ADHD Help & Advice

My husband's 9 year old lives in another state, but he is usually with us every summer for 4-6 weeks. His mother was really being nasty about his ADHD for years with us. She wouldn't send his medication, and told us she didn't want him medicated, but he would always come and tell us that his mom FORGOT to pack his medicine. Well, a few years back, my husband and I were both working, and I had to leave him in the care of others during the day. I didn't want his actions to get him or someone else hurt, so I researched every possible alternative, and decided to try ATTEND. It is supposedly an all-natural supplement, but I use the word lightly, since for me, all natural means something I can go dig out of the ground, and this product still has LOTS of ingredients that I can't pronounce - LOL. Anyways, it doesn't have the side-effects of the pharmaceutical drugs, and it REALLY did work for us. I never told anyone we were using it, but we started getting positive calls after about 3 days!

Now, I keep some on hand, even when he is coming just to visit for the weekend. His mother has since admitted to medicating him, so she usually sends medication with him. I have sent the information to her, and she said she would read it, but since he is with her more than 90% of the time, there is nothing I can do about that. Their website offers lots of information on ADD and ADHD. They have combined information on diet, parenting activities, and social activities that may also help.

http://www.vaxa.com/add-childhood.cfm

I searched for local places, because I needed it quickly, and I ended up getting it for MUCH less than the $39 it costs on their website, but if you order it from their website, There is also a 1-year money back guarantee, so you may want to consider that route, so then there is really nothing to lose.

There are other websites that focus solely on things YOU can do without medication, but I know the testimonials are the kind that are written up to get top-posted when you do searches and stuff, so I don't lend a lot of credence to that piece, but they also offer a 1-year money back guarantee, so even if there is ONE thing in there that may help your daughter, I think it would be worth taking a look.

http://3stepsadd.com/

Please let me know how the ATTEND works for you, if you decide to use it. I have recommended it for a few other moms, but I think they ended up going the medication route, so I haven't gotten any other feedback.

Thanks, and good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Boy! Do I know where you are coming from! I still have scars from the know-it-alls on childrearing. My daughter was diagnosed at age two and a half. She was put on Atterax for 4 years, then Ritalin. Then we found out about vision therapy. The attention span was affected because she got no meaning out of what she was seeing. She was hyperkenectic, had to touch in order to get meaning. After VT, she was no longer ADHD. Only when she got older did we see the damage the meds did. She has no memory of the years she was on the meds.
You might also explore food allergies. This made a huge impact on her as well. Some have had positive response to the Feingold diet. Vision therapy is a specialty of some, but not all, optometrists. It's non-invasive, non-med, and my daughter loved going to her sessions. Within only a matter of 6 weeks, her Sunday school teacher asked me what we had done because she would actually sit and listen to the story. Before she'd be under the table, on the table, just driving the poor woman crazy.
You may be able to find an optometrist who specializes in Vision Therapy through the American Optical Association. The only one I am acquainted with is in Longview, TX.
Hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful

J.,

I am so sorry that people have been rude and insensitive to you. I have faced the same thing on here, and have even thought of just not using this site any more beucase of the pushy and judgemental mothers on here. But I am glad I stayed.

My child does not have ADHD however, he is autistic, so I have recieved a lot of redicule as it seemes you have as well.

What I can offer is that I was medicated as a child for my ADD and they tried taking sugar out of my diet, and different diet changes and things like that and none of it helped. We just had to figure out what medication and what ammount helped for me. I think you are on the right track and that you will eventualy find the right medication and the right dose that works. You are a great mom, and if you were "lazy" you would not be trying to find find ways to help your little girl.

I will pray for you that you find something that works and you get your sweet girl back.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

First of all, no you're not a bad mom. Don't let those people get to you.
That said, however, I do believe prescription meds should be avoided whenever possible. But they do have their place and you are the best judge of what's best for your daughter and her particular situation.
When, and if, you would like to research alternatives please call the Dead Doctors Don't Lie radio program and talk to "Doc" Joel Wallach and see what he recommends for your daughter. 1-888-379-2552 from 2 - 3 pm weekdays.
C.

1 mom found this helpful

God Bless You! I know this is very difficult. I have an 11 yr old that I spent years fighting my husband on whether we medicate or not. We finally aligned 6 months ago and he is on Focalin. We tried Concerta and Adderall but we have had our best results with Focalin. All that being said, my son is not hyperactive, he cannot focus and does not know how to filter unnecessary information and noise so Focalin may not be right for her.

