[luv2shopp85]

I was on ritalin and i tried something else but both of them just made me not be able to sleep and reallllyy focused and made my heart beat extra fast. Now I'm on strattera, and I forget the exact mg, but when I first started taking it... it seemed like it worked good and I paid attention during class and all that.... it was really hard to pay attention during the 1hr 45 min lecture. But now that I'm in nursing school and we get 4 hour lectures it drives me nuts! I am always so antsy and I just play with my phone and stuff, I tap my foot constantly like I'm running a marathon. Should I go to my doctor and see if I should get on a new med, or try and get my dosage increased? Or am I just absolutely crazy and I dont need meds at all? I don't know if its all in my head or what. I was formallly diagnosed with ADHD when I was younger and I was really hyper and couldn't pay attention during class and was struggling... I went through all kinds of tests and things to get me diagnosed for it. After I started taking the meds things went back to normal. But then after high school i stopped taking ritalin and once I got back on it ...i t just seemed to make me not able to sleep and gave me an increased heart rate. Did I possibly buildi up a tolerance to the drug or something? I don't know... all this confuses me .... and my doctor is going to think I'm nuts probably if I go back there. I just dont want to be under medicated, or over medicated... I want it to be just right! Any suggestions?

[dadty]

I have been a nurse for nine years. I was a firefighter prior to that and in the military, prior to that. I have ADD. I was diagnosed in nursing school about ten and a half years ago. I also have PTSD, and depression. I work in the SICU, and I love it. I think it is due to its pace being fast and busy. I worked on the surgical floor as charge nurse before going to the ICU. I have worked in the MICU as well but I did not find it as fast paced. I use to take Concerta, and at low doses it worked well, but I was switched to methylphenidate(which Concerta is but in a timed release form). The methylphenidate would wire me out. I was almost zombie like at times. Then when it was time to go to sleep I could not and would end up taking something for sleep. I was not pleased with this. It also makes me irritable, and quick to anger, so I stopped taking the methylphenidate. I took Adderall prior to the Concerta and it worked better then Concerta, in low dosages, but would also make it hard for me to go to sleep. I have asked for Strattera, but the physicians seem to not be willing to give it to me. I take Effexor for the PTSD and depression which works well, but I struggle with the ADD everyday as I can not get the physicians to medicate me right. I am in school to get my BSN and I have hit a wall with it and can not focus on the course work. I have Moved to a new state and now the physicians want proof of the ADD before they will address it.

[mama_llama]

Hi! I have been diagnosed with ADD for ...I forget how many yrs now but like almost 10. I have found that taking any of these meds too late in your day can cause sleep problems. I suggest taking them an hour or two earlier. And I have mainly been on methylphenidate but recently swithed to Methylin E.R.; and noticed that when I was taking too much of the med. when it 'ran out' of my system, I would crash and be really tired. The doc said this was because I was needing a lower dosage. When I was originally on Methylphenidate, I was very irritable but acclimated over time. I know what it's like wanting instant results, but try giving it some time maybe?? And keep talking to the docs, you can always request your paperwork from old doc too.
I hope this info helps. It can be very frustrating trying to get your meds just right. Hang in there!

[JstS0phrs8id]

Hello All,
I just joined tonight as I ran accross the Nurses with ADD topic doing a Google search. I've had this all my life as I look back. No one even knew this was a 'real' thing. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago with
a 'MILD' case????
My life is a nightmare. I take my Adderral and Stratterra. The only way I know they work is because when they wear off I'm really loony toons. I have no concept of time and cannot get things in order. I know that this condition has gotten worse!!
I had attempted to do some staff relief. I was so scattered. I cannot see how others can accomplish their work in a timely manner and I don't have a clue. Self esteem? It's a Kafkesque nightmare. I truly don't know what to do with myself. My life is quickly deteriorating.
I am not stupid. I have the ability to do so many things but I cannot get my world in order long enough to accomplish anything. Just me?

