Advise on ADHD?

Im another teacher that think ADHD and ADD are way over diagnosed.I get students that have this diagnosis are on meds and all the meds do is make them sleep for part of the day and hyper for the rest. It is a horrible injustice to them and the learning environment. The kiddos that truly have ADD or ADHD and have it under control do so by meds and/or diet and excercise.

I also have a bonus child with sensory integration issues. She was presenting with ADD symptoms but after much testing she came back with the diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Delay (which is a nice way of saying she is delayed, we're not sure why), the sensory issue and anxiety. She wasn't medicated until just recently now she is on Prozac for the anxiety. We have tried to address the issue of diet with her because her diet at her mother's house is ridiculously horrible. Text book bad nutrition stuff. When we have her for an extended time she eats what we eat and we have noticed some improvement in her ability to focus and not be so "flighty" for lack of a better term. Take your child to a neurologist, get the tests done and find out for sure what the issue is before trying any meds.

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I would contact the HANDLE institute in Seattle that specializes in treatment of sensory disorders without drugs. If the child is younger than 3 years, you can get free referral to physical therapy and testing at any hospital therapy facility near you and the expenses that are not covered by insurance are covered by a special state plan. I have a 9 year old daughter who was diagnosed with serious sensory integration disorder and is now perfectly normal but I homeschool both her and her 4 year old sister because I see a real danger in schools labeling kids simply because the school is a poor fit for that particular kid. If you need any more info, you can contact me.

H.

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Hi Jamie,
We're going through a similar issue now. I cannot stress enought that you do not take the teacher's word for a diagnosis. Work with your school district for the complement of tests that they require to implement an IEP (individual education plan). Find ways your child is successful and encourage them with lots of positive reinforcement. Adequate sleep and nutrition are a must. Check out your local library for books on sensory integration disorder and ADHD - there is at least one in the system that integrates diet and nutrition. Your public school PTA also has a special needs coordinator who may be able to help you navigate the resources in your area and hook you up with others in a similar situation.
Good luck,
T.

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First off - I'm a psychology major becoming a doctor of neuropsychology - and I have ADHD - I hope this is helpful as I'm listing some treatments and such at the bottom of this. I've graduated from the Naval Nuclear Power Training command and am currently becoming a doctor of neuropsychology, am a dad with two children...all with ADHD....life's tough with ADHD.

You didn't state what exactly you're having a problem with, so it's hard to really tell you what to do in terms of everything.

But it can be dealt with. Here's what I've learned in dealing with the ADHD aspect.....I won't touch the sensory integration aspect.....

You talk about disagreeing with the assessment.....

ADHD has many "criteria" to define it.

I've found a couple things in researching it:

Generally, we see higher assessments of boys with ADHD than we do girls - some psychologists attribute this to the fact and tendency for society to be more forgiving of girls than boys. That can make a difference because boys are naturally more rambunctious than girls - and teachers aren't trained in doing psychological assessments and I see many get frustrated with boys more often than girls, especially if the instructor is a woman, I see the statistics for this in the psyche journals as well. We do see a higher number of women willing to label a boy ADHD than we do see men - statistical fact - does that mean they are wrong? Not neccessarily, but it is something to be aware of as well as a teacher isn't qualified to make such an assessment. I've seen some male instructors better able to deal with an ADHD child than a female instructor so that despite the child's impairment, they functioned just fine in the environment with that instructor and went on to be successful.

You also didn't state what the age of your child is....that's important too. If they are 5, 6, 7, they may have a different prognosis than if they are 13, 14, 15 - although you stated your youngest is 13.....

Psychology is often about "labels" so people can know what to do with something - those labels are easier to work with than a set of symptoms repeated over and over again. However, here's an example of the criteria for ADHD from the Diagnostics Statistics manual of mental health - if you read it carefully - (read it, it's interesting! and quite short) you'll notice that there are various combinations of behaviors that all fall under the same heading, which means, you can have 20 children with ADHD and not one of them be the same, due to different combinations of symptoms! Each ADHD child is different! Which is what it sounds like you're noticing and the doctors may not have explained....provided he has ADHD.

http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/adhd.htm

A very important aspect of this is duration - what is the history of this? Did it start suddenly or has it been ongoing for years? Also, it's important to note, that the main criteria for an assessment is "impairment." I.E. I have ADHD, but I have learned to manage it and function perfectly fine! Does that mean I have a problem?

