I'm losing my mind....I think

[wei yau]

So, I get home last night and realize that I don't have my car keys. No big deal, my wife has a spare. I probably left them in my car back at the office garage.

I'm at the office with my spare keys. Figure I'll go look for my keys when I go to lunch.

My office-mate asks:

"Hey don't you drive a Mitsubishi?"

"Yeah"

"Is it license plate number...."

"Oh crap"

The office manager sent out an email saying that the car was left running in the garage. Someone (my company President) shut off the car and left the keys inside.

I go running downstairs and sure enough the hood of the car feels very warm. The inside is warm, too. So, I must have left the heat on (but probably not the fan).

I turn the key in the ignition and she starts up, just fine. I haven't driven her yet, I'll wait for lunch time.

(Any of you know what kind of problems I should look for in a car that's been idling for over 12 hours?)

My wife tells me that I've been very forgetful lately. Like leaving the engine on while gassing up. Also, at a red light once, I asked her a question. I was waiting for the response when I hear her shout "Hey! Are you okay?". I said I was fine.

She said that I was sitting there like a zombie and my eyelids were fluttering...like my eyes were rolling into the back of my head.

I don't remember any of this, I just remember asking a question and waiting for her answer. She said she answered me, but I didn't say anything. Then she looked over and saw that I was zoning out.

So, what's wrong with me?

[Godless Dave]

So, I get home last night and realize that I don't have my car keys. No big deal, my wife has a spare. I probably left them in my car back at the office garage.

How did you get home without your car?

(Any of you know what kind of problems I should look for in a car that's been idling for over 12 hours?)

Make sure it's not out of gas! That's about it, idling is pretty easy on your car.

She said that I was sitting there like a zombie and my eyelids were fluttering...like my eyes were rolling into the back of my head.

I don't remember any of this, I just remember asking a question and waiting for her answer. She said she answered me, but I didn't say anything. Then she looked over and saw that I was zoning out.

So, what's wrong with me?

Could be a lot of things, but what you just described sounds like a minor seizure. I suggest seeing a doctor ASAP and describing those symptoms. Bring your wife along if possible. I also strongly suggest not driving.

[wei yau]

How did you get home without your car?

I use my car to pickup my daughter from daycare. My wife comes to my office and we carpool home together. This works out well for us, as the commute is fairly long and I always have a car at the office, in case one of us needs to work late or something.


Could be a lot of things, but what you just described sounds like a minor seizure. I suggest seeing a doctor ASAP and describing those symptoms. Bring your wife along if possible. I also strongly suggest not driving.

To tell you the truth, I wasn't all that worried. Up until now. Perhaps I do need to see a doctor.

[Ronin]

Eldar:

My uncle did this quite a bit in his fifties and never sought medical advice.

GD is absolutely right....go see a doctor real soon.

It will help with the correct diagnosis.

[livius drusus]

Another second on seeing a doctor asap, eldar. :hug:

[wei yau]

I suppose there's no harm in seeing a doc.

But, I hesitate. It's some residual or inherited trait from my Dad, I think. I just think I never need to see a doctor. Sure, when my dad does it, he's beeing stupid and stubborn. But, when I do it, I'm being practical.

The eye-fluttering thing happened only once...that I know of...but, then again would I actually know when it happens?

The forgetfulness can be anything from lack of sleep, being hungry, preoccupation....anything, really.

But, still, I've got insurance. I should go see a doctor. The question is, do I need a specialist (like a neurologist) or should I go to to my family doc (who sees me ...maybe once a year)

[Godless Dave]

Go to the family doc first, and he may refer you to a specialist.

[Beth]

Are you going through a depression or maybe something traumatic happened recently?

[wei yau]

I've been going to counseling for a while, but more as a maintenance kinda thing as opposed to crisis mode. I think I've been mildly depressed in the past and there are some things that are currently bothering me, but nothing major.

I'm fairly certain that there's nothing wrong with me. The forgetfulness is pretty easily dismissed given my day-to-day schedule and past performance. The zoning out thing bothers me a bit, but as there's only been one incident (that I know of), I'm not all that concerned.

Still, I'll go see a doctor as soon as I can.

Thank you for your concern, Beth.

