Talking to a Doctor about ADD

[thurmanxt]

For the past several years I have been bounced around by doctors concerning my mental health. Some have labeled me bipolar (at first I thought he might have been correct but after sifting through everything I could find and talking to family/friends I do not believe I have ever had an actual Manic episode. My temper and quick comments are there pretty much 100% of the time regardless of mood. Other than that I have never had a period of even hours that would be considered manic).  Another doctor suggested ADD/ADHD but I don't really think I wanted to hear that then.

Which brings me to today. In the next few days I will be going to the VA for a complete physical, workup, etc to start my VA Healthcare. I'm not very good with doctors when it comes to explaining things (I have a list of top concerns I would like to bring up). My other conditions are fairly straight forward but the ADD thing is racking my brain. I don't want to end up with another **** diagnosis that just gets lifted 3 months later after I take medication I never needed in the first place.

So any suggestions on how to bring this up? I've done a lot of research since I've left the military in 2004 (I saw more than 30 specialist for varying conditions and most just scratched there head and sent me to the next guy. I basically ended up getting discharged for symptoms and not an actual diagnosis, so I pretty much gave up on Dr's for a while)and I don't want to act like I'm "Schooling" the Dr.

A little explanation of my symptoms:
If I have to deal with multiple things at a time I cannot even figure out where I'm at, end up so frustrated I don't even start. People talk to me and I know I'm looking at them and acknowledging them but I can't recall a single word they say half the time (Girlfriend gets me on this one daily). I forget why or what I'm doing sometimes. I bounce from one thing to another and usually don't finish any of it. I'm easily offended even when the person didn't mean anything by it. I speak before I think (when I do speak at all) - usually I come off as the abrasive mean guy. I have trouble going to sleep (I'm usually tired when I get home every night but if I try to sleep my mind starts racing about everything I need to do, want to do, forgot to do, etc, etc.). I have trouble waking up even after 8 to 9 and sometimes 10 hours of sleep. I have a limited range of emotions. Procrastination, concentration etc.

Thats all I can recall at the moment.
Thank you for any help you can recommend.

[dollyn]

some of what you are saying sounds like my son,he was on addreall and concerta for add and adhd.

till we found out he was having seizures.witch both add and adhd medicines  can cause as a side effect.

I would have an EEG done if you have not already.Because the looking at people and not hearing what they are saying could be a seizure.and also not sleeping well.my son does both.and they ended up getting worse.

best of luck to you.and thank you for your time in the service.

[grncandy]

Sounds like me but I loose things too. Its quite embarresing. Meds for night time help me fall asleep. But sometimes I do not want to sleep. I am ready for the next day. Docters have prescriped things but they are literally controlled nacotics. The next thing I heard was make lists. I would need 20. Bi-polor u I do not believe so