Confused | ADHD Information

My son was just recently diagnosed with ADHD. He is 5 1/2. He also has
Epilepsy, SPD, Severe Developmental Delays and has some leg problems.
Anyway it has been a long journey to Ritalin. His seizures meds are no
longer a factor. The teachers have seen a tremendous change. I am reluntant
to be hopeful and that it will just not work anymore. I hate him being on
medicine but it was our last hope. He is 5 but more like a 3 year old. I just
am so confused on what to think and feel. So many tell me Ritalin is bad and
then others say it is good. This ia also a trial time with Ritalin and if it works
they will switch him to something else. Ugggg I am just frustrated. Help
please. Also i told you the short version so I might have left something out.

Welcome,

Do not let the uninformed people in your life make you feel bad about the difficult decisions that you have to make to help your child. If your child needed glasses, you would get your child glasses. These meds are just glasses to help the brain focus.

Meds can make a tremendous positive effect on a child's life. My daughter was failing school and had become depressed and anxious and wanted to die (9 years old). Once she was diagnosed and under proper treatment (meds, IEP and behavior plan), she started excelling in school (just got an achievement award), making and keeping friends and no longer has anxiety or depression. She is happy and self confident.

Also keep in mind the risks that a person with ADHD has (substance abuse, brushes with the law, school failure and drop out, accidents, teen pregnancy, STDs, failed relationships) and how proper medication reduces those risks. Life can be hard with ADHD, proper treatment allows for someone with ADHD to have the same chances as everyone else.

Wishing you luck on this difficult journey. You will find help and support here.

vickie39169.8657638889

Isn't it amazing that everyone has an opinion!  The only opinion that matters is your own.  Listen to the professionals that you trust.  Everyone seems to be a medical expert!  You do not have to justify your decisions to anyone!  This is a trial and it may or may not work.   Look at them confidently and say that you have faith in your doctor's experience. 

My son went on medication at 7 years of age. One day after being on medication for 1 months we were doing a placebo trial to see if the teacher could really see a difference.  I was teaching at the school and my son came into my room crying.  "Take me somewhere to fix my ears!  I can't understand what anyone is saying anymore!"  That nailed it for me.  If my son was wheezing would I deny him an asthma spray? 

Be brave and strong - this may be the beginning of a number of medications.  Once again remember have faith in those that know the research.

Here are a couple good places for information:

http://www.schwablearning.org/index.asp?WT.srch=1

http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/myths

Thanks so much and I will be part of these boards becuase I see a lot of
good advice and education on here which I need to learn.
Son has been on meds only 2 weeks and the teachers see such a
tremendous stride happening. I just cant beleive what I hear everyday and
that he is doing well. I am afraid of being hopeful that this is it and will
help. does that make sense.
We have had a long battle between 1 and 3 with so many seizures and
sickness landing him in the hosptial almost every month bewtween those
ages and then the seizures stopped thankfully but then we had learning
problems and now just being diagnosed ADHD or is that ADD. Still
learning. I see a major change and it is very nice and I hope it will last so
he can catch up or just learn and learn. I do trust my Drs we have some of
the best and I have fought long and hard for him and also in school
system. But this new disease scares me I dont know why but it does.
Maybe its something more I just feel overwhelmes and uneducated about
it. Sorry I am venting I just need people who understand. Thanks