35 year old mum recently diagnosed with ADHD, unsure of managing it

[SorchaO]

Hi everyone,I was diagnosed with adhd earlier this year following a horrible stint of post natal depression after having my 2nd child. My husband looked into it and my life changed when I realised I had it. My depression was a result of unmanaged adhd traits exasperated by having my children- u cant coast in life post chikdren!

We went private for a diagnosis as the waiting list was super long and it affected me daily. I tried methylphenidate and despite a few increase doses, i didn't really feel any positive results. The only thing I noticed was how irritable and horrible I became when on the medication, which was not OK for my family. Because we went private, chopping and changing medication is really costly.

Knowing I have the condition has massively helped me on its own, with how I see myself, understand why I do things the way I do, understanding why I feel the way I feel, my husband understands its not my personality its my adhd when I do certain things etc. Its allowed me to forgive myself alot.

I'm not sure where to go now with managing myself moving forward.

Does anyone have any similar experiences with methylphenidate and did u move onto a different medication and have success?

I know there's coaching but again that's quite costly.

I should be coming to the top of the list for nhs treatment in the next couple months, what is that process when uv already had a diagnosis?

Does anyone know of qny support groups for adults with adhd?

Sorry for the long winded post! Any advice in general would be amazing! Thank you

[SlbO]

Strattera has been super helpful for me! And I started in similarly around your age…game changer for understanding tendencies.

[SorchaO in reply to SlbO]

Thanks for replying Is that an app?

[Hidden]

If you already have a diagnosis it should speed things up with NHS.

This was the case with my son- I paid for a private diagnosis and then I filled in online form to refer him for ‘transfer of care’ with NHS CAMHS and this was like a few months instead of a few years had he not have the diagnosis already done private. So now already NHS took over his care.

However since you have got a private diagnosis you could ask your doctor about the treatment options. I personally am totally against ‘first line of treatment’ stimulants, especially that people with ADHD often suffer from anxiety and depression at the same time and ‘stimulants’ make this worse. I’d say have a read on NICE guideline about managing ADHD, also there is a lot of good stuff on Additude magazine online and you could read about non stimulant option treatment for ADHD. Non stimulants work 24/7 on certain neurotransmitters in the brain but equally it well may be that you try something and instead of making you feel better it will make you feel worse. So basically at first brace yourself that non always fist medication you try sorts things out. Also read because there are certain antidepressants that actually also help ADHD and I think then it’s ‘off licence use’. I am not sure off my head but there is the one that is used to help quit cigarette addiction and it proved to be also good for ADHD. It’s best to discuss with the doctor so you know your options.

[SorchaO in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for all this, I did call my gp and tell them and they told me to send over the report. I hadn't heard back so will follow that up. I was on antidepressants after my daughter and altho they helped, I gained a considerable amount of weight, and when I managed my depression I weaned off them, so reluctant to go back in that direction.

I have been managing without medication but it's just really hard work and I feel burnt out frequently.

I will definitely look at your recommendations, thanks so much.

I'm surprised from my research how limited adult support options there are, I was thinking there must be support groups but the ones I find are for parents of adhd children.

Thanks again for your help

[Hidden in reply to SorchaO]

I am sorry you gained weight on antidepressant. I am a woman and a mother of 2 and totally understand how it feels- first gain weight with pregnancies and then on top of that the side effect of medication, I totally understand how it made you reluctant. I’d hate it too.

I’d say, always read side effects lists and not those ‘babyish’ ones that are the simplified online NHS versions of explanations for patients but the whole list on BNF online or even more extensive medication information on nice.org.uk

There are non stimulant ADHD medications that cause appetite suppression- for example Atomoxetine.

Equally there are antidepressants which don’t cause increase in appetite. It’s all written in side effects lists. You just need to check them one by one. I believe that older generation MAOI antidepressants cause more increased appetite. The new generation antidepressants - look these up and the side effects.

For example decades ago I was taking Zoloft (new generation antidepressant) for several months and I don’t recall any negative impact on weight- in fact I think I lost weight because as my mood improved I stopped ‘self medicating’ by eating (I am a kind of person when my mood is low I eat to make myself ‘feel better’).

Also are you sure that it was the antidepressant causing weight gain? For example I noticed that contraceptive pill did make me eat more. Ever since my husband had a small surgery to go infertile, I don’t have to take any oral or any at all contraception and my weight is good and I don’t have cravings etc. It was hormones in the contraceptive pill that were causing for me increased appetite.

And last but not least- antihistamines for allergies and hey fever also cause increased appetite.

I don’t know about any groups for adults with ADHD. I suppose good thing about how things are now on Zoom etc is that you could probably join groups anywhere in the world like in Australia and US (if the time zone difference is fine). I’d say there must be such groups where you don’t have to actually go there physically but just join chat, Zoom etc. I hope you find something.