grandparents raising grandchildren w/adhd | ADHD Information

hi am am a newbie trying to reach out to someone i dont know what i am doing but i know i need to be here i have a grand son i have been taking care of off and on since he has been born i thought he was just being hardheaded  and i found out that he really was having probelms ....i just need to know that i dont have to do this alone my husband think that medicne is the worng way to go but i belive it will help him ...he is on abilify5mg and concerta 36 mg i just found him a behavior specialist and we both seem to like he alot  i dont know weather to laugh or crying sometimes i just love him so much...I to have been raising my grandson for 6 years. He was diagnosised with ADHD when he first started school. He is now 13 and we are having big problems with school this year. Are thinking he may have other problems? He's on Concerta and Strattera both.
All help appreciated.
Welcome! You are in the right place. We all know how loveable and how exhausting these precious kids can be. You aren't alone anymore. You have us. welcome.... your not alone... how old is your grandson? don't feel bad i think there are many of us who feel the same way you do... i know i do 

Welcome aboard - you can ask us anything here - there are so many of us that there is always someone that will be able to relate entirely!  I'm a grandma helping to raise my grandchildren too!  Seems to be more and more of us!!!  I thought getting older was supposed to bring peace - ha!  Love them dearly tho, couldn't picture my life without them, ADHD meds and all!!!

 

Linda

Hi BamBam! Hang in there. There is information in books and online that show that untreated Adhd can lead to depression, self medicating with drugs, etc. Most parents try structure and other methods before resorting to meds. The behavior therapist sounds terrific, especially since you think he/she has some good ideas.

We have had good results with behavior mod, structure and meds.The most important thing is you got in there and are doing your best to help!!! Your grandson is blessed to have you.

Koko

I am the daughter of an ADHD OCD parent, am ADHD, the mother of a daugher with ADHD and the grandmother of two girls with ADHD.  The eldest (16 yo) was the youngest child diagnosed at NIH at age 3 and the other is ADHD OCD and is exhibiting Turett's Syndrome symptoms.

I raised a daughter w/o meds (she's 40 now) and she suffered tremendously.  No one who does not have this can truly understand what it is like. 

You are doing the right thing for your grandchild and he is very lucky that you did something about it.  Just ask your husband if your grandchild had diabetes would he object to insulin?

 

I posted a message a few days ago and have since had my grandson to the doctor.We took him off of Concerta and put him on AdderalXR. Will see if this helps any. He's a great kid and I would be lost with out him but he does use up alot of my energy some days.