Poll of the Day > Finally getting treatment for ADHD starting today

(+) Yeah! (+)

It has been a struggle for probably 17 years at this point. Recently with work duties changing I reached my limit. Today I saw the doctor, did some tests. There is a wait to see a psychiatrist and that's going to take a few months to get fit in. The doctor was confident I will get a formal diagnosis that first appointment. Initially, we weren't going to discuss medication until after the diagnosis. Then I got home and got a call from the doctor. She is concerned with the wait time and thinks it will be beneficial to get started with very low dose medication now and see how it goes.

Fingers crossed that this helps. Just waiting to hear from the pharmacy when the script is ready. I will be blown away if I can actually sit down and do my coursework in chunks longer than 10 minutes at a time. Or actually get a load of laundry folded.

Damn you, novelty-seeking brain that does poorly with the daily tedium of modern society.
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It helps me a lot.

yay drugs
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Smarkil posted...

yay drugs

if they help then yay indeed

MNTwins1991 posted...

It helps me a lot.

doc thinks they'll do me a lot of good, and my friends with medication all report positive things.

That's no guarantee it will do good things for me, but won't know until I try
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Looks like the medication is 18mg concerta, i have a 21 day supply. Today is day 1. So far nothing. it probably hasn't kicked in yet.
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Now I feel a little focused

It's like ignoring things in the periphery

And all the random thought chatter is not even on the radar if I don't want it to be.


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I love my meds. It's nice to have my willpower back so I can get things done.
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Lightning Bolt posted...

I love my meds. It's nice to have my willpower back so I can get things done.

Yeah. it's not like i didn't want to get things done, or never did anything. I just... didn't get the right things done when I needed to.
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I know it's a bit controversial about giving kids these sort of meds but they really help my 11 yr old stepdaughter.

Before, she was all over the place and easily upset, plus there were complaints from teachers. Now things are much easier for all of us. She still talks non-stop but its not in crazy random circles anymore.

Good luck tc. Hope it works for you.
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I wish you the best Foxx. I truly hope this works out for you.
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I took some stuff for my add when i was a kid, i stopped around middle school/jr. high
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GeT bEtTeR sOoN bUdDy!
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did you get a prescription for a fidget spinner?
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Firewood18 posted...

I know it's a bit controversial about giving kids these sort of meds but they really help my 11 yr old stepdaughter.

Before, she was all over the place and easily upset, plus there were complaints from teachers. Now things are much easier for all of us. She still talks non-stop but its not in crazy random circles anymore.

Good luck tc. Hope it works for you.

Thanks Firewood! I think the medication is helpful for the people it is meant for, but lots of people attempt to abuse things like ritalin for fun. Psych medication can be a powerful tool that improves lives. it can also ruin lives through misuse.

I can say it has been 2 hours since taking the pill and there's definitely more ability to filter my thoughts and pick focus. keep things in the background in the background. Got a little pile of work completed and organized my next task for the afternoon. Taking a moment to make tea. I hope it stays like this.

MannerSaurus posted...

I wish you the best Foxx. I truly hope this works out for you.

Thank you, MannerSaurus. I hope so as well.
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Psychiatrists are only good for diagnoses, the real heavy psych drugs (for people with major problems like schizophrenia) and people who need to be checked on.

They'll more than likely off label prescribe you, over diagnose and over prescribe you. An initial visit with a psychiatrist should involve a lot of questions and take upwards of an hour, additional visits are nearly pointless and only serve to check up on the patient, to see if they need more/less drugs. IF your first visit only takes a few minutes and essentially consists of the psych trying to quickly prove you have ADHD, congrats your psych is a useless asshole! But hey, you got what you wanted right?

Once you have a diagnosis, you can work with your normal doctor on medications for that specific mental issue. It's cheaper, easier, and you are far less likely to be taken advantage of by a doctor who is getting paid to shill experimental drugs out to their patients. Unless of course thats what you want. Like most people.

And one other thing TC, you should be very open to the fact that ADHD has no empirical evidence to suggest it is even real. It's most likely a symptom of another mental issue you have, possibly bipolar mania. You're far better off with this in mind. If you really want help and change anyway. Unless of course you're really just like every other person on prescription meth out there and just want to get high :)
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That's my favorite band
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PPPPLAASSUMA posted...

