Who has experience with ADHD?

[Rufflemyfeathers]

My grandson has ADHD and he refuses to take drugs and his parents don't want him on them and besides if on he can never join military..they put him in a smaller town school and they work with kids there that have ADHD and he is doing great in school now..

 

[nailjack]

Do you know anyone that tried GABA?? I am very interested in this
for my son. He has ADHD & is on a low dose of adderall, he has trouble
focusing, paying attention, & is easily distracted. We just have him
on a low dose, he could be increased on his med, but the low dose
helps alittle & thats what we are comfortable with

 

[ole-crone]

I've been involved with what 'ADHD' since our middle son was around 2 - over 30 years. The organization then was called CANHC (Concerned Adults for Neurologically Handicapped Children), about that time they started diagnosing our children with ADD/ADHD. Now I know that my son actually had Asperger's Syndrome. They think that alot of ADHD children are actually mis-diagnosed Aspies.

We have family members who medicate (mostly those who see it as a disability to be fixed) and others who don't (they see it as normal - and doesn't need to be fixed). Which is right? I lean towards non-medicated but I'm not in your situation.

Follow your gut. I think a mother knows more about their child than most.

 

[cthrash1]

Quote:
Because I just finished writing my thesis on this for my Master's Degree, I will just correct some things. There is a diagnosis for ADD/ADHD. It is clearly defined in the DSM-IV TR which is the manual psychiatrists and psychologists use to disagnosis any mental disorder.

Although there is the thought that children who use Stimulant medications such as Ritalin could become addicted later in life to more serious drugs in that same class (such as amphetamines and cocaine) there is actual recent studies proving that to be grossly
inaccurate. Stims have been used for over 50 years...

There are other options, of course, and I would never suggest medication alone, it needs to be used in conjunction with cognitive and behavior therapy in order for the best results. In all honestly, this medication does NOT work for everyone, but that is also true of every medication. Even some people taking asprin therapy, for example, have heart attacks.

And I am not a doctor- yet. But this is my area of knowledge.

Side effects of Ritalin and stimulant meds like Adderal are what you described. Feeling funny, like floating (I describe it as gumby syndrome), maybe having a tummy ache- low appetite. Eyes might hurt. Tired and sleepiness. Did the doctor give you a gradual adjustment over time? Like start at a low dose and gradually increase? Did you get the sample kit?

Christina

Okay wasn't going to say anything, because Shelley knows and has seen my son, but felt the need to give my input...Believe me I went through all the "I would never medicate my son" phases...But after MUCH research and natural alternatives, between his Dr and I we found it to be a disadvantage to him not to start him on a program. His Dr is extremely careful about DXing children and not doing it to make it easier on the parents, he is absolutely opposed to that being an easy way out for parents and teachers. He is also extremely careful with dosing and types of meds and will try to find one that works to the childs benefit not the Pharm. companies. This information is for the nonbelievers who think because they don't believe in medicating that parents that do medicate are awful...But actually it is just the opposite, we care enough for our children to help them... When my son was heading to a follow up on a new med because he builds resistance so easily to meds, we were about to give up on this particular one(Daytrana patch), because there was only one dosage level left for his weight and age, I told him we may have to try something else...he said, "Please mom just try the last dose, I am doing better at school with this I just need a little more help at home for homework when it is wearing off". This coming from a 9 yo I knew then that he could tell a difference in his concentration level and when it is waning...I would never change my decision to HELP my child.
First of all Kudos to you Christina for correcting some of the inacuracies in that comment. And to Michigan Woods to clarify that folks who don't have ADD/ADHD don't understand it. I was ADD as a child(never dx'd though just realized it after much study after son was DX'd) and probably still am, as I am very disorganized and have an awful memory amongst other things(like having a great ability to tune everything out and hyperfocussing)...I also struggled all through school and was continuosly sent home with notes that I daydream too much and never remember to turn in my work. My son now has combo ADHD with impulsivity/Dyslexia and yes it is genetic folks as is the Dyslexia...And the Med.s aren't controlled because they are addictive because that is not the case...The meds are controlled because they have the total opposite effect on someone who is not ADHD and works like an upper therefore has been known to be sold illegally on the streets. Also as stated above, there is absolutely no evidence to prove the meds will later lead to addiction. My son never is drugged down...His brain slows so he can think clearer but the activity level is still there, he just thinks before he acts when on his meds and he stays more focussed. Shelley, did he look drugged down to you? I also agree that the meds alone don't take care of it all and that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was highly recommended by my sons Dr if we could find someone who practices it(thats the hard part in our area, finding someone). I have just recently started my son on the Play Attention program...Expensive but lots of great outside feedback on the product. Will keep anyone who is interested posted on how this Play Attention program is doing with my son. Just let me know so I can put you down in my book, otherwise I'll forget.