[Godless Dave]

It could be nothing, or it could be a minor stroke, or it could be epilepsy, or it could be something else. One thing's for sure, a doctor would be better able to tell you than us schmoes.

[wildernesse]

You should go to the doctor. While the eye-fluttering sounds like a seizure, most of the time, if I recall correctly, after a person has a seizure (even a minor one) they are very, very sleepy. It doesn't sound like that's one of your symptoms, but I would still be worried about it. Especially, since I really don't know what I'm talking about. :)

Plus, if you didn't know what was happening, that would be cause for a great deal of worry.

[Beth]

Yes, a doctor is best. You can get tests run to find out if it is something or if it is nothing. I acted a little like this after someone I love died. I forgot alot, zoned out, and frustrated people until I snapped out of it. But my schedule was also very hectic at the time, as well. I think maybe I was just overloaded. Anyway, that is why I asked.

[wei yau]

It could be nothing, or it could be a minor stroke, or it could be epilepsy, or it could be something else. One thing's for sure, a doctor would be better able to tell you than us schmoes.

But, I like you shmoes. :giggle:

All of these possibilities and no set up for "It's not a toomah." I'm a little disappointed.

But, seriously, I agree with your advice. I'm making an appointment as soon as I can.

[godfry n. glad]

It could be nothing, or it could be a minor stroke, or it could be epilepsy, or it could be something else. One thing's for sure, a doctor would be better able to tell you than us schmoes.

But, I like you shmoes. :giggle:

All of these possibilities and no set up for "It's not a toomah." I'm a little disappointed.

But, seriously, I agree with your advice. I'm making an appointment as soon as I can.

Good...GD (and everybody else's) advice here is the best.

godfry

[wei yau]

Good...GD (and everybody else's) advice here is the best.


And that's precisely the reason why I love this place so, y'all are good people. Not bastards at all, I don't care what everyone else thinks. :P

[Godless Dave]

All of these possibilities and no set up for "It's not a toomah." I'm a little disappointed.

Actually debilitating brain tumor was the first thing I thought of, but that's just the way my mind works. It's probably just stress and lack of sleep. Or mad cow disease.

[livius drusus]

Mmmm... Spongiform encephaloma... :homdrool:

[HelenM]

Eldar,

When I did some reading about epilepsy a few years ago I was surprised to find how many different types there are and how some forms have seizures somewhat like you describe i.e. they involve a momentary "zoning out".

I also know two people who had one "event" which the doctors thought must have been a seizure - that was more serious than anything that you've described - and neither of them have had any further occurrences. I went to a seminar about epilepsy in which the doctors were saying that many people who have had some sort of seizures are able to get to being symptom-free. So even if you did have a small seizure, that doesn't mean you're destined to have them for the rest of your life.

Depression and preoccupation definitely can cause/worsen forgetfulness.

Like others here, I think it's a good idea to see a doctor. The doctor(s) may well not be able to say with certainty what happened to you. Even so, it will be very reassuring if they run a few tests and based on the results, they can agree with you that 'there's nothing wrong with you'.

Helen

[viscousmemories]

One of my roommate's co-workers was complaining about double-vision recently, and my roommate joked that it was probably a brain tumor. Sadly, it was. However he has since had it successfully removed and is doing fine.

Honestly I'm terribly forgetful and zone out all the time, though. From what I understand these are fairly common results of aging. Of course it can't hurt to go to the doctor, so I'm glad to hear you'll be doing so. :)

[godfry n. glad]

Honestly I'm terribly forgetful and zone out all the time, though. From what I understand these are fairly common results of aging.

And aging is not for wimps.

The conditions you describe, vm, are referred to as "Sometimer's Disease" around these parts...or "elder moments". If the doc gives eldar the clean slate, we can call them "eldar moments."

godfry

[viscousmemories]

:chuckle:

[Petra]

And aging is not for wimps.




I'm a wimp, so why am I aging? I don' wanna age! :crybaby:


Eldar, I agree with everyone else - see a doctor and don't drive till you do - especially not on the roads at this time of year; it's too unsafe.

[lisarea]

I'm a wimp, so why am I aging? I don' wanna age!

Me, too. But I didn't used to be this old. I can't figure out what happened.