One thing about MEDs, you may have to try a few types of drugs before you get it right. We had to up our meds due to a growth spurt recently.

Not sure if you are working with your Peditrician or a Dr. that specializes administering these types of medication. My husband bought into the whole MED idea once we had my son's brain scanned and validated he needed the medication. We visit The Mech Center in Plano. The test we conducted (not covered by insurance and costs around $375) will help better determine the drug family that is best for your daughter.

Back to the medication...We do take Focalin but found it zaps his appetite during the day so he does not eat lunch. I tend to give him lots of food in the morning and by dinner he eats well. Many days, he wants a snack before bed. I have learned this is pretty normal many of the meds and have accepted this side effect. He sleeps well at night, which was another major concern of mine.

I hope this helps. Disregard the people that are giving you a hard time about this.

1 mom found this helpful

J.:
Well, I want to start off by saying you obviously are not a bad mother as you are researching and using your resources to learn and aid your daughter and yourself; this requires work (therefore, not lazy), determination, and brains and shows you are a smart and good mother! You are looking at the whole picture and trying to find out what is best for your family. You are not taking one solution as the only solution and these reasons makes you a wonderful mother!
I hope I can bring something up you may not have fully checked into as of yet. I do not have a child diagnosed with ADHD BUT, it runs rampid in my hubby's family (he too had it as a child, long before they diagnosed or treated such a thing) AND my mother, a second grade school teacher at a private school, has worked closely with parents and children, her students, on this matter. I've seen some great results with some natural and healthy changes.
Do you make sure she gets enough sleep and has a well established (and enforced) sleep schedule? Just making the child get enough sleep and bed time at the same time every night (even weekends, within one hour) helps a ton!!!!!!!!!!
What about diet? Have you studied the living with ADHD diet? I don't know all the details on this but there are some very good books on this subject. I do know it also helps tremendously!!!!!!!! Some of the things the diet teaches is NO Red 40 food dye (and I believe there are others), plenty of Omega 3s, plenty of water, and very little, if any, refined sugar along with other suggestions.

I've seen several times these 2 suggestions (diet and sleep) turn a child around more than anyone would ever believe (my nephew for one and several of my mother's students, whom I know personally). I suggest, even if you choose to medicate as well, to research and implement, if you have not already, these into your lifestyle~~!

Good luck!
I have 2 children and we are hoping for more. I know, nearly without a doubt, that I will be blessed with an ADHD child eventually so I absorb all of the info I come across on this topic and when I am in simular shoes as yours, I plan to highly research and start with this route!

T.

Dear J.,
I have not yet responded to anyone on mamasource but I felt compelled to do so after reading your request. I am a mother of 2, grandmother of 1 and have served as a minister to children in Baptist churches for 20 years. ADHD is real and is perhaps as difficult for the moms as it is for the child. My main advice to you is trust yourself as mom and stand up for her with the doctors and teachers. God has given you this sweet girl and He will give you the wisdom and strength you need to help shape her into the young woman He planned for her to be. ASk Him to guide you.
There are many different approaches from medicine to biofeedback to counseling to herbal remedies and nutrition. Certainly some people misuse medicine or use it as a cure all. But it can be a very effective part of managing her ADHD so she can function in a classroom setting. There are LOTS of medicines- Concerta, Adderall, ritalin, Strattera and more. All have some risks and side effects. it is just a matter of sticking with one for a while to see if it is effective. if not, then try anotehr one. It can be a long process.
I would also advise you to try to keep your home as structured and organized as possible. Even though most children with ADHD appear disorganized, they tend to do better when there is some organization. For now, you provide the structure with the goal of her learning that structure is her friend and will help her cope with her world.
Hang in there Mom. Pray and do what you think is best for the precious girl God has given you.

J.,

My son, who is almost 16 and in 10th grade, has been on medication for ADHD since 2nd grade. It's been an immense help for him. We're on Vyvanse 30mg now. We started on Concerta, a 12 hr extended release medication. Worked like a champ for quite some time. As he grew older we moved to Adderall and that worked well for a couple years too. Moved to Vyvanse about a year ago and he's done great. You can definitely tell the days he doesn't remember it. He's never had the not eating or not sleeping issues. He's fairly thin for his age, but he has been in the same curve since he was 4, long before he started taking the medications.

