posted
I'm wondering if people have experienced ADD/ADHD symptoms in connection with their Lyme and/or have been diagnosed with it. I have been treated extensively for Lyme, and am in remission (knock on wood!) and consider myself extremely lucky. I do have some residual effects, though, that make me think I have ADD or ADD-like symptoms, whether or not related to Lyme. I guess I'm trying to sort out whether it's ADD (whether or not caused by my Lyme) or whether it is the residual effect of the Lyme (I had major cognitive impairments from my Lyme resulting from brain swelling). Maybe in the end it doesn't matter, but either way I think I need help with it.
If people have been diagnosed with ADD, what have your symptoms been? Do your LLMDs think it's connected to your Lyme or resulted from your Lyme? What medications have worked for you? What medications have been problematic?
My symptoms are that I have: inattention to detail, constantly make careless mistakes resulting in poor reviews in job performance--no matter how hard I try to concentrate to avoid mistakes, I am constantly switching up what I am doing--can't just sit down and write a long paper for work, I can't read anything for work straight through, I have to stop and read my email every few minutes, or chew gum or play bejeweled blitz( ) every minute or so, making me very inefficient and making me lose my train of thought, can't sit through the news, even things I love I leave incomplete, etc.
I would be ETERNALLY grateful for any help/wisdom!!!!
Posts: 20 | From Chicago, IL | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
I think my daughter would be diagnosed with ADD if I hadn't taken her to a LL neuropsych for testing. He called it cognitive disorder - NOS. He said she would appear to have ADD in a classroom.
A teacher that worked with ADD kids told me that ADD is a cluster of symptoms that may have many different causes. He named food allergies, hypoglycemia, iron defiency. He has seen kids with ADD improve when these problems were addressed.
Of course, we would all add Lyme as a cause of ADD, probably.
Most people treating ADD don't consider these natural causes so maybe regular ADD meds would help you, even if it is caused by Lyme.
Posts: 984 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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lymeparfait
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posted
Just got hojme from a psych appt. with diagnosis of ADHD for my child with lyme.
Herlyme is now in remission, but she still has the problems associated wit ADHD , eexactly as you describe. They can gauge whether it was before lyme or after...by the time of the onset of noticing your symptoms, or your mother noticing your symptoms, unless it's congenital lyme.
There are stimulant and non-stimulant forms of meds that you can try after a diagnosis, to see if they help with the focus. YOu do not need them each day, unless you are in a demanding job that requires your focus.
Recommended to those with ADHD, to find a career that does not demand intense focus. A more creative career or one that allows for mental breaks. Therfore not needing meds to survive if your daily regular activites are not impacted negetively or your personal relationships by it.
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) every minute or so, making me very inefficient and making me lose my train of thought, can't sit through the news, even things I love I leave incomplete, etc. 
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