***Here's a bit of psychology with ADD****

ADHD also has to do with several biological factors in the brain and brain chemistry. In short, ADHD can be an emotional issue for the child - they can have mood swings - forget things - not understand things - not pay attention to things - run around and be hyperactive - and all have "ADHD." I've experimented with myself and found that - since I do have ADHD - that megadoses of Vitamin B Complex have smoothed me out considerably.

Vitamin B Complex helps regulate our emotions - ADHD being an emotional issue - children LIKE things LOVE things HATE them DISLIKE them - Vitamin B Complex alone has seriously leveled me out and I've seen it level others out remarkably so they can function and go to school.

I also take Focus Smart - a concentration supporter like Focus Factor, I take that in place of prescription medication and so do some of my friends with ADHD and now I have a 4.0 at the university, I've got a piece of research that's up on the national level for review for assessing convicted sex offenders.....life's great, though I still struggle with ADHD I function quite well compared to what I do without it.

You haven't described any symptoms, and I'm not sure if your issue is only that you have two conflicting opinions.

It's important to note that you can have two overlapping issues as well....ADHD combined with something else....that's important to recognize as well.....

My advice?

Get a second opinion that isn't the teacher - or maybe a third opinion. I'd reccomend a therapist trained in dealing with ADHD or a neuropsychologist also trained....

Good luck!
~M.
Eventually to be a Ph.D.

(I don't know if this answers your question, but I hope it helps...)

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Hi Jamime, sounds like you have your plate full, six kids and a full time student. I highly recommend watching Day 11, Children's Health at www.30daysofshaklee.com Amazing information. Then watch Day 3, Get Clean Household Cleaners. This may sound crazy but we have too many testimonials for me not to beleive it, toxins in the home can contribute to ADHD. The information you get from these two recordings will change the way you think about illness, prevention and cure for your children and all those grandchildren you will have in the future :-)

J.
www.shaklee.net/greenplanet

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Did they do a behavior assessment thing, where they sent a questionnaire to his teacher and had you fill one out? That's the best way to diagnose ADHD or any other brain disorder like that. My son went for a few years misdiagnosed as ADHD when in reality he is Bipolar. My youngest is ADHD and so far I have not had to medicate her. I do reserve the right to if her attention problems interfere with her schoolwork. At home I can break tasks down into manageable time pieces but its different at school. There is a book called The Parent's Survival Guide to Your ADHD Child. It was an awesome start for me to get some better idea of what we were dealing with and such. I found it at Barnes and Noble.

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HI J.,

Wow! That is a challenging situation. I will pray for you and your family. Having been a person who used to have ADHD, I can tell you this...Diet, exercise, and positive encouragement is HUGE!!!! Oh, and a great nights sleep...good sleeping patterns is very important as well.

For me because I am a woman of faith, I began to seek out material from Christian people who spoke on this topic. I also did much research and tried many medicine. One book I found very helpful is called The Seven Pillars of Health by Dr. Don Colbert. You can get it pretty much anywhere and it covers many subjects. It explains what our body was made for, and what it was not made for.

Many Blessings to you and your family :)

K.S.

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You should question such a diagnosis. I personally think that ADD is sooooo overdiagnosed & children too medicated so they can sit down for long hours in a classroom. You may just have aspirited kid who needs outlets for their creativity. Please get a second opinion, the meds are pretty serious & for developing brains, potentially harmful. So seek an opinion of a naturopath. Dr. Kate Wiggin is great, her # is ###-###-#### & she does house calls. I would trust her with such a serious issue. Good luck.