Meds are pricey. Thankfully our insurance covers half of the cost each month. Still the Vyvanse runs us about $60. But even he know it works. He told me last week "Mom, call in a refill. I've only got a few left and I don't want to run out".

You are NOT a bad mom. You should NOT have your child taken away. And I believe you DO have your daughter's best interest at heart. People who have children that don't have ADD or ADHD have no clue what it's like. Parenting ADD or ADHD children is a challenge, and can be frustrating at times, but it's very rewarding when everything clicks.

ADD or ADHD will not necessarily go away. My little sister was diagnosed at age 7 and she's 35 now. Still taking medication, still doing great. She's just a few hours away from her degree, stopped going to school to raise a family. She just takes it all in stride and deals with it.

Just take a deep breath and if you ever need a sounding board or someone to chat with holler at me.

J., I'm so sorry you have been criticized for simply trying to help your little one. Even well-meaning people can be very cruel sometimes without meaning to be so please don't take any of that personally. They have not walked in your shoes so don't give those type comments a second thought. I have a grandson with the same affliction who was never on meds and he struggled all the way from elementary through high school. It broke my heart. If the decision had been mine I would have at least tried meds. All that aside, Dr. David Clark a chiropractic neurologist in the Northlake area has worked wonders with nutrition and an array of other alternative therapies. I have seen him personally for a number of other issues and have always gotten great results. He is a caring doctor and I hope you'll give him a call at ###-###-####. I wish you and your sweet little girl the best. Good luck in your quest!

J.,

I am so sorry that people have been rude and insensitive to you. My daughter is in 1st grade and also has ADHD. She was put on ritalyn and it worked like a charm! She was able to focus and learn so much better. (so much so that when she started on her meds, within a month and a half she had increased 6 reading levels!) Her meds were the 8 hr time release and she would then struggle with homework when she got home. I spoke to our pediatrician and he has now put her on concerta, the 12 hour release. I was a little nervous with the change ONLY because I had seen what a difference ritalyn made and was afraid concerta wouldn't be as good...but it is! If the medication isn't working properly (ie, your child is a zombie, etc) then it's the wrong med or the wrong dosage. We are blessed with a wonderful pediatrician who explained every option to us, asked us what we thought would be best, explained what he thought would be best and then we went from there.

I hope you are able to find what works best for your daughter. Don't give up until you do!

Good luck!
J. C.

Honestly I don't know about the meds but sometimes if you find the right one it will be helpful. For an alternative you can read Dr. Kenneth Bock's book call Healing the New CHildhood Epedemics: Autsim, Asthma, ADHD and Allergies. I found a copy in the library

Hello, J.,
I would highly recommend you call Ditt Welch at the Oxygen Sciences Wellness Center (near 635 & Preston at ###-###-#### and talk to him about your daughter. He does neurofeedback treatments that help immensely with ADD/ADHD and often enable people to function well without pills & drugs. My husband has been ADD all his life and this treatment helped him alot. He is finally able to complete work on his PhD and doesn't have the test anxiety that he used to have. He is a teacher and has struggled with this all his life.
I also would urge you to check into possible food allergies/sensitivities. These cause more problems than many people realize.
Good luck with finding the right things to help your daughter.

Se a homeopath or Dr. MaryAnn Block

I know of a nutrition alternative that helps ADD, ADHD, and even autisim. It's liquid, so starts being absorb even inthe mouth, crosses over into the blood stream, and is carried all over the body, allowing the body to heal and balance. Have heard amazing stories of turn arounds with ADD, ADHD, and I know a mom whose autistic child has been helped. He talks TO them and not AT them, interacts, looks them in the eye. I could go on and on with stories. Easier to just call me if you are interested. My cell is ###-###-####. I personally have been so blessed by this, for I used to hurt, and now I don't. Have a great day!

First let me say, you are not a bad mother, nor are you lazy or should you have your daughter taken away because you decided to use medication to help your daughter. I truly believe that if medication helps it is not a bad thing. As long as you are not over medicating. My younger brother was on Concerta from the age of 7 until he was 13. I truly believe the medicine helped him. He wasn't medicated to the point of being a zombie, but it was enough for him to behave properly. It helped him concentrate and it also gave him the ability to control his own actions. Without the medication he was a totally different child. He was not pleasant to be around. He has since grown out of the need for the medication. I truly believe that to have kept him off the medication would not have been fair to him or the people around him. We would have missed out on several wonderful memories. I know there is a great movement for non medication, but just as they are entitled to their choices so are you. I also knew someone who chose not to medicate her two boys and they were the worst children I have ever been around. Sorry for such a long note. Good luck with your daughter. My mom had some great luck just researching adhd on the internet.

