ADHD and WLS

So I think I have mentioned this before... I have ADHD. I was diagnosed when I was 14 but the choices for helping it weren't the best when I was diagnosed. My parents and I had chosen for me to learn to deal with it and cope. I have done a REALLY good job at managing it... until now.

I am in the beginning of my career (starting a bit late... but it took me 28 years to truly find my passion) as a Graphic Designer and it is a demanding job. I am also a mother of two little boys, one starting kindergarten and the other starting preschool. My focus is being pulled so much and I am finding it difficult to manage my ADHD anymore. 

With my surgery approaching in 4 days (eek!!) I am concerned about my ADHD post-op and being able to keep focus on plan. 

Does anyone else here have experience with ADHD and surgery? I guess I would like to know I am not alone when it comes to this. Those of you who do struggle, do you take medication? If I do decide to do medication, how will my surgery affect it?

Thanks guys for all your help!! I am so close now... I can't wait to get this wild ride going! I just hope my mind doesn't get in the way. haha

​Oh look, a butterfly! 
 

Hi Jennifer,

I will be very interested in hearing everyone's response as well. I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult by the doctor that I worked for. I started taking medication and WOW, what a difference!!. Everything went from turbo speed to slow motion. I was able to focus and complete my work tasks in a timely manner. My brain actually shuts down at night and I am able to sleep without a million thoughts dominating me. I wish that I had taking meds while in college, because my it would've made life a whole lot easier.

BUT if you have made it his far without meds, I know that you will be able to make it through this as well. I have my surgery in three weeks and my biggest worry is keeping up with the food plan. I am happy that I have the meds to help me to maintain my focus. I still get distracted, but not by everything. Example...I saw the same butterfly that you did, but I could wait until the end of my thought to tell you about it.... ..... I know this is a taboo subject with a lot of people, so I just wanted to give you my experiences. My surgeon is aware that I am on meds for ADHD and it has not been an issue. As always, talk with your doctor about what would be best for you. Good luck with your surgery!!! Welcome to the rest of your life. 

Well life is drastically changing and the ways I coped before are no longer working and, in some ways, making the symptoms worse solely because of how much things are changing for me. I don't want to take medication long term, I hate that, but I was reading that sometimes, during times of change, temporary medication is appropriate. The biggest issue is that as I am beginning my career, it is VERY difficult to manage the time for that and my children... I also avoid going to places my children love to go because I am worried I will become distracted and then they will get hurt (its happened before too... it is why I avoid those places). My coping skills use to be to meditate, stay quiet, and focus my mind... with two small boys, that is impossible and makes me feel more anxious than when I don't.

My PCP actually had treated my ADHD with antidepressants... she claimed its how they treat it in adults now. Umm... for starters, it made me feel worse, not better... and secondly I did research and I couldn't find ONE piece of information that said to use antidepressants to treat it. In fact, I found information stating the opposite, that people with ADHD are sometimes mistaken for having depression because the symptoms of ADHD cause them to feel depressed... so they are giving antidepressants and it never solves the issue. A friend of mine, who also has ADHD, got the proper medication from her doctor so I thought about going to him... So we will see. It will be after my surgery that this is addressed (my surgery is on the 10th). I know medication will work because a few years ago I took adipex to lose weight but the best side affect was that I could take my kids places without being overwhelmed or feeling distracted... I could work on my school work and listen to my kid jabber in my ear at the same time... I could just think at a normal rate! It was wonderful! I did research and found adipex and ADHD medications are similar because they are stimulants. So I know medication will work, on a temporary basis, to help me get things back on track.

Thanks for your input! Its nice to know I am not alone in this!

I had surgery dec of 2011. I began taking ADHD meds 6 months ago. It helped MAJORLY with impulsive eating. part of ADHD is impulse control challenges and the compulsive obsessive thought patterns. I did not lose weight because of taking the meds but the meds treated symptoms that caused weight loss and focus to become easier. I say that because the first few weeks on the meds, I gained 4 pds. I was so mellow. A sign they look for in treating adult onset or adult diagnosed ADHD is the effect on weight and mood. I was more mellow witht he meds and not losing drastic amounts of weight.

Thank you for sharing! It is so great to know I am not alone. You are right about being impulsive and the obsessive thoughts... I look forward to those being chilled out. I plan to take to a doctor when I return from my surgery about getting my adhd under control. I know my weight has MUCH more do to than my ADHD because my whole family (we are talking 60 different people on my moms side) have serious struggles with weight... so its more that my ADHD but my ADHD is a hurdle in getting the life I deserve. It needs to get taken care of as soon as possible so that I can have the best outcome I can with this surgery.

Thanks again for sharing your story!