Where do I go with ADHL [hyper activity] to get treatment?

[Adlon57]

I am over sixty and have ADHL, I am retired for health reasons, living on my own for many years, but I cannot get any length of sleep, not being able to concentrate fully on practically everything, brain loosing interest after short periods?

[Adlon57]

OOPS! It is ADHD I need treatment for, adult hyper activity, [not ADHD] underlines my lack of concentration, help!

[Marz in reply to Adlon57]

Have you been tested for B12 levels ? Also Ferritin - Iron - Folate and VitD ?

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Doctors do not realise that B12 deficiency is a neurological condition. Check out the movie on the above link - Could it be B12 ? It is a scandal.

What other medications are you taking ?

If you want to know more about me - click onto my name in this reply and you can read my Profile - and health journey.

I would also suggest having the CORRECT Thyroid testing and not just the TSH.

[Adlon57 in reply to Marz]

I have had epilepsy for over 45 years, have been on quite a selection over the years. Lamictal seems to be the best, as far as I am concerned, unfortunately need another medication for same complaint, this is what has always caused problems, some of the other medication has some very wild and unusual side effects [one was nicknamed the '40 minute pill' ask a question about 40 minutes later I gave a reply, another affected my thyroid then speaking a bit higher octave!] These 'side effects' over the years have of course had long term neurological effects on me. I am also taking blood pressure pills, which thankfully had now been prescribed at 10 but I was getting 20 so that has been rectified. Unfortunately neurologist specialists in Northern Ireland are a very very rare breed. I have been asking around about B12, most people say "give em a go!", they can not do me any harm. But maybe should get my local GP's advice before putting my oar deep into it?

[Marz in reply to Adlon57]

Which B12 are you taking ?

[Marz]

Can you respond to the posts people send to you. I see from other threads that people have given helpful replies - but there is not feedback from you. In the end people will stop replying. I have replied to you about B12 and Coastwalker did the same many moons ago - so what did you do about the suggestions she made ?

[Adlon57 in reply to Marz]

I am on B12 at the moment, thanks for your suggestion on that. My Epilim medication dosage has changed, this does not help with the effects of B12, unfortunately the smaller Epilim pill is not coated, so upsets stomach, but will adapt to that. I have been told that I am not taking a high enough dosage of B12 so from today am going up to 1000 rather than 500! [they are sitting right beside me]

[Marz in reply to Adlon57]

5000 would be better. Which type of B12 are you taking ? Is it Cyanocobalamin ?

Did you look at the link I gave you ? Lots of good information which I think you need .

Good luck with the book !

[Adlon57 in reply to Marz]

I have found that I have a horrendous side effect from taking B12! I swell up like a balloon, muscles glowing sleep out of the question, too tired to sleep, brain lost interest in trying to get to sleep, not a decent night's sleep in at least a week, from when I started taking them! I am stopping taking them, today decided to take cod liver oil capsules, for different thing altogether, kidney trouble, for unsettled stomach, dispersible epilim. Notice I am writing this at 4 o'clock in the morning. B12 definitely not the answer for me, although thanks for the suggestion, it's always trying something new anyway! all the best Adlon

[Marz in reply to Adlon57]

Oh dear. I wonder which sort you were taking ? Cyanocobalamin or Methylcobalamin. You could go to the PAS forum and ask for advice. Not heard of such a bad reaction before.

Did you take it at night ?

[Adlon57 in reply to Marz]

In fact it is a violent reaction to crushable epilim [100 mg] I just started taking, [side effects in small print] nothing with B12, I was taking epilim in coated form but the 500 mg [either 200 mg or 500 mg], nothing in between] stuck badly in my gullet, so tried 100 mg crushable, with 2 x 200 mg, this is my difficulty the 100 mg crushable, uncoated version! I have not had any sleep for 3 days, it could eventually bring on a seizure, so seeing a Doctor asap!

I took the epilim 100 mg at night, that could be an important detail, that could well confirm my theory, about the epilim.

I will put the B12 on the back burner, until other thing is sorted, thanks!

[Marz in reply to Adlon57]

Oh dear ..... hope things go well for you.

[Adlon57 in reply to Marz]

I have been trying B12 pills since August, 1000 mg, top of my mouth between teeth and lip, and let it slowly dissolve, I find sometimes I would feel 'shaky' in the morning, usually a sign I was going to have a seizure, since taking B12 no problem, there has been a couple of days running I would not take them, [for comparison] then back to 'shaky'?

Do you think I should raise my dosage?

YOU ARE DEFINITELY ONTO SOMETHING HERE?

Unfortunately I do not have an epilepsy or neurological specialist, none since December 2013. and my local GP's no expert in the field!

I am taking Epilim, [700 mg] Lamictal [200 mg] for epilepsy!

[I am taking a 500 mg Epilim pill {+ 200mg} which I can now pass down the gullet, with a bit of food, which was my problem, originally a restricted gullet]

and Lisnopril [for high blood pressure, once you are on those, you are 'stuck' for the rest of your life on them?]

