My daughter has ADHD and without medication, she does very poorly in school! Her doctor prescribed her something when she was in first grade. It helped her out with her school work but it had bad side effects. She lost a LOT of weight and she is already a skinny. Her personality changed, she couldn't sleep, ect. So we took her off of that after about 3 months at the most. Last year when she was in 2nd grade, the dr prescribed her another medicine. It work really well! She didn't have any side effects and grades improved. The problem is we don't want her on these medicines. We have tried a few things from the health food store, but never saw any results. Has anyone found something that works? Something that doesn't have the health risks the prescribed medicines have. I really want to find something for her before school starts back. I don't want her to get any farther behind then she already is. Thanks MOMS!
Wow, thanks so much for all the advice! I am still unsure of the road we will take. I am going to watch her diet more closely. I was very happy with the medicine she was on last school year, but it is her Daddy who has his mind set that she won't take it again this year. I just don't know how to convince him that the medicine is what she needs. He has heard that it causes heart problems and such and he refuses to let her take the medicine. He is a wonderful husband and an awesome Daddy who thinks he is doing what is best for her. Thank you moms for all the advice!
Do nutrtion response testing. It diagnoses why ADHD is there and it FIXES it. I do it in my office.
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Dr. J.
Try taking sugar out of her diet. Or as much as possible. Espectaly in the mornings. Also what the dies that are in the foods. Red, blue and most yellows cause my kids to get hyper. They wanted my 4 year old on meds and I refused. Diet makes a difference.
Hi K.,
Please look into Great Lakes Academy, in Plano. They are a private school that specializes in teaching kids with ADHD without medication. She will gain self-confidence, organizational skills, social skills, and management skills so that she can later go back to public or a larger private school with the tools she'll need to be successful. You can visit their website at www.greatlakesacademy.us or call admissions at ###-###-####.
I have watched and read all the postings of people who have children which are on ADHD medicines and have held my tongue knowing I was a minority but I felt compelled to answer. You said your child is doing well on the new medicine so it must have minimum side effects. Why would you want to take your child off the medicine just becuase you don't want your child on medicine so they can go back and struggle. Don't you want what is best for your child. Do you have any idea what goes on inside an ADHD childs brain and how much they struggle to focus and feel normal. She finally has someting that is helping her be successful and because you have this old antiquated notion about ADHD medicine being bad you want to take her off and let her struggle. It is absolutely absurd. This is a medication that has been tried, tested and approved and used by doctors to assist these children who happen to be born with a medical condition. Medical conditions should be treated with medicine if it is necessary and improves the quality of life then I can't understand the problem. Which you say it does. I have two children who are diagnosed with ADHD and they are on the medicine and have seen incredible results with it and I have listened for years to all of the critisim of people and quacks with alternatives including special herbs and supplements which by the way we tried. Which most of the altermatives are later deemed unsafe or toxic because they are not regulated or tested in safe enviroments. I would just ask you to think long and hard before taking your child off a successful mediciation becuase while you are trying to find an alternative she has to go through the daily activities of life without the tools she needs to be successful. Sorry if I offend anyone please don't send me any personal messages telling me how wrong I am. Thanks.
