New kid on the block.. | ADHD Information
Just want to welcome you!
I also had psorasis on my scalp when I was her age. Mom used to make tea of nettle and to rinse my hair with it. Psoriasis was gone in two week! Maybe it could help your dd too!
I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through kids are mean and nasty. It breaks my heart for I was heavier in school and have diabetes and remember how cruel kids are. It is a struggle to lose weight I have been there but with your daughter she has other circumstances hindering her. I will pray things get better for you. As for he meds I can understand your concern but if it comes to that give them a shot they may make a difference. I was against meds for ADHD but when I gave them a try I was surprised at the results and come September she will be on them again for school.
Oh, Kristina, how sad, and kids can be so mean. First off, I'd like to say, you never need to medicate a child--it's your call, no matter what "they" want. However, sometimes, especially for mood disorders, nothing else really works. It's STILL your call! You are Mom, and nobody can force it. This isn't a good solution, I guess, but if my kid were getting teased, no matter WHAT she had--ADHD, dysrhythmia, ODD, ABC--I'd probably homeschool to get her away from the torment of the kids, because I went through that. No wonder she's less than enthusiastic about school. IMHO, she sounds like she's depressed, maybe for good reason, and I'd take her to a Psychiatrist (with the MD) for a total evaluation. I've had such horrid luck with psycologists, both for my son and for myself. They really don't have the medical traning needed to sort out the various disorders. They are trained in behavioral therapy. This child, imo, is showing more symptoms of a mood disorder than ADHD and, when you're depressed, you don't do your work. Period. I have bipolar and in a depressive cycle, you just don't care much about anything, including how you look, or putting on the coffee, and it's so impossible to concentrate--I love to read, but the words don't mean anything to me in a depression. I've been in the hospital--others with depression also claim they can no longer read and understand what they read. I wouldn't worry about school right now, other than to maybe figure out a creative way to get her to a friendlier, kinder school. If it were me, I'd zero in on the mental health of the child, get her re-evaluated, and maybe see a new doctor for the thyroid problem too. It was my understanding, but I'm NOT close to knowing that much about it, that, once on meds, the child doesn't gain weight anymore. If you'd like to post on a board that is more comprehensive (the parents have kids with all sorts of disorders, including, but not limited to, ADHD), I posted a link. I wish you all the luck in the world.
MomWI38922.2539930556It can cause tiredness, lack of energy - so yes, I suppose black circles could follow.
[quote]It was my understanding, but I'm NOT close to knowing that much about it, that, once on meds, the child doesn't gain weight anymore. [/quote]
Well they will if the levels are not at a "normal", which Krissy is not yet at that point.
Kristina's Mom
I understand Hyperthyroid because my cousin has it she was diagnoised with it when she was born to this day she is still skinny she has dark circles under her eyes....I don't think that her mother is giving her the medicine she is supposed to be getting her dad leaves in another town and he pays the medical and her presciptions and his new wife won't have nothing to do with his little girl she says that my cousin is not her responsabilty. is Black circles common?
CMRsmom
Kristinasmom- firstly welcome! As a member that posts often I can tell you ADHD or not we all feel your worry and concern for your child. Nobody deserves to go through the kind of trauma your family is going through now.
Don't be too concerned that they are checking for ADHD. That's part of the analysis when a child that age is having trouble now in the public school system. I'd say that the thyroid is the most likely culprit as its the most often undiagnosed cause of ADHD symptoms and doctors are supposed to check for thyroid imbalances before a final judgement.
Even if your child has ADHD from the sound of it it is the least troublesome thing you're going to deal with. Most ADHD kids are in the mild to moderate zone - needing some training to deal with the lack of good impulse control, scattered focus and hyperfocus and other minor symptoms. Only a percentage of the kids with ADHD have the most severe symptoms.
Make sure all the people making diagnosis in this case know that your child has thyroid problems and that it mimics ADHD in very many ways. Get your MD to make a letter for you if necessary. Besides - until the thyroid is finally under control with the synthroid the medication for ADHD would be nearly impossible to regulate (the physical problems of thyroidism would likely counteract the benefits).
If necessary get a specialist in childhood ADHD on line with you and equipped with the full medical history.