[firstaiddave907]

Originally Posted by Metron

I started this thread because I wanted to talk to nurses with ADD. Please save the "overabused" or "it doesn't exist" argument for another thread. I deal with these myths enough in everyday life.

I agree with you i have had ADD since i was in elemtery school and i know what you mean with the myths it seems like some peopple do not under stand ADD i am going to college to become a medical assistant before i go for my lpn and i explain it to my proffesser and they look at me like what is he talking about. I hate how peopple are like do abuse your disabilty and iam like i am not i am trying to explain it to u so you can beetter understand.

[nurse_clown]

Originally Posted by nursedave907

I agree with you i have had ADD since i was in elemtery school and i know what you mean with the myths it seems like some peopple do not under stand ADD i am going to college to become a medical assistant before i go for my lpn and i explain it to my proffesser and they look at me like what is he talking about. I hate how peopple are like do abuse your disabilty and iam like i am not i am trying to explain it to u so you can beetter understand.

i hurt my back at work about six weeks ago. before that, no one had a problem with my ADD. but now since i'm on "modified" duties the occupational health nurse has told me that i will do my hours on the day shift so, she can monitor me. i said no because I have ADD and the dayshift is too distracting to me. so at the last meeting at the occupational health department she tells me that i need to get a doctors note specifying that i cannot work the day shift because of my ADD. it's not a requirement of my doc. i chose to work nights only because the day shift is too distracting and i've made a couple of med errors and have decided that i don't want to make errors. she also said i was not "forthcoming" about my medical condition.
i'm real irritated with this occupational health nurse. i don't need to disclose my ADD specifically for that reason that i think the hospital will hold that against me. i didn't disclose it because i knew the hospital would be ignorant about it. and i was right. this occupational health nurse is being a real jerk about it.
you know, i wish i cared about what people think of me. but i don't. sorry about the attitude, but i'm sick of stupid people thinking they know about my condition and thinking i'm stupid because of it. i'm not stupid. i'm far from it. they don't realize that i'm always ten steps ahead of them and their "pokey" attitude irritates me.

do people who don't have ADD irritate people with ADD like me?

[Chaya]

Originally Posted by JstS0phrs8id

Hello All,
I just joined tonight as I ran accross the Nurses with ADD topic doing a Google search. I've had this all my life as I look back. No one even knew this was a 'real' thing. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago with
a 'MILD' case????
My life is a nightmare. I take my Adderral and Stratterra. The only way I know they work is because when they wear off I'm really loony toons. I have no concept of time and cannot get things in order. I know that this condition has gotten worse!!
I had attempted to do some staff relief. I was so scattered. I cannot see how others can accomplish their work in a timely manner and I don't have a clue. Self esteem? It's a Kafkesque nightmare. I truly don't know what to do with myself. My life is quickly deteriorating.
I am not stupid. I have the ability to do so many things but I cannot get my world in order long enough to accomplish anything. Just me?

I can relate to so much you are describing. I've never been formally diagnosed but when I was doing my Psych rotation in school I read the description for Adult ADD the Inattentive part fit me on all points (6 out of 6). I almost wish I had the Hyperactive component so I could get something constructive done. I almost cried; all my life in school the teacher's said I didn't apply myself like it was deliberate or a character defect; in nUrsing school I drove my instructors to distraction because I was so scattered-especially under the stress of their scrutiny! I never sought treatment as I have evolved my own compensatory strategies; also I've been reluctant to try to get on medication since I am on meds S/P breast cancer and I don't think much is known about the long-term interactions between my med and those used for ADD. In retrospect I wonder what would have happened if I has gotten formal dx and tx and challenged my nursing school under the Americans with Disability Act. I never did because in the end I felt it might get me "labeled" and in the end they still might say I was not fit for nursing.
In actuality I have been working in a sub-acute facility since I graduated. I have my "system" down and function fairly well, if slowly in this setting. However, I recently took a position on a busy Med-Surg floor just for the challenge and now I am questioning if that was wise. I just haven't managed to get a system down that works for me in this new setting. I'm still on orientation but I can see my preceptors/ mentors beginning to lose patience with me because I just can't seem to get it all together at the same time.
Keeping my fingers crossed...

