Discussion
TameRacingDriver said:
Kermit power said:
MikeGTi said:
In true form I completely forgot about this..
It seems the consensus is to go private, at least for the diagnosis?
If you've got private medical insurance then the diagnosis should be covered. It's after that that they decline to treat you any further as it's a preexisting condition. It seems the consensus is to go private, at least for the diagnosis?
To be fair, that one was pretty clear cut, but just don't bother if you've got T1 Diabetes or a similar condition, as with a chronic condition like that they'll try and hang anything and everything else on it!
shirt said:
lisdexamphetamine is also used to combat binge eating, so there you go.
what was your concerta dose? during the brief time i flirted with meds it had a notable impact, not all good.
other meds are not available at all here [UAE]. that and the desire to not be on pills sees me trying to navigate it all with a mix of therapy and self development. i really think the answer is fitness and doing what i want to do, not what i have to do. career is the tricky one here of course. currently bored witless 9-5 and then i get home to my workshop and <blink> its 3am.
That sounds familiar!what was your concerta dose? during the brief time i flirted with meds it had a notable impact, not all good.
other meds are not available at all here [UAE]. that and the desire to not be on pills sees me trying to navigate it all with a mix of therapy and self development. i really think the answer is fitness and doing what i want to do, not what i have to do. career is the tricky one here of course. currently bored witless 9-5 and then i get home to my workshop and <blink> its 3am.
As far as I can remember I was on 36mg in the morning and an 18mg top up in the afternoon.
Whilst I can look back and see a lot of signs of it right through my life, it only really started to have a major negative impact once I piled on the pounds after giving up smoking. The ADHD/tiredness combo is the real killer.
Hopefully I'll get the weight back down and be able to pull away from the meds.
bristolbaron said:
It’s interesting to read through this (but not too much of it, because you know…)
I’ve never considered myself to have a short attention span, (I genuinely believed everyone thinks five things at once) but one thought will quickly lead to another and I constantly get lost as to what I’m doing and why.
I’ll also be REALLY interested in things and then drop them. We bought and renovated a house 5 years ago and EVERY job is not quite finished. It bothers me massively, but seemingly it enough to tick any of them off.
My current ‘things’ are Podcasts and C25K, but podcasts are very, very hard work. Last month it was golf, the month before gardening. I don’t stick to anything.
The positives are when presented with a task, I’ll get others completed so I don’t have to do it. Everything eventually gets done in time/to the wire. In time? I’ll see you at 8…ish. Have I ever been early? No, but I really really meant to be. I have friends I’d love to see but don’t make time for - but I have plenty of time.
Anyway, I’ve got some work to catch up on, so I’ll go and have a natter with the wife before being kept awake about not getting around to it. Sure it’s not ADHD, that’s for naughty kids.
Gah! In another week of denial I’ve managed a couple of crackers. I had a really really positive couple of weeks focussed on finishing our extension. Fitted the last of the kitchen plinths and skirting, but haven’t quite got around to putting the tools away. I’ve never considered myself to have a short attention span, (I genuinely believed everyone thinks five things at once) but one thought will quickly lead to another and I constantly get lost as to what I’m doing and why.
I’ll also be REALLY interested in things and then drop them. We bought and renovated a house 5 years ago and EVERY job is not quite finished. It bothers me massively, but seemingly it enough to tick any of them off.
My current ‘things’ are Podcasts and C25K, but podcasts are very, very hard work. Last month it was golf, the month before gardening. I don’t stick to anything.
The positives are when presented with a task, I’ll get others completed so I don’t have to do it. Everything eventually gets done in time/to the wire. In time? I’ll see you at 8…ish. Have I ever been early? No, but I really really meant to be. I have friends I’d love to see but don’t make time for - but I have plenty of time.
Anyway, I’ve got some work to catch up on, so I’ll go and have a natter with the wife before being kept awake about not getting around to it. Sure it’s not ADHD, that’s for naughty kids.
I’ve just got painting left to do, so naturally made a start on the garden instead. Bought a new saw, chopped down most of a tree. Probably should’ve sorted the couple of simple garden tasks first, but the tree HAD to be done first.
At least works going well. Despite finding it hard to let things go, I successfully delegated two projects to my team so I could focus on a harder one. Had an early start today, got everything prepared and by lunchtime completed both of the tasks I delegated.
