Yes, more coffee talk | ADHD Information

We too have no behavior issues at school.  She is well liked by all, peers, teachers, coaches, etc.  The only thing they complain about is the lack of focus, and using her time wisely.  She brings lots of homework home sometimes, so I have to wonder what she is doing in school.  The thing that gets me is she does bring it home.  I would think if she just didn't care than she wouldn't do it at all.  So sometimes I don't understand why she would rather have homework after getting home than doing it while she has to be at school anyway.  We do have some behavior problems at home.  Sibling rivalry, disrespect for things, attitude..... However, she is a 12 year old female so some of this may be normal.  Sometimes, I think I expect too much!  I have high expectations of how and when she is suppose to do something and our opinions greatly clash!!!

I am not convinced her straterra is working.  I don't have a norm to compare it to and I hate to keep med jumping when I really don't know.  Some of this may just be her personality.  She has never really liked school, she enjoys going but not for the work.  She gets a's and b's with an occasional C on her grades and this is without really trying.  She just has no "drive".  Sometimes I think she needs some motivation medicine instead of adhd meds.  I wonder sometimes if that is our problem.  Like last night, she has a book report due Monday after Spring break (next Monday).  I told her for 1 hour to go read.  I would go in there, she was cleaning, hanging up new clothes we had bought yesterday, everything but read!!!  I don't know if this is adhd or HER!  We have had her DX twice, but only with a child psych.  Only by talking to her and taking a Burks behavior tests that her teacher filled out!  I am wondering if there are more extensive testing we should have done or if just her working with a psychologists to figure out her strengths and weaknesses is the answer.  All I know is homework is a major conflict in our life and I HATE it along with her!!!!!  Sorry for the lengthy reply, sometimes I just get going!           When reading my reply I wanted to clarify something.  I hate the homework the same way she does, it sounds above as if I said that I hated her along with homework!

Oh my did I laugh with you second reply although I would have known what you meant.    I too have expectations for my son and sometimes wonder if I should just back off a bit.  I get so angry as I know he has the ability.  That's what frustrates me.  My husband is more relaxed about it.  The teachers tell me he has the ability.  When the ADD evaluations were fill out in Dec by my husband, his teacher and me, they were inconclusive.  I hear you can't just be "sometimes ADD"  it's all or nothing.  Sometimes I think just throwing him on some meds would make my life so much easier, but obviously that wouldn't be right.  Maybe he's just a bright ten year old boy, who is not interested in formal education, (he would love to be homeschooled).  Last week I asked him his thought about school.  His reply was "well it's not all that bad but there are so many other places that I'd rather be and sooo many other things I'd rather be doing.  I just feel like he's slighting himself by not living/working to his potential.  Truth be told, maybe it's disappointing me.  I think I need to back off.  (I'm just cracking myself about with all this self analyzing.) 

Does anyone have any answers to my above questions about caffeine?  I would appreciate any help on this subject.  Thanks!

Hi Lynn,

Sorry for the delay in responding.  I've been away from my computer a couple of days.  I remember someone posted a link to a site last week which listed many caffeine containing products and how much each contained.  I'll see if I can find it for you.  I also recall from reading past caffeine related posts that some believe the sugar and caffeine work well together for focusing issues.  My 10 year old is an off the wall kind of kid but can hold it together very well.  He is respectful and kind and has never had any behavior issues at school.  When he get home he is still respectful and kind (for the most part), but he is a bull in a china shop.  He will egg on his sister, he wants to wrestle.  It's as though he needs major stimulations on all muscle groups.  Wanting to take the gentlest route in understanding him, we had him evaluated by an OT who deal with sensory issues.  There were a couple of areas that were not "ideal" but nothing major.  We will act on those area (basically teaching him self regulation skills and an alert program designed to help him learn to organize his nervous system so he won't have such extremes.  As far as your daughter's academics being mainly in the afternoon, I would try a well caffeinated soda like mountain dew.  We do not mention to him anything about our trying different menthod on him.    Don't want any imaginary positives.  Lynn, tell me more about your daughter.  They do sound similar.  Oh yes, same here, no "officially diagnost" add here either.  Although at times I can't seem to get out of my own way so I do wonder about myself. 

