A
AnonymousADHD
Guest
I was diagnosed about 35 years ago with "Adult ADHD" and started on medication, which was ritalin, then briefly, Adderal, then finally Vyvanse. Over time, the dosage was reduced because the side effects of such stimulant medications were had to live with.
I was always in doubt about this diagnosis. It came in a high-stress time of my life, our son seemed likely to have ADHD, and the whole "adult ADHD" thing was in the media all the time. So I thought I'd give it a try. In addition, I consulted with a psychiatrist for a total of maybe 10 minutes in which I recited the symptoms I'd read from books, which I did feel at the time I had to a certain degree. She immediately said it was adult ADHD and prescribed the medication. I'd heard these stimulant medications in fact wouldn't over-stimulate someone with ADHD like they would a "normal" person.
So for 35 years I lived feeling like I had a balled-up fist in my stomach, waking up 3-5 times every night, being irritable and impatient... being told I'd had too much caffeine!
So in January 2022 I just stopped taking the Vyvanse. I kept filling the prescription in case I did in fact need it, but I've saved the bottles and medication as proof I didn't take it.
The result has been wonderful. That fist is gone from my belly. I sleep normally. I"m much less irritable in general, and happier.
I confided all this to my Primary Care Physician after about 6 months and he concurred it sounded like a bad diagnosis and a good call to drop the Vyvanse. he also said if I got all my documentation together, he thought there was a good chance to get the diagnosis rescinded and removed from my medical history.
At this point, enter my aviation dreams! I realize that the 3rd class medical doesn't ask about rescinded diagnoses, but is a historical question, "Have you ever..." so I will obviously have to say "yes" to the ADHD questions.
My question for you all and any qualified folks on here, is would there be any value at all in pursuing the rescinding of the diagnosis and the removal of that item from my history? Would that have any impact on my airman's medical process, positive or negative?
Thanks for your time. I'm a regular on this forum and have gone the anonymous route for this post, but I want you to know I"m not a drop-in. I read this forum every single day and love it, and hope some day to be flying if I can get past the medical barrier.
I was always in doubt about this diagnosis. It came in a high-stress time of my life, our son seemed likely to have ADHD, and the whole "adult ADHD" thing was in the media all the time. So I thought I'd give it a try. In addition, I consulted with a psychiatrist for a total of maybe 10 minutes in which I recited the symptoms I'd read from books, which I did feel at the time I had to a certain degree. She immediately said it was adult ADHD and prescribed the medication. I'd heard these stimulant medications in fact wouldn't over-stimulate someone with ADHD like they would a "normal" person.
So for 35 years I lived feeling like I had a balled-up fist in my stomach, waking up 3-5 times every night, being irritable and impatient... being told I'd had too much caffeine!
So in January 2022 I just stopped taking the Vyvanse. I kept filling the prescription in case I did in fact need it, but I've saved the bottles and medication as proof I didn't take it.
The result has been wonderful. That fist is gone from my belly. I sleep normally. I"m much less irritable in general, and happier.
I confided all this to my Primary Care Physician after about 6 months and he concurred it sounded like a bad diagnosis and a good call to drop the Vyvanse. he also said if I got all my documentation together, he thought there was a good chance to get the diagnosis rescinded and removed from my medical history.
At this point, enter my aviation dreams! I realize that the 3rd class medical doesn't ask about rescinded diagnoses, but is a historical question, "Have you ever..." so I will obviously have to say "yes" to the ADHD questions.
My question for you all and any qualified folks on here, is would there be any value at all in pursuing the rescinding of the diagnosis and the removal of that item from my history? Would that have any impact on my airman's medical process, positive or negative?
Thanks for your time. I'm a regular on this forum and have gone the anonymous route for this post, but I want you to know I"m not a drop-in. I read this forum every single day and love it, and hope some day to be flying if I can get past the medical barrier.
