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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gloria on March 9, 2000, at 9:24:44
Does the Ritalin or whatever stimulant you take really help with the apathy and weight gain? I can't believe you could take something stimulating when having anxiety attacks. I take Celexa and now have my panic attacks under control, but just want to sleep all the time and at work I just sit on this computer. Of course I have a little OCD too. How does it make you feel? I really would like more explaination of how it helps. I see a pdoc for the first time next week and would like some backup on this problem of apathy and weight gain. Does it help control your appetite. I really just need some energy to get back to excersising! Please answer! Desperate! Thanks Gloria
Posted by CarolAnn on March 9, 2000, at 10:52:59
In reply to Ritalin, Stimulant Question? , posted by gloria on March 9, 2000, at 9:24:44
Gloria, I have the fatigue/apathy problem too. When I was put on Wellbutrin(which is supposed to be "activating"), I was still exhausted! Finally, my Pdoc decided to go with a stimulant. I can't take Ritalin(tried with previous Pdoc), because I was abusing it. So, he put me on Adderall, which I find very helpful. I take 10 mgs. three times per day, which is a medium size dose(I think the highest is 60mgs/day). It seems very gentle to me, I almost can't tell a difference *except* I am able to get off my butt and do things. It actually helps my anxiety, because if I'm getting a lot "done", I have less to worry about doing! Anyway, it is definitely worth your while to ask your Pdoc if you can at least have a small amount of a stimulant to "try". good luck!CarolAnn
Posted by Sarah on March 9, 2000, at 13:14:28
In reply to Ritalin, Stimulant Question? , posted by gloria on March 9, 2000, at 9:24:44
Gloria,
I have been on Adderall for a bit now, and it certainly has helped (if not "cured") my anxiey and depression. I have already lost a few pounds and am losing more! My depression, apathy, and anxiety were obviously by products of my ADD and not something askew otherwise. I'm lucky that way, I know. I take one 10mg dose in the morning and feel wonderful all day! I am getting things done around the house and have regained interest in many things I had given up. It has been a godsend to me! As far as the appetite control goes, it is an amphetamine, so it naturally takes away the urge to eat. I still get the hungries, but I have to force myself to eat! That is a big change from hanging in front of the fridge all night! Instead of saying "I won't eat so much starting tomorrow" everynight, I'm doing it now, and it shows!! (getting sexy!!) As far as my previous depression goes, before my ADD was treated directly, the ONLY AD that every really worked for me was Elavil. It was wonderful! I think it's about the oldest one out there, but it was great. (very cheap, too!) Anyway, I can't say enough good things about Adderall, I should be a spokesperson! Hope I have helped!
Sarah
Posted by gloria on March 9, 2000, at 15:30:19
In reply to Re: Ritalin, Stimulant Question? , posted by Sarah on March 9, 2000, at 13:14:28
> Gloria,
> I have been on Adderall for a bit now, and it certainly has helped (if not "cured") my anxiey and depression. I have already lost a few pounds and am losing more! My depression, apathy, and anxiety were obviously by products of my ADD and not something askew otherwise. I'm lucky that way, I know. I take one 10mg dose in the morning and feel wonderful all day! I am getting things done around the house and have regained interest in many things I had given up. It has been a godsend to me! As far as the appetite control goes, it is an amphetamine, so it naturally takes away the urge to eat. I still get the hungries, but I have to force myself to eat! That is a big change from hanging in front of the fridge all night! Instead of saying "I won't eat so much starting tomorrow" everynight, I'm doing it now, and it shows!! (getting sexy!!) As far as my previous depression goes, before my ADD was treated directly, the ONLY AD that every really worked for me was Elavil. It was wonderful! I think it's about the oldest one out there, but it was great. (very cheap, too!) Anyway, I can't say enough good things about Adderall, I should be a spokesperson! Hope I have helped!
