause or even peri menopause, a good therapist will prove to be INVALUABLE!

[Conlaw]

I have been wondering if it was menopause that triggered the increase in my ADD symptoms. Or is it menopause that interferes with my prior coping mechanisms?

My doctor started me on ritalin a couple weeks ago. This week, I started taking it as prescribed (before I would take one dose, then skip a dose or a day - very sporadic). I feel some changes. I definitely cannot drink caffeinated coffe any more!

I'm not sure if the ritalin is working or not. Does that mean it's not? I seem to be going through a "good" phase, but I have had good phases in the past without meds. I am still, by no means, close to being organized and motivated, but it has helped the impulsivity.

What meds work well with perimenopause? I am still ovulating regularly, but have been experiencing hot flashes for a few years now - coinciding with the increase in my ADD symptoms. Thanks, Susan

[charlie]

Just have to share with you all that out of allllll the different natural herbal remedies I took the only one that made a dent in my mental outlook was Primrose Oil.
I took it by the handfulls on those days when I was fighting crying and it truthfully helped.
The women's health clinic I go to actually recommends taking it now, daily.

[gypsysway]

I recently had a total hysterectomy in June, and went into surgical menopause bad. I also found I'm ADHD, although not been to a doc for this yet. I have been this way all my life, just thought it was me. As a kid , after a brain wave test they said I had a chemical inbalance. I guess that must have been before they put a name to it. Instead, I was basiclly raised with thumbs on my head, being told you can't be that way. I've rebelled all my life, beating my head against the wall. Now with hormonal issues, I can't control anything. I'm going to get some Primrose oil, and I started on bio-identical hormones today. I hope things will change. I can't stant having no control. I have always been a strong person. Does anyone have anymore suggestions, they found to help through this. I appricate the input.

[Scattered]

I'm sorry you all are going through this, but it's kind of nice to know I'm not alone. It's so weird. I was dx by two doctors as hyperactive as a kid but never took meds. I thought I grew out of it. In fact I could focus like anything as I got older and was a great student. Now I'm a total mess. I'm a stay at home mom and that seems to play to all my weaknesses, plus my disorganization, ability to lose everything, and forgetfulness has gotten much worse. I'm also fending off depression and anxiety. I'm also going through perimenopause, so I'm sure it's related. Nobody ever warned me that it would come back! Oh well ... got to try some new things to see if I can get my life back to functional.

Scattered