just found out this summer | ADHD Information

Have you thought about having her work with an ADD Coach? She probably needs to learn ADD Friendly strategies that the medication alone can't really help her do.

My daughter was diagnosed adhd (attn focused, not hyper) this summer.  Mom's been trying everything...and finally realized something was beyond normal teen scatterbrained.  She has lots of friends.  Is sweet.  Gets along with everyone, including mom.  Is respectful.  No drugs, alchohol, or guy trouble.  Just has trouble juggling all the balls.  Loses everything.  ID tags.  House Key.  Driving permit.  3 cell phones.  1000 earrings...etc:)

She's starting on Strattera.  I realize it's hard for her, wanting to be responsible, and "good", yet constantly losing the key, the homework...  And, I've been trying to be loving, yet let her hold her own consequences.  No key means, you get to sit outside till mom gets home.  Borrow brother's skateboard and mess it up...pay brother for the skateboard, etc.

She went on a trip this weekend...I sent her 1 strattera pill (for overnight), 60 dollars (for food and shopping), and her Permit/ID...all in a ziplock bag inside her purse.  She left the ziplock bag...with money, pill, and id, at a gas station!!!

Will this get better with Strattera?  And, how could she ever keep up with a car or a car key?  I guess we wait for the med to help, and put our money into Taxi Stock?

Any input on non rebellious, cooperative, scatterbrained teens?

thank you, MrsG

MrsG38199.5065046296Thank you for the tip.  I'll check into that.  I've been reading up on strategies, etc...am hoping understanding things will help.

Well, we've had 6 wks on strattera.  Not noticing any personality change, or disposition change.  We have kept a cell phone for 6 solid weeks...and daughter is exercising more consistently, which seems to please her.  Grades seem improved...we'll see when the report cards come out@

That all sounds fantastic MrsG - you couldnt possibly hope for a better outcome.  Keep us posted if things change.Yes I believe the medication will help her with these issues, but she may complain about loosing her creativeness and her personality feels blank.  I have similar problems to your daughter but prefer to not medicate myself, because I enjoy my problems more than being "normal" - some of us are quite diffiuclt  and cause our families much angst.

No sleepiness.  Nausea once when she didn't eat...but now that doesn't even happen.  We do have some improvement, which I see in the cell phone lasting now 8 weeks!! and, she still has her house key from mid august (unheard of before). And, only one D on her report card (in home ec!! of all things...)

She's definitely still herself, tho.  Cares most about being out and about with friends.  Talking on phone, going, loves everyone, and they all seem to love her. Visits the special ed kids at school every day, and is about to give her civics teacher (a strict, older, man) a nervous breakdown!

We are such opposites...like Martha Stewart and Brittney Spears sharing a home, or a jail cell!!  Love each other so much, and drive each other absolutely nuts.  Did I mention I just found 5 spoons in her various drawers? (along with an endless assortment of ...junk:)  And, organization is just, my fave. 

God must have a sense of humor.   

I am so happy for you and your daughter.

I have a son starting to take Strattera and is feeling like he needs to sleep all the time. Was this ever a problem for your daughter?You made me laugh! Just so you know I'm with you, I found 3 cups on his desk, 2 bowls under his bed and a spoon in his dresser drawer the other day. I hope everything is still going good with your daughter. We go back to the dr. on wed. to evaluate his meds. (I don't think Strattera is the one for him.) He actually is not taking anything now and is about the same as with any of the medications he has taken. Except turning in the homework part of that is the organization that we deal with every day       

For ever 1 success story I hear about Strattera, I have 20 storys that Strattera made things worse. Personally speaking Strattera is bad news.

If she feels sedated on Strattera have her P=doc try adderal or Ritlin. If she forgets to take the pills during the day, have her P-doc give her dexedrine instead of adderall or Concerta instead of ritlin. These are the longer half life versions.

If the typical adhd meds don't work then discuss with her p-doc wellbutrin and other AD's.

Make sure her doctor is either a P-doc (psych) or a GP (general praction) doc that has experience with children and this dissorder.

 

 

 

So far she hasn't noticed any sedation, calming, decrease in creativeness or general usual wacky, social, self.  The room and backpack are staying 60% more organized, and now it's 7 weeks without losing this cellphone.  Grades are good...so, we're happy, I would say.

Both docs are wonderful...quality tx.  Thank you for the input, tho.  You never know when something different may be needed.