Woman has several concerns about possible ADD

[triple*eee]

Hello! I have not been offically diagnosed, but currently starting the process.

My 8 year old daughter was diagnosed this past January and after seeing all the tests, I feel like I finally found the answer to all the strange things.

The reason why I have put off the testing is because I am leary of the medications. I'm afraid they will interact with my thyroid meds and heart arrythmia.

I'm on a high dosage of thyroid meds due to have thyroid cancer as a teenager. I am now 40. Thyroid cancer can come back at any age if your supression levels drop. So they have to keep anyone who has had thyroid cancer on higher dose.

Also , I suffer from Tachardia , and I have been warned to stay away from anything that would stimulate my heart rate.

Sooooooo, does anyone here have these problems and if so, what meds have you found success with for your add/adhd?

HISTORY---

1. Very Very forgetful. (Ex. Last weekend we were going out on the boat and I was putting sunblock on before we left. I was putting it on in the kitchen and walked out of the room for a few minutes. Came back to get the bottle and I could't find it anywhere.

Later the evening my 8 year old daughter found it in the freezer!!! I have no recollection at all of putting it there.

This happens ALL THE TIME!!

2. Someone can be talking to me, I can be looking right at them and I have no idea what they just said. Very embaressing.

3. Did poorly in a classroom enviroment growing up.

4. I get angry over the littlest things.

5. Have to read something several times to retain it.

This is just a few things.

Thanks, Denise

[Booklover]

Denise,
Oh my gosh, you could be me!! Every therapist and doctor I have ever seen, I have mentioned your #2, and they couldn't respond to it! I was tested and diagnosed with ADHD one year ago, after doing research on the internet and reading books to try to figure out what was wrong with me. I kept getting prescriptions for every depression and anxiety pill on the market. I had been in therapy for 15 years on and off. Also, I love to read (thus my User name), and I, too, have to read something several times over to retain it. This is my first reply to a post. I joined today. I found the site by accident, and I so glad I did! Oh, and by the way, forgetfulness, that's just old age Bev

[triple*eee]

Bev, I'm glad you found this place. I know I am.

Yes, I feel like I'm falling apart since I turned 40 !

[Sc@tterBr@in_UK]

Denise, have you been this forgetful ALL your life (honest)?

I'm just asking because there are many things that can bring on such problems, in particular thyroid problems and hormonal changes. Seriously - have a read through some of the menopause and thryroid posts on Healthboards and you'll be surprised to see how common such problems are.

[triple*eee]

Originally Posted by Sc@tterBr@in_UK

Denise, have you been this forgetful ALL your life (honest)?

I'm just asking because there are many things that can bring on such problems, in particular thyroid problems and hormonal changes. Seriously - have a read through some of the menopause and thryroid posts on Healthboards and you'll be surprised to see hwo common such problems are.

I've been forgetful as far back as I can remember. My doctor is running some blood tests for hormone and thyroid. I get my thyroid check every year and it's high, but again it has to be because of the need for supression due to the thyroid cancer.

My doctor doesn't think I'm going thru menopause yet, but is running the hormone checks just in case

I have two brothers who have been diagnosed with ADD , so it's definatly in the family.

I will check out the healthboards, thanks,


denise

[Sc@tterBr@in_UK]

"I've been forgetful as far back as I can remember"

LOL.. sorry it's off topic but I found this comment fantastically controversial

[fasttalkingmom]

Originally Posted by triple*eee

Bev, I'm glad you found this place. I know I am.
Yes, I feel like I'm falling apart since I turned 40 !

You'll be better once you turn 41....I know

When ever I start that "I can't find" it fit, everyone starts looking and I get so angry when they look in the freezer. Come on, why would I put my car keys in the freezer, geez..... If my family really knew me they'd be looking in the dryer !

[triple*eee]

Originally Posted by Sc@tterBr@in_UK

"I've been forgetful as far back as I can remember"

LOL.. sorry it's off topic but I found this comment fantastically controversial

LOL , There are many days I can't remember what I wore the day before, but honestly, I have been forgetful for a very long time, Since my teens.

