I recently wrote a KosAbility diary about my experience with ADHD, explaining my background as a woman afflicted with ADHD, and sketching a plan to perhaps try stimulant medication, which basically enhances focus.
I wrote that diary out of exasperation and relief, after 45 years of knowing something was wrong, but not exactly what. When my own son was diagnosed, the penny, as they say, finally dropped. I had it, too. Many terrific commenters chimed in with their own experiences and wisdom.
I've begun taking Concerta, and I want to hear more from you.
This diary is part of the Bright Shiny group, devoted to ADHD
Today was my first day, after having screwed up the courage to approach my regular physician for a prescription of something.
I almost wanted to cry as her face lit up. She's a tough cookie, but her expression brightened as I told her my story and we examined options together. She thought methylphenidate, extended release, would be the way to go, and wants me to produce some sort of objective measure of my reaction to the drug, to be presented to her next month.
A couple of things prompted me to finally make the appointment. One, while my new job is going swimmingly and I've come far with behavioral modifications, I still am dismayed by the careless mistakes I sometimes make. I'm a nurse, and careless mistakes can snowball into huge freaking nightmares, fast. Two, one of the worst aspects of my ADHD is that it makes me very impatient, and I find myself hiding from my boisterous son, or snapping at him when his attention drifts. He needs me, and he needs me to be more organized for his sake.
So, Concerta it was, 27 mgs. Ugh. It's not cheap. Think I'll get her to go to generic next month; I can remember to take pills well.
It's been a day and one thing I've noticed is that I am not in the least coked up or hyper. What people say about speed? It ain't happening. This backs up my memory of experimentation with one pill of speed years ago.
I am less hungry, which is a Good Thing.
Otherwise, I'm not sure I feel different at all. Except that I spent 4 hours in the steady company of my son tonight, reading with him, chatting with him and playing pool. And then patiently sitting while he practiced his shooting technique some more.
"Am I acting like an A-head?" I asked my husband this evening.
"No. Did you take it?"
So far, so good! Tomorrow I'll do a test run at work.
I appreciate your thoughts and experiences as well. I won't be around this evening to respond (it's bedtime) but in DK4, it's okay for a diary to swirl around in a backwater eddy for a while, it seems. I'll be back.