> Sarah
>Hi, Sarah
Boy you gave me some hope today. Is it hard to convince the Pdoc to try a stimulant. I will be seeing one for the first time a week from today. What is it like to have ADD? This could be my problem. Although I seem calm to other people, my mind is always thinking two steps ahead. Like when talking to somebody I don't always catch what they say because I always have my mind running way ahead onto the next thing. Is this what it is like? I am always thinking. Can't turn my brain off and I worry excessively! Let me know what it is like to have ADD please. You are the first person who wanted to address the weight problem. I hate it. Having just lost 68lbs thru diet and excersise, then I go and get help for my anxiety and gain 20lbs back from antidepressant! Please write back I want to know everything I can before visit to Pdoc. Thanks Gloria
Posted by Sarah on March 9, 2000, at 17:16:13
In reply to Re: Sarah Re: Ritalin, Stimulant Question? , posted by gloria on March 9, 2000, at 15:30:19
I'm so glad I could help! ADD can be a royal pain in the ass. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 29. I am not ADHD, though the two are similar. Yes, my mind constantly races, though the Adderall has helped with that. It slowed it down, but definitly does not make me "slow". Just lets me think in a more organized way. Some of the hallmarks of ADD/ADHD are impulsiveness, disorganized thought, social problems, (from not being able to control what you say or do,ie. talking before you think!) disorganization problems in general, not being able to sit in one place for too long, short attention span, problems with school, hyper sexuality, I could go on and on. There is a really good support group called CHADD. They have a web site, I believe www.chadd.com or it might be .org. There is a test on the site to check for ADD/ADHD. I wouldn't take that as my offical diagnosis. ADD can mimic other mental disorders like bipolar. (my shrink wasn't too sure if I had it or ADD)(the Adderall worked, so we went with ADD) I would go take the test, and if possible print it out and take it to your shrink. As far as the "seeming calm" and having add, I am about the most laid back person one could know. The Adderall has helped with that, too. I guess alot of my laidbackeness was my apathy. I was a bit of a worrier also, but that seems to have mostly disappered. I still worry, but mostly just about things I should worry about. Congradulations on the weight loss, bummer you have gained some back. I know how that can be, lost a bunch after my last baby and gained back a bunch when the Doc put me on the pill. (I'm off it now, yuck) ADD can have some wonderful aspects to it also. Ppl with it are usually much more aware of the ppl around them and their feelings, more creative, open minded, and usually have a pretty good sense of humor. There are also some draw backs though of not being diagnosed early. One of the big ones is depression. Selfasteme(sp) problems are another. Oh, and anxiety. I have found with mine, though, that those problems have all but disappeared since starting the Adderall. I wasn't getting anything done that I should have been, my impulsiveness was making me spend too much money and eat too much. (spending money on fast food!lol) I'm sure I was comforting myself with food. I still have to fight it somedays, but all in all, I am like a new person! My husband could tell the difference almost immediately. (I could as well) There are also things I hyperfocus on, like reading and gardening. When I am lost in a good book or really into repotting or watering, I shut everything else out. It is also common to have a learning disability with ADD. It took me two school years to learn to read,(even though I have an above average IQ) but once I did, I was a voratious reader. I still have spelling problems, though. (as you can tell! :-)) I was tested in the 6th grade because they thought I was slow, but found out I certainly was not. The statistics show that most ADDers have an above average IQ. (look at Einestien, who I am convinced was) I have found a wonderful book on ADD/ADHD titled "Driven to Distraction". It was funny to find a book on my life history! It got me to go to the doc to finally get it taken care of. That one was a quack and was just treating my anxiety with a downer which made me even more apathetic. (finally found a good one, just love him!) I guess I have gone on long enough, if you have any more questions please feel free to ask!
Posted by Noa on March 9, 2000, at 17:52:29
In reply to Re: Gloria, posted by Sarah on March 9, 2000, at 17:16:13
Sometimes, it can be hard to distinguish anxiety and ADD. If your thoughts are always on the next thing, that sounds more like anxiety to me--always needing to anticipate what is coming next, worrying about it, afraid to be caught unawares, etc.
Posted by Sarah on March 9, 2000, at 18:18:02
In reply to Re: Gloria, posted by Noa on March 9, 2000, at 17:52:29
> Sometimes, it can be hard to distinguish anxiety and ADD. If your thoughts are always on the next thing, that sounds more like anxiety to me--always needing to anticipate what is coming next, worrying about it, afraid to be caught unawares, etc.
The thought process of an ADDer is different than the norm. The mind is always working, always thinking, processing very fast. What Gloria describes is very typical of an Adder. Course, it could just be anxiety! In MY experience, it was my ADD. Hers could be completely different.
Posted by Noa on March 9, 2000, at 18:50:49
In reply to Re: Gloria, posted by Sarah on March 9, 2000, at 18:18:02
Like I said, it is so hard to distinguish sometimes.
BTW, there are people with ADD who aren't fast thinkers, but have more blank daydreamy kinds of minds that just wander away and have a hard time staying focused on what they "should" be focused on.
