"Life with AD/HD" thread

[Chikenbutwut]

I am so going to google that, nikki lol. Yes they do get consumed on certain things. My 8 year olds is anything mechanical and my 6 year old is dinosaurs and insects (but he's terrified of spiders).
Oh it really is great when they have a good week at school, I flinch every time my phone rings invade it the school telling me to get there and sort one of them out because they can't cope.
I'm glad your boys doing well and has caught up, I'm hoping mine can too but it's doubtful as there's only 7 weeks left of school before they finish for the summer holidays. When he foes back in September it going to be a nightmare as he will be in a different class with a different teacher. I don't know about yours but my boys don't cope with change at all.

Yep, my daughter gets consumed in certain books. She'll read the whole series in no time flat, lol! That an anything to do with cats. We keep joking with her that when she becomes elderly that she's gonna be the little old cat lady, lol!!

She's terrified of spiders too. So am I, but we only get little spiders in the house that I have no issue with squishing. I've always tried not to let my fear of spiders show, but she's scared of them anyway. Thing is though, she's scared of ALL insects. This child screams at the top of her lungs if one gets in the car. I almost got in an accident trying to kill a spider 'cause she was trying to climb out of her toddler seat, and I'm trying to kill the spider and drive at the same time. She goes ballistic over flies and moths that get into the car too though. She was in the bathroom the other day and came screaming out of there like a banshee as fast as her little legs could carry her screaming, "I've got a tick on me, I've got a tick on me!!" You'd think the world was about to end the way she carried on. Goofy kid, lol!

Oh, btw, the dog in your avatar is gorgeous!!

Thank god school is out for the summer

I hear ya there!

 

[nikki1]

I was lucky that my older sister went through the system first with her high-performing autistic son. (Who was an unholy terror in pre-3rd grade, but who got his Eagle Scout, graduated high school with honors, and has now successfully completed his first year in college!) This is what she taught me:

1. Sometimes you're going to have to be The Mom From Hell to get your child's needs met. In between rampages, be the world's sweetest, most helpful mom. Send cookies on party days. Send little cards to folks that work with your child. Volunteer in the classroom if your job permits. Earns you a lot of brownie points for when you really need them.

2. In June, sit down with the principal, discuss your needs, and hand-pick your child's teacher.

3. Remind everyone concerned that if your child's needs are met EVERYONE will be lots happier. Some kids will quietly accept unmet needs, but ours aren't among them.

From my own perspective, a 504 plan is your best friend. A medical AD/HD diagnosis is enough to get one underway. Talk to the school counselor to get the ball rolling. My son's plan includes directions for preferential seating in class, accommodations for transitions, and lunch check-ins to assure he's eaten his lunch. (He's a maniac when he doesn't eat!) A 504 is a LEGALLY BINDING document, so if its not being followed, you have some serious teeth.

As far as meds, I started off by only telling the people that had any business knowing. I took a lot of flak, too. My own mother was pretty judgmental. After I did more research, I started advocating more and being more up-front, but until I really knew my stuff I kept it to myself. There's a good book by Dr. Thomas Brown called something like "ADD: a Disordered Mind." He does a great, if pretty technical, job of describing the effects, side-effects, and long-term benefits of medications.

Have a great week, everyone! Another week and a half of school here for us!

--Nikki

 

[nikki1]

One of THOSE days. Third-to-last day of school, DS's teacher out on a family emergency...Can we all say "disaster?" Sadly, the sub is a former student and dear friend of mine, so I felt really bad.

On the other hand, the substitute dropped by after school to show me her new puppy, and while I was snuggling him, he piddled on me. I think it evened the score a little!

Better day tomorrow!

--Nikki

p.s. Smiley chosen by my daughter, Katie.

 

[nikki1]

So, how is everybody doing? Surviving the start of summer? Hey! None of us will get a call from school for 3 whole months! Neighbors, maybe, but not the principal!!!! That's gotta be worth something.

--Nikki

 

[saracalderas]

Hello everyone. I have a 7 year old daughter who was recently diagnosed with AD/HD I get so much crap from myother about having tried medication with her. My mother makes me feel like a bad mom. But that's beside the point. I've done research on it and believe medication is a good thing. Supposedly they don't try to self medicate later in life.
She was on strattera during that last two months of school but it brought her so far down on her energy level in the evening that she would fall asleep at about 6 pm. She is really behind in school, but once we started it she began to make leaps and bounds. She will be repeating the 1st grade next year. I'm okay with this because she is one of the youngest ones in her class and she is tiny.
Right now I don't have her on medicaton. I was wondering what others have tried? anyways this is her. My beautiful little bug with her cake last week. Her name is Elida but we call her Eli (Ellie).

