New here.. | ADHD Information
Hello everyone!
I have just joined the forums today and it seems like a great support group and I do look forward to meeting some of you and share some experiences and get advice and give as much support as I can as well.
My 8 year old son has just recently been diagnosed with ADHD. At first his school was trying to say he was Autistic but I felt otherwise and so did our family doctor and pediatricians.
He was at first prescribed Adderall but unfortunatly my health insurance does not cover that drug and so he has been changed to Ritalin. I am a bit worried as all I have been hearing is negative things regarding that medication. My pediatrician has assured me that it is a safe drug and if it wasn't she would have never prescribed it. He will start on the lowest dosage and see how it goes from there. He starts his medication tomorrow.
I am having mixed feelings about this. I am not the type who is into giving and taking medication unless really neccessarily and I somehow feel its my fault that my poor child has to be on it I know it is not my fault but I still can't help it. Know what I mean?
But I do hope by joining you guys here that I will feel better and get the support and help that we all have come here for.
Sorry for the ramblings 
and I look forward to catching up with you all.
Tracy 
welcome, tracy!
Welcome Tracy!
You are new in your journey, but if you keep following posts you will realize that there are many parents here at the beginning of their journey too. Some of us are seasoned veterans of the "ADHD trench wars" ! :) Best thing to remember is this is best treated with multiple approaches.... its called the multi-modal approach. There is no magic solution, magic pill, etc. Realize that all children respond differently to medications.....their brains are all wired differently. Also realize that ADHD often times (but not always) co-exists with other disorders that have to be treated separately (if they are present).
My son is now 13 and has been dx'd ADHD Primary Inattentive w/generalized anxiety, dysthymia, an auditory processing and language processing deficit, plus giftedness. We've been on various meds over the years and we choose to treat with a combination of medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, school supports (IEP) and tutor, and a Omega 3 nutritional supplement. When he was younger, we also did speech therapy plus an independent comprehensive evaluation with the pediatric neuropsychologist at a local teaching university hospital. This evaluation was much more extensive than what a child would be offered in a public school setting, and the evaluation gave us vital information on my son's strong and weak areas to better help us develop his educational plan. For example... they uncovered his giftedness, which most likely would never have been discovered at school because his ADHD symptoms mask it.
Anyway.... keep reading and learning. Other great sites for parents just starting out are www.wrightslaw.com and www.ldonline.org.
Okiemom
Welcome! Many of us can sympathize with your anguish! You might check out the Alternatives and Complimentary Meds section of this board. There's a ton of info there on supplements, etc. that can be used instead of meds or along with medication (sometimes to prevent the need for higher doses). I hope you find the answers and support you seek. Hi and welcome aboard! I hope the med trial works out for you. My dd is on ritalin and I think it's great. Remember if the first med doesn't work, try a different one until you find the right one. I agree with the multi-modal approach. Meds aren't going to fix everything. Pick a few behaviors to work on, and use a behavior modification method such as Ogram's Marble system. Good Luck!Welcome to the board Tracy and we have all been in your shoes. The hype had scared me too and I was told the few bad cases there were other issues going on which was the actual cause and the med did not help. There is a risk with every med out there on the market. It is never an easy choice to make and if i were approached back in 2004 I would have said "no way" but now I know what it does.Thank you
[QUOTE=laurapalmer]
welcome, tracy!
Thank you and I agree with you. All children are different and will react differently to things. I just hope my son will not have problems but we also have a great support system medicaly and with friends and family. I also have been doing a lot of research and have a great friend who is a doctor who has been a great support to me and if anytime I need any help or concerns he is there for me.
Thank you for welcoming me and thank you for the recommended sites. I will definatly check them out!
Tracy
[QUOTE=okiemom]
Welcome Tracy!
You are new in your journey, but if you keep following posts you will realize that there are many parents here at the beginning of their journey too. Some of us are seasoned veterans of the "ADHD trench wars" ! :) Best thing to remember is this is best treated with multiple approaches.... its called the multi-modal approach. There is no magic solution, magic pill, etc. Realize that all children respond differently to medications.....their brains are all wired differently. Also realize that ADHD often times (but not always) co-exists with other disorders that have to be treated separately (if they are present).
My son is now 13 and has been dx'd ADHD Primary Inattentive w/generalized anxiety, dysthymia, an auditory processing and language processing deficit, plus giftedness. We've been on various meds over the years and we choose to treat with a combination of medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, school supports (IEP) and tutor, and a Omega 3 nutritional supplement. When he was younger, we also did speech therapy plus an independent comprehensive evaluation with the pediatric neuropsychologist at a local teaching university hospital. This evaluation was much more extensive than what a child would be offered in a public school setting, and the evaluation gave us vital information on my son's strong and weak areas to better help us develop his educational plan. For example... they uncovered his giftedness, which most likely would never have been discovered at school because his ADHD symptoms mask it.
Anyway.... keep reading and learning. Other great sites for parents just starting out are www.wrightslaw.com and www.ldonline.org.
Okiemom
[/QUOTE]Thank you Meg and Cr
I will be looking into those resources you have shared with me.
Tracy
Hi and Welcome-
I woulldn't worry about the negative things you've heard about Ritalin- just keep in mind that if something works for some one they'll tell 1 other person, if it doesn't they'll tell 20. My son is on Ritalin LA and we've had great results. My Dr. told us that it's been around for about 50 years and is the least likely of the stimulants to cause mood problems (was a concern for our son since he has anxiety/ borderline depression). We've had no side effects except a slight reduction in appetite, but we can deal with that.
Also keep in mind that find the right med takes time but it's worth it to see the improvement, especially when they really start to feel good about themselves because they are suceeding.
Hi Tracy, I am also new and also a Tracy! with an almost 9 year old ADHD son! My son started meds at 6 he takes concerta which is a slow release pill. I really think there is no other option for him he is just a different kid with medication. My brother in law took ritilin as a child and he is 43 and doing fine! I really believe in it for my son it is just like he needs it to function normally. I guess we just do the best we can!Welcome Tracy!!! 
If you're like the rest of us, you'll find that there are many stories here that make you feel like these other parents can somehow see inside your home and sometimes even your mind. I can't tell you how many times I've read "my" story on here.
Just remember that you're never alone!!!
Welcome Tracy,
My son who's six is on medication. I, like all of you, was afraid with the medication issue; but in my short experience, I can tell you that it has done wonders. Each time I see how happy he is, I think that it is worth it. My son is on a non stimulant drug because he has tic periods. The doctor told that if it wasn't for his tics he would have precribed ritalin as a first choice. So don't be afraid, go ahead and start your personal journey to your son's happiness.
Good luck and have all our support!!!
Thank you everyone for your responses and support and ideas!
It is great to come to a site where you can relate with others and have a great sounding board when you need one.
Tracy