Eldar, I agree with everyone else - see a doctor and don't drive till you do - especially not on the roads at this time of year; it's too unsafe.

Take her advice: Just stick to offroading for the time being.

But really, let us know what the doctor says.

[wei yau]

Well, after a battery of tests including several blood draws, a CAT scan and an EEG sleep-study test, it turns out that there's nothing wrong with me.

However, I've just started taking Concerta for what might be adult ADD.

I feel a little ambivalent about it, because I feel that ADD is terribly over-diagnosed. But, I also feel that I should try something.

I can't tell if it's working, as it's only the second day. I like to think I feel a little more focused. I'm definitely more energetic.

I have noticed that I no longer obsess over this one particular problem that has been plaguing me for a couple of years now. The problem hasn't been solved, it's one of those that can't be, but I feel at peace with the situation.

Don't know if that's the result of the Concerta or what, but it's nice not to have that particular gremlin on my back.

[Dragar]

Good news, Eldar. And top marks on going to a doctor. :)

[livius drusus]

I know almost nothing at all about adult ADD, but I'm really happy to hear you had a doc take a look in there and see what might be rattling around. I say parlay that newfound focus of yours into a Chinese calligraphy sideline. :thumbup:

[viscousmemories]

I feel a little ambivalent about it, because I feel that ADD is terribly over-diagnosed.
This is why I've never sought a diagnosis for what is almost certainly ADD, and why I'm not taking Adderall despite my sisters' insistence that it had a miraculous affect on her ability to concentrate - an area where I am obviously sorely deficient. But I don't know if there's any rational reason to assume over-diagnosis over widespread presence of the condition.

Do you know of any?

[wei yau]

Well, I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on television.

My own thoughts on the matter is somewhat muddied. It's all very "chicken/egg" to me.

Was the condition always widespread and only just now being diagnosed, therefore giving the appearance of over-diagnosis?

OR

Is the condition actually normal and is being over-diagnosed as a problem due to the ready availability of drugs?

I honestly don't know.

What I do know is that my inability to focus is causing some harm in both my personal and professional lives. What I do know is that whatever coping mechanisms I had developed are starting to fail. What I do know is that I have little to lose by trying this drug out.

I suppose I have no rational reason for assuming over-diagnosis instead of widespread presence of the condition. But, I have several rational and practical reasons for trying this drug regimen.

[Ensign Steve]

This is why I've never sought a diagnosis for what is almost certainly ADD, and why I'm not taking Adderall despite my sisters' insistence that it had a miraculous affect on her ability to concentrate - an area where I am obviously sorely deficient.

Wait. You won't treat a disease you "almost certainly" have, because others are incorrectly diagnosed with it? How does that follow?


I have noticed that I no longer obsess over this one particular problem that has been plaguing me for a couple of years now. The problem hasn't been solved, it's one of those that can't be, but I feel at peace with the situation.

This seems like a Good ThingTM.

[godfry n. glad]

I will back Eldar's supposition that ADD is over-diagnosed. I'm a former teacher. A middle-school and high-school teacher. ADD is sort of a default diagnosis when frustrated school officials and parents cannot control student behavior in a classroom. Ritalin used to be the drug of choice, and it seemed to zombie-out a lot of its users.

I had friends who adopted two pre-adolescent boys. They both had psychological problems from abusive and neglectful family situations, but one had problems adapting to the environment of a nice suburban middle school. The school health officials suggested that he was hyperactive/attention deficit disorder. When speaking with his mother, who supported the medicating of this boy, she described to me that he did okay in most of his studies, despite his attention problems, but he loved music and came home every day after school and sat down and practiced at the piano for an hour...without being nagged or prompted. Before the diagnosis. I bluntly told the adoptive mother that her child had been misdiagnosed. A true ADD kid could NEVER have done that (practiced...for an hour...every day...on the piano). I suspect he was just bored in class and was acting out.

Over-diagnosing is an easy way to medicate kids in classrooms so they'll sit in a stupor and "behave".

godfry

[viscousmemories]

Wait. You won't treat a disease you "almost certainly" have, because others are incorrectly diagnosed with it? How does that follow?
It doesn't. That's why I asked if Eldar had any rational support for his reluctance to accept the diagnosis and treat it, 'cause I sure don't.

