Adult, new to group w/ ADD has questions.

[Guest guest]

I have some questions and I want to share what it has been like

growing up with ADD so people might know what thier children might

face if they do not work hard at dealing with the problem. I have

known for years that I had something wrong with me and for the past 8

years that it was was ADD and possibly ADHD. I was born in 1950. I

don't know if the vacinations back then had traces of mercury in them.

Over the years I have thought of ADD as a gift and a curse. As far as

creativity goes ADD can be wonderful but in many ways my life has been

a living hell; bringing me to the depths of suicide ideation often and

I followed through with my thoughts to completion once. By the grace

of God I am still alive. Many years ago before we heard of ADD a

theripst asked my why I wanted to kill myself. I told her because when

it came to life, I had a very short attention span.

My best grade in school was a D and I dropped out of school at age 16

because I would have failed. I was adamant that I wasn't going to

repeat the year; yet I applied and was hired at the Naval Research Lab

in Wash. DC at that age. (I just looked up the word naval because I

still can not remember if it is spelled navel or naval) I had a very

high IQ. I am self educated and at age 50 my 3rd wife talked me into

getting my GED and aced the exam. I have had more jobs then even a

person without ADD could remember. I get lost driving in my home town,

forget important appointments and hate to move because it may take me

months to be able to remember my new home phone number and address.

Then a few years later I suddenly won't remember it again for a day or

two. I tried going to college at age 51 but failed misurably. Without

a degree(s) I can't get an interview. When I do get a job, I become a

manager quickly and have been promoted to positons created to take

advantage of my creativity and problem solving skills. I loose my jobs

just as quick. I have actually worked my way out of many jobs by

solving company problems. Still, I can't go to a large corporation and

tell them I am a genious and can fix any problem in the company if

they will let me observe the situation for a few weeks. Without a MBA

they say no way.

My question is this. When I was about 6 years old I some how broke a

thermometer in my mouth. My older brother drained the mercury into a

jar lid and I remember playing with it. Being 6, I am guessing I might

have pushed that facinating mercury around with my fingers. At age 12 I

had a chemestry lab and managed to get a hold of some mecuric oxide. I

wanted to heat the powder up and watch it turn into mercury. I am sure

I inhailed the fumes and possibly touched the powder. I was not

wearing gloves, protective eye wear or a mask. ( Hey I was twelve).

So, would those events explain my condition? Should I be tested now for

mercury poisoning or would it be to late for accurate results? What

treatments are available? I am sure I could read a lot and figure all

of this out myself but to be honest at age 54 I don't care enough to

do it. But then thats probably because I have ADD.

Thanks,