If it turns out she does have ADHD it's not another life sentence. I have it and even at my late age of 39 it can be controlled once it is found. If it isn't ADHD which I suspect I wish you the best on your difficult journey.
[QUOTE=GlenW]Make sure all the people making diagnosis in this case know that your child has thyroid problems and that it mimics ADHD in very many ways. Get your MD to make a letter for you if necessary. Besides - until the thyroid is finally under control with the synthroid the medication for ADHD would be nearly impossible to regulate (the physical problems of thyroidism would likely counteract the benefits). [/QUOTE]
Thats also what worrys me - is that they are going to want to throw her on a medication for it. I'm sorry if I come off as an anti-medication person, but in a way I am. She's already on Synthroid and no, her TSH levels are NOT under control yet. (4.1 for those who understand the levels - under 3.0 is what we want) She had a test on Friday and she's still high, so her medication was increased (again). From what I understand she's going to be put on something for the depression... I'm scared that she will be put on 3 medications at the same time. And I know, I have a right to say no.
Hi there. Never thought I'd have to come to a board such as this, but here I am. My daughter, Kristina, has been through alot in her 10 years. She was a shy, mellow child, even the best baby! When she was around 7, she started putting on wieght. It took almost 2 years for me to get the doctors to do something about it... they finally tested her thyroid and she was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. She is currently on Synthroid for it and will be for the rest of her life. Now, when I say wieght, I mean weight. She's now 10 years old and weighs 160 lbs. She goes up a pant size every couple months. She also has psorasis really bad on her scalp... it actually looks like severe dandruff at times and kids have teased her about having lice - to the point where we had to go into school and explain what psorasis was to her class.Now put all this together and you can almost guess what happens at school. For 2 years we have been dealing with a very sad child who hates school. This past year her grades dropped for one reason alone - she wasn't turning her homework in. Took awhile, but I figured out why. The "punishment" for not having your homework done is that you stay in from recess. She was doing this on purpose because she didn't want to go outside where she would either be teased or would play by herself off in a corner somewhere.
She is also very very VERY close to her grandpa, my dad. He lives 1/2 block from us and this winter we almost lost him a few times... he had heart surgery and didn't do well at all through it. He's now in a nursing home, but will be back home in a few weeks. Krissy lived & breathed her grandpa. Would call him, visit him, everything. Everything was grandpa. During the months he spent in the hospital, she stopped wanting to see him, stopped talking about him and when we did get her to the hospital she wouldn't stay in the room with him. She took it very hard. But now he's getting better and that part has at least gone away - she's back to living & breathing grandpa.
So this summer she started seeing a child psychologist. She's already been diagnosed with Dysthymia/Chronic Depression, but this week she will have a intelligence/achievment testing done. At first I was told it was a placement test to see if she is in the right grade (she's a smart kid) but the truth came out last week when I was told it was also to see if she has ADHD. This reallly bothered me because it was almost as if I was tricked into it - especially since no mention of ADHD was made before.
Every school conference I question the teacher, knowing they aren't a professional, if they think she has ADHD. I've always been told no.
I'm not ruling it out, she does have her days that she is moody, mood swings, tempers, etc. And sadness. This child is forever sad. Her last birthday she got a pair of rollerblades, which is what she wanted more than anything and there wasn't an ounce of excitement in her face! But all of these symtoms also match the hypothyroidism and the depression.
So maybe I'm here for good... at this board.... I don't know yet. But even if it comes back that she doesn't have it, I'll probably stick around. At best, for the ideas & support on how to deal with a child who has such behaviors.
I am totally for medication when it comes to AD/HD, but I would absolutely not put her on medication either unless her thyroid issues were totally under control first, and there was another evaluation after that. When my doctor first suspected I had AD/HD she would not even send me for an evaluation without doing a Thyroid test first. She said there was no way they would diagnose me, or treat me for AD/HD without making sure it wasn't a thyroid issue first.
My heart goes out to both of you. I feel so bad for her
. I'm sure it's heartbreaking for both of you. Big hugs to you both!
People/kids with hypothyroid issues usually have extra weight on. Once her numbers get into the normal range some of her weight will probably fall off. I know my mine did. And getting my numbers into the normal range helped ease my depression and improved my energy level as well.