No problem, I’ll do mine this afternoon.. but first I’ll just do a bit more in the garden. Ah well, that’s the afternoon gone. Maybe I’ll do it over the weekend. Garage needs a tidy though. I’m sure it’s not ADHD.
I’m a couple months after a private diagnosis, first I tried methylphenidate (£40 from local chemist) which didn’t really have any effect apart from appetite loss and whenever I drank alcohol I didn’t feel ‘drunk’
I then moved onto lisdexamfetamine (£200 from Asda chemist after lots of shopping around) and bloody hell, what a difference. I can only describe it as the drug from limitless, I can now focus on tasks, I’m much calmer and most importantly a much better dad.
I’m still in the titration stage and getting the right dose, i had to cut out my morning coffee break as that was sending me a bit mad.
There isn’t a one size fits all solution, drugs don’t work for 20% of people, exercise can help (although for me it just made me obsessed with the training aspect and probably encouraged the symptoms!) but the biggest thing is learning about it, understanding what it is, developing some strategies and discovering you’re not some wierdo!
I then moved onto lisdexamfetamine (£200 from Asda chemist after lots of shopping around) and bloody hell, what a difference. I can only describe it as the drug from limitless, I can now focus on tasks, I’m much calmer and most importantly a much better dad.
I’m still in the titration stage and getting the right dose, i had to cut out my morning coffee break as that was sending me a bit mad.
There isn’t a one size fits all solution, drugs don’t work for 20% of people, exercise can help (although for me it just made me obsessed with the training aspect and probably encouraged the symptoms!) but the biggest thing is learning about it, understanding what it is, developing some strategies and discovering you’re not some wierdo!
Heartworm said:
TameRacingDriver said:
Wait. So with PMI they will happily diagnose you, then claim that it's pre-existing because, in their eyes, you've always had it?? What a con.
My PMI (through work) would not offer ADHD diagnosis saying it would have been a pre existing conditionGiantCardboardPlato said:
My understanding of pre-existing condition was pre-existing diagnosis of a condition. How can they refuse to cover you for something nobody knew you had?
Cigna's response when I asked was to differentiate on whether or not it could be proven that you had the condition at the time.ADHD is accepted as being something you're born with, so they can categorically say that you had it even if it hadn't been diagnosed at the time, as opposed to something like a cancer, say, where it might be highly likely it was already growing when your cover started, but nobody can say 100% for definite.
Kermit power said:
GiantCardboardPlato said:
My understanding of pre-existing condition was pre-existing diagnosis of a condition. How can they refuse to cover you for something nobody knew you had?
Cigna's response when I asked was to differentiate on whether or not it could be proven that you had the condition at the time.ADHD is accepted as being something you're born with, so they can categorically say that you had it even if it hadn't been diagnosed at the time, as opposed to something like a cancer, say, where it might be highly likely it was already growing when your cover started, but nobody can say 100% for definite.
I'm also convinced there's environmental triggers for a lot of spectrum disorder conditions, again not unlike the above.
sounds like a rough night for all concerned, hope you managed to sleep ok and your son is being cared for.
i don't think there's any link between ADD and other mental health issues. there is a link between it and self medication, including use of drink and drugs to get your mind to a certain state [on, off, or anything in between]. its not specific to intoxicants, its the same for prescriptions meds and supplements. its not that we think we know better than the doctor, just that once we know what any medication does and how it effects us, we adjust frequency and dosing accordingly. as a tangential anecdote, i get vitamin d booster shots as i do really need them yet if i'm left to take an oral pill it just won't happen.
marijuana works for me as a mood regulator. not weed, just makes me stoned and spacey. hash has a different effect, makes me want to get up and do stuff, i have better focus and i'm more curious, relaxed and humorous.
a big part of my issue is that i live in a part of the world where smoking it would be a very bad idea and also the meds available to me are very limited. however i guess this makes it easier to force myself onto a path where lifestyle/career changes are required in order to 'cope' [bad choice of word, but can't think of a better one right now].
i guess re: your son, you need to get a perspective on what its like to be him, what issues he's struggling with, why he feels the need to address them with substances that he knows has a destructive effect. because he does know that. it might be hard for him to discuss it with you, but he does.