Psychiatrists are only good for diagnoses, the real heavy psych drugs (for people with major problems like schizophrenia) and people who need to be checked on.

They'll more than likely off label prescribe you, over diagnose and over prescribe you. An initial visit with a psychiatrist should involve a lot of questions and take upwards of an hour, additional visits are nearly pointless and only serve to check up on the patient, to see if they need more/less drugs. IF your first visit only takes a few minutes and essentially consists of the psych trying to quickly prove you have ADHD, congrats your psych is a useless asshole! But hey, you got what you wanted right?

That's honestly not what i want. I would like a proper assessment. The psych appointments do take a couple hours. I just can't get in to see one this year. So the doctor started me on the lowest dose of extended release meds to see if there's any benefit.

PPPPLAASSUMA posted...

Once you have a diagnosis, you can work with your normal doctor on medications for that specific mental issue. It's cheaper, easier, and you are far less likely to be taken advantage of by a doctor who is getting paid to shill experimental drugs out to their patients. Unless of course thats what you want. Like most people.

And one other thing TC, you should be very open to the fact that ADHD has no empirical evidence to suggest it is even real. It's most likely a symptom of another mental issue you have, possibly bipolar mania. You're far better off with this in mind. If you really want help and change anyway. Unless of course you're really just like every other person on prescription meth out there and just want to get high :)

Someone has a chip on their shoulder!

ADHD not real? I think you need to read more modern studies. Like, last decade kind of modern. things have come a long way from the early '90s and kids being overdiagnosed and prescribed. And it's turning out that many people that were diagnosed as depressed or anxious (primarily women) were people with untreated ADHD overwhelmed by life.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/202997.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100929191312.htm

https://qz.com/914046/proof-that-adhd-is-a-brain-disorder-the-brains-of-those-with-adhd-are-smaller-than-the-rest-of-the-population/

If ADHD were manic episodes of bipolar disorder, the symptoms would come and go like manic periods. Medication would exacerbate the mania (you can't take this medication if you are bipolar).

ADHD can potentially be managed for some by a drastic change of environment and lifestyle better suited to a brain like that, but that's not happening for me.
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I have adhd. Needed the drugs through school. But in work life I'm a programmer and better without them. The drugs seriously harm your ability to make friends and be sociable.
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ThatHappySack posted...

GeT bEtTeR sOoN bUdDy!

ThAnK yOu BuDdY

JOExHIGASHI posted...

did you get a prescription for a fidget spinner?

no,i have been abusing street spinners recreationally

SinisterSlay posted...

I have adhd. Needed the drugs through school. But in work life I'm a programmer and better without them. The drugs seriously harm your ability to make friends and be sociable.

That's a sign you've got yourself into something good for you to work on.

I'm doing design classes right now and it has SUCKED trying to keep myself focused on task. So hard. like a 1.5 hour class took me around 4 to work through. I'm going to try and work on some more modules and see how that goes.

How did you feel it impact you socially, if you don't mind me asking? Different behavior?
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I'm too disciplined to let ADHD get to me.
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jmikla posted...

I'm too disciplined to let ADHD get to me.

who am i kidding, you clearly do


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Doctor Foxx posted...

no,i have been abusing street spinners recreationally

Get help Foxx, I've seen too many go down this path of recreational spinners lol!
But seriously, I'm happy for you Foxx, I hope the adjustment goes smoothly!
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Doctor Foxx posted...

How did you feel it impact you socially, if you don't mind me asking? Different behavior?

It's really hard to describe. Conversations just don't flow. Others could explain it better. But it's much easier to follow social cues without the drug.
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Melon_Master posted...

Doctor Foxx posted...

no,i have been abusing street spinners recreationally

Get help Foxx, I've seen too many go down this path of recreational spinners lol!
But seriously, I'm happy for you Foxx, I hope the adjustment goes smoothly!

I just got it for my cats but then I found myself using it night and day and it's ruining my life

#mystrangeaddiction

Thanks Melon. I'm not totally sold on it, I'm hoping there may be non medication routes to help (even in conjunction with meds). Like how SSRI and CBT are both effective on their own and much more effective together.

But this is just the first day and it's still pretty early. I do feel like it helped me at work today. Everything was pretty organized at the end of the day. Normally there's a get everything together scramble but it was just done.