Posted by Sarah on March 9, 2000, at 19:21:20
In reply to Re: Gloria, posted by Noa on March 9, 2000, at 18:50:49
> Like I said, it is so hard to distinguish sometimes.
>
> BTW, there are people with ADD who aren't fast thinkers, but have more blank daydreamy kinds of minds that just wander away and have a hard time staying focused on what they "should" be focused on.Yes, that is one of many traits of the ADD mind... That was one of my major problems as a child. Back then, ADD was misdiagnosed because of that. It was typically only diagnosed in "hyper" little boys (ADHD). Day dreamy girls were looked over or thought to be just day dreamy underachievers.
Posted by CarolAnn on March 10, 2000, at 8:10:27
In reply to Re: Gloria, posted by Sarah on March 9, 2000, at 19:21:20
Hi Sarah, I have ADD too, just recently been diagnosed. I was the typical, daydreaming, underachieving, child. Could I ask you some questions?
When were you diagnosed? Did you feel relieved that there was an explanation for the way you are? I was *very* relieved to find that my probblem was a "brain glitch" rather then some weird personality defect. I always knew that I was different, and I thought it was my fault. I kept thinking that whatever it was, I *should* be able to fix it, or stop doing it, or something. What a release to find out that none of my odd little "differences" are my fault, that they can be controlled with medication.
I'm on 10mgs Adderall three times per day. Do you mind telling me how much you are on? And, how long your doses last? Also, what kind of effect do you get? Is it a dramatic improvement? Do you slump(or get depressed) in the evening after your last dose wears off? I hope you don't mind all the questions. It's just, your case seems similar to mine and I don't have anyone to talk to about this. Thank you. CarolAnn
Posted by gloria on March 10, 2000, at 9:38:36
In reply to Re: to Sarah, posted by CarolAnn on March 10, 2000, at 8:10:27
> Hi Sarah, I have ADD too, just recently been diagnosed. I was the typical, daydreaming, underachieving, child. Could I ask you some questions?
> When were you diagnosed? Did you feel relieved that there was an explanation for the way you are? I was *very* relieved to find that my probblem was a "brain glitch" rather then some weird personality defect. I always knew that I was different, and I thought it was my fault. I kept thinking that whatever it was, I *should* be able to fix it, or stop doing it, or something. What a release to find out that none of my odd little "differences" are my fault, that they can be controlled with medication.
> I'm on 10mgs Adderall three times per day. Do you mind telling me how much you are on? And, how long your doses last? Also, what kind of effect do you get? Is it a dramatic improvement? Do you slump(or get depressed) in the evening after your last dose wears off? I hope you don't mind all the questions. It's just, your case seems similar to mine and I don't have anyone to talk to about this. Thank you. CarolAnn>That was me and still is me, the daydreamy girl. In school it was like the Charlie Brown cartoon when the teacher talks and all you hear is Blah,Blah,Blah because I would be spaced off somewhere. That is why I wonder if I have ADD with anxiety. Although the anxiety did not start until 2 yrs ago. Guess maybe I will hopefully find out next week at Pdoc. Gloria
Posted by Sarah on March 10, 2000, at 9:50:25
In reply to Re: to Sarah, posted by CarolAnn on March 10, 2000, at 8:10:27
Hi, Carol Ann, Yes, I was very relieved when I could finally put a definite name on my problem. I was diagnosed at 29. I'm now 31. I have been on 10mgs once in the morning for 2 months now. I'm starting to think that maybe I shoud have that dose upped by the doc the next time I see him.(by 5mgs) I couldn't imagine 30mgs a day!! I would be through the roof!! I have always known I was different, but it never really bothered me that much. Most of my friends were always different, so it was no big deal to me... (buncha band nerds! :-)) It was a very dramatic difference when I was put on the Adderall, it has made such a difference in my life. It took away alot of my axiety and depression. No, I don't really "slump" in the evening or get depressed. I am just now getting used to taking it and finally am getting a good amout of sleep again. I have read your past posts and if I remember correctly, you are also on a few other meds. That could be some of the "slump" problem. I noticed when I took the Remeron for sleep, I was pretty tired and a bit depressed the next day. It was waaayy too strong for me. One of the other posts in this thread include a good book on adult ADD, "Driven to Distraction". I highly recomend a good sit down with that book. Very informational, it was my life story... It was written before Adderall, though. Well, I hope I have helped... Oh, a good ADD/ADHD group... CHADD they have a web site... www.chadd.com (or .org?)
Sarah
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