[pescifish]

I've gotten the impression childhood/teenage ADD is over diagnosed. Which I can readily believe since I know that normal behavior for those ages can look like ADD, thus supporting the idea that normal kids are being diagnosed just for acting normal.

But I had not heard or read anything about adult ADD being common or over diagnosed. Is there an apparent rise in the diagnosis of adult ADD conditions? I didn't know that.

My last boyfriend had adult ADD and was on medication (he said it was essentially speed) and drank about two gallons of high test caffeinated coffee a day to keep his focus. He had been diagnosed for a couple of years prior to our relationship and, at the age of 50-something, he had never been capable of maintaining a traditional steady job, concentrate on a relationship or accomplish long term goals before he received that treatment.

[godfry n. glad]

Wait. You won't treat a disease you "almost certainly" have, because others are incorrectly diagnosed with it? How does that follow?
It doesn't. That's why I asked if Eldar had any rational support for his reluctance to accept the diagnosis and treat it, 'cause I sure don't.

Agreed. The "over-diagnosis" of ADD was, and probably still is, an adolescent issue. I know nothing about adult diagnosis and treatment. If his physician thinks that this medication is an acceptable approach to treating his condition, then I say go for it. If it doesn't work, go back to the physcian and tell him/her so.

Note: Physicians do not always diagnosis correctly the first time....or the second time...or...well, you get the gist. Do not treat your doctor like some kind of omniscient being. They are not. Work with him/her, ask lots of questions, know what the consequences of any prescription or procedure might be, and keep the physician apprised of side-effects and results.

godfry

[Corona688]

I will back Eldar's supposition that ADD is over-diagnosed. I'm a former teacher. A middle-school and high-school teacher. ADD is sort of a default diagnosis when frustrated school officials and parents cannot control student behavior in a classroom. Indeed, such is often the case. A proper ADD diagnosis involves a lot of tests, but somehow these seem to get bypassed when they want the child to have an easy-out for control...Ritalin used to be the drug of choice, and it seemed to zombie-out a lot of its users. Zombie out? ritalin is a stimulant, as are most ADD drugs.<snip anecdote>A true ADD kid could NEVER have done that (practiced...for an hour...every day...on the piano). I suspect he was just bored in class and was acting out. A kid with ADHD couldn't do that, you mean. People usually lump ADD and ADHD together, but they're not the same; ADHD sufferers are hyperactive to the point of having difficulty sitting still sometimes, while ADD sufferers simply have difficulty delegating what they concentrate on. In fact one of the symptoms is actually "hyperconcentration"; they can focus on one thing for hours to the exclusion of all else, but don't really have much control over what they focus on. So yes, that kid may well have had ADD -- or not, it's hard to tell without tests -- though he obviously didn't have ADHD.Over-diagnosing is an easy way to medicate kids in classrooms so they'll sit in a stupor and "behave". Backwards, sorry. The vast majority of ADD medications are stimulants -- misprescribing them would make children more uncontrollable. Overprescribing isn't a diabolical control method, but flat-out laziness that often ends up making the problem worse. (That is one way ADD and ADHD are detected, in fact -- we respond differently to stimulants than people without ADD or ADHD.)

You're right about there being a lot of overdiagnosis but it bothers me when people can't get the rest of the facts straight -- I've seen people use the same arguments to tell me to my face that a disorder that I live with every day does not exist.

But we're talking about misdiagnosis in children here, not adults. There's no biased push toward medicating adults for ADD the way there is in schools, so it really comes down to how eldar's doctor examined the possibilities. Were you put through any concentration tests, etc, Eldar? Or did your doctor just think it sounded like a good idea?

[pescifish]

...There's no biased push toward medicating adults for ADD the way there is in schools, ... That's the impression I have; I have not heard of "quick to diagnose" for adults as they do children.

With my last boyfriend, the ADD was exactly as Corona describes it. He was not hyperactive or even jittery in spite of being medicated with stimulants and caffeine in excess. Before the diagnosis, he could focus in amazing detail for long periods of time, but rarely on any of the things he knew would produce the results or achieve the goals he wanted. But according to him, the meds helped him choose where his focus went and also allowed him to have enough attention to keep in touch with his surroundings (which is somewhat necessary if one wants to maintain a loving relationship with another person!)

