I do not understand | ADHD Information
Chasesmom, I'm sorry your child had such a bad reaction to the Omega-3 supplement. Perhaps you could try flax oil (though you may not want to try another oil after the experience he had) or flax seed. Both are high in Omega-3, but they do not come from fish oil. I learned about a liquid Omega-3 by a company called NuTru. It is vegetarian, so there is no fish in it. I emailed the company asking ingredients, and this is what they sent me:
DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) (as Marine Microalgae Oil). Other ingredients: Vitamin E and rosemary added to preserve freshness and natural organic grape flavoring.
I am also a mother of and adhd boy 10 years, My ex husband refused to believe he had adhd for a long time I didn't put him on meds until 3rd grade, did all the testing and I was right and so were the teachers. I think men for the most part don't like meds or doctors for themselves and carry it on to their children. My son has been on Daytrana all school year and soing great. If you can get him tested then it will be less easy for your husband to deny the facts. Good luck and welcome to this great board.I am meeting with the Ed psychologist Wednesday April 25, what are some of the question I should ask concerning ADHD? She will be the one doing the test for my son.
Thanks guys
Thanks for the suggestion, mom2ADHDboy, but I am understandably more than a little bit supplement shy after that experience. And so is Chase for that matter!
He has had to take prilosec (per the pediatrician) to counteract the acid cycle that had started, and to give the esophagus time to heal. Today as a matter of fact is his last prilosec. We are to wait and see if he still has acid, or if it has been alleviated. All I know is that he hasn't had a bout of vomiting since we quit the fish oil. I would not wish that worry on any mom or child, so I am putting my story out there for others to read.
No, 7+ is better. They can take a larger variety of tests starting at 7.Do they have to be test before 7 years of age?I had the meeting today with ed phy she had me discuss my ds behavior and fill out a 4 page questionnaire than schedule a date for her to ev him. The date is not till June 16, 2007 in the main time I am giving him omega 3 oils I am cut the capsule because it is to big for him to swallow. Is cutting it ok?
I when for my 6 year old son report yesterday and had a meeting with his teacher. I was not suprise by any thing she said as all his teacher say the same things; can not sit still during class getrs up out of his seat and disrupt, implusive behavors not sames to be listerning have to be told about the unexecptable behavior over and over again. What I do not get is how is behaviour is not good but he has 5 A's and 3 B's and the B's are like 80% on testes.
Anyone one the board have this problem? I am having a meeting with th Dr next week than he wil do the test for ADHD. What can I aspect from the test?
good2539191.3851041667It sounds like he has the impulsive, hyperactive form of ADHD, but not the focus issues....however, it could be that he is just so smart that he does not have to pay attention to learn the material...and when he gets older and the material becomes harder...and more independent work is expected, his grades may drop. The testing will tell the tale.
Who is doing the testing? Different types of doctors will do testing differently.
We live on an island so the help here is limited. There is only an Educational psychologist. He his smart he learn things very quickly you can sho him how to do something one time and he gets it. But do'nt children with ADHD get poor grades in school? I have done some reading on this but I am confuse, and making this all wose he dad do not support me when I tell him I believe our son have ADHD. good2539191.4152314815Sounds like you just have an intelligent ADHD child on your hands. It's not usual for an ADHD child to get solid grades at that age. The real problems begin as the academic demands increase. At this point his intelligence and ability to catch on quickly are compensating for his condition. One more question what do they test on for the adhdNo that is not always the case and in fact, many get exceptionally high grades in school.
My son did very well academically until the 4th grade, despite teacher's comments on every grade card and at every parent teacher conference that he was not working to potential, or not staying on task. He was so smart that even though he did not focus well, he could put out the information needed in class and on tests to get A's and B's. Then in the 4th grade, the children are expected to complete work independently and turn it in in class, and many times that work was turned in incomplete, resulting in a poor grade. These just added up until his grades plummeted to low C's.
That was last year, and since then we have got him on an effective medicine combo. He gets straight A's most of the time and his behavior issues have disappeared entirely.