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I'm a Kindergarten teacher and I have seen many of students diagnosed and misdiagnosed with ADD or ADHD. As a teacher, my major concern with children who I think may have this disorder isn't that they can't sit still, but that they are not able to pay attention and aren't going to keep up with the rest of the kids. Something I've seen with children that are misdiagnosed is that the medicine doesn't work for them. If the child can not focus because they do have the disorder, then the medicine will help them. I had a student last year who was diagnosed by the physician and ADHD (who also had sensory issues) and they put him on some naturalist medicine that seemed to help him focus more and concentrate on his work. He still was an energetic boy who loved life, he just was able to sit to read and focus on the book instead of everything else around him.

Nowadays, I see that most ADD and ADHD medicine does not turn kiddos into Zombies. My brother was misdiagnosed with ADHD when he really was high functioning autistic, the medicine never really helped him a lot. If you ever feel like the medicine isn't right for your child, you can take them off of it.

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Just wondering, but can your child focus on anything? I had a teacher one year say the same thing, and I freaked out actually, I was a little ticked at the thought that they just told me to drug my kid. My 9 year old is hyperactive, I won't lie, but He has the ability to focus if he wants. Like he plays hockey and he can stand in a net for almost a hour and not take his eyes off the puck, or a movie that catches his attention, so it's something besides ADHD.I think he gets bored. He is an A student without trying (when he will do his work)But gets bored or stubborn and won't do it. Look into it and if there are things your child will focus on then I'd go another route. I think ADHD is over used now days so real issues don't have to be delt with. Don't get me wrong, there are a few out there that benifit, but the long term effects, who knows. I know a few grew up fine, a few not so much. Just look further into it first.

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Hi J.,
I was told about something called Blue Algae. You can google it and get lots of information but it's basically a natural way to control ADD/ADHD. We haven't personally tried it, but I've read up on it quite a bit. My son has the same issues and while I will not give him medicine for it, an extra vitamin is something I'd consider. If you do try it, please let me know how it works for you.
Good luck :)

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I have a girl friend whose daughter was diagnosed adhd. a lot of these disorders come back to diet. I would see a natural path and do some allergy testing. YOu'd be surprised what changing diet can do for a lot of people. consider no wheat or preservatives and watching the sodium intake. All things that should be considered anyway for a healthy diet.

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J.,

Wow, 6 kids at the age of 30? You certainly have your hands full! As far as borderline ADHD, my daughter had it somewhat throughout grade school and high school. What helped her was caffeine and exercise. A little cup of coffee or tea or a chocolate in the afternoon settled her down to do her homework. Also, exercise in the morning before class helped her to focus on her studies. Active kids need exercise. They can't sit still for long hours at a time. This is why the schools have recess and PE. She loved to run and play. She is now in college and takes pilates/yoga and it really helps. Good luck and God bless you!

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Hi J.,
I can understand what you may be going through, my son is 5 and we have started the testing on him to see if he is ADD/ADHD. Without testing I don't see how you doctor can diagnose your son. We have started with taking our son to Mary Brigges in Tacoma for speech and hearing testing, also from my son's doctor I got a NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scale form for both his teacher and myself. we fill it out, it is scared and it gives you an ideal about your childs disabiltie, after your doctor completes the scareing he should then refer you to the proper specilists to further diagnose your son. If the doctor is unwilling to do this and refer him, I would be looking for another doctor . Mary Brigges has some wonderful doctors although it does take a while to get an appt. Dr. Tripp is the best in these areas.
Your school district also does testing , but they most likly have a waiting list, go ahead and get him on it, as itt will help benifit your child in later years.
When my daughter was 5, the doctors tried to put her on meds because her teacher said she was hyperactive and uncontrollable, yes my daughter was very active, but it was to find out the teacher had the problem. I did not like what the meds did to her so I took her off of refine sugars, except sometimes as a special treat and I gave her coffee to drink, no needs for meds and she out grew the problem, she is now a very well adjusted 36 yr old women and a wonderful mother.
But of luck, just really reasearch anything natural that you give your son for ADHD, sometimes they can be bad in other ways.
I would love to hear of your progress and what steps you have taken, it may be a help to me.
R.

