Nurses with ADD/ADHD?

Nurses Stress 101

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Hey all! I was wondering if there are any nurses with ADD/ADHD out there who want to comiserate and support each other? I know I need the help/advice. It might also be a place for "regular" people (I hate the word normal) to come and read and understand what its like for us. Or ask us ?'s.

I'll start with an intro:p I'm 29, and I've had an official diagnosis for less than 2 years, but have been trying to find the answer (for what's up with me) for MUCH longer than that:uhoh21: :) I currently work night shift at a drug rehab and on call at a nursing home. I have a lot of trouble in staff meetings - sitting through them, being treated like a brat because I actually show some emotion. I had much difficulty in school, (I didn't know back then), not with grades but with social stuff. I almost got kicked out of school because of the problems I was having.

But its not all bad. I'm funny and creative and often am able to connect with my patients in unique ways.

So we'll see how many of us there are out there?:)

Hello, All

TLC,

A professor, instructor, assistant or anyone that is directing a class cannot deny a usage of a tape recorder. It is allow according to the ADA to enhance your learning. I use one in every class and it helps other students to use their tape recorder. I do utilize the ADA office or the Special learning needs department or what ever name they list for the learning and physical disability.

Just go to the department, submit your paperwork and pick up the paperwork and issue to your professors.

Buttons

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I just want to wish everyone on this forum/thread a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year I am proud of everyone. I am very glad to hear they have ADA learning needs department in the schools now. It gives me hope that it has improved since I left. Remember never give up. You will make it. Have fun opening all those presents. :-)))))

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ADD and ADHD are widely abused diagnosis's

now the Have also AAADD...Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder, shuckins I just thought I was getting old.

Your comment shows your ignorance.
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Your comment shows your ignorance.

first i want to say that i have add although i was never tested for it as a child. but i struggled in school, couldn't focus, easily distracted and rambunctious, unable to complete tasks and way too impulsive w/poor judgement and insight. i was tested a few yrs ago so the dx is now official. i just choose not to use ritalin, adderall or any other of the meds.

but tom is right. add/adhd was the diagnosis of the 90's.

and it was teachers who were diagnosing the less than perfect students.

they would send home letters or call the house to share their concerns about the unruly child or the child who wasn't realizing their potential. there were many teachers that would suggest to the parents that their child had add/adhd.....then sadly, there were doctors who would prescribe the meds w/o having the child fully evaluated; they would go on the teacher's assessments. so if the child did not have add/adhd, these meds would only exacerbate the child's behavior(s), never mind the very dangerous se's of using these stimulants.

i speak from experience because my dtr was dx'd when she was 4 yo. we had her on and off meds. when she was off meds, she was problematic and terribly stigmatized by the teachers. and these same teachers would comment on how most of the class had add/adhd. i was highly involved in the school system during my dtr's elementary yrs and met enough teachers to see their prejudices against children that acted anything less than the stepford child. now the millenium's latest dx is bipolar.....anyway, i can see where you would take offense at tom's comment for those who do have add/adhd; but it was an extremely casually, overused dx once upon a time.

leslie

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I take Strattera and it has done wonders for me. Not only do I feel much calmer inside, my sleep is better. My dreams are not incredibly outrageous. It was interesting reading this thread. It's hard to believe that there are still people who believe that if you can't see the illness it must not be real.

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Your comment shows your ignorance.

Hear hear, yeah that! And all that stuff. Some folks just need to catch up on journals.

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but tom is right. add/adhd was the diagnosis of the 90's.

True yet not true.

We are talking adult AD/HD. In kids this is over dx'ed but in adults it is under dx'ed.

My S/O's brother in law is a dog. He's a ... I don't have the words. Supposedly he's a child psychiatrist. He hands out ritalin like candy and why? According to him parents demand it.

What doc gives out what PARENTS demand?? What a piece of scum. He fully admits his patients are NOT AD/HD yet he hands out Rx's like they are candy on Halloween.

But when it comes to adults this just isn't true. We are sersiously under dx'ed. It was my S/O that dxed me and that was only after many many verbal fights and confrontations. I still reject what he said.

He claimed I was ADD. Bah!!!!! I'm ADHD! So there! :smokin:

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i speak from experience because my dtr was dx'd when she was 4 yo. we had her on and off meds. when she was off meds, she was problematic and terribly stigmatized by the teachers. and these same teachers would comment on how most of the class had add/adhd. i was highly involved in the school system during my dtr's elementary yrs and met enough teachers to see their prejudices against children that acted anything less than the stepford child. now the millenium's latest dx is bipolar.....anyway, i can see where you would take offense at tom's comment for those who do have add/adhd; but it was an extremely casually, overused dx once upon a time.