This is going to be long and I apologize, but I hope you will hear me out. My son is 20 years old and he was diagnosed in 2nd grade with ADHD. He started out on Ritalin and then changed to Adderall. He struggled through school (made good grades, but still tough for him)so, I took him to be tested by a great educational psychologist in 9th grade to allow him to have extended time for tests. She told me the good news was that he had a very high I.Q. but that his medication was not working. I had been taking him to my pediatrician, but he recommended that I take him to a very good psychiatrist who treats many young people with ADHD. Most good pediatricians do not like to prescribe ADHD medication. It was the best thing I ever did. Although, he was making OK grades in a very difficult private prep school, his grades improved tremendously. It also helped his self-esteem. He started taking Concerta LA (long acting) with a Ritalin boost in the mornings. In the evenings for studying, he could take a lower dose. Granted, there are some side effects, (appetite loss, moodiness when coming off of it), but we (including him) had to weigh the options of what would be best in the long run. When trying to compete these days to get into a decent college and do well was important to all of us. He is now in his third year of Engineering school at a very good university and is making excellent grades. He gets to have extended time on quizzes, tests and final exams. Without the track record of being tested and diagnosed and being on medication, the school systems will not allow for it. It is under the Students with Disabilities Act. He has had no long term effects from the medication. We gave him supplements to drink to keep his nutrition up and weight up and he is almost 6'3" tall. He is on the slim side, but both my husband and I were both slim growing up. He does not take the medicine every day now. Only when he has a lot of studying to do or has a major test or final exam. He is an example of someone who has really benefited from the medicine and I thank Dr. Roger Roger Robinson in Fort Worth for that. Jill Claridge PhD. is who tested my son and I highly recommend her. She works well with children and has a great resume. You can google her or go to her website. You can get her new website address when you google her. Please don't give up. It was difficult in the younger years, because it is trial and error. Please don't listen to all the horror stories you hear because for every one of those that you hear, there are many other success stories. My 25 year old daughter suffers from stress anxiety when it comes to taking tests and she was also diagnosed with ADHD. She is more attention deficit than hyper. She takes Adderall and is in her 3rd year of law school. The last thing you want is for your child to become frustrated and develop a low self esteem. You don't want her labeled in school either. Back when my son was diagnosed it was not popular to be on medication, so many parents would not have their children tested. They didn't want the stigma. I can't tell you how many of my son's friends have told him they wished that their parents had been more opened minded and helped them. They are struggling in school. Some even try to steal their friends ADHD meds to study. I wish you the best of luck. I taught Special Education before my children were born and experienced many of these children and again, back then, it was not as readily available and doctors didn't know how to prescribed for it. You have so many more resources available to you and again I recommend a good child psychologist (they can't prescribe medicine) or a good child psychiatrist. One thing I read that was posted that I don't agree with is that taking ADHD meds increases your chances of becoming addicted to or using drugs. There is no real evidence to that. I think other factors are involved with children that do that. More than anything, you need to be on top of what your children are doing and where they are going. I read Dr. Bloch's book but not every child is the same and responds the same. I think a combo of the meds and diet outweigh the negatives. Also, her book was written so many years ago.
My husband does some work with a Doc here in dallas that is doing amino acid therpy with great results for ADHD. Send me your address and I will mail you his card.
Structure, routine, consistent discipline... no sugary/caffiene products... limited yeast intake... increase fish/fruit/vegetable/water intake...limited television viewing. Family time, going to church together, participating in activities together ie games/decent movies/walking/playing in the park... read as much as possible to your child and encourage your child to read as well. When you say no stick to the word no. If your child does wrong, do not take up for your child and blame someone else. Your child has to learn to face consequences. I see parents with ADHD children and some have been successful with the above tactics others their children stay in constant trouble because the parents are not willing to administer discipline or quality family time.
Shaklee has great products that will help your child with this problem, as it did help my son. If you would like to discuss it, e-mail me at ____@____.com and visit my website at www.shaklee.net/brookshire. I have a great book called Healthy Kids and I will send it to you for free. Just give me your info and I will mail it out to you with specific info on ADHD.
Hi K.,
My husband and I just ordered an incredible book off Amazon titled Adaptogens, Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief by Winston and Maimes. From the book "There is a category of herbs called adaptogens that help the human body adapt to stress, support normal metabolic processes, and restore balance. They increase the body's resistance to physical, biological, emotional, and environmental stressors and promote normal physiologic function".
The 10 most potent adaptogens on the earth, with the highest therapeutic properties available are now delievered in a fast acting spray, called Tunguska Mist.
Go to www.VitalHealth.TunguskaMist.com to learn more.
Many parents have had wonderful results using the Tunguska Mist Pure to help restore balance in their children and improve their focus. Teachers often comment that the student's behavior is greatly improved and grades go from C's and D's to A's and B's. In fact, one parent even reported that their child was called a "model student". Tunguska Mist Pure will help boost her immune system, increase mental clarity and focus, increase energy and stamina, as well as promote a more restful sleep. Good luck and God Bless:)
My daughter is almost 12 - entering 6th grade this year. She was diagnosed in 3rd grade. She also had to change medications. There are some children who will respond well to the more natural therapy, but I believe those children have more of a sensitivity than true ADHD. For children like my daughter, medication is necessary. We did try dietary adjustments as well, but found minimal results with ridiculous cost. (Ever notice how expensive being healthy can be?) Additionally, our daughter eats little ANYWAY, and, yes, the medication makes that worse. So we make sure that when she does eat, its good choices. Wish you the best. One more thing - based on recent news reports regarding ADHD medications, just take her to a pediatric cardiologist for a screening.
