adhd senior adult diagnosis

[ravensoaring]

I am in  the process of being evaluated for ADHD. I am 68. Are there special considerations for senior citizens with this diagnosis. I also take meds for depression. Starting back on effexor xr from welbutrin.
Thank you

[1centwiz]

Kudos to you that you made it till 68 before being diagnosed! You must have put in place some great life skills that have gotten you by. What has changed recently with you that exacerbated our symptoms to the point that you need a diagnosis?

Here's a link that you may find helpful as well: www.addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=97594&postcount=13

The Doctor they are discussing here is Dr. Amen. He's a pioneer in the field of ADHD and you may find some people have mixed feelings about his approach. However, for me it seems to be working.

As far as not as many women having ADHD, I guess that would depend on your personality type as well. I do know that for years, there have been more women, or girls should I say, that have not been diagnosed with ADHD because they did not seem to display the "hyper" activity the same way as the boys do at a young age. For me, I was hyper about things I did, my speech, I got bored very easily and always needed to be entertained. Of course I decided at a young age that no one could entertain me as well I could, so I was I guess, the class clown. And I still have way too many words for most people. I'm also a huge sponge for knowledge and can read books like they are magazines.

I was referred to in the work place as an "A" type personality. Driven and determined. I did well in sales and management, but did not do well with the politics of an office environment. I met deadlines, but usually at the cost of driving my co-workers nuts getting them motivated to meet the deadline. Needless to say, I didn't always have the tact I could have had when telling to get to work... OH well, my boss appreciated my talents and didn't mind over looking my annoying habits of being a Tasmanian devil in the office.

You may find it interesting, like I did, to take the Meyers-Briggs Personality test and see what type of natural personality you have become. ADHD does play a part in all of it, but we are born a certain personality and usually don't change with time. Here's a link:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

I'm an ENFP, one of the 3% of the public that is this particular combo. So I guess my feelings of being "special" have some roots of truth? ha ha...

Let me know if you decide to take the test... It pegged me perfectly!
Cheers, Tamra

[theotterone]

LOL!  Mine did the same, but the eval he used was scored based on my answers.  You have to realize that psychiatrists treat many different mental issues, and rarely specialize in just one.  While they are getting better at spotting it, finding ADD in women is hard especially since we rarely have ADHD (with that hyperactivity part) so it is more subtle.  I guess I am lucky to have a good psyc that I have been working with for about 10 years so we have that level of trust and partnership...  When I told my mom, boss and some close friends, EVERY SINGLE ONE said "and that surprises you how?!?!?!"  I still have mixed feelings, but I'm committed to learning about it and what works and doesn't so that I can help my daughters' too.

[ravensoaring]

Thank you. I was going to get a "thorough" evaluation, but found that the tester was not that qualified. The psychiatrist that I've been seeing for other meds simply opened his DSM manual, listened to my symptoms and asked if I wanted treatment. I didn't like this attitude either. So I'm going to go with my family doctor on this one. I also see a very good therapist who will support me, but has mixed feelings about the ADD diagnosis.

Thanks again.

[Sandman2]

Well," the it works or doesn't" depends on the dose and how much experience your doctor has in prescribing to adults.  I think the really important part is the communication with your doctor.  I normally recommend going with a psychologist due to their experience in dealing with this.  However,  If you have a family doctor that you have been seeing for a while and feel comfortable talking to them (and they do have some experience in the field), Then I think it would work.

[theotterone]

Since I just went through this, I can at least let you know how it was done for me...

Our 9 year old daughter's third grade teacher mentioned to us she thought our daughter was having some attention issues.  We thought "what would it hurt to have her evaluated?" and did so.  She was diagnosed ADD.  In having regular sessions with a family therapist, the therapist looked at me and said "I think you are ADD" (I am 34, was tested at age 10 and told I was not ADD).  So I talked to my psychiatrist when I had a regular appointment a couple of weeks later.  He had my husband and I fill out CAAR evaluations about me.  My husband took them in the next day for scoring.  When we met with the family therapist the next day, my doctor pulled me aside and told me the testing showed I am ADD and gave me a prescription for the medication we had talked about and decided on together.  I am meeting with him in a couple of weeks to adjust the medication dosage...

Hope this helps

[ravensoaring]

Thank you.  You make it sound so easy. How important is a formal evaluation by a psychologist, versus input from family doctor and then trying the drug? It either works or it doesn't???

[Sandman2]

   There have been some wonderful posts from adults who have had great success with ADHD meds.  Frankly, it can't hurt to try.  You start with a small dosage.  They are all out of your system fairly rapidly.  Then you work up to a dose that seems to make a difference and then you decide if its something that you wish to continue.
   The most important part is the communication between you and your doctor.  Do let your doctor know what is going on - and good luck!