My son is 9 years old he have been taking Adderall, 15mg, it seems to work great. I can not tell if it suppresses his appetite or not because he is a very picky eater.

Hi J., I'm not that familar with ADHD though we have 7 foster children in our care and we have 3 that are in the Autsim spectrum and they have Aseperges and one is on medication and the other 2 aren't, but we watch what they eat as certain foods and colors do affect their behavior and its trial and error. The one on medication is on it because it keeps him from being stressed out so quickly and all 3 don't like change. We also have a fetal alcohol child and she get very much out of control if she eats too much sugar and she will try and put 2 desert spoons of sugan on her ceral in the mornings for breakfast and she loves chocolate and this sets her off as well. Some of the children can drink coke or pepsi and some have to drink lemonade or a lemon drink that doesn't have colors in it. I don't think that you are a bad parent or mother because you have gone to medication, but by looking at what does set her off and keeping these things to a minium will also help her behavior. A lot of prepared foods have a lot of artifical colors and flavors in them and this doesn't help with children with behavior problems. I used to sell potato chips and those that had red or orange flavors in them the school wouldn't take as they cause bad behavior in the children in class. I hope that this helps you and I know that it isn't easy with a child with behavior problems and sometimes medication isn't the only solution and the diet will help the medication work better at times. Ed

We tried the diets and supplements with our son for 2 1/2 years with no results. The doc said that they really only work for 5% of children. When he turned 5 back in November, we finally got some meds. We started off with Adderall XR 5 mg with no results, and Collin not sleeping. We moved up 5 mgs every 3 days until we got to 30 with still little luck. We moved to 20 mg of Focalin XR and life is finally good for all of us, but you know when it wears off in the afternoon. The doc gave us an additional 5 mg of Ritalin for the afternoons. This only lasts between 3-4 hours so it's great for us after school.

Remember that all kids are different and react differently to all medications. Hang in there. It will be okay.

J., I know of many moms who have used a nutritional food supplement after seeing the side effects of meds. I will be happy to share detail information on a very safe and effective alternative to meds.

Let me know if you interested and your contact information.

Blessings,
A.

My 12 year old son has ADHD, he takes Strattera, has since 2nd grade and he is in 6th now. It works great, hardly any side effects. The only thing we have noticed is a slight decrease in appetite. Strattera is only taken on school days, no weekends, no holidays, no summer. It works while it's in their system, which is usually through suppertime, then its gone. It is the only ADHD med that IS NOT a stimulant (no amphetamine). As far as holistic, etc, we have tried that route with no success, and taking herbs, etc for anyting can have side effects just like meds, everything you put in you body can effect it, either for the good or the bad, it just depends on what works for you. I think the strattera is the best route for my son, I would rather medicate him for a medical problem, than have him struggle in school, loose his self esteem and not care like he did before the meds.

J. -- I'm sorry that you're taking such a beating over your decision to try medication for your daughter's ADHD. And I'm sorry that you have not gotten the results you want from the meds you've tried. My children are not ADHD so feel free to ignore what I'm about to suggest, but it's a fairly simple solution and may be worth a try: have them see a nutritionist to determine whether they have sensitivity to sugar, glutens, MSG or other foods. I have a friend whose daughter's behavior is night and day based on the amount of suger/glutens she eats. I've also heard that MSG can have a huge impact on behavior. We feed our children organic food almost exclusively so we know they aren't exposed to large amounts of preservatives or additives like MSG, and I can't help thinking that it contributes to their even-temperedness. I hope you find this helpful. I'm sure other moms will have great advice on this topic too. Good luck!

I have a grown son with ADHD and know how hard it can be-just ignore those who tell you what to do. They don't know your child and certainly don't care as much as you do about her.
My godson takes Concerta with good results, so you might try that. It is always a real hit or miss thing with a growing child and meds-very hard to get doses right. COncerta also tends to depress appetite, so you just have to work around that. My godson has special permission for snacks at school to help with this so that he doesn't lose weight.
Also, please know that it takes more than meds to help-her teachers need to be closely worked with to make sure they are handling the ADHD right so that she can learn to work with it. Hyper activity and impulsiveness are controlled with meds but thery don't go away, so reward her for staying on task etc.
Once again, ignore those who think they know everything. No one knows how tought this can be for you and your daughter except you. Good luck!