i don't think there's any link between ADD and other mental health issues. there is a link between it and self medication, including use of drink and drugs to get your mind to a certain state [on, off, or anything in between]. its not specific to intoxicants, its the same for prescriptions meds and supplements. its not that we think we know better than the doctor, just that once we know what any medication does and how it effects us, we adjust frequency and dosing accordingly. as a tangential anecdote, i get vitamin d booster shots as i do really need them yet if i'm left to take an oral pill it just won't happen.
marijuana works for me as a mood regulator. not weed, just makes me stoned and spacey. hash has a different effect, makes me want to get up and do stuff, i have better focus and i'm more curious, relaxed and humorous.
a big part of my issue is that i live in a part of the world where smoking it would be a very bad idea and also the meds available to me are very limited. however i guess this makes it easier to force myself onto a path where lifestyle/career changes are required in order to 'cope' [bad choice of word, but can't think of a better one right now].
i guess re: your son, you need to get a perspective on what its like to be him, what issues he's struggling with, why he feels the need to address them with substances that he knows has a destructive effect. because he does know that. it might be hard for him to discuss it with you, but he does.
A surprising number of people seem to think they know better than doctors and the pharma companies and self medicate with unproven, untested, unregulated, inconsistent doseage 'drugs'. I'm not against this per se, just that a drug is a drug irrespective of it being natural/herbal. Plenty of 'natural' substances are lethal or bad for you, or can trigger severe allergic reactions. Many big pharma drugs are derived from natural substances, but in a tested, controlled and dose matched way.
Does anyone have any advice on slowing yourself down in interactions with others?
I tend to speak too much, and often without putting in enough filters. I'm self-aware enough to realise that it can be very annoying, but I just don't seem able to stop myself from doing it. The Lisdexamfetamine has improved it somewhat, but it's very definitely still an area I need to work on to get to less talk and more listen.
Interestingly, this is only an issue in English. I spend much of my job working in other languages that I speak essentially fluently, but I'm assuming that the fact they're not my mother tongue slows me down just enough to have the desired effect. If I could figure out a way to replicate that in English, all would be good!
I tend to speak too much, and often without putting in enough filters. I'm self-aware enough to realise that it can be very annoying, but I just don't seem able to stop myself from doing it. The Lisdexamfetamine has improved it somewhat, but it's very definitely still an area I need to work on to get to less talk and more listen.
Interestingly, this is only an issue in English. I spend much of my job working in other languages that I speak essentially fluently, but I'm assuming that the fact they're not my mother tongue slows me down just enough to have the desired effect. If I could figure out a way to replicate that in English, all would be good!
sparkyhx said:
A surprising number of people seem to think they know better than doctors and the pharma companies and self medicate with unproven, untested, unregulated, inconsistent doseage 'drugs'. I'm not against this per se, just that a drug is a drug irrespective of it being natural/herbal. Plenty of 'natural' substances are lethal or bad for you, or can trigger severe allergic reactions. Many big pharma drugs are derived from natural substances, but in a tested, controlled and dose matched way.
Sounds dull 
GiantCardboardPlato said:
I try to remember or think more about ‘how I want to be’ before I begin talking to someone or going into a meetingC, and less about ‘what I want to say’.
I do try my best, but often feel like a balloon with ever more air being pumped into it, until eventually someone lets go of it and it all spews out!Kermit power said:
I do try my best, but often feel like a balloon with ever more air being pumped into it, until eventually someone lets go of it and it all spews out!
Ah, I know what you mean! I take a notepad for meetings and doodle incessantly, rock/lean back on my chair, and write down the things I want to say if I ought to stay quiet… (mostly). I still ‘contribute’ more than most though. It’s easiest when chairing as all the attention is focused on that and not having responses to what people are saying.Normal conversations though, that’s something else altogether. I’m ok with acquaintances, but the better I know someone the more likely I am just to interrupt :/
sparkyhx said:
A surprising number of people seem to think they know better than doctors and the pharma companies and self medicate with unproven, untested, unregulated, inconsistent doseage 'drugs'.
Two of the "symptoms" of ADHD:
Arrogance
Taking risks often with little or no regard for personal safety
Did anyone else find that after initial excellent results from new meds, they then seemed to have a tail off in effectiveness? (he asks at 11:09 rather than doing the important but uninteresting work task that doesn't have a looming deadline! )
I'm wondering if it's placebo effect, honeymoon period, or just a sign that the dose needs to be adjusted at my next review?
)I'm wondering if it's placebo effect, honeymoon period, or just a sign that the dose needs to be adjusted at my next review?
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff