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Well, it’s a long story as to why I have been so silent the past couple of months. It started back when I was a kid. I was never a very good student. I always had trouble keeping organized and paying attention. I guess I was a mediocre student (at best). This has continued to be a problem into my adult life.

About five years ago, I visited a psychologist who put me through a battery of tests and after many visits diagnosed me with ADHD. He referred to a psychiatrist in oder to treat the ADHD medically. The MD I started seeing put me on Strattera. Which seemed to help my concentration and didn’t appear on the surface to have any ill side effects. I took a hiatus from the drug for a while, mostly because I kept forgetting to take it (pretty ironic huh?).

When Suzette got here though, I knew I could rely on her to remind me to take it, so I went back to the doctor and started back on it. Everything was going great. This past December, there was a warning that Strattera had caused liver problems in a few patients. Since I didn’t display any of the symptoms of liver problems, this warning was pretty much ignored by me.

Well, as any readers here know, Suzette and I moved to Nashville in February. With such a move of course there were changes. One of these changes included finding new doctors. I say doctors, because I first had to find a new psychiatrist and second a primary care doctor. I found both, two very good doctors. The new psychiatrist was not a fan of Strattera, especially using it for adults. Like my primary care doctor, he does not seem to have his nose stuck up a certain part of drug company’s anatomy like a lot of doctors do these days. He wanted to move me off the Strattera and on to amphetamines. That’s right, it’s called “speed” on the street. Since in the meantime my new primary care doctor had found liver function issues in my blood work, I agreed.

This was disastrous. I suffered all kinds of bad side effects, including nausea, paranoia, insomnia and exhaustion. I was taking two doses, one in the morning and one at lunchtime. So, I was wired all day at work and exhausted at night. It was no way to live. Since the night time is when I do most of my posting, that’s why I haven’t got a lot of it done and why the few posts I have made were links to something else and just a few short comments. I just simply didn’t have the energy to put into posting (that’s my excuse and I am sticking with it).

Well, I am off the medications now. I think I am finally getting back to normal too. My doctor told me to quit taking it due to symptoms and come back to see him in a month. I don’t plan to go back to the doctor at this point. The only other alternative he had was Ritalin and really don’t think I want to go there. I am trying a vitamin supplement that has been working for some other called NADH under the Enada.

I plan to keep up a better posting schedule than I have recently. I have some plans for some regular features too. Just keep an eye out!

Just a note too, I am not a doctor nor do I work in health care (any more). I made a decision not to go back to the doctor after he told me to quit taking the medication I was taking. You should never stop taking a prescribed medication without consulting your doctor. I also must say that the side effects I experienced from both the medications I was taking are rare. Do not let my story scare you away from seeking medical help if you suffer from ADHD. You should work with your doctor to find what is best medically for you.