 

JamnNH- I am soooo with you.  I have a 12 year old adhd daughter and a soon to be 9 year old daughter that is so focused, organized, driven, rule follower......etc.  I even hear her tell her older sister, "mom said we can't do that" stuff like that all of the time.  They say adhd is hereditary, I'm not sure where she got it but I guess it makes sense as to why they are soooo different.  My daughter doesn't have the hyperactivity part just the focus and "drive"!  She is sooo intelligent, tests off the charts on standardized tests but can't remember to bring her science book home when she has a test the next day!

 She is very athletic also, however, she loves organized sports.  She is on competition basketball and softball teams and eats it up!!!!!    Her Psych put her on Straterra and we are not really seeing any benefits that I'm not sure we wouldn't be seeing anyway due to the consequences she faces when irresponsible.  I am considering trying caffeine and other alternatives but she doesn't like coffee!  Does a pop have as much caffeine?  The only problem is the sugar may cancel out the pos effects of the caffeine.  But I know she wouldn't drink coffee without sugar!!!!  I know there are others giving caffeine in other forms, I'm just not ready to give her nodoz yet!  I know it's just a quirk on my part but I'm not there yet.

Does your son seem to have a "come down" effect after school or at the end of school with the caffeine?  My problem is the way my daughters school does the 6th grade schedule she has both electives before lunch, therefore, her challenging classes, where she needs to be the most focused are after lunch.  I'm afraid the coffe won't last that long!!!!

Thank you for your responses.  We'll continue with the testing and see from there.  He has a a phych test for IQ, etc. in a couple of weeks.  Because he's a rule follower and well behaved, the school isn't concerned.  I was a little concerned with going the neurophy route wondering if we'd be putting him through unnecessary testing and he'd be asked questions like "ever think of suicide".  I've just heard and read stories, although maybe inaccurate, but if accurate, I wouldn't want my boy going through unless necessary.

Yes, I've been reading posts and am familiar with Joshua.  His post in response to my issue did not push his specific product, so I'm assuming he's trying to help out.    Although when re-reading his post I couldn't help think I was watching an infomercial.  "Incredible nutritional Product...  Energy all day.... Lost 25 lbs.  My boy clearly doesn't need any more energy and if he lost 25 lbs., he'd be hospitalized.  Anyway, best wishes to you.

 

 

I am having trouble getting my 5 year old with the right doctors, but if you read my post "giving my son caffeine" you'll see that I had the same results.  My son is a "new child" now that we've had him on the equal of about 2 cups of coffee a day.
he's also learned to control his hyperactive behavior on days when we dont give it to him - now he knows what normal feels like, it's easier for him to "come back" when he gets off on a hyper manic tangent.

I would question the school as to exactly why they want you to stop the testing.
if it's in the child's best interest, why would they protest?
too many things that are supposed to be "for the kids" dont function that way these days.  I say congrats on finding this for your child!  and If I were you, I would continue to test and figure out what's best for you and your child!

I'd push, but not too hard. YOU know your child best.
Yes, I agree and have read you caffeine post.  It's amazing.  My son has one cup of 1/2 caffeinated every morning.  He's drank decaf on and off for a year as he likes the taste.  In December we switched to 1/2 deca as that was the only coffee we had.  When the teacher mentioned the focus situation, I decided to continue the coffee and see.  After three weeks, she can't believe the difference.  He's always been able to "hold it together" at school.  He would just daze out at times, not be sure what the directions were, loose his place in the book, etc.  Apparently, it's much better.    She still doesn't feel the effort or motivations there, but that's probably a whole other issue.  It's funny, I didn't realize how academically indifferent my boy was until my daughter started third grade and independance expectations were placed on her.  Amazing, she can run circles around her fifth grade brother.  Not academically, but with organization, following directions, not having to be constantly on her.  My son has no problem passing in homework written in blue pen, red pen and pencil, all on the same sheet, partially printed and partially cursive.  I've heard "it's a boy thing", "he a different child", 'He'd rather be doing something else", 'he' not interested" , "he gifted".  He is driving me crazy!!yeah I totally get that.
each child is an individual of course, and boys ARE different....I have a 7 year old grand daughter (step child's daughter) who's completely different from my son in school, but just like him in all other respects.

have you ever tried upping the caffeine dose or trying one of the regulated medications for him?  I'd be curious to see if that would help with his motivation.

it could also be that he's always had so much trouble focusing before, that he just got used to NOT trying koz it was too hard and/or what's the point.

