9 yr.old Boy with AD/HD and ODD

Hi. I have two children. I have found help with supplements and diet. Here is a great web site: www.resultsproject.net
We ordered tests and found my daughter to be missing minerals and also had metal poision. I am very careful about what we eat (organic, no preservative, no artificial anything, etc) so I was supprised to see such high levels of metals. Our doctor told me she may be absorbing them from taking baths. We now have a great whole house water filter (www.wellnessfilter.com)
I have been thinking about starting a school for ADD, etc children. I would like to have a place for my children to go that will teach them in their style. What do you think of that?
Anyway feel free to call me ###-###-#### or e-mail.
~ S. W.

If you want to go to a behavioral therapist my son (Tourettes with some ADD and OCD) is part of social group every other week during the year with Dr. Gwaltney and Dr. Shideler (two fantastic women). You can reach them at ____@____.com or ###-###-####. One of the nice things about the social group is that the parents all meet in one room with one psychologist while the kids work with the other psychologist in the next room. So, the parents get some advice, counseling and support as well. They also offer one-on-one and/or private sessions to help your family work through how to deal with various unacceptable behaviors. I agree with the others recommending a quick allergy appt to make sure he isn't allergic to a food. If not, then you probably will find the best results for your son with medication until he is older and through puberty and able to control it more with his maturity.

Good luck!

AS for the AD/HD, sometimes these problems are caused by diet. Doctors are quick to prescribe medication. Remember over 50 % of the children in our schools are taking medication for the same problem. It's easier for teachers/staff to deal with children that are medicated.

I could never believe that AD/HD has become such an epidemic in our society, that over 50% of children have to take the medication - more likely its easier for teachers/parents to have the doctors prescribe it.

Try diet first, your child could be alergic to one specific item that causes this. Did you know that corn is the #1 food that children are alergic to. And, if you start reading labels - its in almost all process foods, in one form or another.

Are you seeing a behavioral therapist? If not, I do recommend seeing one, in addition to the other doctors helping your son. We've received some great advice for strategies to use during the off-meds times.

Also, if the medications aren't lasting very long, considering the longer-acting forms. Our son takes Concerta, which is the long-acting form of Ritalin. It lasts from morning to evening, which has made a huge difference. It's worth asking the psychiatrist about other options that can minimize the roller coaster effect.

Good luck!

S.,
I am a RN who works with children ranging from 9 to 18. There are a lot of medications out there and especially for his ADHD you may want to think about putting him on something that has an extended release, like concerta. You may not have as many ups and downs with something like this. Definetly talk to your doctor about other options.

Hi S.,

I am in the Exact same boat as you are. I wish i has something magical to tell you to try, but i don't. The only thing that i can tell you is to hold your ground. If you tell him no, you stick with that no. And if you punish him, stick with that punishment. Whatever you say you will do, you have to follow through with it.

Good luck, and if you need someone to talk to, I'm here for ya!

You might want to check what activities he is doing in school. Maybe he has art on the days he gets the rash. It could also be from stress. My oldest has eczema her trigger is stress and she only gets the rash on her stomach. Nowhere else. So we have worked on helping her pay attention to whats going on and how it feels right before she gets the rash. Sounds weird but she knows when she's getting one. Hope this helps.