Hi J.,
We got our grand daughter on Juice Plus gummys. It is very inexpensive. I thing we only pay $22 per month. No meds it all!!!
And we check the ingredients on food before she
eats anything. Nothing with High fructose corn syrup!!!! or artificial colorings. If you read the ingredient on a box of food and it has a color and a number at the end like(Red 40) that is really bad for kids with HDHD. Alexis also eats a lot of organic fruits and vegetables no fast food it all!!!! If you have any questions you can e-mail me. ____@____.com

My daughter is on concerta and that works great. People who are ignorant of ADHD don't have to deal with your daughter once she is 15 and failing in school. I accidentally took one of my daughters consertas and saw what benefit it had for her. Now I am on Strattera myself. I get more done, sleep at night and don't feel the need to unwind with a glass of wine at night because I am too worked up. That is how I discovered that I had ADD. I can focus on my tasks. I graduated from University, and I look back and wonder what I could have focused on had I known that I had ADD, and the option to take meds. My mother used to call me "high strung". I always resented her for her comments.

Brian Hickey, D.C. is a great doc who offers natural supplements not meds to help kids with ADHD, as well as different changes to their diet to help eliminate the issue altogether. I highly recommend him.
###-###-#### Tell him S. Rosson sent you. I have known him now for years. He is a great doc.

Hi J.,
I know how you feel. My daughter was diagnosed in 1996 at the age of 6 with ADHD. Her kindegarden year was a nigthtmare!! She got in trouble on a daily basis. For things such as wandering around the room,blurting out answers and disturbing other children. Back then we put her on Ritalin. Didn't really like the results,made her calm but sorta zombie like. We tried several different medicatins and doses. I believe it was concerta that worked the best but that was several years ago. To all the people who question our decision about medication,I say "Is it better for the child to have low self-esteem because they don't have many friends because they have been labled as a "problem child" If your child had another condition or illness you would medicate to make them feel beter. I see no difference with ADHD. The only down-side that I saw was that it MAY have stunted her growth just a tad. Because the medication made her not hungry. But,then it may not have either. She is 5 foot 4 inches. average.
Now,for the light at the end of the tunnel....She is a Senior in High School fixing to graduate!!! YEAH! And she has been off all meds since her Freshman year. It was her decision and she felt she could focus with out them. Some children do out-grow it to an extent. She still has problems with big test and exams and gets some modified help at school. But,she ia MUCH better at impulse control. Anyway,sorry so long. You do what you feel is best for your child and don't worry what others say! Have a nice day!

J.,
I feel your pain. I'm tired of people's negative attitudes about medication. My 10 year old son can't even function without his ADHD medication. (Just ask his teacher!) We have had 2 years of trying to find a combination that works for him. We have tried Focalin, Concerta, some non-stimulants - like Tenex, and now he is on Ritalin LA. In addition, he takes Risperdal at night. It is a battle to find the right medication. When you do, it's like a breath of fresh air - for you AND your child! (not to mention their teacher!) You really have to have a doctor your can talk to and trust. We have been to 2 different psychiatrists for medication. The first put us with a nurse practitioner after the first visit, the second was out of pocket. We couldn't afford to keep going! Now our pediatrician, Dr. William Lin, is managing my son's medication. http://www.doctorlin.yourmd.com/ (and doing a GREAT job!) I'd recommend finding a Doctor who will be willing to try all the medication possibilities, and keep trying until you find a medication and a strength that works. Here is a resource I have never used, but someone from Mamasource recommended: http://docyoung.com/.
Keep your spirits up! You're doing a good job!

10 mg of Aderall- the change was miraculous.

J.,

As a mom of 3 boy's with what we call letter's at our house, we have combos of "letters" ADD, ADHD, OCD you get the idea.
I so feel your pain! Some people work around there kids issues and some people could not last a week in our shoes! We have tried alternatives but my boys are 15, 13 and 8 and it only works with 1 of them for short times. Now that my boy's are older sometimes they will not take the meds for a few days and then it hits them like a bus and they want to go back on the meds. My husband is also ADHD so my life is just lots of fun!
I would suggest you see a Neurologist ours has helped allot!
Dr. So out of Plano

There is an excellent clinical nutritionist in Wichita Falls that can put your daughter on a natural supplement therapy program and eliminate the ADHD altogether so that she won't require medication of any kind! You can call Dr. Donna Smith at ###-###-#### or email ____@____.com website is www.advancedclinicalnutrition.com. She is awesome! She can help you long distance so give her a call asap! Good luck!