Have you taken her into see a dermatologist ? They have meds that she can use to help control her psorasis. They have shampoos and ointments that can help.
Also, does she enjoy rollerblading ? If yes, encourage her to rollerblade every day for 30 minutes or help her find an activity, like karate, kickboxing, swimming, dancing, tennis, anything physical that'll help her lose weight. That'll help her feel better about herself. And it'll hopefully help spark some good feelings for her.
Good luck.
Mere38922.5911921296Hi there -- I have hypothyroidism, and was diagnosed when I was a couple of years older than your daughter. How long has she been taking thyroid replacement medication? Do her tests show she's in the normal range for all her thyroid levels?
Speaking from experience, I'd recommend finding an endocrinologist to work with. Lots of general MD's know how to read the basic tests and prescribe synthroid, but may not be looking at the whole picture and treating her optimally.
My mother remembers my treatment as creating a real turnaround for me, activity-wise and socially. Maybe it will just take a while, but once she gets more energy and loses some weight, she will probably start feeling better, doing more, etc.
Good luck!
Sorry, just went back and saw that her TSH levels are not settled yet. I think you will find a LOT of issues resolve themselves after a few months at the right TSH levels.
FWIW, I have found (as has my mother, who has hypothyroidism, too) that pushing the TSH a little lower, like around 2, or even 1.5, is the place where I feel healthiest.
I believe the reference range for "normal" TSH has recently been pushed downward so that 2 is more of the middle number now. You could ask the doctor about the range he/she is using.
[QUOTE=CMRsmom]the doctor that is dealing with my cousin told my uncle that if she's not on her meds she can die.[/QUOTE]
from ADHD?
[QUOTE=Mere]Have you taken her into see a dermatologist ? They have meds that she can use to help control her psorasis. They have shampoos and ointments that can help. [/QUOTE]
We found a line called Vanicream that works wonders! It still has it's flare ups, but mainly it's under control now.
[QUOTE]Also, does she enjoy rollerblading ? If yes, encourage her to rollerblade every day for 30 minutes or help her find an activity, like karate, kickboxing, swimming, dancing, tennis, anything physical that'll help her lose weight. That'll help her feel better about herself. And it'll hopefully help spark some good feelings for her. [/QUOTE]
Problem is, she's clumsy so she doesn't enjoy it. She wants to, but when you are constantly falling over your own feet it sort of takes the fun out of it. But we continue to try....
Yes, I remember how I felt, and how I was perceived. I felt SLOW. I didn't want to do anything except read. Sit and read. My mother now describes me as a "lump" prior to treatment (sounds awful, but she says it affectionately!)It did take a long while to get it "right" which meant I lost weight, could eat more without gaining weight, started cheerleading, drama club .... I became interested in the world again.
That said, I have had several major depressions in my life, as has my mother, so we always wonder if they don't go hand in hand somehow. Like there's a third thing causing both but nobody knows what it is.
As for ADHD, I never thought I had that, but sometimes I think living with my ADHD son is giving it to me!! I'm kidding, but I have learned the fine art of shifting focus constantly to keep up with him so that now I have trouble doing much of anything for any length of time!
[QUOTE=TillyT]Sorry, just went back and saw that her TSH levels are not settled yet. I think you will find a LOT of issues resolve themselves after a few months at the right TSH levels.
FWIW, I have found (as has my mother, who has hypothyroidism, too) that pushing the TSH a little lower, like around 2, or even 1.5, is the place where I feel healthiest.
I believe the reference range for "normal" TSH has recently been pushed downward so that 2 is more of the middle number now. You could ask the doctor about the range he/she is using.
[/QUOTE]
Our lab was using under 5.0 for a normal but after my own research and then a trip to a specialist, they are now using under 3.0 - which is what the range was pushed down to.
Do you remember how you "felt" when you were that age? It's been almost 2 years since Krissy has been diagnosed and she hasn't been normal yet... wait, she was for about 2 months..... so she doesn't know what "normal" feels like. Did you have symptoms that maybe would have had someone (or yourself) suspect ADHD?
OMG that is so wierd.... Krissy is always reading!