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I see you have several responses so I'll try to be brief. My son has sensory issues and we found him to be gluten intolerant. Walking the path of Gluten Free, I've learned that lots of ADD/ADHD cases are actually cases of gluten intollerance. Remove the gluten and symptoms of ADD/ADHD go away!!! The diet is actually fairly easy to comply with....especially when you see results.
Heavy work (exercise) tires them out too! My son has a lycra hammock in his room, and even a lycra body bag which really help him organize his body and calm down. (I make both of these)
Please let me know if I can be of more help.

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Hi J.!

I know someone has already refered you to Dr. Tanya Hudson, and I second that. She is a wonderful and talented naturopathic doctor and has great knowledge of alternative/holistic treatments and "regular" treatments. She is also a mom and all around great person. Again, her phone number is ###-###-####, and her email is ____@____.com luck!
L.

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Hi J.,

I have one son with ADHD and one son with SID. SID is frequently misdiagnosed as ADHD. A child with SID will not respond to medication and will actually get worse as the medication overstimulates them. Some of the outward behavior looks the same but the source is very different and there are other issues that an SID child deals with that an ADHD child doesn't encounter.

A great book to help you understand SID and to work with your child at home is "The Out of Sync Child". My local library has a copy that I checked out and it was so helpful in understanding the differences and how I could help my child develop his full potential.

If you feel that your child's teacher is wrong then stick to your guns. You know your child better and may have a longer relationship with your doctor than the teacher.

I would be happy to share other tips for dealing with ADHD without medication if you decide to go that route.

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sensory integration disorder is usually a component of something else... like ADHD or other autism spectrum disorders - it rarely stands alone but it happens. Get him on with an occupational therapist. the earlier you can help him with his sensory issues the better. I have at least 2 children with ADHD and my youngest - a boy has sensory integration disorder and possibly ADHD. Be open minded to all options for treatment... not every course of treatment will fit every child. And consider too.. that medication is not the cure all and not to be used by itself.. the child still has to learn coping skills. Now also consider that some kids are "mild" and others have more intense cases. Often kids have other things going on with the ADHD. I have heard of some folks who "ran their kids into the ground" with activities.. usually sports.. and it has helped. This is not a practical option for me with 5 kids with various needs. I can't have my kids in something 7 days a week.. it is not affordable nor practical with our schedule. If I had only one child.. that might be different.

There are all kinds of resources on line to learn more about ADHD - when you do it really helps to broaden your perspective and learn about your options. I jumped on the band wagon to medicate our daughter more quickly than my husband. My approach "I wouldn't has a man with only one leg to walk without some type of assistance (fake leg, crutches) so why would I ask my daughters to function without some help. Their meds do help and now my husband and their teachers notice it helps. They still have to work on things like being organized... and thinking before they say something and so on.

For some, here is a little "test" you can do with your son if you suspect ADHD. Is it the 13 year old suspected of ADHD (wow.. these are the years when the inattentive type begin to manifest their ADD) if you have trouble getting him to do his homework when he gets home from school, allow him to drink a caffeinated soda (mountain dew is good) and then ask him to do his homework. The caffeine works a bit opposite in these kids. It calms my girls down and can actually HELP them get to sleep at night. I would be jittery and up all night - and most would.

there is something for starters... if you want to email me off-group I would be glad to share some other ideas and what I know from my experiences.