I did get a big pile of work complete, and I felt motivated to go to the store to get some healthy food for meal prep stuff. Going to have a big salad tonight and attempt to watch a movie and do some room cleaning. If I can actually get through a whole movie I'll know something's up.
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Doctor Foxx posted...

Today I saw the doctor

So you saw....yourself? :P

Doctor Foxx posted...

Yeah. it's not like i didn't want to get things done, or never did anything. I just... didn't get the right things done when I needed to.

Well, when your choices are real life things or video games, video games are always the clear winner in what should be being done!

On topic though, hope the meds work out for you!
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AllstarSniper32 posted...

Well, when your choices are real life things or video games, video games are always the clear winner in what should be being done!

On topic though, hope the meds work out for you!

That's part of the problem. I haven't been able to even sit down and play video games for more than maybe 20 minutes. For a while. I think Diablo may have been the last decent play session. I've been able to focus on... photography. Going out on walks. But not anything I need to sit down and do (standing and playing didn't help)

Thanks though!
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What about what about!!! Getting a tread mil so you can walk while gaming!!! I know a streamer that does that!

Ah Diablo, should have another session whenever the next season starts!
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SinisterSlay posted...

Doctor Foxx posted...

How did you feel it impact you socially, if you don't mind me asking? Different behavior?

It's really hard to describe. Conversations just don't flow. Others could explain it better. But it's much easier to follow social cues without the drug.

Mmm well thank you for the input and sharing your experience. I'm going to make sure my friends know what's going on with me and they can step in if I'm acting like a weirdo. More than normal anyway. Those social cues are not my strong suit.
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With hyperactivity huh? Weird. Figure you be thinner, ok?
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Day 3. Getting more done at work. Distractions are not so bad. I can focus on the task at hand and extra noises don't derail me. I've gone home, done my dishes, and prepped/cooked healthy meals each night without even really thinking about it. I even made it through a movie the other night and it was good. (Otherlife, worth a watch on Netflix)

One thing I have really noticed is much less fidgeting. I used to have to use my hands to remember things. What I mean by that is I'd make scissor cutting motions with my hands to remember to get scissors, or stapler squeezing motions for the stapler, pen clicking motions for a pen, etc. Now I just remember and get it. And I don't twitch my legs and tap my fingers while waiting for everything.

phone calls feel a little weird though, not sure what that is just yet. Talking to people I am talking a little too much at times.

Overall it seems to be helping a little bit but I still need to work to get my own shit together.
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My doctor put me on Vyvanse for my ADHD but it made me feel crazy and gave me palpitations. He switched me to Adderall XR and that's been working OK for a few months now but I find my symptoms coming back in the afternoon so he switched me to regular Adderall twice a day instead of one XR in the morning. I start the two a day tomorrow.
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Action53 posted...

My doctor put me on Vyvanse for my ADHD but it made me feel crazy and gave me palpitations. He switched me to Adderall XR and that's been working OK for a few months now but I find my symptoms coming back in the afternoon so he switched me to regular Adderall twice a day instead of one XR in the morning. I start the two a day tomorrow.

Ohh. Vyvanse looks like a newer medication.

Good luck with your new prescription, hope it works for you!
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Adhd meds are great for weight loss. Hot doc fox incoming?
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Doctor Foxx posted...

Thanks Melon. I'm not totally sold on it, I'm hoping there may be non medication routes to help (even in conjunction with meds). Like how SSRI and CBT are both effective on their own and much more effective together.

But this is just the first day and it's still pretty early. I do feel like it helped me at work today. Everything was pretty organized at the end of the day. Normally there's a get everything together scramble but it was just done.

I did get a big pile of work complete, and I felt motivated to go to the store to get some healthy food for meal prep stuff. Going to have a big salad tonight and attempt to watch a movie and do some room cleaning. If I can actually get through a whole movie I'll know something's up.

Glad to hear it's helping you focus and get more done!
But I know the feeling with movies, it's gotten harder to stay focused anymore; I think we've been spoiled with shows like GoT lol.
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Melon_Master posted...

Glad to hear it's helping you focus and get more done!
But I know the feeling with movies, it's gotten harder to stay focused anymore; I think we've been spoiled with shows like GoT lol.

Hah! I marathoned GoT this spring and summer and I had to follow with the GoT wiki to keep track of it. It was good tv but damn hard to follow.

Everything these days is chopped down for short attention spans and so many things want your attention all the time. It sucks.