Please look up these websites:
First read the research on the fattyacidtrip website and then immediately order the omegabrite for kids. It is a high EPA Omega 3 and can help with ADHD, depression, bipolar issues and others. My whole family takes them and we have seen an improvement in my son's behavior and ability to focus at school. It is manufactured by Harvard staff and has been used extensively in their research. A bottle last about a month for kids. It can get expensive, but for us, it is a life saver. My son takes a little under 1/2 of a tsp daily so about 700mg EPA. I take 3 gel caps which is 1000 mg daily. I truely recomend this supplement. Look around on the omegabrite website for research and testimonials as well.
Let me know what happens! Good Luck!
B.
Please let me know if you find anything natural. My son also has ADHD and we choose not to medicate...so thus far I am homeschooling. Thanks.
T.
____@____.com
Check out this website: http://www.addhealthandwellness.com/. It has been advertised on KLTY, they might be able to help her without meds, think of the longterm. She needs help dealing with the ADHD now so she will be able to deal with it as an adult without medication. MY husband was diagnosed with ADHD later in life so he is struggling with it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
I could give you a huge story about what I went through with my son who is now 23yrs old. Medications do work if you get the write combination. I also know there is biofeedback, but depending on the severity of the ADHD it will have to be tested to see if it works. I know you will feel like you are having your child be a guinea pig, but you do need to see what works best "for her". Each and every time you get a new teacher you need to have a meeting. You can also request specifics which alot of parents do not know. You can request testing in am before recess, sitting in front of class room, in CA we had quarterly meetings with the principal, teacher, and myself to evaluate and see where he was doing good or poorly. I can give you many suggestions, as a survivor, it gets easier when you know how to handle it. Be consistent and you can also get permission for her to use the computer to do her work instead of handwriting. We also had issues with reading books so we made it a game with a reward system. I
hope this helps a little.
L. T.
K.,
I wish I had an easy answer for you, but I don't. You are doing the right thing gathering as much information as you can. They told us our son was ADD, but I knew there were other things going on, like anxiety. Anxiety can look like ADD. You said the ADD meds helped and so your child probably is ADD. It is quite the balance trying to figure out what to do about meds...heart wrenching for a parent. One thought is what we did. We changed schools. We went private. The Fairhill School. Small classrooms and understanding teachers made it possible for us to avoid medications. Good Luck! And remember ADD kids can be difficult, but ADD adults are often lots of fun!!!
I would suggest trying Advocares Spark. This is a all natural product. I know for a fact it works as my daughter had ADD and we had her on Ritlain for a while and she would not grow or lose weight. With Spark her grades came up to A/B 's and she started gaining weight. This is a drink and it comes i five flavors. If you wold like to try a sample or for more information Please contact me at ____@____.com Spark has been tested gainst several other drugs and it alwas came out on top. They have a website and it is www.advocare.com but I would be happy to send you some samples to try before you purchase it. Thanks and I wish you the best. G. C.
I have not heard of any natural ways to combat ADHD. But i do know of a new medication that actually my husband has just been put on and it has been extremely different than the others he had been on. It is called Vyvanse. To use his words and the Dr.s it is a much cleaner drug. He has to eat before he takes it in the morning or he will not be hungry for breakfast but he sleeps really well at night. Sorry I don't have any better recomendations! If you find something natural that works please let me know!!! We will be dealing with this same issue with our oldest soon!
I read one of the other responses regarding the drug and alcohol use later in life........many people who have ADHD that is untreated tend to gravitate toward drugs and alcohol because it is a way of self medicating. It is not the result of medication but a lack of it. The drugs and alcohol often give the effect of slowing the brain down. I think what people do not understand about ADHD is it is not a behavioral problem, it is a thought management problem. Their brain is just going so fast they don't know which thought to follow.
If you have not read it yet I would Strongly suggest you read "Driven to Distraction"
It is a super easy read but I think it will give you a greater understanding of what your child is going through on a daily basis. It was very helpful for both my husband and myself. For him it was "finally my childhood makes since", and for me it really helped me understand both my husband and my son and how they think and act!
I do understand your desire not medicate your children I really do!!!!! I have seen the flip side though and I'm not sure how to find the balance. My husband truly laments the fact that his was not diagnosed and treated earlier in life. He was out of school and in the work force before he his diagnoses and sees how focused he is now and wishes he would have had that in school. He did self medicate with coffee for a long time not even realizing that is what he was doing.
