Adhd symptom help

[hikergirl33]

I have this symptom and i am not sure if its adhd or something else. The stimulants do seem to help with this so i am thinking it is. It feels like a brain fog. Like my eyes can't focus and everything is fuzzy...and theres a tired feeling that goes with it. When the stimulant kicks in its like i have glasses on and everything looks crisp and clear. To me its a really awful feeling and is accompanied by not being able to think. Is this a symptom of adhd? And how do u make it stop? Or are stimulants the only way. Thank u

[Hidden]

On the surface I'd say probably not ADHD, but I say that because there just isn't enough information in your description. Also, ADHD is not a "brain fog" type of description, or a term people with ADHD would use to describe themselves; rather we have tons of thoughts all the time, bouncing all around our minds while we're trying to do other things. We're easily detracted because we're often trying to entertain all these thoughts at once. Conversely, we can sometimes have extreme focus on one thing, so much so that we will disengage all other thoughts.

Here are some things you might consider symptomatic. Did you struggle in school where you had to be accommodated in some way? Do you forget things, like care keys, glasses, things you need for work or something? Do you have a problem following though on task, especially assigned task? Are you often running late?

These are just a few things that are symptomatic, but people with ADHD usually do not operate with an internal understanding of their symptoms, but rather an external understanding of their performance and behavior. They know what they "do wrong" or fail at, (we have plenty of people telling us that) but they don't usual know why exactly.

Stimulants are not a good barometer for diagnosis. You really need to see a professional clinician, usually a psychologist or psychiatrist, particularly one who specializes in ADHD, and be properly evaluated.

Have you talked to your doctor?

[hikergirl33 in reply to Hidden]

I apologize i should have explained in first sentence. I was diagnosed with ADHD in february. I have been on adderall since july. When I first took it everything was crisp and clear along with the improved ability to focus and other things. On adderall it was crazy because I would notice the weird noise behind me at work but something stopped me from looking. it was like i had this awareness of the distraction but its not that the distraction went away. the biggest thing the medication does is take away this weird fuzzy vision thing. the only way i can describe it is brain fog. its like literally getting glasses for the first time. I can absorb the smell of the outdoors and each leaf on the tree. instead of everything looking fuzzy. i have been having a hard time with the adderall only lasting 4 hours so i go up and down all day which is rough. so i was trying to decide if i actually needed it but the one symptoms i can't seem to fix on my own is this lack of clarity to my environment. I was wondering if this was even an adhd thing (since i just got diagnosed) or something else i was missing. i am really bad at figuring out simple things with myself like i forgot to eat or drink and will feel awful and wonder why lol...then i eat and wow i feel better. so i thought maybe it was something simple. the other thing adderall helps with so much is overthinking which i did not realize was an adhd thing. I know i have had this my whole life but when i was younger i was more daydreamy and blurted out things per my parents report (my dad has it too). I have always been late and never could figure out why. but it was when i started working that i knew there was something wrong or not being able to understand verbal directions and had an ex boyfriend call me stupid. At work i couldnt keep up or do things on time and would get super overwhelmed (basically i understand the feeling of everyone saying im messing up). I know i have adhd symptoms i just wonder if something else is at play to bc i dont remember having so many struggles when i was younger. but part of this could be i just dont remember or having structure set up by my mom. sorry to verbally vomit on you!

thanks for replying

ps. i have to leave for work in 10 min and haven't put on my clothes or makeup or hair LOL! ....geez

[Hidden in reply to hikergirl33]

Thanks for clarifying.

The effects of Adderall you describe is pretty common, from what I understand. I'm still not sure about the "blurry vision" aspect. Do you mean literal vision, or metaphorically, like mental vision? I'm thinking you mean the latter.

However, you might want to discuss with your doctor switching to Vyvanse. I take Vyvance 30mg. It's basically Adderall, but it activates differently and longer lasting. Adderall also have time release version that you might explore with your doctor. Sounds like you could use a booster during the day.

[hikergirl33 in reply to Hidden]

I think i mean the latter too. I was paying more attention to how it feels and at work there is lots of noise and talking i was having a hard time concentrating and then it happened. It almost feels like my brain just puts of a closed sign. And its hard to think.

I tried adderall xr and felt awful...like i was on benadryl and couldnt think. It almost did the opposite. I take 5 mg adderall IR 4 x a day bc it only lasts 4 hours and it hasnt been working as well. The adderall 10 mg xr made me feel so zombie like. I have been really curiois about vivanz but since i didnt even tolerate the xr i was wondering if i should just try the methylphenidate. Thanks again for ur help.

[Ashfaren]

can u describe little more about ur symptoms like what exactly u mean by fogginess?

[hikergirl33 in reply to Ashfaren]

I think its what others call a brain fog. It's really hard to explain but its not my vision. Being tired and not eating recently make it worse. Also if i concentrate on something too long it will happen, like reading or thinking hard, stress also makes it worse. It's like the world looks not clear. However, I just got on methylphenidate and feel a lot better. I think the ups and downs of the adderall made it worse (worse when adderall wore off). Since I got off adderall I have not felt this as bad.

[Testarossa1975]

How is your sleep? Are you getting enough and do you feel rested when you wake up in the morning? When you describe foggy thinking along with a tired feeling and not being able to think, I wondered if you have talked to your doctor about sleep. Many people with ADHD have sleep behavior disorders or sleep breathing disorders which interfere with cognitive function. These disorders by themselves can cause ADHD like symptoms and they can make symptoms much worse in people with ADHD.

When you mentioned your eyes not focusing, feeling fuzzy, and a tired feeling, I also wondered if you have been checked for an visual problems. I often have a tired feeling in my eyes along with the feeling that it’s difficult (takes more effort than I think it should) to focus or to mentally process what I am seeing. This makes me feel mentally tired and that I have no energy to think. I have a type of strabismus called exotropia. My eyes do not work together as a team. I favor my right eye and my left eye tends to go outward and it’s visual input is suppressed. I I have good vision in both eyes, but my brain only processes information from one eye at a time. Although strabismus is probably not causally linked to ADHD, it is more common in people with ADHD than in the general population.

These are just a couple of thoughts of things you might look into.