Anyway I'm very nauseated and sweaty today what a fun combo
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I wrote out a whole response about how I've suspected that I might have slight adhd for a while now but I didn't feel I could word it right so I deleted the whole thing and posted this instead. :)

GunslingerGunsl posted...

I wrote out a whole response about how I've suspected that I might have slight adhd for a while now but I didn't feel I could word it right so I deleted the whole thing and posted this instead. :)

You going to go see a doctor about it? Or do you find it's not really interfering with things for you?
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Doctor Foxx posted...

GunslingerGunsl posted...

I wrote out a whole response about how I've suspected that I might have slight adhd for a while now but I didn't feel I could word it right so I deleted the whole thing and posted this instead. :)

You going to go see a doctor about it? Or do you find it's not really interfering with things for you?

I don't think it's serious enough to warrant medication. I think I just need to set limits and rules for myself... Well idk. Like trying to explain exactly what is wrong is difficult for me. I just can't seem to find the words that explain the problem exactly how I want. I almost gave up writing this post like 3 different times.

I've noticed that social media and it's bite-size presented material is something that I lose myself in. I scroll through instagram and will keep scrolling for long periods of time which initially makes it seem like I don't have a problem with staying focused on something. In reality, I think it's because it's such a constant stream of bite size pieces of information that it plays right into the fact that I can't focus on one thing for too long. I can't start movies on Netflix because I just end up looking through what is available until I just give up on it all. I barely play games anymore because as soon as I start one, I'll decide I don't want to play anymore. I feel like I speak too fast sometimes because my words can't keep up with my mind. I used to think I just had anxiety but I feel like it might just be related to add because my mind is always racing.

Oh hey that whole last paragraph pretty much came as one stream of thought. Lol

I'm still at work btw and have not finished my note that I'm supposed to write.

Doctor Foxx posted...

Hah! I marathoned GoT this spring and summer and I had to follow with the GoT wiki to keep track of it. It was good tv but damn hard to follow.

I must be strange.. I enjoy the the windy plot lines.

Doctor Foxx posted...

Everything these days is chopped down for short attention spans and so many things want your attention all the time. It sucks.

So true..

Doctor Foxx posted...

Anyway I'm very nauseated and sweaty today what a fun combo

Uh oh lol..
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Had a pre-birthday celebration meal with friends. Decided to have a beer with my meal.

hoooly heck wow no this is not good with alcohol. One single pint, which was a struggle to finish (should have tipped me off) and it fucked me right up. Have felt totally nauseous since. No warnings on the label. Certainly not getting work done tonight.

First beer in at least 4 months, too. That's too bad. Oh well, easy lesson. :(

GunslingerGunsl posted...

I don't think it's serious enough to warrant medication. I think I just need to set limits and rules for myself... Well idk. Like trying to explain exactly what is wrong is difficult for me. I just can't seem to find the words that explain the problem exactly how I want. I almost gave up writing this post like 3 different times.

I've noticed that social media and it's bite-size presented material is something that I lose myself in. I scroll through instagram and will keep scrolling for long periods of time which initially makes it seem like I don't have a problem with staying focused on something. In reality, I think it's because it's such a constant stream of bite size pieces of information that it plays right into the fact that I can't focus on one thing for too long. I can't start movies on Netflix because I just end up looking through what is available until I just give up on it all. I barely play games anymore because as soon as I start one, I'll decide I don't want to play anymore. I feel like I speak too fast sometimes because my words can't keep up with my mind. I used to think I just had anxiety but I feel like it might just be related to add because my mind is always racing.

Oh hey that whole last paragraph pretty much came as one stream of thought. Lol

I feel that. What you wrote feels familiar. Discipline is good and all but it's not always enough for everyone, and resolve wears--especially with ADHD people as they are noteworthy for impulsiveness. I was doing well enough for a good long time and then everything was too much. The more things I tried to get done the more I buried myself with directionless actions. That was a while ago. I finally got sorted out enough to want to do something about it.

