New to this.

[Carrieskids]

Hi all. I have been reading alot of your entries and find all of it informative, but also confusing. I have 2 children who have been both dx with ADD/inattentive. I want to go the supplement route but I want to make sure I am giving what I am supposed to. I have gotten the Omega-3 with epa 290mg and DHA with 190mg, it also contains VitE 31IU and VitC 25mg and I also got them a MVI that has Magnesium 40mg and B vit. and 30IU of VitE. Is this enough? Am I using the right stuff? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Carrieskids

[catatonic]

Hi Carrieskids and welcome. It sounds like you've made a very good start! I would offer the following suggestions:
-- Give your kids an Omega-3 in the morning AND in the evening (one in the middle of the day as well, if this is possible for you).
-- Once you're adjusted to using the vitamins you've purchased, add more magnesium. 95% of ADHD children are magnesium deficient and need supplementation. 40mg is NOT enough. Multiply their body weight in pounds by 6 and this is about how much you should give. My 85 pound son, for example, needs to take 510mg approximately. Pay attention to the type of magnesium you get, as the body doesn't use some compounds very well.
-- Your total Vitamin E is right at the minimum guideline when you're using Omega-3 supplements (100IU) so I think you are fine there.

Unlike medications, vitamins can take some time to have an effect. Some people see changes within days, for others it takes months, most are somewhere in between. For us, it was about 6 weeks before we saw really noticeable results. Best of luck to you, and don't hesitate to post any questions you might have, as well as how it's going for you.

[Carrieskids]

Thank you for your input. With everything involved with this it is hard just to keep MY head together.
Carrieskids

[AustinsMom]

Welcome to the board. I was new to all of this when I came here 3 or 4 months ago also. And you are right--it takes some discipline and thought on your part to keep up with everything. But the results have been well worth it for my family, so I want to encourage you that you are doing a good thing. And the people here are so very helpful, so be sure and hang out here--it'll help you on those days that you are wondering why are you doing this and is it doing any good? (And no matter how long you are doing this, we all have those days!)

[Carrieskids]

Thank you for the support.

[lisle]

Carrie:
How old are your kids and what are their symptoms?
There are lots of things that are directed more specifically toward attention. But not everything is for everyone. How long ago were they diagnosed and by what type of dr.? Are they taking any meds? Have they in the past? With what results?
If you give me a little more info, I may be able to share some experiences that are helpful to you.
lisle

[Carrieskids]

Hi lisle,
Thanks for your support. My son is 10 and has had some attention and focus problems since Pre-K, but I was always told the he is "still young and will grow out of it". He is doing B/C grades in school, has a hard time with time math tests and difficulty with comprehension which makes test taking difficult at times. I had him tested this year because in the beginning of the year he was doing poorly. The psychologist suggested that he has ADHD/innattentive. I took everything to his Pediatrician who was ready to put him on meds then. Unfortunately, he hasn't offerred me anything else. With some adjustments in class and the extra help he now gets in the classroom he is now doing a little better. I do however see focus problems in other activities besides schoolwork. My daughter is 7 and has always seemed like she was in her own world. Has a hard time staying on task and focusing, loses her place very easily when reading. Very difficult to get her attention at times, she the "daydreamer". She often confuses some similar lettered words. I had her tested earlier in the school year because it was obvious that she was behind in reading. The school Psychologist suggested the same thing for her. Now, they both have had IEP's and my son doesn't qualify for special ed. but my daughter does and that is where she is now for Reading and Writing. The Pediatrician hasn't really been the biggest help so I am currently in a search for a Developmental Ped. I have friends with children with ADHD who have recommendations. Now trying to get an appointment this decade is the problem. I started reading a little research on EEG Neurofeedback, but it is so expensive. So, I feel like I am in limbo right now. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Lately, I feel like my head is in the clouds.
Carrieskids

[catatonic]

Carrieskids,
Supplements have made a real difference to my boy in his ability to concentrate. We had to first get a handle on behavioral issues like temper tantrums (For which the Feingold diet proved almost miraculous!!!) but it sounds like you're not dealing with those particular problems. Lucky you! Good general supplementation along with Omega-3 and plenty of magnesium have helped my boy focus and pay attention (as long as he stays on the diet).

