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Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

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Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#321

Post by Ancapistani »

dkdk8283 wrote: post #318
Ancapistani wrote: post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He did. The state discouraged prescribing it. I wasn’t seeking “drug seeking”, I was seeking the only medical intervention that I’ve found that ameliorates a diagnosed condition. You really equate that with someone looking to get high?

I was under the impression that without peer coaching you couldn’t get a prescription. If state guidelines are at fault how did you find a in state doctor sympathetic? I apologize but I can’t get over the notion it’s drug seeking and/or doctor shopping. I must assume that there was a reason for the doctor not wanting to prescribe you that medication. If state guidelines were the true root why was another doctor amena…

> I was under the impression that without peer coaching you couldn’t get a prescription. If state guidelines are at fault how did you find a in state doctor sympathetic?

I think you’re misunderstanding - I had an existing, active prescription for Vyvanse when I moved into the state. It took me months to find a doctor who would refill it for me. I had already been through years of counseling at that point.

> I must assume that there was a reason for the doctor not wanting to prescribe you that medication. If state guidelines were the true root why was another doctor amenable?

The state “looked more closely” at doctors who prescribe stimulants. Basically none of the doctors I spoke to in the beginning was willing to add another prescription to their practice because of this.

> Using performance enhancing drugs is a losing game. It makes it harder for those who wish to use their natural cognitive abilities.

How does this logic not apply to cardiac drugs? It “makes it harder for those who wish to use their natural cardiac abilities”?

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#322

Post by subroutine »

acrobatsunfish wrote: post #256
subroutine wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure which med you are on, but I've been on adderall for about 12 years. Started during 1st year of a phd program. In my experience with adderall... everything initially good about this particular Rx eventually fades away. Amphetamine makes you feel great. At the beginning really, really, great. It certainly helped me focus on whatever was in front of me, whether it was math homework or an iphone game. It bec…

Can you tell me more about your experience with selection, use, and pitfalls of treadmill desks?

Sure I have a few nuggets. I went through a couple cheap treadmills before I finally took the advice of another long-term treadmill desk user and bought a lifespan fitness:

https://www.lifespanfitness.com/workplace/treadmill-desks/tr...

It's an incredible sturdy and reliable treadmill. It has built in shock absorption and can autodetect your steps. Although I wear a clip-on fitbit to sync steps to my phone (wrist fitbit isnt going to work well to count steps since your hands will be typing or whatever).

I transitioned from a standing desk to a treadmill desk and was surprised that walking is actually much easier to sustain for long periods than standing. I started very slow. 1.2 mph. I gradually (and naturally) have made my way up to 2.4 mph.

If you get one, make sure to get good shoes! Something that a marathoner would use (e.g. Brooks, Asic, etc).

Getting a treadmill desk is among the best decisions I've ever made.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#323

Post by digianarchist »

kmarc wrote: post #55

Living in Europe, my perception (AKA: anecdotal / unscientific / non-measured) is that most of the ADHD-diagnosed people I know live in the US, while I only know one European person in my network who received similar diagnosis from a professional psychiatrist. Counterintuitively, I know way more European people than Americans, which makes my perception feel even more skewed. I very well know that my sample(ing method…

Same in Canada. I haven't even bothered pursuing the diagnosis as it's a massive pain to get doctors to take things like this seriously in a socialised system.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#324

Post by Ancapistani »

dkdk8283 wrote: post #317
Spivak wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You clearly have never experienced medical gatekeeping. It can be really frustrating to be forced to change doctors or insurance and have to fight for years to continue the treatment regimen that actually works for you. Your PCP is the tier-1 tech support of the medical world. They have basically zero specialized knowledge to evaluate different medications outside the brochure the sales rep gave them. There's a reaso…

Rather presumptive to think I haven’t been through the medical system or ran into bad doctors. My experiences will be left as an exercise to the reader. You get medical records sent and see multiple doctors until one is aware of your ailment. Strategizing on how to lie is unacceptable to me. Happy to agree to disagree on this one. If one of my reports used work resources to collude for substance abuse I would do ever…

> Strategizing on how to lie is unacceptable to me.