Sorry to ramble.........I really do hope you will read the book!!! Our Dr. sugested it to us and it has been super enlightening!!!
Driven to Distraction
Edward M. Hallowell, M.D.
and John J. Ratey, M.D.
Wow, K.! You got a lot of responses. Good for you to look for non-drug alternatives! I didn't see anyone mention the quality local practitioner we have here in the metroplex, who also takes insurance:
Dr. Deborah Bain, MD in Frisco
www.healthykidspediatrics.com
She specializes in ADD/ADHD and believes about 80% of these cases can be healed without any meds at all. Diet is the principle approach.
Many of the posters have given you good basic tips:
- Eliminate food allergens, starting with the biggies like gluten and dairy. For quality lab testing (stool, NOT blood or skin scratch), see www.enterolab.com. No MD referral needed. Order test kit online, send in specimen, they email you the results.
- Eliminate toxic foods: food colorings, additives, preservatives, pesticides (to the extent possible and your budget allows), etc.
- Eliminate sugar. Jack LaLane believes the severe hyperactivity and mood problems he had as a child were caused by sugar. Watch this video - it's pretty funny!
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/1...
(by the way, sugar includes: cereal, bread, pasta, crackers, pretzels, all corn products, fruit (whole and juice), all drinks except water, sugary fruit yogurt, sugary "healthy" granola bars, all typical cake and cookie treats you would expect to find on a sugar culprit list, and of course the big one: "high fructose corn syrup".)
For more info about diet and the risks of ADD/ADHD drugs, see www.mercola.com for articles like these:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/0...
http://www.mercola.com/beef/adhd.htm
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/new-warnings-for-a...
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/the-frightening-ri...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/0...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/0...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/0...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/0...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/0...
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/non-drug-treatment...
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/survey-results--va...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/0...
Well, there's more on his website, but you get the idea.
Good luck!!
if your daughter can sleep through the night without medication then she doesn't have ADHD, just a poor diet. different people are deficient in different things. my nephew is actually allergic to sugar and it makes him act like ADHD for a reaction. usually high protein diets help with hyper children. he is actually allergic even though he doesn't break out in bumps or anything. people react differently to things. if she drinks cokes alot, or anything with sugar, for 1-2 weeks try just drinking water all day except for maybe 1 glass of juice in the morning if that's what ya'll usually do. cut out candy, and snacks that have alot of sugar in it. just for a couple of weeks and watch how everything will change without medication. if needed, take her to the doctor and find out what her body is deficient in and get vitamins or whatever she needs to fill that gap. hope this helps.
I would suggest taking out all nitrates for her diet. Like teh stuff found in lunch meats and hot dogs for starters, and then take out all high fructose corn syrup and food coloring.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at 6 years old, and was prescribed ritalin untill i was about 13. I was teeny tiny skinny, and never slept too. those meds also lead me to having extreme rage outbursts and an inability to controll my moods. I know that when i was a kid i LIVED on processed meats, and sugar, and red dye. There are so many links to all these chemicals and kids ability to process them, and how it affects their brains....i would try and see if it makes a difference.....
When I was growing up...40 yrs ago (hurts to write that...) my little brother (adopted) who we figured out later would be categorized with Fetal Alcohol syndrome - was very, very hyperactive. Our whole family didn't eat food with any artificial colors for the entire time he was growing up after seeing the dramatic change in his behavior with and without that.
He would have distinctly been diagnosed with ADHD were it happening now.
I remember one time when he was in second grade we had told his teacher about this and she didn't really believe it of course and one day gave him ONE jelly bean. He went ballistic and she called to apologize as she had to put up with what would be his "normal" behavior the rest of the day. You have to be pretty strict to get it out of the house and i can remember being jealous of friends who got mac and cheese from the box and had candy around the house...but it is certainly worth a try and doesn't involve supplements or prescriptions with side effects.
Currently, I work with a consultant who helps companies deal with the Millennial Generation (born after 1982) a lot of them are diagnosed with ADD, but scientific research has revealed that their brains are actually wired differently - this is caused by patterning from video and computer games and the way TV and entertainment video is filmed and edited in shorter and shorter cuts.
We are completing our corporate book and course materials, but we have a book and course on Millennials that gets great response from parents of teens and twenty somethings as well as younger children who just don't understand why they question everything and their thought patterns seem disorganized and erratic.
