ADHD help!!

I am not sure where exactly to post this. My DD is 7 and since she was about 3 or so we have struggled with her behavior. Back in May we started taking her to a psychologist for evaluation and she sees a counselor once a week to help her with her anger management and ADHD type symptoms. The psychologist has said she has oppositional defiance disorder and borderline ADHD but needs to get papers filled out from this years teacher before he makes a solid diagnosis. I thought she was doing so much better in school this year and today we get her first progress report and it is just awful. I am very upset that her teacher has not even so much as sent a note home to let us know about her struggling with her school work and bad behavior. I am pretty sure once she fills out her paper work we are going to be looking at medication being pushed on us and I am terrified to put my baby girl on drugs. She sometimes is pretty much out of control and it is miserable for all of us including her which upsets me the most to see her struggle but I am just so scared to put her on medication. Have any of you ADHD mommies had any luck with anything besides medicine helping your child or even something positive to say about medications for this disorder. I am beside myself and my pregnancy hormones have me crying my eyes out. haha

I know meds seem like a bad thing a lot of the time, and I'm completely against medicating children but in ADHD it's different. I was started on meds when I was 5 and I was happpier! I hated getting in trouble and the other kids thinking I was weird. The meds helped me a ton and I took them until I was 17.
My parents tried to take me off them a few times to see if it made a difference and my grades dropped dramatically.

Good luck and if you have any other questions please feel free to ask or PM! I have to get off the computer now to leave work and pick my son up from daycare but I'll be back on later!

Thanks so much it is nice to hear that it helped you. I feel so bad for her sometimes because she is so sweet and smart and wonderful and she just can not help herself! My boyfriend and I are weighing our options but it is really nice to hear from someone who medicine helped. Thanks again and thanks for offering to answer any other questions.  

Medicinr has been the only help with my son. Having a strict schedule worked at first, then that went out the window. Changing her diet. No sugars or dyed food/drinks. Especially red. My son was doing horrible in school. On meds he finally got got better, up until the last few months. The school said he was too much to handle. He wasnt bad juat disruptive. Messing with kids. Getting up in the middlw of class and walking around. Making noises.

Quoting Harleys mommy77:" Thanks so much it is nice to hear that it helped you. I feel so bad for her sometimes because she is ... [snip!] ... is really nice to hear from someone who medicine helped. Thanks again and thanks for offering to answer any other questions.  "

Even when I was in high school my friends could tell if I didnt take them one day by accident, and so could the other kids and my teachers and everyone would say snide remarks or look at me weird. They really did make me happier! They're not for everyone but I think they are at least worth looking into and considering with your childs doctor and psychologist   GL!

I know the idea of meds are scary but the difference in my daughter was amazing. She went from barely passing to the A honor roll within a few months. Her outbursts calmed and as much as I hate to say it she was just a generally more pleasant person. I also take medication for my ADHD and I just feel better on it, normal. I just have to watch her weight since she is a petite kid to begin with but I don't regret the decision to medicate her at all.

Some people swear that dietary changes help a lot, I didn't have much success but you could try it. Also I've found on days I don't give her meds keeping her busy with projects she enjoys keeps her from getting too out of control.

Quoting MMY2nhalf:" Medicinr has been the only help with my son. Having a strict schedule worked at first, then that went ... [snip!] ... handle. He wasnt bad juat disruptive. Messing with kids. Getting up in the middlw of class and walking around. Making noises."

Yeah she is very disruptive. The teacher says she does not focus or follow directions or hand in any of her work. I know all this but we deal with it at home. Teachers can not deal with it and also handle a whole class full of other kids so I understand her teachers frustration. We have always kind of figured it would come to this once she got in school but hoped not. 2 of her cousins are on medication for ADHD and it has helped them so much. Now she is the one that all her cousins get irritated with. LOL Poor baby I just wish I was able to do something else for her. So many people think that ADHD is not a real problem but living with a child who has it you realize just how real it is.