 

[AlezaJ]

I have ADD and my sisters and 1 brother have ADHD(there is a huge difference). We were on medication for a while, but I don't remember what any of them were called besides Ritalin because it caused nerve damage in my hands(they shake a little). What I found out through my childhood is that caffeine without sugar works wonders in someone with ADHD. It causes them to slow down instead of giving more energy like with other people. I told my aunt this(she has a young boy with ADHD) now she gives him straight coffee when he starts to get out of control and he calms right down. He even recognises when he needs it and asks for it now. I think hes 6 or 7.

 

[saracalderas]

I have ADD and my sisters and 1 brother have ADHD(there is a huge difference). We were on medication for a while, but I don't remember what any of them were called besides Ritalin because it caused nerve damage in my hands(they shake a little). What I found out through my childhood is that caffeine without sugar works wonders in someone with ADHD. It causes them to slow down instead of giving more energy like with other people. I told my aunt this(she has a young boy with ADHD) now she gives him straight coffee when he starts to get out of control and he calms right down. He even recognises when he needs it and asks for it now. I think hes 6 or 7.

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Would you recommend trying something like no doz with her. Maybe just half a tablet? I would really like to help her control her impulsiveness and ability to focus but the strattera just wipes her out.

 

[nikki1]

Hello everyone. I have a 7 year old daughter who was recently diagnosed with AD/HD I get so much crap from myother about having tried medication with her. My mother makes me feel like a bad mom. But that's beside the point. I've done research on it and believe medication is a good thing. Supposedly they don't try to self medicate later in life.
She was on strattera during that last two months of school but it brought her so far down on her energy level in the evening that she would fall asleep at about 6 pm. She is really behind in school, but once we started it she began to make leaps and bounds. She will be repeating the 1st grade next year. I'm okay with this because she is one of the youngest ones in her class and she is tiny.
Right now I don't have her on medicaton. I was wondering what others have tried? anyways this is her. My beautiful little bug with her cake last week. Her name is Elida but we call her Eli (Ellie).

You're right, the research shows that AD/HD kids that receive medication are less likely to engage in all kinds of risky behaviors, including drug use. They do better in school, and they choose friends and activities more wisely. (Dr. Thomas Brown as a reference. Has some great literature out there.)

Lots of people have lots of opinions about medication, AD/HD, and parenting in general, but always remember YOU are Mom. My mother gave me a fair amount of crap for medicating, too, but it has done my son a world of good, both academically and socially. Do what you and your pediatrician decide is best, and build a thick skin.

Incidentally, before I started my boy on meds, I asked our school psych about meds. He said that the research on stimulant meds is VERY thorough and decisive that when used correctly it is quite safe and effective. He also said that there is only minimal research on non-stimulant meds (like Strattera). His conclusion was that few people keep their kids on non-stimulant meds for long...they either give up on meds as ineffective, or switch over to stimulant meds. My boy is on Concerta, (a stimulant) and it works quite well for him. I'd be a little careful about no-doz...I took it once myself on a road trip, and got scary-twitchy--light-headed and wobbly. It was just too much all at once. On the other hand, I find that a little diet pepsi when his meds are wearing off is kind of helpful.

I'm pretty sure I just came across as tactless and opinionated, but hopefully it was helpful.

 

[AlezaJ]

I don't know what no-doz is. But i know my brother went through a lot of different meds before my mom chose to go organic. They would either make him so tired he couldn't function or make him loose all appetite while it was in effect. Organic was the best thing for him, whenever he had something he shouldn't my mom knew right away. He would basically go crazy hyper for 3 days. I don't currently have any children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD(my oldest is 3 and not in school) so I don't know very much about prescription meds. Just letting you know there are other ways to work with ADHD.

 

[nikki1]

No-doz is a caffeine pill. I'm a little sensitive to caffeine, so my reaction to it may not be typical, but just be aware that some folks might not do well on it. Also, I have no idea how it works on kids.

Which is also true of every medication on the market, as well as herbal alternatives. My advice not to take advice to heart includes my own advice. Talk everything through with a pediatrician, and have him/her monitor the progress. (As far as I'm concerned, that goes for herbals, too. My friend's dad wound up hospitalized due to a side effect of an herbal...)