55 and still fighting the good fight

Welcome New Member Introduction
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Hi there. This is my first post. Let's see if I can keep this organized for my own sake. Here is a little bit about me. I was Diagnosed August of 2014 at age 54. Please commiserate, comment &/or share.

ORGANIZATION
I feel frustrated and wish I could get a handle on things. I have had improvements in my life over the last several years but my disorganization is disheartening. I have been trying to implement GTD (Getting Things Done by David Allen) for at least 3 years now. I am now to the point at work where I have everything I need to do on a Master List but I don't even want to look at the list (I am pathetic). I have also hired a Professional organizational coach that works with ADHD. I worked with her 3 times and it really made a difference. I am going to work with her again this month because heaven knows I need help. I have also started using the 30 Day Push by Chalene Johnson. That has really made a difference too even though I haven't gotten past the third lesson yet. But as I sit here and watch my piles grown I am upset and overwhelmed. I have the master list thing going here at home to but I haven't looked at it for 3 or 4 weeks now. (ADHD is so good for consistency)

WORK
I also feel like a cheat at work because I watch everyone else working so hard and me trying to find ways to avoid doing my job. It is a blessing from God that I have been here for 8 years this month. The longest job I have ever held in my life. But at 55 years old with no retirement in the bank I feel like a looser. I long for the days when I worked as a temp and could take a break whenever to clean up my piles and reset myself.

MEDICATION
I have played a little bit with medication this past year but I am afraid to commit to taking it regularly. I took my first pill of 40mg of Vyvance yesterday at 9:45am. I had just a little temple headache in the afternoon. The stuff peaks after 3 hours and then only lasts a couple of hours. Today for a short time I did have a quick but good headache. I might just keep taking the pills to see how it goes. I am Keeping a log and have an appointment with my doctor in 2 or 3 weeks.

I could go on but I'll stop here. I am supposed to be working right now, and I have some laundry getting wrinkled in the dryer.

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Hi Tree! The med log will make it easier for your doctor to discuss your medication options. Doctors, especially those with many ADD/ADHD patients, can generalize based on their patient's personal experiences and their medical expertise.There's probably a choice that won't include headaches.:) You may find that, after being on a med for awhile, you'll get revealing information when you don't take it. I don't know which medicines need to build up in your bloodstream and which ones clear out quickly, daily. I think it's good practice to keep your doctor informed of changes so you're making decisions with all the info.

I was diagnosed in my 40's. I've learned that distractions and tangents are fun but that I can't possibly assign them even a medium priority because I won't remember at that time that there are crucial things I really do want to attend to.

What do you like about doing any kind of work? Are you a perfectionist in a way that helps on the job? Are you fast? A problem-solver? What does your employer rely on you to do?

I know that I like to do a good job, and that becoming overloaded can be overwhelming. A friend has asked me to help at her office. I'm excited and very focused now. Sometimes I can't stay that way but I like the work so the odds are better that I'll find a way to succeed.