Another thing, I'd be pissed that the teacher hasn't contacted you with these concerns.
You should try to make a conference with the teacher at least once a month and discuss coping options.
When I was in first grade my teacher was amazing and whenever she noticed me gettinng antsy or disruptive she would make up an errand for me to run.
Also, when I got a little older my teachers would move my desk away from the other kids and they had this 3 sized tall divider that fit on desks that they would put on mine. It really really helped me frm getting distratced during tests because even on the meds its still slightly harder to concentrate and pay attention.

Also, my 4th grade teacher used to yell at me all the time because I wasn't looking at her when she was speaking, I tried to explain it was easier for me to concentrate on what she was saying if I was playing with my hands or doodling but she just didn't understand and made me sit in the back row. I ALWAYS went in to school on the first day and sat right in the front because I knew if I wasn't in the front things would be a lot harder for me.

My point is, this can't be solved just on your end. Her teacher really has to try to help her as well and there needs to be a lot of communication on both ends! Don't hesitate to call or email her teacher and make it clear to her teacher that you need to be given a heads up in situations like this.

My son has ADHD really bad or so I am told. We do not medicate him. We did try and found that it wasn't for us. It totally changed him and who he is as a person. Plus he is thin already and wouldn't eat and was losing weight. I homeschool him so for us it isn't as big a deal. It took alot of reading and understanding things on his level. Understanding the thought process behind the disease. Getting down on his level and talking to him. Also TONS of positive reinforcement for the simplest of things. I have heard that fish oil is a natural option and is supposed to be effective although I myself have not tried it. Don't get me wrong it isn't always roses, we have our bad days where I just want to scream but in the end for us the benefits of medicating him just were not there. ADHD is part of who my son is and frustrating as it can be I love him just the same. I will never take away his personality and who is just to make my life easier.

My son has ADHD and ODD and I refuse to medicate. I feel with life style change as in no sugar and no red food coloring. Need to read your labels the more natural the better. It has been a long road but has been worth it. Since he is getting older I feel he is able to control himself more then he was able to when he was younger. I didn't want to put him on medication as I didn't want to change my son. As well I have a few cousins who have been medicated one was medicated it didn't change his behavior in any way now he has a mental retardation. The other cousin it didn't change his behavior as well and my Aunt has now told me that if she could go back she wouldn't of medicated as that isn't the answer.

You have to do obviously what is best for you and your daughter but if you don't feel comfortable medicating you don't have too. Also my son is getting better marks in school as he is getting older as well. He is 12 and I'm proud of where we are today with him. Also his grade 2 teacher the year we got the diagnosis told me she doesn't medicate her son who has ADHD as well cause she didn't like the way it made him feel and act. Wasn't the same child that she new and loved. Also medicating them doesn't teach them how to behave in a better way because they are numbed my the medication. So I know that not medicating does work but you have to be consistent with the school and your discipline at home so that they can grow and learn from their bad behavior.
Also the teacher needs to communicate with you I talk to my sons teachers frequently as I need to so I know how he is doing.

<blockquote><b>Quoting One*day*at*a*time:</b>" My son has ADHD really bad or so I am told. We do not medicate him. We did try and found that it wasn't ... [snip!] ... as it can be I love him just the same. I will never take away his personality and who is just to make my life easier."</blockquote>




This is my reasoning as well. Love my son the same and I have done my research on how to deal with him.

Quoting Becky☮Will:" Another thing, I'd be pissed that the teacher hasn't contacted you with these concerns. You should try ... [snip!] ... to call or email her teacher and make it clear to her teacher that you need to be given a heads up in situations like this."