[JMCM]

O.K. I'm new here so sorry if I post in the wrong place-
I tried to tell the counselor during my divorce I had ADD and he asked me if I GOT GOOD GRADES IN SCHOOL( I did )he told me I could'nt have it-
now he admits I do and I have tried concerta-
seems to work only when I took it every other day-
or maybe I was just noticing the difference when I skipped a day and returned to it?
Then went to ritalin and it worked great for about three weeks and then nothing-
I went to a higher dose but it made me too nervous the next dose down isn't enough-
my old lethargic self and unorganization comes back-
it was a real struggle to get through the last few months of nursing school now I am trying for my RN-
I can't even figure out this study material confusion- which is best- where to get it-etc.
I'm afraid at 55 I won;t make it and this is why I think it took this long to make the decision- any suggestions??
MY i.q TESTS INDICATE 0VER 130 HIGHLY INTELLIGENT TO GIFTED but sometimes I feel so lost and dumb
THANKS
JMCM

[Pearlgirl]

Originally Posted by Metron

I started this thread because I wanted to talk to nurses with ADD. Please save the "overabused" or "it doesn't exist" argument for another thread. I deal with these myths enough in everyday life.

Yes, I understand. A very good friend of mine said, "yeah, everyone has ADD/HD, just to varying degrees...it only amounts to one's learning style."

It wasn't until after I left that my instincts began alarming. Even when I called a social service agency I was told, "Well, ADD isn't a real diagnosis." My own psychiatrist who prescribes ADD medication, doesn't even have my case file documented as ADD, only some conditions that result from it.

[pjanderson]

Hello Fellow ADDers!

I am a nursing student in Wyoming. I have one year left until I graduate! Woo hoo! I was diagnosed with ADD in 2003 after failing pre-req's. I was 35 years old! My chemistry professor asked me one day if I had ever been tested for a learning disability. He recognized how hard I studied, how I never missed class, but still got D's and F's on tests. Thirty five years old!!!! I have no idea how I got through elementary, jr. high and sr. high school. But I can remember all the way back to first grade, struggling. And even at the same time, I always new that I was bright, creative, different. At the time of my testing for ADD, I also found out I have a very high IQ (141). Go figure!

I have an official ADD (inattentive type) diagnosis, which is required in order to get ADA accomodations. I went on Strattera and it changed everything! Immediate straight A's. I also suffer from depression and have been on Prozac for eight years. Interesting and challenging combination......ADD and depression. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? But thank the Lord for medication and good doctors!

I would like to put myself out there to anyone who has questions or needs encouragement. I am PASSIONATE about this subject! ADD/ADHD does NOT have to hold you back! There is help out there. You CAN do it! If I can, anyone can. I was the "least likely to succeed" and am now a 4.0 student and am vice president of my nursing class. Don't let ANYONE make you believe you can't do anything you want to! YOU CAN! I think those of us who have ADD and are being treated successfully are some of the brightest, most creative people in the world! We have so much to offer from a different perspective.

Let me also quickly say that life does hold challenges....everyday....even though I am successfully being treated with medication. There's a whole psychological side to it. I mean, I was the "dumb kid" my whole life, and at 35 everything changed after my diagnosis and treatment. There are still residual feelings of low self-esteem and times of lacking confidence. And there's a whole new feeling.....a tremendous fear of failing. So, I don't want to portray a perfect life just because I was diagnosed and am on meds. It's still a struggle, but in other ways.

I have recently been asked to be a mentor at www.exceptionalnurse.com. Check this site out. It's about nurses with all different kinds of disabilities. Also, check out a book called "Nursing Students with Disabilities", by Donna Carol Maheady. She runs the Web site too. I hope to one day organize a national support group of nurses and nursing students with ADD. Let's do it!!!

I'm currently writing a research paper about nurses with ADD and ADHD. Let me know if anyone has any good resources. Also, I need some actual professional quotes from actual nurses.

Good luck to all and my door is always open!

PJ