In the near future we will have material geared for parents, but the site is N2Millennials.com and we have a free newsletter signup and video at http://n2millennials.com/mythsvideo.html and another free video linked to the home page "Introduction to Millennials" that you can take a look at and forward to friends using link at the bottom of the page (Share This) if you find it helpful.
Sometimes there are chemical imbalances and actual physical causes - but we and a lot of other scientists are very concerned that instead of finding ways to understand and manage this generation, they are drugged because it is easier.
I can recommend a product called SPARK from ADVOCARE. My niece was taking meds for ADHD, my sister was introduced to the Spark. My niece took the Spark and changed her grades and her attitude. If you are interested you can research it on my website is www.advocare.com/0402179. If you would be interested in a sample let me know and I can get it to you. I can tell you that it also helped my son stay focused when he takes it.
There are a lot of alternative things you can do that will help-different triggers for different children but I have helped many families with options. Feel free to contact me through my website www.LiveTotalWellness.com/Texas
Replace chemical household and personal care products from your home-especially laundry detergent, all scented sprays and candles, cleaning products, lotions, etc with safer alternatives.
Vitamin supplements are essential-be sure you are getting a high absoption rate such as the 90% or higher Melaleuca's Vitality line offers.
Ask her teachers to make sure the classroom is a scent free environment-not wearing perfume, burning scented candles, glade plugs ins etc are all horrible triggers for children with ADHD and as a former classroom teacher I was guilty of using many of these unknowingly.
Blessings,
I hate to ssay this cause I know it is not whatr you want to hear but medicine is the best.I have had adhd for years and it is an actual chemical imbalance in your brain.There was always a difference when I was on my meds and when i was not.I never wanted to take the medsd but later in life I realized that I did better on them.Since she is young she may also grow out of it.Another thing that is very helpful is talking to the school they have special things for students with adhd.Like if I couldnt concentrate I could go out in the hall and do my work or the libarary.There are several other things that they will let her do also.I know adhd can be frustrating.Good luck and hang in there.I am not telling you to use the meds if you dont want I am just telling you what I experienced.
My son takes Vyvanse during the school year and experiences little to no side effects.
Hi K.-
I know of a woman - Eva Rosenkranz
###-###-####
____@____.com
www.yogaeducationforschools.com
She has seen remarkable improvement with children with ADHD/focusing issues and has classes- even child and mom classes- she would be a great source of info for you.
She is focusing on bringing the art into school for attention/focusing issues in children.
Have a great day!
D. Sansone
Party Angels Ltd.
www.partyangelsus.com
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Host Assistants at Your Service
During the school year my son takes Focalin. It has very little side effects for him although there is a little bit of loss of appetite, but again, he also will go through his usual growth spurts, and the medication does not hamper that.
I like this medication because it is short lived, and when he's not taking it he's not "on it" but also by the end of the day, it's out of his system. Which means when he gets home, he starts homework because by 5-6 pm, it's no longer effective for him.
I have two children on medication for ADHD. The truth is neither of them is hyper and neither of them is a behavior problem. They both take medication in low doses to help them stay focused at school.
We tried taking anything out of our diet with nitrates (found in many lunch meats & hot dogs), dyes, excess sugars, etc. For us we saw no relevant differences. Our children were better nourished and we have continued to follow these nutritional habits, but they had no effect on their ability to focus on a subject like math or reading that required greater levels of concentration.
I think that all these testimonies of people successfully treating ADHD with alternate methods was because their children were either hyper or misdiagnosed altogether. My sons are not hyperactive but have real issues with an inability to focus. They have both been very successful on medication because as someone else said ADHD is neurological not metabolic. (Diabetis is metabolic -- treated with diet. Some hyperactivity is metabolic.) However, ADHD by nature is not metabolic.
I have to agree with the mom who asked why you would consider taking your daughter off a medication that she is successful on. Especially if your motivation is because you yourself can't get over the "stigma".
I will say that if my sons had only had ritalin as an option, I would not have allowed medication, but they have developed much more effective and safe options than when that was the medication of choice.
If you consider another option....FULLY research the supporting evidence, because there are SOME alternative options that have no supporting data because they are too new or because the reports are too inconclusive.
I know that you are asking this because you love and care for your daughter....I wish the best for both of you.
Avoid milk. It acts as a stimulant for kids with ADHD. My son finally started going to bed at night when he quit drinking it.