Unfortunately, pediatricians in general seem locked into the medication model of ADHD. Most won't offer you information on anything else because they aren't familiar with anything else. After all, they're bombarded by pharmaceutical salespersons, but how many vitamin salespersons make the rounds of doctors' offices?? You'll find that if you want to avoid medication and go the natural route that 99% of the burden will be on your shoulders. To me it's worth it because I am VERY resistant to using meds and have not yet found it to be necessary.

The research on biofeedback is really very promising. And expensive. We have a biofeedback center here and I would like to give it a try once my boy's sessions with his psychologist have concluded (as in, when we've used up our insurance mental health benefit for the year). Have you checked into whether your insurance will cover any of the costs? Most won't because biofeedback is considered unproven treatment, but if you get a flexible-minded claim reviewer, you may be able to slide it past. You may also be able to get it covered under the mental health portion of your benefits.

My personal recommendations would be:

1.) Pay attention to your children's diet. Take a look at the Feingold diet at www.feingold.org. If that doesn't appeal to you, at a minimum provide HIGH PROTEIN and low carbohydrate meals. Breakfasts like eggs, old-fashioned oatmeal, a hamburger patty, toast with peanut butter help a great deal with concentration. Cereal, pop-tarts, Eggo waffles and instant oatmeal should be tossed out the window. Tuna or chicken salad or ham and cheese sandwiches at lunch and leave out the cupcakes, cookies, etc. Cheese cubes and ham slices for snacks, or high-protein treats like peanut butter power bars.

2.) Provide LOTS of Omega-3 essential fatty acids and LOTS of magnesium, along with good general supplementation which includes the anti-oxidant vitamins.

3.) Make sure your kids have some real physical activity every day. The more they huff and puff and sweat the better. The calming effects of running around last longer than you'd expect.

4.) Consult a psychologist. Many ADHD kids are socially isolated, get scolded a lot at school, are in conflict at home, and the damage to self-esteem can be tremendous. My boy's psychologist is really helping him deal with some of these issues. Despite the fact that it is PAINFULLY EXPENSIVE, I really do believe that it is worth it.

5.) Make sure that both children have a thorough physical evaluation to rule out the possibility that medical problems are contributing to their difficulties at school. At a minimum, they should be given a Complete Blood Count (CBC) which will reveal anemia and other problems, a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel which examines a large number of blood chemistry indicators, a thyroid panel and a lead screening.

6.) Pay attention to your own health. Dealing with challenging children is extremely stressful and will take a toll on you both mentally and physically. Be good to yourself, too.

[Carrieskids]

Catatonic,

Thank you for all your good info. I have contacted the center near me and apparently my insurance will pay half. It is still expensive and hubby almost had a stroke when I told him. LOL. He doesn't seem to think they are "that bad" to be spending that kind of money. Hopefully I can convince him because I really want to try it. Thanks again.
Carrieskids

[catatonic]

I think in many cases it is easier for fathers to deny the severity of the problem. Often, they simply are not around the kids as much and are not the ones trying to get homework done or chores completed while simultaneously cooking supper, running laundry, and refereeing quarrels. Instead, they get to be the "fun" parent, and what kid is going to act up while playing frisbee or watching football and eating pizza? Try leaving your husband in charge of the kids all day long while you attend a class or just hide out at the mall and then see how "bad" he thinks they are!!! It's really important to get some kind of treatment, no matter what type you choose, because children with untreated ADHD fare the worst of all. They are the ones who end up abusing drugs, engaging in high risk behaviors, having sex at an early age, dropping out of school... Weighed against those potential dangers, the cost of treatment, no matter how high, seems well worth it!

[Carrieskids]

I agree. Thank you.

[Sorka]

The other thing to think about with husbands.. is not that they just get to be the 'fun' parent.. but also to make sure we are communicating with them the difficulties that the kids are having. I recently took a break with my sons meds because I did not see that much of a difference, and my husband expressed a dissliking of my using the meds for him, but when I stopped his schoolwork went down hill. so I talked with my husband and told him this and that we needed to do the meds that they were helping in some important areas.. not all areas.. so we put him back on the meds..
so make sure you are communicating the difficulties that the kids are having, not just behaviour wise.. and likewise as you try things make sure you are communicating the results and changes you are seeing.
Denise

[Carrieskids]

Thanks for your advice.

[momto3wolves]

Hi, new here too. I get what you mean about dads not 'getting it'. My husband was the same way until I started leaving the kids with him while I went out. I would come home and he'd say, "they were awful!" and I would reply, "Welcome to my world..." Now he understands.