Marz

Thanks for your patience!

[Marz in reply to Adlon57]

You could try increasing your dose SLOWLY .....

Have you ever had your Thyroid checked ? Lots of your symptoms could be linked ....

Remember raised blood pressure is NOT a condition - it is a symptom of something else going on in the body. Most people are magnesium deficient - so try taking a good magnesium supplement and see what happens .....

[Adlon57 in reply to Marz]

Blood pressure is fine, in fact last time I had it checked dr said I was "excellent!" No, like I said it is purely protocol that a person keeps on with them, not really a necessity at all. Blood pressure was caused originally by myself being overweight and generally unhealthy! I was on the Statins as well, for high cholesterol, which I'm very glad to get off!

I am raising B12 level as you say, slowly, I will see how it goes?

Thanks again!

[Marz in reply to Adlon57]

Have been reading your thread of a few months ago and your conversation with Coastwalker . We have both asked you about thyroid testing - and how low thyroid is connected to so many of your issues. Have you had your thyroid tested - the TSH - FT4 - FT3 and the anti-bodies Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg ????

Low Thyroid is linked to over 300 symptoms in the body. I live in Crete and have seen so many thyroid test results where most of the results are in range - but it is where they are in range that is important. Google Low T3 syndrome - so you can have in range TSH and FT4 which your GP will say is normal - but then the ACTIVE thyroid hormone - T3 - that your brain needs is low in range. So rarely tested in the UK.

At least rule it out. It could mean you will save yourself so many medications when you treat the underlying cause. I am 70 and only take T3 and supplements. Click onto my name above and you can read of my health journey

[Adlon57 in reply to Marz]

Complicated this web-site lost my reply pressing wrong button.

I see what you are getting at. Could that be genetic is some way, my younger sister had thyroid cancer? This is new to me about thyroid levels. I have been looked at for so may years about effects of so many medical 'conditions' and not really about causes, given a few pills and shown the door, told what I have but never ANYTHING about any of the causes, I would like to drag my local health service out of the medieval days.

I have recently started to eat less, [I saw a picture of myself in a suit, side on YUCK!!] it has improved my sleeping patterns.

Seeing my DR. about my soliosis, my bones keep cracking more and more, it's getting worse, due directly to NF2, I found that out, DR eventually came around to my thinking about that. Ask him about Thyroid level. Only one in 35,000 have that NF2 condition.

Thanks again for your patience.

[Marz in reply to Adlon57]

There could be an inherited aspect of thyroid illness - but you need other triggers as well.

So make a note and ask your GP for the tests to be done. I doubt he will agree to anything more than the TSH test - which only tells half the story about the thyroid. You need all the others I mentioned above. Could you have them done privately ? - let me know and I will send you the link. The Testing kit can be sent to your home.

Also have the following tested - FERRITIN - FOLATE - VITD. The latter could well be affecting your bones if low.

Take some time to read some of the posts on Thyroid UK - here on HealthUnlocked and you will read similar stories to your own.

[johnsmith]

Sleep is the thing that is driving the ADHL. Latest research indicates that the brain only gets rid of its waste products during sleep.

Brain loosing interest after short periods suggests do something and when tired have a nap. You can use a kitchen timer to set the nap duration.

Try short naps during the day and see what happens.

[Adlon57 in reply to johnsmith]

My sleep pattern is usually about 90 mts. , am under a lot of pressure at the moment, been wring a book for 7 years, getting near the end of it! Need to get out more, spread my wings a bit.

[Penel]

There is some research linking ADHD to problems with gluten and dairy. It might be something for you to look into.

[Adlon57 in reply to Penel]

Interesting, love my cheese, yoghurt milk etc. My normal diet could be affecting me, will ask around about that one?

[sandybrown]

Are you dyslexic?

Full concentration or concentration or remembering can be a problem!!

Try to keep a food intake diary and write down your problems and take a look back, I am afraid you or me have to do the work to identify these problems, do not go for any medication.

In my case, I like cricket, nowadays I only watch the last day!

F1, only watch that start, first 10 minutes and 10 minutes before the end!!

I found out that I am dyslexic eight years ago!!

I will soon be 70 retired for three years. Home life can be a problem due to concentration and memory.

[Adlon57]

I am a retired genealogist/ historical researcher, retired and currently writing a book. My concentration is bad because I lose interest quickly, always trying to find background on the most ridiculous subjects, when did somebody die, what was the last time this thing happened, why did they die, where are they now, what caused this, etc, etc. Have a degree in Humanities in History. Always been very good at pub quiz's, although memory is not as sharp as it used to be. My sister said I would have made an excellent Inspector Morse?

My memory and concentration are now bad living on my own, am scared it could be a long term effect of a stoke I had eight years ago?

My medication has lowered dramitically in the last two years, taking 9 pills now taking four!