Blessings,
P. <><
Hi! My niece also has ADHD and my sister is going to have her neurotransmitters tested. Basically, if your neurotransmitters are out of balance, your whole system can be out of balance because all of the systems in the body work together. To learn more about this you can visit www.neurorelief.com. There's an option to find a healthcare provider in your area if you're interested. Good luck to you and your family!
S.
There is a lot that can be done naturally....
With ADD/ADHD there is often stress in the nervous system and how its function relates to the brain and attention and focus problems. A good pediatric chiropractor would be a great place to start.
Also, diet is very important in relation to ADD/ADHD and how it influences brain chemistry. Getting your daughter on a good, whole food diet, supplements and plenty of water will be helpful. Also, eliminating as much sugar, processed food (especially color additives), and soda is essential.
Of course these suggestions do take time....
If you want to discuss more I can be reached at ____@____.com
Good luck,
N. L
I don't know which medication your child is on, but let me reassure you I tried anything anybody told me other than prescription drugs and nothing helped. Maybe you will get some suggestions and try them, but I will tell you this, children with ADHD have a hard time not only with concentration, but friends. Both of my sons did medication and will tell you what a difference it made in their life. We didn't do weekends, holidays or summers. It was school only and we had no side effects. Please send me an e-mail if you would like to talk. I don't know the answer, but I can help with the discussion.
J.
I would involve a reputable nutritionist and get her involved in TaeKwonDo. Both of these things did wonders for my child. The TKD teaches focus in a fun way and he changed completely when we got high fructose and wheat out of his diet. Email me privately and I'll get you the name of our nutritionist. I applaud you for wanting your kid off meds. There is no long term research on what they do to the brain. You may want to google Dr. Daniel Amen website. He is a brain research specialist in California and really cutting edge on these matters.
Have you considered alternative occupational therapy? It's expensive but several places in the metroplex work with kids who show postitive for ADHD and use absolutely no meds.
The other option is to consider home schooling. I got fed up with schools in general and began a couple of years ago. Best decision I ever made.
K
"NRG Tea" from Herbalife. It works wonderful.
The problem with ADHD meds is that instead of the last resource,it is often the first.There are many behavior modification techniques that can be tried along with minimal or no meds.The best thing to do is saturate yourself and your husband with knowlege about the issue and All the treatment options.The more you know,the more control You have over the best course of treatment. Lot's of ADHD kids respond really well to an extremely structured environment and a more organic diet.
My middle son was diagnosed in first grade with ADHD. He was put on ritalin at the age of 6. He did much better in school after he was put on the medicine. He was also very thin. The medicine makes them not hungry so they don't eat as much. He also did not grow as fast in his height as my other sons. He eventually told me that he didn't like the way the medicine made him feel. When he got off the medicine, he started growing. Later, I learned that the children who take these medicines have a much higher tendency to experiment with drugs and alcohol when they become teenagers. And guess what, mine did. He is now almost 21 and still has problems. If I had it to do all over again, I would change his diet and try anything natural that is known to help with this. One teacher even told me that giving a child a cup of coffee has the opposite effect on children that it does on adults. It will calm them. I only wish I had the years back to have made better decisions and not just the easy ones. But when you are young and have 3 little boys running around, while you are trying to just survive, you just do what is easiest. I recommend you do your homework to see what is best for your daughter. And good luck!
B.
You MUST read "No More Ritalin" by Dr. Mary Ann Block. In her quest to find answers for her own daughter who was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, the then young mother, Mrs. Block, went to medical school. Through research, she found that the symptoms which bring about this diagnosis are usually associated with allergies. Dr Block has become a leader in this fight against the evils of ADD/ADHD - without the use of drugs. Although she is known world-wide, Dr. Block happens to be located in Bedford where her practice is focused on helping kids who have the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Just reading her book will give you insight and hope. Blessings to you and your daughter.
reading your story sounds just like my daughter. I didnt want to medicate either but when her grades started going south i had no choice the meds her doctor has her on is perfect. Her grades are a and b, she is gaining weight, she sleeps alnight her other medications also made her stop eating. my daughter was 38lbs on strattera, now she is on aderall and she was 50lbs now . so not all meds are bad
Hi K.,
I'm having some of the same problems with my 8 year old. He has mild ADHD and Dysgraphia (has an extremely hard time getting what is in his head down on paper). We have him on Strattera. It works wonderful for him and it isn't a narcotic. We also keep a very close eye on what he eats, especially during the school week. We keep him away from sugary foods and foods that turn into sugar. I pack his lunch, he gets milk to drink and stuff like yogurt and fruit. No juice boxes, fruit snacks or Doritos.