ETA: Sorry not usually very outspoken, just one or two things very defensive of and this is one of them...Just from past experience. Don't hate me for it.

 

[cthrash1]

Quote:
Yes, Yes, Yes...I just got back online...and I only browsed the posts a bit...I see a couple of other folks know about auditory processing issues...one of my sons is in the spectrum, as they call it, but very high functioning and has so many other issues due to childhood abuse that he IS on medications...and doing wonderful....
But your son really needs to be evaluated for Auditory Processing Disorder, and you can do more research about it online, etc....your sons behavior sounds like a classic response to auditory and sensory overstimulation, and Im just a mom...take that to a professional or occupational therapist...

Good Luck.......
Tina

I forgot about the Aud Proc Disorder It's been years since I studied about it...Great idea to those who suggested having him assessed for it Shelley...

 

[shelleyd2008]

Thanks Cindy. Like I said (I think) before, the first time I gave it to him (Friday the 12th) he did seem drugged, kind of sleepy looking but not really sleepy? If you know what I mean. Yesterday (I decided to wait till school let out for break to really start him on it) he was acting very tired, whiney and very emotional, but not really drugged. Then yesterday afternoon/evening, he was saying he 'had a bad feeling'. Not that he felt bad, but his exact words were 'Mom, I gotta bad feeling about that'. That's what freaked me out. I know some medication can cause depression, and I have issues with depression, anxiety, and paranoia myself, though I haven't been on meds for at least 6 years, and I'm doing fine. It just scared me when he said that. And he couldn't really give me a different explanation on what exactly the 'bad' feeling was, just that he had a bad feeling. I asked him, if he were sad, mad, scared, and so on, and he just said 'yes' he felt all that.
Now today, he didn't say anything about a 'bad' feeling, but he didn't have as much going on as he did yesterday, so maybe that had something to do with it? I could definitely tell when it wore off, but other than that he seemed fine. I hope that means that he is getting used to it, and not that he'll be fine at home, where there is not much stimulus, and freaked out at school, where he has the most trouble to begin with. If he were just at home all the time, I wouldn't bother with meds. He is not that bad to me, sure he has good days and bad days, but at school is where he really has problems.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Yeah, and I have already planned on speaking with his doctor about the auditory/sensory things. A lot of what others have said sounds like him, he fits right in with some of the descriptions.

 

[ItsSuzzie]

Hello Shelly,
I only read your post. I have a son who started out as ADHD, diagnosed at 3 1/2 yrs. and now, age 20 yrs. Is now diagnosed as Bi-polar. He has been on so many different drugs. There is alot of controversy about it all.
Do I drug my kid, do I let my kid live without the meds, what about diet.
OMG. For me, the whole thing was a roller coaster ride. Still at age 20, he still is not right. Will burst out angry and violent.

Look around you, you are not alone. one out of ten are diagnosed ADHD.

Good luck to you.

Child does not feel good on meds. Well, the meds do make them feel different, usually tires them out a bit. May be too strong? I know that my boy would outgrow his meds and it needed to be adjusted. One thing that works well, but takes tremendous parental strength is a quiet voice, even when they are all over the place and you are at the end of your rope.

This is my son

 

[therealsilkiechick]

Quote:
i have several children with adhd and/or add and other things i will post more in a moment but i wanted to comment on this post. i'm in pa and live in a common wealth state, in my state a school is not even allowed to talk about medications, refer u to doctors ect it is illegal and against our hippa laws and school codes. they r not allowed to suggest it at all here so u check with ur doc beacaue some states that is illegal the schools can't inter fear and u don't have to release info to them except to tell them he will be seeing his doc. i had probs with one of the schools my kid's went to and we fought it for years till he was older. they was always sticking there noses in and makeing referals and calling his doc asking if what i told them was what the doc diagnosed and said. yep ur right i went through the roof on that one.

it says right in his file at the peds they r not allowed to realease any info to anyone except mother or father without written consent from both of us and his school is to not be released any info. the school can give them any info needed but the doc office is not allowed to tell the school anything.

 

[ams3651]

Quote:
my son does not have a complete vocabulary but what you describe, moody, whiney, etc is what we go thru with every increase in medication. I think its very normal till they get used to the meds. He doesnt get increases often but he grew alot this past year.