My friend & his son both suffer from ADHD. They are both going through accupuncture & he said it's helping both of them. He said his insurance pays for some of it so check your insurance for coverage. He said it helps him deal with the anxiety & he has learned to relax. His son's behavior has improved immensely. The Mom & Dad are going through a divorce so it is helping Father & Son deal with that as well. Good luck!

HI J.,

There is no quick fix. Nutrition, diet, removing chemicals and toxins from the body, and food additive and dyes. This is a start.

My journey with my son has been a long road, but we are making huge strides. He is dylexic and has focusing issues. He has struggled with his grades this year. Reading and writing are extremely challenging for him. It has not been easy. HOwever, he missed 4 on his reading TAKS, almost in the commending range. He did awesome! I did many things that I believe have helpled us significantly to get to this point. If you would like to talk more please contact me at ###-###-#### or email me a ____@____.com.

Sally

J.,
I absolutely understand your hesitance to give your little one ADHD medicine. I was the same way. My daughter is 6 (almost 7) and was diagnosed with "clinically significant" ADHD. We have taken a 3 way approach to help her and one of them is medication. She takes Concerta. It's a long acting once a day pill that has to be taken in the morning. The first week she had a few side affects but we just kept an eye on her and sure enough they subsided. We re-evaluated after 1 month with the Pediatrician and upped the dosage. She's on her 3rd-4th month and doing wonderfully. Its been amazing. When we made the decision to try medication it was for her benfit (not ours or the schools) and I kept the mindset of as her mother if I don't like it I can take her off it. On top of that we only do 1 medication. Sometimes it can hinder sleep, but we remedy that with warm milk. I definately recommend allowing her to be on the medicine long enough to let her adjust.
Along with medication we really watch what we feed her and try to eliminate most processed foods and refined sugars. We also have her see a counselor that has actually benefitted my husband and I of how to best work with her. All of these things have helped.
We have forgotten to give her the medication and I can definately see a big difference now. It truly helps her and I do have my sweet little girl back!
Good luck to you and your daughter.

You should radically change your daughters diet. No sugar, preservatives, artificial ingredients and most of all NO FOOD COLOR. Food color in fake drinks can cause your child to require medication. An all natural diet-organic, and Chiropractic therapy could be your natural way out. My Chiropractor is Dr. Robert Vasquez ###-###-#### They do babies and kids too.

People who have called you a lazy or bad mother obviously does not have a child with ADHD. My son was diagnosed when he was 6, and I tried the alternative from teas (catnip) to changing his diet to yoga. I eventually had to go the medication route. He started on Adderall which worked ok, but I felt a lot of his personality was missing, and he lost a lot of weight. His doctor switched him to Focalin, which has been working quite well. He is now 10 and takes 15 mg. I did notice the same symptoms you noticed, when it wears off, he starts bouncing off the walls and couldn't control himself. I started giving him (with doctor's approval) a good multi-vitamin with no iron (they get enough in their diet) and fish oil. I've noticed that that helps considerably, he does not have that crash when the meds wear off, and it balances him more. In fact, I have wanted the doctor to lower his dose and see how he does.
I know this is hard for you. No one has a right to judge you, especially when you are trying to help your child. I too, heard things when I put my son on medication, but a little more subtly than you have. Oddly enough, the people with the biggest problem did not want to babysit him if he was off his meds. Go figure.
Good luck, and don't worry about other people. You are helping your child and raising your child the best you can, that's more than those that criticize are doing.

I don't believe you're a bad mom, you have to do what's best for your child in your opinion. You are the best judge because you are there everyday. You're not a lazy mom. I have a just four year old that has been exhibiting classic ADHD symptoms for over a year. I don't know how many parents have told me that it's just normal for a boy his age to be active, disobedient, distracted, and aggressive. They say I am overly sensitive to his behavior and that he's a delightful child. Ha, true though that is now a year after we started diet modification. Many of those who comment never knew him before. I mean how many kids are threatened to be kicked out of Sunday school at age three unless mom can come help him control himself? There were only about 8 kids in the class with two adults. That should have been enough to control him, but he wouldn't take it. To this day I still attend Sunday school with him. Hopefully by age five I'll be able to leave him on his own.

