Living with ADD/ADHD

HA! Describes me perfectly!

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LoveU are you being treated for the A.D.D.? just wondering my older two boys have it and we're in question about my 11 year old right now but I'm torn over medicating him

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Yes I agree; when our pediatrician diagnosed our middle son a complete blood work was done as well as an EKG etc. However, Concerta was not out at the time and the medications they tried for him were effective, However, he dropped 30 pounds in 3 mths. I had to weigh the pros and cons and took him off of them. He had an agonizing time in school and it was not until we discovered he also had manic depression and oppositional behavior disorder that he did get appropriate help and is doing well considering . Our 11 year old is not hyperactive but is without a doubt in my mind A.D.D. The medication of choice here in the last year is Concerta as a matter of fact and I've heard promising results without the horrid side effects.

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I would appreciate any info you have LoveU ; I am so depressed I cry almost every day. My 11 year old just started this year having problems before that he was an A student ; it seems every two or three days I'm getting a call from the school, the doctor cannot evaluate him until December 4th and I'm at my wit's end. I can't reason with him he has the attitude he just doesn't care and there's not a whole lot I can punish him from. We are from a small town and there are no kids around here so it's not like I can say "no playing with friends today "or whatever. I feel like I'm losing what little mind I have left. I just got a call today he's suspended from the bus for 3 days for talking. I have a mentally retarded brother who lives with me . Now I will have to take him out every morning and every afternoon to bring and pick up my son from school for 3 days. *sigh*

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He actually has 3 teachers and that is when the problems started this year. I spoke with one of his teachers today as I am seriously considering putting him in private school where the classroom size is much smaller. She showed a little disappointment as she said she's being selfish but hates to see him go as he was one of her highest scores on the LEAP test but she will respect any decision we make. She also said that if she were to grade him on oral participation he would have all A's. On written tests (including open book tests) he is scoring C's and D's. That tells me partly right there that my suspicions of A.D.D. are correct. We've tried many things such as we purchased a saxophone and enrolled him in school band to help avoid his boredom. He has been chosen to be tested for GT (Gifted and Talented) but that is all written exams and I really don't think he'll score that high nor does his teacher. He is exceptionally smart and I guess that's what has me so depressed. I know what he's capable of and it just kills me. He's adamant against going to a private school and I can't make him understand it would be smaller classes, one teacher and for his own good. His teachers agree he more likely than not has A.D.D. so we're all on the same page in that aspect. The principal has also offered to change his bus driver and bus so that he is not around the same group of children that are repeatedly in trouble on the bus. I just don't know if that's enough, I really think he would thrive better socially, and academically in the private school. I guess we'll discuss it more but that's what I'm leaning towards. Grasping at straws I suppose :( The adding a chore is an excellent suggestion and I thank you; I hadn't thought of that. I'm so overwhelmed by "there's nothing left to take from him" I didn't even fathom the thought of adding something.

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I have ADD and I have been taking Omega 3 fish oil for several months, and I must say I notice a change in my ability to concentrate in that I don't drift off like I used to. It took a couple of weeks of taking it to notice a change in my abililty to focus, and since then I've noticed a really impressive improvement. I can concentrate better on movies and tv shows, reading, conversations with people. My husband notices a change in me too. I had used stimulants in the past but had to stop due to a conflict with other co-morbid conditions. Fish oil supposedly helps with alot of other conditions like depression, bipolar, etc. but I'm only noticing a difference in my ability to concentrate. Hope this info is helpful.

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ty so much LoveUAlways; I've marked them as my favorites so that my husband can read them as well. These things were not so much enforced when my two older boys were diagnosed. I think it will be much different for my younger hopefully more positive.

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My son was diagnosed ADD a ago. He also was a straight "A" student, however when they went to having a classroom enviornment like a junior high setup, where the kids have classes in 4 different rooms. He suffered greatly. It would take him hours to do his homework. He could not remember what to take to class and would get zeros for not turning in homework on time. At times he'd forget he had homework, other times he'd loose it b4 he even got to class. He was constently moving his papers thinking this was a better spot and would loose it. He pretty much could not complete anything with out constant supervision and reminding to finish jobs. He could not follow more than 1 instruction at a time. I took him to Dr. and he said he had all the classical symptoms of ADD. He sent us to a psychologist and she confirmed his diagnosis. He was put on Concerta and by day 4 I started noticing a huge difference. He actually remembered to do something the next day without us reminding him. I had phoned home to remind him of what we'd requested and he'd already done it. It may seem insignificant to some people but it was a great triumph for us. I was also receiving phone calls from the teachers and principle every week up until this point for almost 1 year. He actually had one of his math teachers email us to tell us how great it was to have him in his class last week Please take time to set up a schedule make it simple and have him type it up or write it down. Help him organize his locker or desk and binder. Have him label take home papers and homework. The more he can try to take control of his responsibilities the better. Hang in there and don't overreact when he fails. Just find out what's not working for him. He needs tons of support through this. There is a time for discipline and a always a time for support. Please don't take this as against you. It's not.

KajunKritter wrote:I would appreciate any info you have LoveU ; I am so depressed I cry almost every day. My 11 year old just started this year having problems before that he was an A student ; it seems every two or three days I'm getting a call from the school, the doctor cannot evaluate him until December 4th and I'm at my wit's end. I can't reason with him he has the attitude he just doesn't care and there's not a whole lot I can punish him from. We are from a small town and there are no kids around here so it's not like I can say "no playing with friends today "or whatever. I feel like I'm losing what little mind I have left. I just got a call today he's suspended from the bus for 3 days for talking. I have a mentally retarded brother who lives with me . Now I will have to take him out every morning and every afternoon to bring and pick up my son from school for 3 days. *sigh*

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Hi

I volunteer for the RDA (Riding chool for the Disabled Association) once a week and quite often we get kids with ADHD. You won't believe how they blossom when they get onto the ponies. They start off scared but after a couple of lessons you should see their little faces. And how eager most them are to learn to ride and do well.

Some of the kids behave really badly at school but put them on a horse and they become different people altogether.

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mccubbon thanks for the input I appreciate it :) Micha that sounds like a wonderful program wish we had something of that sort here. I have considered putting him in an extracurricular activity outside of school such as karate which would help him exert some of the excess energy but at the same time teach him self discipline. Hopefully, we can get him evaluated December 4th and we'll see some all around improvement. As I said before, my other two older boys have ADHD but my youngest is really giving us a run for our money. Maybe because I'm older now I just can't keep up lol... He does things without any regard to consequence, not thinking at all, which I know is typical of children with ADHD but it's just real difficult to keep up with him and everything else we've got going on. It's been a rough three years for us and I'm sure it's played a major part with his behavior.

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