You may be on to something with your anxiety coming from adhd. hard to say. anxiety is really common with adhd people (moreso with people not being treated), as is depression. If you have the ability to you could go seek a professional to see if that's the root for you. I don't know if the anxiety I have is tied to adhd or not. At times I have felt that I am anxious because of being overwhelmed with my shortcomings and the extra work they create (not getting things done, misplacing things, poor time awareness, inefficient time management, wandering thoughts, disorganization, etc.). Just always knowing and thinking about that stuff and failing to get everything done. It's tiring for sure.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-best-strategies-managing-adult-adhd/201303/when-adult-addadhd-goes-untreated-adult-adhd

Many clinicians were taught that if someone presents with depression and ADHD, first treat the depression and THEN treat the ADHD. In my opinion this is just backward thinking. Very often, the patient feels depressed, frustrated, and has lost interest in work and other activities, but this can be because he has experienced one failure after another or has gone from one job to the next. In our experience at the Hallowell Center, when you treat the ADHD, the person begins to acquire the ability to achieve their goals, improve relationships, meet deadlines, remember to pick up the children, avoid accidents on the road, remember their tickets before driving to the airport and feel a lot more competent, confident and happy.

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Doctor Foxx posted...

Had a pre-birthday celebration meal with friends. Decided to have a beer with my meal.

hoooly heck wow no this is not good with alcohol. One single pint, which was a struggle to finish (should have tipped me off) and it fucked me right up. Have felt totally nauseous since. No warnings on the label. Certainly not getting work done tonight.

First beer in at least 4 months, too. That's too bad. Oh well, easy lesson. :(

Oh yeah.. say goodbye to alcohol early on, it just isn't worth it.
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Melon_Master posted...

Oh yeah.. say goodbye to alcohol early on, it just isn't worth it.

I haven't drank anything since the beginning of July anyway. Just wanted a birthday pint. Now I know for sure.

I had read this drug in other forms (like ritalin) people intentionally mix with alcohol to get drunk longer. but as concerta with the long release it really is not good. but it is not in the patient papers, on their website, was not told by the doctor, etc.

Am cool with not drinking, heck it's even nice to have the excuse not to

Melon_Master posted...

I must be strange.. I enjoy the the windy plot lines.

it's not the plot, it's telling all the people apart!

They introduce SO MANY in season 2 and they're just white people in different kinds of armor. Eh. It all started coming together in the later seasons.
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Doctor Foxx posted...

jmikla posted...

I'm too disciplined to let ADHD get to me.

who am i kidding, you clearly do

Just a badge, please. A medal weighs down... unlike the diagnosis of ADHD that I am in complete control of.
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ehhh, just concentrate like a regular person. All these ADHD things are such bull, do you honestly think people want to fold laundry or concentrate at work (obviously not all people, but most don't) of course not. People rather do something more fun, but the reality of life is different.

All these ADHD things is just bull to pass the blame for your lack of maturity.

It's either do or die in the world, not "I can't concentrate, so I need meds lol"

Lack of concentration, what a joke.
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Viking_Mudcrap posted...

All these ADHD things are such bull, do you honestly think people want to fold laundry or concentrate at work (obviously not all people, but most don't) of course not

I don't know about you but yes I want to do those things. I also want to watch a movie, listen through a whole phone call or face to face conversation without daydreaming, read books, remember things without 2 dozen notifications on my phone every day, play video games... Stuff that hasn't been happening

Anyway glad you're not a professional thanks for sharing a thought about something you clearly don't understand
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Doctor Foxx posted...

I don't know about you but yes I want to do those things. I also want to watch a movie, listen through a whole phone call or face to face conversation without daydreaming, read books, remember things without 2 dozen notifications on my phone every day, play video games... Stuff that hasn't been happening

This to me happens daily, it's called concentrating on the task at hand.

Doctor Foxx posted...

Anyway glad you're not a professional thanks for sharing a thought about something you clearly don't understand

You don't know my life.
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Viking_Mudcrap posted...

You don't know my life.

I do know for certain that you're not a professional spouting things like that, what is this the 1970s
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Holy shit, @Viking_Mudcrap !!! Where have you been all this time?? I miss you, bro!

I need to know... am...am I still virgo??
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ZiggiStardust posted...

Holy shit, @Viking_Mudcrap !!! Where have you been all this time?? I miss you, bro!

I need to know... am...am I still virgo??

What up Ziggi, and idk, you tell me:

https://imgur.com/a/mf1OD

Doctor Foxx posted...

Viking_Mudcrap posted...

You don't know my life.

I do know for certain that you're not a professional spouting things like that, what is this the 1970s

So, for certain (like 100% sure) you know I am not a "professional"?

Nice assumption.
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