We also met with the school counselor and the teacher last year. They are going to give him extra help this comming year. Ex: shorten his writing assignments, let him dictate answers to certain tests...
Hope this helps!
N.
We have a doctor that we go to who treats ADHD with natural supplements. He is great. His name is Dr. Brian Hickey and he is in Arlington. His number is ###-###-####. Tell him S. Rosson sent you. He knows my family well.
This may sound a little off subject but you may want to go Gluten free for a little while and see if it helps. Gluten is the protein found in wheat,rye,barley and oatmeal. What made me think that this may be part of the problem is that you said that she was skinny, If a child can not tolerated gluten they can not absorb nutrients as well. One of the symptoms is ADHD type behavior and sometimes is the only symptom. It is a hard diet to follow but can be done and if it works you will see results. You can also ask the doctor for a blood test to see if she has Ceilac.
Have you tried Juice Plus? It is whole food nutriton. Nutrition is vital in a child's academic performance. Some things to avoid which you probably are already familiar with are food additives, dyes, sugar especially splenda,aspertame,equal etc. Please go to www.gotjuiceplus.com and review the research. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call. I can be reached at ###-###-#### or ###-###-####. I am currently out of town but will be returning on the 6th of August.
Sally
While I appreciate your not wanting to "drug" your daughter. Have you given any thought as to what it feels like to have this and not be medicated? Put yourself in her shoes, look up what the symptoms are, try to re-create those symptoms for yourself for just one hour, and then realize she has to deal wih this for 24/7/365!!! If you medicate her now and get her past the worst of it, she will quite possibly outgrow it, but if you keep thinking it will just go away, it can get worse and manifest itself in many much worse ways than poor grades! This can have social and psychological effects on her for a long time to come, so please re-consider, if you found a med that works, stick with it, her body will tell you when it is not working any longer, or when she has outgrown it. I will pray for you and your ability to feel her pain, because if you think this doesn't hurt, you are very wrong.
There are lots of alternative treatments that you can look into and see if there are any that you might be comfortable with: Chiropractic, diet, a program called Door, etc. I would google "alternative treatments". I am a teacher who usually does not think meds are the best treatment as I am pretty much a naturalist, but with that said, I have seen many children do very well on the right med and I have seen many children do well with a holistic treatment and a structured team between home and school. The best of luck to you and your daughter.
My daughter has the SAME issues and I feel the exact same way you do. I started taking my daughter to Dr. Bass, he and his wife are chiropractors and have really helped my daughter a lot. They do a new laser therapy, as well as needle less acupuncture and adjustments. My daughter, Victoria went to a convention with them where a Dr from New York who deals with ADHD kids all the time told me a lot of information and how to deal with this without medication. Omega fatty acids is essential and there is an oil called UDO's that I put in my daughters smoothies, or whatever else she is eating that I can add to it. No processed sugars or red dye etc.. I don't mind sharing with you the things I have learned if you would like me to. My daughter was on adderol and i just couldn't do it anymore when I found out that it metabolizes the same as cocaine in their systems. My best friend has her son on it so I am not judging anyone but it isn't for us and I would rather go this route with the acupuncture, needle less acupuncture, and laser therapy. Let me know if you want more information on any of this.
We have an 11 year old daughter with ADHD and went through a couple of medications as well. This summer, at our pediatricians recommendation, we took her to see Dr. Chalmers (chalmerswellness.com), a chiropractor, that specializes in nutritional supplements. We have spent the summer following his recommendations for diet, supplements, and heavy metal detoxification and are very pleased with the results. My daugher is calmer, happier and seems to focus better. Of course, the true test will be when she starts back to school in the fall. I'm planning on sending her back to school without any medication.
I also recommend a book I've been reading this summer "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics", by Bock & Stauth.
I hope all goes well,
Get on the wait list for Dr. Mel Levine in North Carolina. He is fabulous for these kinds of challenges and looks at the whole child. www.allkindsofminds.org/
Also, work with Shriner's in Dallas.
Finally, and this one is way out there, but I have heard that fresh, raw cows milk is fabulous for ADHD kids, all kids really. It's tough to find for obvious health concerns, but if you can find a reputable farm with best organic practices, you may want to consider it.
Good luck and you need to pile on the praise, find an outlet for her energy and never give up.