The educational psychologist shoud be able to do the testing, and then a pediatrician can prescribe meds, though the best thing is to get a child psychiatrist to manage meds. This is not always possible, for me it is money/insurance issues, and for you it sounds like no availability....my ped has been wonderful in med management, and I hope that you have one just as competent (ped or GP) to prescribe for your son.
chasesmom7939191.4204166667Thank you so much. Who is the ped or gp there is no child psychiatrist on the island. Thanks again i have read a lot of your post u looks like the expert in deal with this. I know I will vist this board every day now so I can better cope with this and help my son.Chasesmom79 I read some where that the med cause them not have any appetite?My son is an A student, receiving 4's which mean that he exceeds the schools expectations. However, the medication does have side effects. My son is 9, almost 10. We starrted meds when he was 6 almost 7. He leveled off when he was 7 1/2 and is still at the same dosage. He has been through not eating, to just eating sugar, to eating normal. His body had finally adjusted to the medication.
My son is on both conceta 70 mgs and guanfacin 1 mg all day. He starts baseball here in Boston in 1 week so the guanfacine will probably go up a .5mg for his success. He also joined a train club which may call for the increase as well!
He plays football, basketball, and baseball. He has just joined the train club in our town as well. All because of how successful he is with the help of meds.!!
Regards!
Beth
Yes sometimes the meds do cause appetite suppression. In some children, this is mainly seen at lunchtime, they have no appetite for lunch, but eat a hearty breakfast and are hungry again in the later day when the meds wear off, and eat a big supper and snacks before bed so it all evens out. In some children, like mine, the med suppresses the appetite so much that other measures need to be taken.
Chase was always so small and the loss of the appetite caused him to lose over 10% of his body weight, he looked gaunt and weak, and the pediatrician prescribed an appetite stimulant (periactin) which is just an older antihistamine that has the happy side effect of appetite stimulant and weight gain. With the med, his appetite returned and he gained back all he lost and has gone over 60 pounds for the first time in his life! He will be 11 in July, and I hope to have him over 65 pounds by then...maybe his pants won't fall off of his hips then.....
I don't know what is available in the Bahamas, but the periactin is over the counter in Canada, so it may well be in your country as well....and if it becomes a problem, I am sure your doctor will have something to try.
And there is always the chance that your child will not have that side effect...some don't, and with some children, it is only for the first few months, then the appetite comes back. With Chase, he was on the med from March to November with no appetite except for breakfast time.....
I have started using the marbles system yesterday I will watch it and see how it works. I am just worried about giving him meds and his dad is totally aginst the whole thing. He does not believe he has adhd I am all alone in taking him do get test and find out as much as i can about adhd.
I am so greatfull to this board and the memebers for sharing there stories.
I read some where that karate helps he is very interest in that he his trying it out this weekend.
LOL - that made me laugh when you said his dad doesn't believe he has adhd. My ex was the same way and - even now - very grudgingly accepts it. And guess what - ex is classic ADD as well - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?
I strongly believe in (not offense to any dads here, of course) "Mother's Instinct" when it comes to our kids. All along, I knew there was something "different" about my boys, particularly my oldest one. Impulsivity was a HUGE obstacle to overcome with both, but my youngest is more socially "savvy", so he didn't get in nearly the same amount of trouble as his brother.
Sad thing is, and hard to admit, my younger one is more charming and therefore people tend to forgive his slips more than his brother. What a challenge that is!
Good luck and keep plugging away!
My son might be kinda like your (2XADHD?) youngest he is socially savvy. And his dad his making me think I am carzy because he does not have the systoms of adhd most of the time I mean for the month he might get in trouble at school say 3 or more times and he sometimes during the weekend. And trouble at school is talk to much, not listerning or following instruction. He his and only child and plays well with the kids next door and my friends kids.
I just know that the impulsivity he displays sometime is not normal. Waitng on him to be test is making me carzy to say the least.
The omega is worth a try, but when I used it for my son, he developed severe acid reflux, and it took me over a month to narrow it down to the fish oil (omega 3). Acid reflux in children often presents as frequent unexplained vomiting, which my poor little guy did for that whole time almost nightly.
While this is not too common (or widely talked about as possible), it is noted in several studies as a possible side effect, and indeed the company that I purchased the oil from told me that it is an added acid introduced into the stomach and could cause acid reflux. The last time I gave him a fish oil pill, is the last time he had acid or vomited....and that was over 2 months ago.
This is the first time I ever heard of this side effect, and it seems that no one else mentions it, but this is just like anything else...it affects each individual differently, and if it affected Chase this way, it most likely has affected others in the same way.
I just want you to know so that if your child has issues, he will not have to suffer for as long as Chase did.
