Totally Frustrated

[Anonymous]

It seems that if you live in Canada there’s an abundance of knowledge and support for adult ADD. But I live in Georgia, and trying to find help here is like looking for a needle in a haystack…especially if you’re unemployed with no insurance. Both my regular MD and my psychiatrist work for state-run facilities (the only kind I can afford…they have sliding scale fees). The problem is that neither of them can write prescriptions for the meds I need without proper test results. I was diagnosed 12 years ago in Tennessee and have those test results somewhere, but who knows where?? With all the clutter in my life it could take years to find them. I need help NOW, and am having trouble even finding a place to get tested, much less one I can afford. There are lots of places that deal with children’s ADD/ADHD, but no one in this state seems to recognize that adults can have it too!

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[Lindstr7]

I feel your frustration. You’d think your psychiatrist could test you with a standardized test, even if theyre not a specialist in the field. Have you tried to contact the facility or doctor that tested you in Tennessee? They might still have the test results on file.

Here is a webpage that lists local CHADD sattelite chapters in Georgia.

http://www.chadd.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Chapter_Search_Display1&state=ga (scroll down to bottom of page.)

They might be able to direct you to affordable services in your area.

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[Anonymous]

Thanks Lindstr7. I finally found a psychologist to test me. It cost a fortune, but I had to have it done in order to get meds. This time I will keep a copy of the diagnosis FILED so that I can find it if I need it in the future.

I see my doctor in two days. I’m not sure how much he knows about adult ADD. I just hope he will work with me on finding the right med at the right dose, & I hope a generic will work. Otherwise I won’t be able to afford it. I’ve read all the negative stuff about generics, but apparently there’s a generic form of Ritalin that quite a few people here take. I’d love to know what it is!

I’m wondering if any of the companies that make the newer drugs would have any kind of program in place to help with the cost for people who can’t afford their brands. I’ve been spending an awful lot of time on my computer lately trying to get all the info I can before my appointment. Haven’t had time to get to that yet.

Oddly enough, I just started Wellbutrin about a month ago to help me quit smoking. Had no idea it was supposed to help ADD. I think I was started on too high a dose. SR200mg. I had been taking 80mg Strattera for a while, which made me really tense, kept me from sleeping even taking it in the AM, & didn’t seem to be helping the ADD symptoms. (Mine is the inattentive type) I cut back to 40mg of Strattera a couple of months ago, planning to drop it as soon as I could get something else to try. Now I’m not sure what to do. Something made my brain go on vacation this past month for a week or so. Totally spaced out when I needed to remember anything, couldn’t have a conversation, covered up all the progress I’d made with my paper piles, lost everything I had found. Major tension at the same time. Headaches, neck & shoulders tight as a drum. Could that have come from lowering the Strattera & starting the high dose of Wellbutrin? Makes me scared to try anything else!

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