[wei yau]

But I had not heard or read anything about adult ADD being common or over diagnosed. Is there an apparent rise in the diagnosis of adult ADD conditions? I didn't know that.

I've not heard of such a thing, either.

My reluctance to this entire thing had more to do with ADD being over-diganosed in children *and* seen primarily as a children's disorder. I had issues with me being a 35 year-old man diagnosed with a kid's condition (and an over-diagnosed one, at that).

[wei yau]

But we're talking about misdiagnosis in children here, not adults. There's no biased push toward medicating adults for ADD the way there is in schools, so it really comes down to how eldar's doctor examined the possibilities. Were you put through any concentration tests, etc, Eldar? Or did your doctor just think it sounded like a good idea?

Hmm, now I'm having second thoughts and feeling a little bit foolish.

The decision to go on Concerta was primarily mine, after discussing some things with my counselor. I mentioned to my doctor that this was something I'd be interested in (I guess this is why pharmaceutical companies spend so much on advertising).

I wasn't tested in any way to determine if I would be a good candidate for Concerta. I kinda feel that it is helping me, but I can't determine if that's just some kind of placebo affect. And it's only been three days since I started.

[Corona688]

My reluctance to this entire thing had more to do with ADD being over-diganosed in children *and* seen primarily as a children's disorder. I had issues with me being a 35 year-old man diagnosed with a kid's condition (and an over-diagnosed one, at that).No shame in that. There's speculation that a lot of habitual coffee and cigarette use amounts to self-medication for adults with ADD, and it doesn't appear to go away to my knowledge -- I was diagnosed when I was much younger, but I continue to take medication for it even now.
But we're talking about misdiagnosis in children here, not adults. There's no biased push toward medicating adults for ADD the way there is in schools, so it really comes down to how eldar's doctor examined the possibilities. Were you put through any concentration tests, etc, Eldar? Or did your doctor just think it sounded like a good idea?

Hmm, now I'm having second thoughts and feeling a little bit foolish.

The decision to go on Concerta was primarily mine, after discussing some things with my counselor. I mentioned to my doctor that this was something I'd be interested in (I guess this is why pharmaceutical companies spend so much on advertising).

I wasn't tested in any way to determine if I would be a good candidate for Concerta. I kinda feel that it is helping me, but I can't determine if that's just some kind of placebo affect. And it's only been three days since I started.Note -- I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. Your doctor may know things I do not. I am simply relating my experiences, take it with a grain of salt.

The effect of stimulants on people with ADD is profound and immediate -- you wouldn't need to wait 3 days for an effect. Albeit this dramatic effect is dramatic in tests -- it's hard to say whether you'd feel it directly, and I like more objective testing anyway.

Whatever you're feeling, it's unlikely to be placebo effect -- like nearly all ADD drugs, concerta is a fairly hefty stimulant, you will feel better when you take it. But it might not be doing what you think it's doing, and I suspect you already understand it's not healthy to take prescription stimulants for the sheer hell of it. :)

That's what the testing's supposed to tell you. The general procedure seems to be to have you fill out some questionaires, do a batch of tests, give you a pill, wait an hour, and do the tests again. Most of the questionares are there to filter out bad candidates for medication -- past drug abusers, etc. The reaction test goes right to the root of it.

Words are randomly flashed on the screen and you have to click when you see a particular combination of color and words -- this takes concentration. My medicated scores were a fairly normal-looking bell curve, while my unmedicated scores looked almost purely random. Like I said, the effect is dramatic and immediate. Another common test is a sheet full of colored words, like BLUE RED GREEN -- you have to read the color, not the word, and that takes concentration. I haven't been able to find an equivalent online test(at least not for FREE :D) but it shouldn't be too hard to find a videogame or something that roughly models that test.

Your doctor may have assumed your counselor had tested you, or seen something in your medical record you're unaware of, or thinks he knows you well enough to make a diagnosis, or maybye concerta's a low-risk drug, or he knows you well enough to trust you, etc... yet I can't help but feel uncomfortable at his relaxed attitude toward prescription stimulants. "Hey doc, give me uppers!" "You got it!"