My son does not listen or follow instructions at school. He does not "get in trouble" at school very often. He plays well with the children next door, and with all children that have come to my house, and at parties. He makes friends easily. He has ADHD.
You are not crazy.
You should request a baseline EKG and blood work. The blood work can exclude things like anemia, hypo or hyperthyroidism and some deficiencies. The EKG can screen for an underlying heart issue that would make the use of stimulants more risky. Also look into his sleep patterns and make sure symptoms are not due to chronic lack of sleep.
If any of the asthma meds are stimulant in nature (albuteral), the use of stims has to be cautious (it should be anyway for meds of all kinds) because of the potential additive effect of the meds.
My oldest has good grades and good behavior, but as school has become more challenging, her innatention and poor organization were starting to take a toll on her. Now that she is on meds, she says she can better "hear" the teacher and her math is not a struggle but a breeze. Smart kids can compensate for a while, but they are still suffering, even if no one notices.
he was taking med with albuteral he is now taking pulmicort 2 time a day.I have had many students with horrible behavior that have had superior academic performance. Many times behavior can affect academics because many times one naturally effects the other. However, there are some kids that this is not true for. My 1st grader has always done very well academically. For him, ADHD always has shown up as behavioral issues. Your child sounds similar to mine.Should I request the EEG's EKG's and other blood work. I am wondering how it will affect his other meds he takes for asthma. I am not even sure what the Dr will say after she done her testing but from what I read I have a strong feeling he has adhd even though his dad thinks he do'nt.He needs to meet the DSM IV criteria for ADHD or ADD. Here is the criteria. The doctor will probably use a Conner's Rating Scale form.
A. Either (1) or (2)
(1). 6 (or more) of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:
Inattention
(a) often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities
(b) often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
(c) often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
(d) often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish
schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behaviour or failure to understand instructions)
(e) often has difficulty organising tasks and activities
(f) often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework).
(g) often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools)
(h) is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
(i) is often forgetful in daily activities
(2) 6 (or more) of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level
Hyperactivity
(a) often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
(b) often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected
(c) often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)
(d) often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
(e) is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor"
(f) often talks excessively
Impulsivity
(g) often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
(h) often has difficulty awaiting turn
(i) often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g. butts into conversations or games)
B. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that caused impairment were present before age 7 years.
C. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g. at school [or work] and at home).
D. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.
E. The symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder and are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g. Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, or a Personality Disorder)
314.01 ADHD, Combined Type - if both A1 and A2 for at least 6 months
314.00 ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type
314.01 ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
When my DD was evaluated they met with us, discussed her problems, then did IQ testing, a full Psychological/psychiatric eval. EEG's EKG's bloodwork. The Psych did not do a connors, he does not "trust " it.
It really depends on the psychologist, some will do extensive testing, and some won't.
Thanks No TellinI am confuse!!! My son have not been tested yet, but when he behaves in a maner that is not acceptable and I ask him about it after he knows that it is not acceptable. Do kids with ADHD know that what they about to do will get them in trouble??????
or they just do not think about there action before hand????
This is the impulsivity aspect of ADHD. When I ask my daughter why she did something, usuallly the answer is "because it is fun" or "because I was bored". There is little thought for consequences.
When I ask my son why he did something he always say he do not know and have this blank look on his face. good2539192.3470833333[QUOTE=good25]I am confuse!!! My son have not been tested yet, but when he behaves in a maner that is not acceptable and I ask him about it after he knows that it is not acceptable. Do kids with ADHD know that what they about to do will get them in trouble?????? or they just do not think about there action before hand????[/QUOTE]
This is classic ADHD behavior. Impulsivity means acting without thinking. For my child, meds have allowed him to slow down enough so he can decide how to act, and almost always he makes good decisions (when the meds are in his system and working right).
Last night I bought a bottle of Mountian Dew gave it to my son this morning but his teacher said she did not see any change today. How long does mountian dew takes to work???? or is it differe for every child???Mountain Dew is a high-caffeine drink. Caffeine may somewhat alleviate the symptoms, or may not help at all. Children build up a tolerance for caffeine just like adults. He would quickly require a dosage beyond what is OK for his size/weight. This is not a viable option, and you should probably abandon this idea. If you want ideas on viable supplement options, visit the alternatives board and look into posts on Omega-3 and magnesium.