Weird, though I have the abilty to remember peoples name and numbers , but can't remember simple things.

[Hopeless]

he he. Last week I was planning on going out of town to a family event. Well, I couldn't find my cell phone. So I called myself from my home phone. I heard the ring near my closet, so I started to look for it. Of course my room is a wreck so I started looking under the huge pile of dirty clothes in my closet, on my bed. I heard the ring loud and clear, just couldn't find my cell phone! I threw this huge tantrum and tore the entire room apart screaming, cussing, etc..Hours went by and I couldn't find the dang phone, but I could hear it perfect. I missed the event. Then when I finally calmed down I saw my cell on the top shelf of my closet!

[latesha]

Denise,
There is a new medication that you may not have heard of out on the market now called STRATTERA. It is a NON-Stimulant medication so the medication should not affect your heart or thyroid problems. Talk with your doctor. See what they advise, there is something out there to help us all, and dont worry....things will get better. And just so you know, you can ALWAYS ask me ANYTHING that you want, just dont ask me where my car keys are!!!! (I honestly have NO EARTHLY IDEA) Geesh, wait till morning when I am franticaly searching for them so I can get to work!!!
Good luck, and keep us posted

[latesha]

Ohhhhhh btw, I just found those darn car keys. Not in the freezer, not in the dryer, and not on my closet shelf....they were in my pocket!!!!! Ahhhhh lovely day today lol

[triple*eee]

Originally Posted by latesha_buckley

Denise,
There is a new medication that you may not have heard of out on the market now called STRATTERA. It is a NON-Stimulant medication so the medication should not affect your heart or thyroid problems. Talk with your doctor. See what they advise, there is something out there to help us all, and dont worry....things will get better. And just so you know, you can ALWAYS ask me ANYTHING that you want, just dont ask me where my car keys are!!!! (I honestly have NO EARTHLY IDEA) Geesh, wait till morning when I am franticaly searching for them so I can get to work!!!
Good luck, and keep us posted

My doctor mentioned Strattera, but then he said No because it's in the SSRI family and I have bad reactions to SSRI's. So that was a dead end unfortunatly.

I'll just keep looking for my lost things for now..............LOL

Thanks for the suggestion, Denise

[latesha]

Denise,
Sorry to hear about your troubles with the SSRI's. Here are some helpful hints at organization that I have used to help me. Maybe they will help you as well

1. When someone is speaking to you and you find yourself staring directly through them and not hearing a word they say....Politely excuse yourself for a few minutes. (Thry to listen long enough that your not cutting them off mid scentence!!!) STOP what your doing, walk away from them and the conversation, this will help you to regroup and refocus your own attention on what they were saying. (JUST DONT FORGET, they are waiting on you to come back so they can finnish!!)

2. Reading comprehension difficulties is a problem among may ADD'ers. So if you have to, read it again, and then again. No shame in re-reading material that you need to know. Kepp reading it until it sinks in, it may take more time than usual, but at least you will be up on the information if a question regarding it is ever posed to you!

3. Forgetting where you put things....Now, this one takes discipline, however; it is easily mastered within a few weeks. Trouble with the car keys? Set a dish on a small table near the entry way, just used to throwing the keys in that dish after use. That way, that is where they will be when you need them again. GET ORGANIZED!!!!! That is the biggest key of all. Ever put something somewhere so you will know EXACTLY where it is when you need it, ONLY to find when you need it, you have NO CLUE where you put it?? Yeah well, I do that all of the time!!! Investing in organizations tools (filing cabinets, file folders, sticky notes, labels, label makers, etc.) may seem like a waste, BUT if you discipline yourself to use them they can be the one of the BEST investments that an ADD'er can make. They can become costly, I reccomend the LAYAWAY plan!!!

Now, those are some starter suggestions. More will come to me soon when I remember what they are and where I put my list!!!
Hope some of this has been helpful to you Good luck and kepp us all posted!!!