Her first grade teacher was terrible and had zero tolerance for her. I was kind of surprised she passed on to second grade by the way her teacher treated her and talked down to us about her. Thank heavens her second grade teacher treats her much better and does have more patience with her but apparently Harley is having the same problems it is just that her teacher is nicer to her about it. LOL This situation is not funny it is just that sometimes we have to laugh about it or we will lose our minds. I feel like a failure for not being able to help her more especially with her school work. One of the big reasons we have chosen to not just home school her is because when I try to teach her or help her with something she just zones out and completely acts lost. I feel like I would be robbing her of a decent education if I tried schooling her at home. We do have a conference set up in a couple weeks with her teacher and I did write her a note to send in tomorrow telling her that I am not happy that we are just now hearing of her problems and that I would really appreciate it if she touched base with us once in a while especially when there is a problem. As far as the red dye and sugar go we have tryed that and it does help a little with the hyper activity but not with her problems focusing and following instructions and it does not help with her outbursts of anger. Her counselor seems to be helping with her anger a little. Thank you ladies for all of your input.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mom of Tristan and Rayah:</b>" My son has ADHD and ODD and I refuse to medicate. I feel with life style change as in no sugar and no ... [snip!] ... Also the teacher needs to communicate with you I talk to my sons teachers frequently as I need to so I know how he is doing."</blockquote>



I was never "numbed" by my medication and it also never ever took my personality away until I was in high school and I think I was taking too much. It affects every child differently, I think if its affecting their social and academic life it should at least be considered, and if it doesn't work then it doesn't work!

Quoting Mom of Tristan and Rayah:" My son has ADHD and ODD and I refuse to medicate. I feel with life style change as in no sugar and no ... [snip!] ... Also the teacher needs to communicate with you I talk to my sons teachers frequently as I need to so I know how he is doing."

I think it's pretty unfair to generalize and say children are "numbed" by medication. Sometimes it takes finding the right medication and sometimes it doesn't work at all. Medication isn't going to teach a child anything, it doesn't negate parental responsibility to raise ones child with manners and proper attitude. It also doesn't magically make your child smarter. Please don't think I'm lecturing you, I'm speaking in general. I feel like medication for these types of disorders is stigmatized by parents who want to overmedicate their children and not deal with the root issues. When taken properly in correct doses medication is only a small step in dealing with the overall problem.

I also think it's fair to point out that as with medication, environment/diet changes may also have no effect. I make most our food from scratch, I don't even buy bread because it's cheaper to make myself. I've even been experimenting with candy made with honey. It's had no impact on my child when she doesn't have her medication, I don't give it to her when school is out. Which sucked BTW and I'm pretty sure I've started balding prematurly from all the hair I ripped from my skull. I just don't want to go up in dosage so we take breaks.

As an adult the only time I've felt like a normal person and not the stupid girl that forgot to bring towels on swim day or loses her toothbrush everyday or ruins $300 worth of groceries because she forgot she went grocery shopping when she got home was with my medication. My only point is medication isn't the devil, it's a viable option when nothing else you tried works. When taken responsibly it doesn't change a childs personality or turn them into zombies. Again just speaking in general, I'm not directing this to you. I'm only getting my thoughts out.

<blockquote><b>Quoting 3 little monsters:</b>" I think it's pretty unfair to generalize and say children are "numbed" by medication. Sometimes it takes ... [snip!] ... or turn them into zombies. Again just speaking in general, I'm not directing this to you. I'm only getting my thoughts out. "</blockquote>



Yes, exactly. I wish I could take meds again so bad but I'm too scared with breastfeeding and now being pregnant again. Pregnancy just makes it worse too.

Also, I feel like not even trying medication is pretty much cheating your child out of the possibility of a more normal childhood. Its all well and good if you want to try other methods fiirst, but if they don't work its no fair to the kid to not try everything  

And medication doesn't work for everyone, whether that's because they don't actually have adhd, the dosage isn't right, or that medication doesn't do well with their body.
I myself went through only 2 medications, and that's because Ritalin was getting phased out and Aderall was the new thing. Also with Aderall I only had to take it in the morning and Ritalin I had to go to the nurse at lunch every day for a second dose (which I always forgot due to adhd lol)
I personally like Ritalin better but Aderall worked perfectly fine too, just made me a litte quieter once I went up to 30mg at 16 yrs old.