Daughter just DX with ADD | ADHD Information

DeeCT,

Things will surely get better.  You might get lucky and the first med will work without side effects or you might have to do some trial and error but a year from now you will look back at this tough time and see the progress that your dd has made.  A diagnosis is a BIG help... 

I would eventually let the school know because they hopefully will be able to help with things like organizational skills and seating preferences.  You might learn a thing or two to help yourself. 

You also may be in a good position to give your dd some hints even though you feel you are a wreck.  My dh is ADD but didn't find out until dd was diagnosed.  I often go to him and ask how he "gets around" a certain problem.  He is a big list-maker for example.  He has a calendar on line.  He has to get up 2 hours early to make it to work on time.  He was hit by a train in a large city once, so he knows that he is really not good in confusing situationa with a lot noise and people crowding around.  He is a resource for us.  He give us motivation by saying how if her learned something, dd can also.  He is also a source of aggrevation for me at times (forgetful) but his strengths outweigh his weaknesses.  

Hopefully your psychologist is going to work with your dd on adaptive tools.  We had to figure it out on our own through a number of resources but often from other moms online.  Meds can't accomplish everything.  Tools are important also. 

You might consider getting yourself diagnosed.   

Welcome Dee (again). I agree with chinamom. Your best tool will be education. You're going to read LOTS of conflicting stuff and it's someti0mes makes things mroe confusing at first. If you are armed with knowledge though as you start this journey you will be able to toss out the advice that is not useful to you or your beliefs or your situation. Some people will be VERY anti med, some will be VERY pro med. Others will bash certain meds then the next thing you read says it s a miracle drug . This therapy works, that one doesn't etc., etc. If you read what you can you'll start to get a feel for what things apply to you and your unique situation. As you weed through testing and discuss your options you'll get a fell for what feels right and wata doesnt. It's OK to change your mind anytime you want too! If you think for now we'l do classroom modifications and therapy and no meds, thats FINE, and it's fine itf three months into it you say, changed my mind this doesnt work. No one can or shoudl say "told you". This is your child and things work differently for different people, even for the same person. Whats a fit for your situation today, may not work next year and you have to shift and adjust, but you will and she'll do great.

Keep reading, keep asking, and keep your head level, most importantly keep advocating for your child, good for you for pushing the psych .

Thanks for the replies!!! My DD is 8 years old. I am very willing to try the meds with her. I have NO ISSUE at all with her at home, I guess we have all learned to deal, the only little problem we have with her is homework, but as long as my husband or I sit with her she gets it done.

Now, is there anyone here who didn't let the school know of their DX?? Her Dr. said lets not tell them right away. I was a little confused as to why she said this. She was almost certian that in some time I would get a call, saying that things were much better. Anyone know why that would be??

 I am really glad I found this site. You all seems so welcoming, and knowledgeable about this! thanks for the help!!!

Dee
some people feel notifying the school will bias them. Quite often docotrs will say to start a med and give a couple of weeks to see if you get a good response back form school. IMO at some point the shcool should know (the nurse anyway) that your child is taking medication. We recently added a med to my daughter and I didnt tell school right away, every day that first week O got these GREAT emails. I finally told them we had added a med and we saw benefit at home also.Hi everyone!

I posted here a few months ago regarding the problems my DD was having in school, and that her Ped. said there was nothing wrong with her. Well, I took your advise and we saw a child psychologist. We had a wonderful visit with her, and I am now calling her my angel!!! Within minutes of talking to her, and her looking at the scales that the school did ( she was Off the chart in her scores), she could honestly say that she has ADD. She also told me that I needed to find a new ped, since he should have been able to tell me SOMETHING when I went to see him. My DD has had the most difficult time in school since Kindergarten. So needless to say we are very much relived that someone is on the same page as us, and is willing to help. She needs to go have a battery of tests done before we can try any kind of meds for her. So now for my question after my rambling LOL, what can I expect now?? I am not waiting for a miracle, but I really don't know much about ADD, and it seems like boys have it more. So what can I do to help My DD??

After reading thru countless pages on the net, I realised that mu DD is VERY much like I was in school, so I am wondering if I may be in the same boat as her.. so how can I help her when I can't keep my life, business, and house in order?? is there any words of wisdom you guys can give?? It really would be greatly apprecitated!

Dee
Welcome! I have no words of wisdom at all...my dd is ADHD (age 6 and on
Metadate CD, which is helping), and everyday is filled with challenges as well
as successes.

Glad you got a diagnosis and are on the right path. It's a relief to get the
ball rolling and to know that you will soon be helping your dd be a happier
and more successful student. (How old is your dd?)

I would suggest, however, reading all you can. Russell Barkley has a good
book on ADHD as does Larry Silver.