I find my son - who used to cry "I CANT!!" when I asked him to hold his pencil and just draw a line - choosing to sit and draw for hours now....choosing to paint, ASKING for workbook pages to do instead of staring at the TV.  He's also building leggos, where before he just wanted someone else to build him something that he could play with.
right now, he's sitting on the floor petting the cat, petting, not throwing him around, actually being nice, and petting him....

who are you and what'd you do with my child I say to him lately.
he just grinns at me and gos awwwww mommm.......


Yes, big differences here as well.  My boy is pretty athletic but not at all interested in organized sports.  The past couple of month he just can't get enough.  It's all about baseball and football.  He's also drawing and creating so much more.  In the past he would just turn to the video games for entertainment.  Almost as though it was his crutch.  Definitely not so much now.  I may try going to full caffeine.  My hubby is soooo against any medication, but until you are truly at the point when things are so difficult, it's easy to say "no meds".    The one thing I learned from having children is "never say never".Keep the testing going and by all means have him tested by a neuropsych. Many gifted children are diagnosed as ADHD because they get bored and their behavior seems the same. Its also possible he is ADHD and gifted or something else altogether. He sounds like he is gifted to me.The best professional for any neurological testing is a NeuroPsych. They do intensive performance testing and really try to dig up the correct dx. Other professionals tend to just listen to parent complaints, see a kid for an hour, and slap a dx. on him. They are wrong a lot because they don't know how to dig. It' s your choice, but that would be my first choice, unless the child is a tremendous behavior problem, and it doesn't sound as if he is. JamnNH, Josh is try to sell stuff here and he's pitching to anyone who will possibly listen.  Just wanted to let you know.  If you talk negatively to him about his products, he will just say that you're stupid, narrow-minded and uneducated.  Read the thread about this helps me focus.  You'll see what he's up to.  I have told him that I will dog every post that he makes.  He has no kids and doesn't have any experience raising a child.  He encouraged another member of this board to lie to his son in order to break him from lying.  So please consider the source!

My son also has a big mug of coffee before he leaves for school.  It helps him focus as well.  It helps him get jump started in the morning and he probably would drink coffee at lunch except that they don't have any available to kids in the cafeteria.  I imagine when he goes to high school he'll be able to get it at lunch.  I'd send a thermos with coffee in it for lunch time, but he'd lose the thermos.  He's ADD after all. 

Man this explains so much to me now.  Why once I got on coffee I loved it so much.  Problem is I got the point where I was drinking coffee all day long to get the correct amount I need to function.  I don't drink coffee anymore I found an incredible nutritional product that give me energy all day.   I take these vitamins called MNS Max energy.  Wow!  I have droped 25lb in 2months give me a ton of energy and knocks out all my craves.  Best thing I have ever taken as a mater of fact I may be going to be featured in the companys magazine as a success story!

I have posted a few weeks back about my girlfriend's son.  Now it's my turn.  My ten year old son attends a small catholic school (9 children total).  He is in the fifth grade.  Every year it's the same story.  Has tremendous ability but can't seem to pull it together.  He tests out at the 99% on TerraNova but his school work and homework are average.  Every report over the past 6 years states the same comment "he has the ability but doesn't put forth the effort".  Well, in Dec. his teacher mentioned his inability to focus and suggested we test.  At home we immediately started a "star chart" and giving him 1/2 caffeinated coffee in the morning.  Three weeks later the teacher said "I don't know what you are doing different but at school he's a whole new child.  The next day I forgot to give him the coffee, he requested it stating "you know it just really helps me focus and jump starts my body".  We have told him nothing so this is not a phrase he's picked up.  Anyway, we have decided to continue with some testing.  He was tested by an OT which was very positive, he had an academic evaluation which tests him out at the 7th grade level.  We are waiting for the phych test for IQ, etc.  The school, of course wants me to stop all testing now.  Probably afraid that the results might require some changes on their part.  He received his progress report yesterday which states "he has the ability to excel academically but often does not motivate himself to suceed.  His grades on his progress report were 3 A and 6 B.  Any suggestions on a course of action?  How much can I push this child?  Could this be a maturity thing?  Did I win the lengthy message of the week award?

 

 

Susie B,

You are hilarious!  You tell everyone I don't have any kids so I have no idea what I am talking about.  First of all I do have experience raising kids as a matter of fact I have two teenagers that live with me.  One of which I took in so he would have a place to stay.  Next I have add.  Do you?  According to you that means you would have no clue what it is like to have add or how to deal with it.  Because after all you said I don't have children so I would no nothing about children.  Under you theory you dont have add so you know nothing about add.  Chew on that one for a while.