jennifer

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Hi J.,
My son has Asperger's Syndrome(High Functioning Autism) as well as ADHD. My daughter has ADHD as well (the inattentive type). ADD is no longer a clinical diagnosis and I would question any physician who is still using that term as they are definately not up to date! There are 3 different types of ADHD (hyperactive, inattentive and combined).
I would definately have your son tested by someone who specializes in this, usually a pediatric clinical psychologist. I would prefer this to a psychiatrist as the psychologist can not prescribe meds, they make the diagnosis and then work with a medical doctor to ascertain the best treatment. A psychiatrist can also prescribe and I think that sometimes scews their perception of the situation (just personal opinion). Regardless, you wouldn't want your child on medication for a problem that he doesn't have so getting the correct diagnosis is so important.
Someone earlier mentioned the program at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma. It is very good. Dr. Tripp is a pediatric specialist who determines whether there is a physiologic problem causing the disability (I can't remember his exact title). He is considered the BEST in the area. I personally found him a little condescending but he definately knows his stuff. When he determined that my son didn't have a phsical condition causing his problem, then we found a pediatric clinical psychologist at Rainier Associates in Tacoma. My son sees Dr. Stephen Parkison, although I know he has cut his schedule back dramatically as he is teaching at Madigan Army Hospital. Dr. Naomi Huddlestone is the other pediatric psychologist there and I have heard great things about her.
Regardless of what you do for your child, also seek support for yourself. You will have a long journey ahead of you and will need that extra support. Good luck!

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Hi J..

I too believe that ADHD over diagnosed and that there are many different levels of it. I've all but given up on allopathic (western-medicine) doctors who work in 10 minute intervals between patients to come up with the most generic diagnoses and don't put much thought into it further. (I don't mean to come across as bitter or one-sided, but I honestly believe that to be true.)

My 4-year old son has ADHD tendencies, though I would not diagnose him with ADHD. I've done a bit of research about it on my own, as well as talked with our family naturopath and have found the following information really helpful.

Supplements: (Be sure to always talk to your/their doctors before taking any supplements.)
· Omegas 3 & 6 (Essential Fatty Acids): In addition to the many health benefits of EPA's and DHA's, including healthier brain and immune system functionality, studies have shown a link between children diagnosed with ADHD and deficiencies in EPA's and DHA's. Suggested daily doses are:
2 - 6 years old: 250 mg
7 - 11 years old: 500 mg
12 years old and up: 1,000 mg
· Calcium & Magnesium: Both of these minerals are key in proper cognitive brain function, in addition to having a calming effect. Magnesium deficiencies have specifically been linked to ADHD, as well as childhood depression and autism. Hyperactive children may actually need extra magnesium due to higher amounts of adrenalin.
· Pycnogenol (an extract of French maritime pine bark): This extract has been linked in studies to show a significant decrease in hyperactivity and inattention in children 6 to 14 years old. (from HerbClip - a publication of the American Botanical Council.)

Additional herbal remedies to help concentration:
· Gingko Biloba
· Ginseng
· Gotu Kola - (**Be careful if taking an medication for cholesterol, high blood pressure or any antidepressants.)
· Valerian Root
· GABA
· DMAE
· A good multi-vitamin high in vitamin C

Things to (try to) avoid:
Processed Foods!!: I've thought for many years that today's processed foods have a HUGE part to do with the increasing behavioral problems that we are seeing with kids, and there have been studies that have proven me right. It's unfortunately difficult to avoid unless you solely shop at PCC (or a similar grocery store) and never eat out. More specifically, trying to avoid foods with food additives (especially corn syrup), flavor enhancers (MSG), red & yellow food dyes (especially yellow dye #3 and red dye #5), unhealthy fats (trans fats, etc), and sugar.

(And finally,) Food Allergies:
Food allergies have also become increasingly common in kids, which I also partially contribute to processed foods. Since we found out my 4yo was allergic to wheat/gluten and removed it from his diet, it has made a SIGNIFICANT difference in his behavior and attention span. Other common food allergies are eggs, dairy, soy, corn & unfortunately, chocolate. Your friend might want to have their child tested.

I just recently found out about SID. I don't think that's applicable to us and I haven't done any research on it, so I have nothing to share on that one. Sorry.

I hope this information helps! Good luck to you and your friend!