I almost hit a breaking point with exhaustion dealing with him before we modified his diet. (prego SAHM with a husband in full time MBA program and on night shift, left me with very little away time or rest from the struggles of an ADHD child.)

We've decided to will medicate my son one day if his behavior affects his academics. That may never come, though. He's just turned four and has been reading for almost six months. He's begging me to start math, too, as he can count to 100 four different ways. He loves numbers and spends church time counting through the Hymnal.

However, we tried the Feingold Diet, and it has done wonders! His whole personality shifted within a week. He's still active, but not overly aggressive or angry. He can also process correction now instead of giving me that blank lightly confused look. He also for the first time in his life showed stranger anxiety, thank goodness! All within a week! I haven't tried any supplements yet, but will if need be.

Also, we're about to start (this morning) a program called Train the Brain. A friend started it a month ago with her 1st grader and even the teacher called to comment on the change in her child. She called me two weeks in raving about the changes in her son. It is a music/motor therapy. So, we'll let you know how it goes.

Good luck.

P.S. We were already Gluten Free before the behavior problems spiked! He had allergy problems at 18 months. I don't even want to know what the last three years would have been like if we hadn't caught the gluten early.

My boys were diagnosed with ADHD since they were age 4. My grandmother started the trend and has scizofrania now cus she was never medicated back in those days. My mother was medicated a bit but they didnt have much knowledge back then about the different meds that they do now. I myself have it as well. So I am a for sure example of how it is in the genes. So with all that said. I take Straterra myself 80 mg a day and that works for me to help me stay focused and I am an Assistant manager of a pizza buffet. Trust me hard work every other day working 15 hr shifts on your feet and staying focused is a big must. My one son takes a cocktail (Straterra 80mg and Concerta 54 mg) This works for him because he has it severly and the concerta just wasnt enough. He still eats like a horse and oh he is 14 now and 6ft 130 lbs. Very healthy. With his loss of apetite I taught them to eat even when they didnt think they wanted to around meal times and snack times. It was hard at first but they learned they had to so they wouldnt feel so tired all the time and not want to play. Once they did my boys flourished in school and home with family. My youngest who is 12 he only takes concerta 34mg and that works for him. It keeps him focused and not talking a mile a minute so teachers can teach the class. The trick to finding a happy medium is just letting the drug work. It takes a few weeks for it to work properly and get into the system. If at first it makes them groggy then that is too high a dose or the wrong type. Talk to your doctor about all this. I have the best doctor and he knows so much. I live in Granbury and his name is Robert Lee. ###-###-#### I have recommended him to so many friends that have kids like ours and they have seen miracles with their kids too. He takes care of the big picture and doesnt want to drug your kid up. Just wants him to function like a (normal) kid I guess you could say if we even know what normal is these days. Good luck I hope I have shed some light on the subject for you.

Good Morning J.,
I know how difficult it is when you want to help your child but are not sure what to do!
When my daughter was around the same age, (she is 21 now) she had some of the same problems. I tried different things and finally found what worked for her.
First we went to a chiropractor that was amazing. She would literally walk in grumpy and mean than turn around after an adjustment and be happy! Now I would find one that works great with children and uses the"Best" method.
Second, Diet plays a major role! Sugar contributes to there behavior. I took my daughter off all sugar, sodas, etc. I tried to go as close to natural as I could. Juices that are 100% juice, snacks like apples cut up with natural peanut butter. People do not realize how important diet is in a child. I let my 9 year old have sodas when we go out to a restaurant and he is bouncing off the walls afterwards. Alot of our foods have so much caffenine that a childs body is overloaded and stimulated so much they can not sit still or concentrate.
The last thing I would offer is there is a great doctor in Hurst, she deals directly with children in this area. Dr.Block has been highly regarded in this area,written some best sellers on this subject and helped so many children. I never was able to take my daughter to her because almost 16 years ago she cost to much. But not anymore, she is very affordable and even offers payment plans. I would encourage you above all else to take your daughter to her.
The Block Center
1750 Norwood
Hurst, Texas 76054
###-###-#### -- Metro ###-###-####

Best Wishes!
T.

