ADD & complete heart block

I was diagnosed at 13 w/ (mild) ADD. I took 10 mg of ritalin & that did the trick. In '05, I was diagnosed w/ complete heart block & had a pacemaker inserted in June 2005. I still feel that I have "adult" ADD & over the past year & a half feel it has been getting worse. I didn't notice it at my last job b/c I had been there so long I could do the work in my sleep. I have been taking quite a few medical classes b/c I am study to be an Occupational Therapy Asst. I also have a friend, who I met recently, that is a first yr psychiarty resident. I was telling him about how the ADD annoys me & that I'd like to be put on meds again if that would work (through my PCP)...he said that if I was his patient & presented to him w/ complaints that the ADD seems to be more noticable lately & knowing that I have CHB he would send me back to my cardiologist. My CHB occurs 30%-40% of the time & my pacemaker is set to stand by mode, so it fires when need be but not automatically.

Could there be any correlation to the CHB & ADD? Maybe from an ever so brief lack of oxygen to the brain? When I say my ADD is worse, I mean that I get distracted easily & forget things BUT I usually always remember what I forgot a few min. later. It is just very irritating, esp at work or when I am trying to get a lot done.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[Sandman2]

  I think you hit the nail on the head when you said,"I didn't notice it at my last job b/c I had been there so long I could do the work in my sleep. I have been taking quite a few medical classes b/c I am study to be an Occupational Therapy Asst."  You were able to effectively cope with it in your last job, but now its a different situation.  I have no clue as to any correlation to ADD and CHB, but I believe that a lack of oxygen to the brain would not cause distraction and forgetfullness - it tends to cause unconsciousness.
  Anyway, its pretty normal for adults on this forum (grad students usually) to say that they take  meds as needed.
  You might find this site helpful -
        http://helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_adult_symptoms.htm

[Kelly470]

thanks

[benjimom]

I don't think there is any correlation between the CHB and the ADD.  I would aks your cardiologist about it though and do some research. You are young to have CHB.