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Hi J.,

If it doesn't feel right you better listen to you instincts as a mother. You might be able to get some insight on it naturally through Tanya Hudson, located in Lake Oswego. She can be reached at 15110 SW Boones Ferry Rd, Suite 170 Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035 Phone: ###-###-#### ...She specializes in ADD and other childhood hyperactivity symptoms and has had great success. If you see her please tell her T. sent you:-)

Best of luck!
T. Nelson CD

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I know you have some responces here and can read stuff on the internet and such. But if you would like to talk to someone that has knowledge about this I would love to help you. I have 2 brothers on wit ADD & the other with ADHD. My mom is a retired teacheras of this year. She has learned a bunch about all of this over the years and with the help of our life long pediatrician who has spoken and been on the board for ADD & ADHD in WA state.

As I have read some of your comments some teachers don't know what to do with some kids. They have large classes and can only handle so much. When they see something out of the norm they can either do or say something that they have seen or heard from someone before. But I am not defending all teachers. Because they are just like your friends, family, and others you know. They are humans that make mistakes. They aren't doctors but they are trying to do their best and understand just as others are in your life. And well some people just tolorate things differently.

As for doctors, people have different views on them too. Yes some can over medicate people. Some don't catch and diagnose people in time. And besides all of this there are personal things people have, how much they tell the doctor, experience the doctor has, religous issues. All of this can play into a factor for a doctor as well as they are human too. I know there are articles aginst doctors, meds, and everything but each person is different and so each family and case needs to be treated individually. There is no blanket answer that we can all handle and deal with. I know we would like one.

So if you would like to talk to me or my mom feel free to contact me. M. ____@____.com

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My 13 year old has ADHD and is currently on medication.. which my ex-husband put him on and I don't agree with... Anyway, I was watching an interview with Micheal Phelps and he has ADHD. He said that when he started the swim team in school it seemed to calm him down and he was able to focus better throughout the day. He told his mom that he thought he could deal with his ADHD through the swimming and without the meds. She agreed to let him try it... he hasn't been on meds since.
I asked my son if there was anything that he did that made him feel that way and he said when he plays his guitar. He does seem alot less "flighty" when he plays. So my next step is to speak with his dad about maybe weening him off of the meds.
It's just an idea. I hope this helps.

Good Luck!!
K.

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Goodness I had to check the name because that could be me. My son has the same thing. His teacher, His dr. as suggested ADHD, and he has some sensory issues. His DR. told me that he didnt want to do medication, he wanted to see if we could monitor it with diet. He has told me to cut out all sugars. All of it, no sodas, no candy, no sugar cerals, nothing. So far we have seen some succsess. Halloween was a lil testy, because we couldnt just tell him no, but my main problem has been making sure everyone else follows it too. His daycare has been really wonderful as in they have changed all thier snacks and drinks to be Sugar Free, or Low Sugars. His preschool is the only problem. They have treats and stuff, and sometimes they have lil candies they give out. Like M & M's. These are his favorites. I know it sounds tough, and you'll really have to watch what you give him for sugar intake, but it does help.

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Hi J.,
I know this is a late reply, but I had saved your post in my inbox intending to reply sooner. I just perused the responses you've received and don't believe anyone has put this before you. I recently read a book titled, "Boys Adrift" by Leonard Pax. I checked it out from the library (I would imagine that most have it) and found it to be VERY insightful. What first drew me to it was the subheading regarding lack of motivation in today's boys. It covers several relevant topics - - only one of them being ADD/ADHD and the use of meds. I haven't had personal experience with this situation, but I did find that the information presented made a lot of sense. When I read your question & more importantly your concerns, I immediately thought that this book may provide some insight for you. You may have heard of another book by the same author called "Why Gender Matters".

In any case, I felt led to put this information in your hands. It's very good to know that you're not just taking the diagnosis and allowing others to make the decisions for you and your family. Whether here or elsewhere, I hope that you are able to find the answers and peace you are looking for in what I'm sure is a difficult situation to wade through.

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Hi J.,

If it is alternative treatment than I can suggest to you what has benefited many. It has to do with giving the body what it needs but with our current diet it is not available. When people supplement with what it is missing at the cellular level changes are noticed. It is backed with science, fully safe, natural and guarenteed. If you would like to learn about this, let me know and I can share with you my phone number is ###-###-#### or email ____@____.com