Someone I respect a great deal is an elementary school teacher. Each year they are given some sort of file or document on each child with a history of each child. If the kid is AD/HD, or, they just plain don't want to learn, it's all in their "file". Well, Margaret refused to submit to such tactics. She absolutely refused to read each child's "file" (for lack of a better term) and she decided to make her own determinations.

This taught me a great deal about the power of suggestion.

Margaret was a childhood neighbor of mine. But she had a pool and I got to go swimming whenever I wanted. As a responsible adult she was always there when my friends and I went swimming, but she also gave me a great deal to think about, even if it wasn't until I was an adult.

People that are older than me ALWAYS have something to teach me. People that are younger than me merely ALWAYS have something to teach me. :wink2:

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I take Strattera and it has done wonders for me. Not only do I feel much calmer inside, my sleep is better. My dreams are not incredibly outrageous. It was interesting reading this thread. It's hard to believe that there are still people who believe that if you can't see the illness it must not be real.

Strattera still scares the heck out of me. I'm still afraid that I'll end up doing the Thorazine shuffle. I just don't like HOW that drug works.

I'll stick with my cavity causing, anxiety causing, increased h/r causing Dexetrine. :lol2:

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Hello, All

There are many drugs on the market to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADH. Each individual is different to another and not every medication has the same reactions on others. Each individual must find a medication that will provide them a decrease in the symptoms and each person must be comfortable with their choice and medication. Therefore, it is okay to agree to disagree dur to your findings but not for the whole population.

I take strattera and I have experience of a dry mouth. So, I am increasing cold water and gatorade to resolve. My physician is aware of the symptom. Since I have been taking the medication my attention span is longer, concentration has increase, I am able to read the internet much longer and other materials, and able to understand the materials a lot better. I used to have the short attention span, I was bored very quickly and had to find something to keep my attention span and I did not have any patience at all and very impulsive by getting up to run the halls in schools for ten minutes and then I was calm. I still have a lot of energy to burn up and it is control by planning activities that are physical for the release of energy. Therefore, it has been a great medication for treating my ADD/ADH.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/517583

http://www.ncpamd.com/adultadd.htm

http://www.adult-adhd.com/

Please read the articles provided above and research the journals for more information to increase your knowledge and awareness of adult ADD/ADH.

Thank you

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Specializes in Trauma, Education.

Has anyone who has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD taken wellbutrin and found it to be helpful?? I know it is primarily for depression, but I was told that it would help alleviate sx of ADD also. I have been borderline dx now, but I am also dealing with alot of other things that made a psych dr I've been seeing to think I would benefit more from starting with wellbutrin and seeing if that would help with the ADD then starting in on adderall or other things.

I posted awhile ago about this and have been in to see someone. When they tested me for ADD/ADHD, I actually did pretty well, but the dr said she could tell I needed a very controlled environment to be able to concentrate.

I am graduating in May and have done okay, but definitely am at the point that I need some sort of assistance to keep things straight-in life and in school. I am just wondering if anyone has had success with wellbutrin or if I am wasting my time. Thanks

Ruth

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Has anyone who has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD taken wellbutrin and found it to be helpful?? I know it is primarily for depression, but I was told that it would help alleviate sx of ADD also. I have been borderline dx now, but I am also dealing with alot of other things that made a psych dr I've been seeing to think I would benefit more from starting with wellbutrin and seeing if that would help with the ADD then starting in on adderall or other things.

I posted awhile ago about this and have been in to see someone. When they tested me for ADD/ADHD, I actually did pretty well, but the dr said she could tell I needed a very controlled environment to be able to concentrate.

I am graduating in May and have done okay, but definitely am at the point that I need some sort of assistance to keep things straight-in life and in school. I am just wondering if anyone has had success with wellbutrin or if I am wasting my time. Thanks

Ruth

I know of one person that takes it and she likes it.

I wouldn't take it but the reason is due to the side effect I happen to get from the drug. Wellbutrin is the same as Zyban and a few years ago when I was quitting smoking I was taking Wellbutrin. Sleep was something that came to a quick end. I was lucky if I could fall asleep and get 2 hours. I was miserable. That is one side effect that many people seem to have, but... not all.

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