Hey there! I get the same reaction from people about medicating my son. My son was diagnosed when he was 3yrs old. He was on ritulin at first it made him into a zombie. I wasnt happy with that, so my doctor told me at that time(1998)there was another medicine out there that we could try. It was a time release medicine. It was called concerta. I thought it worked perfectly on my child. It was the right dose and he was doing fantastic on the medicine. When my son turned 9yrs of age, I took him off medicine to see how he would do. He is now 13yrs old and he has been doing fine off of the medicine. I personally would do what you are doing and find the right medicine for your child. Down the road if you want to take the child off of the medicine then its fine. Dont worry about what other people say. I went through the same thing. To this day my mother thinks that my son should go back on his medicine. Good Luck!

My husband was on ritilan and now metadate(for adults). I am sorry to hear you have been ridiculed. I am amazed at how mean people can be. They have no idea! I deal with that regarding my hubby's mental illness. STay strong and don't let others change your mind unless they give you facts not feelings.

Have you considered a diet change. Try the organic route. I know my hubby's behavior has gotten better since we got off some of the chemicals in processed foods. Whole Food market is a great place to start. They will help you with ideas and such.

Hope this helps!

Hi there...I do not have a child with ADHD but I do have 4 nephews on meds. My sisters are about to start gluten-free diets to see if that helps. There is a lot of research linking the two together. If you google ADHD and gluten you will see tons of sights.

Good Luck!

I really don't have advice for you. But my daughter who is 8 was recently dignosed as ADD. We thought we would never put our kids on medication. I know the criticism because I've thought it. I know you are not a lazy mother because I am not a lazy mother. I would just try to reach out to other moms whose kids are ADD/ADHD. My son isn't ADD. He's a straight A student. He can sit read a book all day long. My daughter is over it w/in five minutes. Which makes learning hard for her. She needs help. As her peditrician says, her teachers still need to do their job even though she is ADD. I make her read out loud. She starts to act out what she is reading, which is comical and I know she is reading. She failed the TAKS test. But now she is on medicine, so hopefully she will do great the next time. Maybe we should write our congressman about the TAKS test. Maybe kids should be challenged in ways other than learning take a test. They are just bored. (Just a side note.) She read all the information you can. It's what I am doing. Ask you Dr. to give you information. We started implemting somethings my Dr. gave us. Her room is boring. We put her to bed sooner. We tried to make sure she gets enough exercise...by playing outside. We keep her diet clean. Even though people say diet has nothing to do with it. Psh!!! Look at Jenny McCarthy and her son. We limit all media time to one hour a day. Which is easier when it is pretty outside. Just love her and encourage her. Maybe she will be over it in a year and don't have to take medicine anymore. Don't let other people bad mouth you. Just think about this...they will have a child with ADD or ADHD then they will have make tough decisions like us:)

Good Morning,

No can of worms here. First of all your not a bad mother. Sometimes we just get overwhelmed and have to try different routes. Also, its nobodys decision but yours on how you choose what works the best for your daughter & you. Remember your the one who has to live with her 24-7. My girlfriends son has severe ADHD and he wears a patch that time releases medication. He usually always wears it for school and then its his choice and his moms if he needs it at home or on the weekends. Also he does therapy at the Hope Center for Autism to help him work on his focus. They don't just work with Autistic kids. Also, they also work on his diet. He doesn't get processed sugar. He gets products made with sugar cane. So don't be discouraged there are a lot of options. Also, talk with your doc. They aren't your enemy. And most important of all and this is coming from a mom who has an 11 year old with a disability. It's about what is best for your daughter. If something doesn't work then try something else. You'll get no judgement here. Have an awesome day. If you need more info about the patch send me an email and I'll see what I can find out.

J., thank you for asking a great question. I too am going thru the same thing with my 6 year old. I too have the same questions, and ran into the same thing you did with everyone saying, "don't do meds" to "do meds", etc. I am going to try different things and study up. Good Luck! Thank you!

First of all, I'm so sorry that people are being that rude and mean to you. They don't know what it is like to have an ADHD child, so they shouldn't talk bad about you. I've dealt with 2 boys that were and are ADHD. My 14 yr old is the only one on meds right now and my 18 yr old has been off for years. I have a really good dr. that specializes with ADHD and other things. We have my son on Addderall XR and it seems to be working for him. We might try the Vyvanse, but he is happy with the Adderall. I would try to stay away from the Ritalin if possible though. Hope this helps. S.