How many of you have been diagnosed with ADHD

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Yep been diagnosed with ADHD. Was on Riddilin till 6th grade and I was diagnosed at 5.

[NYCSkin]

Interesting stories here. Thanks to those who have shared some powerful personal stories...

As medical conditions become better understood and defined--this can lead to the perception that the condition is being "overdiagnosed". I don't entirely feel that docs are at fault when they follow currently understood diagnostic criteria. I think the issue here is how a doc manages the diagnosis. And this is where it gets muddy as conservative management of diseases is unfortunately not the norm. The medical industry is pro prescription of meds--since this is tied into reimbursement and paradoxically a protection from litigation. For that matter, patients are also (unfortunately) mostly pro prescription of meds--instead of managing their conditions in other ways.

I am a parent of child whom I believe has ADHD. I have no plans to have her take meds since I think she can function fine without them with conservative management. However, I do think there are many cases where prescribed medications are needed and justified.

And full disclosure--I am a physician and have also worked in the pharma industry...

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by NYCSkin

Interesting stories here. Thanks to those who have shared some powerful personal stories...

As medical conditions become better understood and defined--this can lead to the perception that the condition is being "overdiagnosed". I don't entirely feel that docs are at fault when they follow currently understood diagnostic criteria. I think the issue here is how a doc manages the diagnosis. And this is where it gets muddy as conservative management of diseases is unfortunately not the norm. The medical industry is pro prescription of meds--since this is tied into reimbursement and paradoxically a protection from litigation. For that matter, patients are also (unfortunately) mostly pro prescription of meds--instead of managing their conditions in other ways.

I am a parent of child whom I believe has ADHD. I have no plans to have her take meds since I think she can function fine without them with conservative management. However, I do think there are many cases where prescribed medications are needed and justified.

And full disclosure--I am a physician and have also worked in the pharma industry...

I can pretty much agree with this. People want to think of doc's as benevolent creatures and not business people. Saintly, rather than capitalist. Doc's go for the med cabinet and the CAT scan to fast for my taste. My son was diagnosed ADHD 11 years ago at age 6 (although undiagnosed, he gets it from me). The outlook, a lifetime of Riddlin was....... urged. I thought, feed my child this? THAT ain't gonna happen........SO through some trial and error, we found refined Cane sugar was a major trigger. At least for him, exercise, and sugar control made the difference. He plays varsity sports in HS and does well in school. It may be that meds are a possible answer, but NOT the only answer, and quite probably NOT the best answer. Question things...........often

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by Hog1

I can pretty much agree with this. People want to think of doc's as benevolent creatures and not business people. Saintly, rather than capitalist. Doc's go for the med cabinet and the CAT scan to fast for my taste. My son was diagnosed ADHD 11 years ago at age 6 (although undiagnosed, he gets it from me). The outlook, a lifetime of Riddlin was....... urged. I thought, feed my child this? THAT ain't gonna happen........SO through some trial and error, we found refined Cane sugar was a major trigger. At least for him, exercise, and sugar control made the difference. He plays varsity sports in HS and does well in school. It may be that meds are a possible answer, but NOT the only answer, and quite probably NOT the best answer. Question things...........often

your experience sounds similar to mine. I am glad you did not subject your son to meds right away.

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by Hog1

I can pretty much agree with this. People want to think of doc's as benevolent creatures and not business people. Saintly, rather than capitalist. Doc's go for the med cabinet and the CAT scan to fast for my taste. My son was diagnosed ADHD 11 years ago at age 6 (although undiagnosed, he gets it from me). The outlook, a lifetime of Riddlin was....... urged. I thought, feed my child this? THAT ain't gonna happen........SO through some trial and error, we found refined Cane sugar was a major trigger. At least for him, exercise, and sugar control made the difference. He plays varsity sports in HS and does well in school. It may be that meds are a possible answer, but NOT the only answer, and quite probably NOT the best answer. Question things...........often

My nephew was diagnosed with ADHD and quickly put on Riddlin. You could tell that he "calmed down" but we sort of felt something still wasn't quite right. One day we were talking around the dinner table and my nephew comes in and tells his mom (my sister) that his stomach hurts. She says something like, "Again?!" We ask her "What do you mean 'again'?. She says that his stomach is always upset/hurting. My wife recommends a consultation with an allergist. It turns out out the nephew is allergic to corn, wheat and a couple of other things. Once his diet was altered his behavior, both academically and socially, changed.

[firstdown]

My wife this weekend made a list of about 8 projects around the house I have started and never finished. When she handed me the list she asked if I was ADD or something. I took the list out side and started with finishing painting the porch. Before I even got the stuff out to paint the porch I was working on my boat. I fiddled with the boat for about an hour and before I finished that I was off doing something else. So I guess next week my wife will hand me the to finish list with 10 projects now and a bottle of Ridlin.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by firstdown

My wife this weekend made a list of about 8 projects around the house I have started and never finished. When she handed me the list she asked if I was ADD or something. I took the list out side and started with finishing painting the porch. Before I even got the stuff out to paint the porch I was working on my boat. I fiddled with the boat for about an hour and before I finished that I was off doing something else. So I guess next week my wife will hand me the to finish list with 10 projects now and a bottle of Ridlin.

Dad, is that you?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

Dad, is that you?

Yes, I have always wanted a son.

[Hog1]

I understand......My wife has suggested the classification ADD/ADHD sounds so much better than "worthless SOB"............

[JLee9718]

The guy who married my niece has Tourette's Syndrome and he's on medication. It doesn't bother him a bit. I do agree, however, that kids who are put on Ritalin and other drugs end up causing more problems than they fix.