Where are you getting this? Who lied?

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#325

Post by crawdog »

yajjackson wrote: post #146
matlin wrote: post #107

Anyone reading this should be extremely skeptical of internet strangers recommending drugs that gave them "superpowers", changed their life, etc. Taking these drugs will make anyone feel more focused, motivated, etc because these drugs are strong stimulants that cause euphoria, focus, and bursts of energy. Anecdotally, I've seen a huge uptick in posts of the format "how an ADHD diagnosis changed my life" on Reddit, T…

Another anecdote: I was diagnosed in middle school and prescribed Vyvanse, which I took for the duration of my k-12 education. Some side effects I lived with were loss of appetite, social anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and later on a complete suppression of sex-drive. These were brought to my doctor's attention but were more or less considered costs to a greater good. I sought behavioral therapy because the side effec…

I wish you luck in finding a successful treatment plan.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#327

Post by manyxcxi »

I was 30 (8 years ago) when I was diagnosed with it, but my teachers and friends had joked about my “ADD” since I was a kid.

A coworker was talking about their kid’s diagnosis and mentioned a bunch of the things they checked for and a little light bulb went off like “maybe I really do have it?”

I did well in school, tested extremely high in everything, and the few times my IQ was tested it was quite high. I also spent a lot of time in the hallway at school because I was a disruptive pain in the ass. Impulse issues (not violent) like class clown type stuff. I was popular, was good at sports, and got good grades- had any of those things not been in my favor I likely would’ve been sent to an alternative high school due to disciplinary issues.

I managed to accidentally find many of the coping mechanisms they teach about by myself over the years: - EVERYTHING goes in the calendar - Everything has a place and ALWAYS goes there or it will not be found - I cannot over schedule my day, but I must have routines

After my formal diagnosis and months of therapy I reluctantly agreed to give a stimulant a try. I opted for one that is longer acting and takes longer to activate so as to avoid any “sped up” feelings.

It’s been amazing for me. We found the right dose fairly quickly, and I don’t even notice when it kicks in. Usually an hour or so after I take it.

It’s just like if a loud party was going on in your brain and you stepped outside and shut the door. All your competing thoughts quiet. I am so happy to have found it and it has allowed me to be more present and less internally anxious in most of life’s situations.

Could I live without it? Yep. I did for most of my life. Would it be as effect without all the work I did before? Maybe. I wouldn’t bet on it though.

My recommendation for anyone is basically this: the pills can do wonders but some day you won’t have them or can’t take them anymore. Make them the backup to the skills you’ll have for the rest of your life. Do the therapy, read the books, get the help. Then try the pill.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#328

Post by Dma54rhs »

Spivak wrote: post #307
Dma54rhs wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is junk science you're repeating. There's no validity in claim people who have adhd don't experience euphoria. Some people get more euphoric than others, adhd symptoms or not and surprise stimulants make people more productive.

Except, ya know, the lived experiences of ADHD sufferers like myself. I get zero euphoria from my meds. The idea that you think people with ADHD are just normal people who have trouble focusing are missing it by a mile. Caffine makes me sleepy.

Thankfully this living experiences is not how we conduct science. Some people get euphoria and done don't, there is no relationship between someone diagnosed.

Re: Ask HN: How did an adult ADHD diagnosis help you?

#329

Post by beaugunderson »

Spivak wrote: post #307
Dma54rhs wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is junk science you're repeating. There's no validity in claim people who have adhd don't experience euphoria. Some people get more euphoric than others, adhd symptoms or not and surprise stimulants make people more productive.

Except, ya know, the lived experiences of ADHD sufferers like myself. I get zero euphoria from my meds. The idea that you think people with ADHD are just normal people who have trouble focusing are missing it by a mile. Caffine makes me sleepy.

I got the euphoric/ebullient effect for the first 2-3 weeks of 30mg Adderall XR I was on when I was first diagnosed (and not for the remaining 2 years I was on it). That's the only med I've had that effect from (and I've now trialed all the ADHD medications available). Currently on a low dose of Evekeo and it's the best so far.
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