living w/ ADHD

Grandma Lise and Eileen,

Hope it's okay to respond to both of you in one posted comment!!

  Well, it's actually a long story but I'll try to give you the readers digest version.  I have alway struggled in school and I can remember as far back as my early child hood my parents telling me to sit still or be still or quit fidgeting.  Well, I got angry when I was about 3 or 4 and thought to myself "okay!  I WILL sit still" and from them on really worked hard to not be so fidgety and I actually remember my parents not saying anything after that!  But school was alway a HUGE struggle from 7th grade on. I barely passed highschool.  I decided that I wanted a family and raise a bunch of kids cause I thought I would do well at that.  I was successful at raising my family (according to my friends and family) but when my twin girls were the only two left at home, I began to get bored and toyed with the idea of returning to school to achieve a nursing degree.  I knew it would be a challenge because school always was for me but I the "maturity" would change things.  It did a little bit but not math.  My instructor told me he thought I had a math "phobia" so I went in to see a psychiatrist about that and found I had bipolar mood disorder (manic, depression) and ADHD on top of that!  Well, I decided to try the meds and I am doing great!  I do worry about long term affects of medication but I feel so good right now that there's no other alternative!  

My goal now is to get accepted into the Radiologic Technology dept (changed from nursing) and get licensed.  My application deadline is May 1st.  I will turn in all my paperwork on Monday.  I need to finish up one math class (of course) and it will be over by May 10th.  I have a B in there right now and hope to get an A.  I can't believe this is ME doing so well!  I got an A in all my sciences!  I am loving learning and discovering that I CAN do this.  My sister mentioned to me a couple years ago that I might want to consider being evaluated for ADHD.  She saw some traits in me but I sort of thought "oh no way".  But sure enough, "yes way"!!!!!  

Anyway, getting accepted into the Rad Tech program will mean 2 and a half years of intense training and I actually believe I am ready and able now!!  But I know it will be hard at times and am so glad to have found this site!!  Thank you both so much for responding to may email!  I will keep you posted on my acceptance and if I get that far, my study habits.

I would love to hear more about how you two are handling things.  Are either one of you medicated for this?  My counselor thinks after school is over, I may be able to discontinue the use of Straterra once I get going in a job that is somewhat routine.  They say routine helps.  

Sorry so long!!  Thanks again for taking an interest in my situation!

pdk  

Hey pdk,

Congrats on that B in math. What types of jobs are available to Radiology Technologists? Do you have a preference as to what you want to do?

I'm hoping to go back to school in January to study psychology. On Monday I will meet with a DVR counselor to see if they will support me in my goal. Fingers and toes crossed.

Grandma Lise

Hi G. Lise! 

Good for you!!  Psychology fascinates me but I live in a very small community and the only medical programs at the college here are nursing and Rad Tech.  The jobs are numerous in both fields.  I probably won't have trouble finding one around here.  The population here is only about 35 to 40,000.  But more doctors are beginning to use xray machines in their offices plus we have one hospital here.  I would really love to explore nuclear medicine technology.  I had to write a paper on it in my intro to rad class.  Love it!  Fascinating.  We'll see.  MRI's are also very interesting.  

How many grand kids do you have?  I have one right now that is 3.5.  He's a sweetie.  Our daughter is in Texas right now but really wants to move back to her home town.  She'll have to wait till her lease is up in Oct. and then we will be near our grandson.  

Anyway, keep up the education search!  What a new world.  Love it!

Paula

Hey Paula,

Our fourth grandchild was born on Thursday. Our grandchildren all all under 4 years of age, 3 girls, 1 boy. We spent the day with our granddaughter. We anticipate more grandchildren from our youngest son who will hopefully wait at least 10 years because he is only 20 years old!

I hope you'll keep us posted on your doings. Glad to see you've met Stardust.

Grandma Lise

Hi G. Lise,

Congratulations on your fourth grandchild!!  How fun!  We have one from our oldest daughter and our son just got married just over a year ago but he is only 21 and so is his wife so they will be waiting until they are both out of school to have kids.  Probably a good idea!  I believe he struggles with ADHD too but doesn't want to look into it.  Wish he would.  Our oldest doesn't have it.  She's always done really in school but my son and the twin girls have it.  The girls got evaluated and are on Straterra and feeling a difference.  Hope my son will some day.

I am turning in my application for the Rad Tech program today.  I am very nervous.  They are only accepting 12 new students for the fall.  I hope I make it but we'll see!  Scary!  I also turn in my math test from you know where today.  It was a take home and he always makes those 4 times as hard as the in class tests.  I hope I can maintain my B in there.  I heard the college here will give me  special accommodations since I have ADHD and I just found out but doing well so I don't know if I'll use them.  We'll see.

Paula

Hey Paula,

In an hour or so I'll leave to meet my DVR counselor to find out what DVR will and will not do to support me in my goal of a four year degree.

Our son probably has ADD.

I don't think it's easy growing up with a mother who is an ADD advocate. Over time, it became clear that he didn't want to consider the possibility that he too has ADD. I thought about it and decided to back off because he was doing well in school and had some friends.

Now that he's completing his first year in college, he has indicated that he would like to have an evaluation from a psychologist to answer this question once and or all. It's difficult to distinguish between ADD and anxiety. I have both, and suspect he has both as well.

Accommodations can make a difference. It might be helpful to ask what accommodations are offered. You many find one or two useful. I personally plan to request extended test times.

Grandma Lise

Hi Eileen,

I responded to you through Grandma Lise.  Hope that was okay!  so if you read the comment to her, notice it is also to you.  It was a long one so I thought I'd do it that way.  Thank you for responding to me.  It does feel good to have support.  I don't do these programs and this is the first but I've heard of them and this is great!!

Thanks again!

pdk

Hi Stardust,

Thanks for listening!!  The bipolar thing is really strange isn't it?  Well, come to find out, my dad's mother had it, my mother had it and my sister has battled it but had some intense therapy for 7 years a has learned how to manage it.  It was the first thing my Pdoc treated before the adhd.  I did respond well right off the bat.  I had never thought of med resistance.  That must be very frustrating for you.  I hope your doc can find something that you're not resistant to.  How are things going for you otherwise??  Do you work?  If so how has the disorders affected your work?  

Anyway, I'm here too.  I want to be able to help others with this.  I was embarrassed and sad when I was first diagnosed but they are finding out so much about mental health and how it is directly related to physical health that I no longer feel embarrassed but empowered with knowledge and the help of others.

Paula