Re: What was the 1st clue?

[billd]

I saw a neuro-psychologist this fall for my “final diagnosis” and more detail about sub-types, co-morbidity, etc.

I was already told I had ADHD, pretty bad, and knew it before I even went to the doctor.

The n-s kept me for 4 and a half hours. I took test after test, interviews, memory puzzles, complete medical and family history and so on.

The reason? To rule out OTHER causes of ADD-like symptoms. One of the causes they wanted to rule out? Brain damage caused by accident, surgery, or birth issues. Because if any of those had been present, they would not call it add – they’d call it brain damage causing ADD-like symptoms! To have ADD, I was told, meant that it had to be caused by other than brain damage, or birth issues (like lack of oxygen at birth, etc. He said if that had been the case, a troubled birth and lack of oxygen, then it would be marked as brain damage causing my symptoms and I would not have gotten the ADD diagnosis.

Every test I’ve ever taken this year for diagnosis, etc. – put me in the top tier, severe. 3 of the doctors said it was “obvious” to them. One said she was a bit dizzy and confused after my first visit, I was all over the place.

Bottom line, in MY opinion, a family doctor can NOT possibly properly diagnose true ADD. They can say “you may have” or “there is a high probability you have it and more testing is indicated” but for them to give you a simple test, chat for 15 minutes and then say “yup, ADD” is malpractice in my view. (yet that is what I see constantly, with kids, and even adults, and even with many folks I see on the web/in forums)

Well, them’s my thoughts on that.

What was the first clue? I have ALWAYS, since about grade 2, known I was “different”. I knew I was smart, could do the work, could excel, etc. – but never paid attention, had troubles concentrating, never did homework, and was very disruptive all through school. So I lived with “being different” or “being weird”. In life, had marriage troubles, job troubles, etc. – and a son diagnosed with ADD, took some meds to get him back on track and acting even 20% of “typical”. Still didn’t make a real connection (I wasn’t paying attention I guess!)

My mother always acted this way.

Then I watched the documentary “ADD and Loving It?!” on public TV last fall. That was it. It was a 2×4 across the head – Bill, you dummy, you’ve missed a life of clues, here’s your list.

WHACK, I woke up, put 2 and 3 together, got 10, and went from there. Remembered about my son, my mother, my school issues, my jobs, and so on, and went frm there to doctors, then to specialists, and finally………. here I am. I NOW know at least in part how to “deal with it” or “live with it” much better.

(I can NEVER repay the folks in this forum – Rick, Patrick, Dr. J, and all those interviewed on that special – it was life changing for me. There would never be anything big enough I could give them in return)

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