There's a wonderful book by Daniel Amen called Healing ADD. Also books by Edward Hallowell have helped us. We've placed our son on supplements recommended by them and they're working! I'd also try a website http://store.drmurphreestore.com/adhd.html and read about some supplements. He has a "brain function questionnaire" that has helped us greatly. My 6 y/o is taking DLPA, DMAE, Omega 3, multivitamin and 5 HTP. We've noticed a huge improvement in his behavior. Good luck!
K., this is not necessaraly what you asked for but it works for us so I thought it was worth mentioning. My son is ADD and takes daytrauna It is a patch that we put on his hip and he takes it off at around 2:30. The medicine stays in his system till about 7 so we eat a little later around 7:30 and he goes to bed around 8:30. The first couple of days he didnt sleep well but noticed his appetite was better than when he was taking concerta. By the 5th day he is sleeping well. In addition he drinks ensure plus with protein every morning with breakfast. We really make breakfast count and get in as much as we can. Healthy of course. We pack his lunch and he usually will eat it all. With Add medication ( I am speaking personally because I also take it so I know how it feels) it does curve your appetite but if you sit down to eat you will notice after a couple of bites your normal appetite is fine. You just have to make your daughter sit and eat even if she doesnt feel like it at first. Even though we are on medication we still practice a strict diet and strong organizational skills. The medicine is not a magic pill and requires our entire family to stay on a schedule and much effort on my sons behalf. We have tried the diet by itself and it did help his hyperactivity but did nothing for his focus so then we added vitamins still he couldnt finish a simple math sheet or a 3 sentence paragraph. His self esteem would always suffer because he doesnt understand why he cant make himself focus and he would hit himself in the head and say "focus brain, focus you stupid brain" it broke my heart. We decided to keep him on the medication during the school year and not during summers which can be tough but we experiment and try alternatives and check to see if he can go without meds. (hoping he will out grow it) The answer is he starts back on meds in 2 weeks. He is in a christian private school and the class sizes are smaller. When he is on meds he is a straight A student. My point is The HARDEST thing I have had to do is decide he needs the medicine. It was not a short cut for us and to hear people say its EASY, well they just havent walked in my shoes. Medicating your child is NOT easy. Good luck.
WOW! I also have an 8 year old daughter with ADHD and she will going into 3rd grade this year. She is also on medication when she is in school and it is working beautifully. Our 5 year old daughter has also been diagnosed with it. We too wish that there was a more natural way of helping them, but according to their pediatrician, a psychiatrist and a pediatric neurologist, there isn't anything else that we can do for them that will help. We've been told by so many people that we need to change their diet, but all the doctors say that isn't true. They used to think the diet had an effect, but they now know that it doesn't.
I wish I could be of some help to you, but I am struggling trying to find the same answers that you are. At least you know you are not alone. There are MANY of us out there. I actually was talking to a friend today who has a 5 year old daughter with ADHD about starting a support group for the parents.
I am a SAHM with 3 girls ages 8,5 & 2 1/2. I've been married to my best friend for over 11 years.
A clinical nutritionist can help your daughter. There is one here in Wichita Falls TX (Dr. Donna Smith). Her website is www.advancedclinicalnutrition.com. You can reach her at ###-###-#### or email ____@____.com her! I know she can help you! Even if you live in another state. She has clients all across the country and even a few international.
K.,
Our son will be 7 in November and was diagnosed with ADHD. We tried medication for 3 months to help him through school last year, but dedicated this summer to finding alternatives to medication. We have found that he in fact, does not have this false labling. He has severe food allergies which effect his behavior. The DO he is seeing is Dr. Maryanne Block. www.blockcenter.com. It is an investment as most insurances will not pay for extensive allergy testing. Contact me for more details if you'd like.
Hello there! I am so sorry that you have had to experience ADHD. My son Joey has been on meds for that since he was 7 years old, he is now 15. There is a lady named Janet Lewis in Longview that has a nutrition store called Dr's Nutrition. And she put my son on a low glucose, high good fat diet. It is extremely strict, but I noticed results within 1-2 weeks. A few of the most important thinge to remember is that MSG triggers ADHD. All flavored pototo chips have MSG. And that artifical sweeteners are worse for you than sugar, especially for children with ADHD It is a very strict diet, but if you can stick with it, I promise that you will see results. Her # is 1-###-###-####. The email address is ____@____.com is extremely informative,and friendly. A. in Burleson
