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Post by lucie on Sept 4, 2006 6:41:06 GMT 10
I am searching for alternative ways for my two younger sons' ADHD problem. They are both taking Concerta, but I am saddened to see especially with my youngest, that they have no apetite...  Patrick hardly eats during the day. He does eat more in the evenings, but still, I'm worried it will be harmful in the long run and that he will not grow tall like his brothers. I found a small book about food and ADHD...I'm just starting to read it...I hope to find some solutions... Anyone here have childrenw ith this problem and have you used medication or natural solutions? Thanks |
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Post by violet on Sept 4, 2006 8:04:45 GMT 10
Funny you should mention it, but this story, or parts of it, were aired again in the last couple of weeks - ABC Life Matters 16 August 2005 - Fish Oil Research and ADHD Summary: ... About Us Contact Us 16 August 2005 Fish Oil Research and ADHD A young Australian scientist has been recognised for her research into the effect of fish oil supplements on attention deficit ... for her research involving a large trial of children with ADHD. Her results mirror a bigger study conducted in Durham, England which found fish oil supplements improved concentration and cognition in children ... Fish Oil Research and ADHD The Grown Up Science Behind ... www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2005/1438254.htm - 7k - [ html ] - 16 Aug 2005 Lucie, You can download the audio from the above link, or just do a web search for ABC Life Matters and it will bring up the program's website. |
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Post by lucie on Sept 4, 2006 8:39:53 GMT 10
Thank-you Violet! I have been thinking alot on Omega 3 and how it says it is necessary for our brains. I recently learned that it was good for concentration...and now with the link you gave and this research it does confirm what I was reflecting. In my reflection I realized that it is probably the lack of fish in our diets that makes that so mnay children have ADD or ADHD...To me it's so logic. I remember when I was young my mom even would make me take a tablespoon of fish oil once a week. And plus we did eat fish. Unfortunately I have had a hard time to make fish a regular meal in our home---sigh--my dh has not grown eating any fish at all....  I will talk to my doctor about the fish oil. I would really like to try this with Patrick. If it could help him and he could get off the medication.... Again, thanks so much Violet! I have read all your article and bookmarked for my doctor.  |
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Post by braided-rug on Sept 4, 2006 11:19:33 GMT 10
I had one son with problems early on and I didn't put him on any medication. When I say "problems" I think boys should be boys anyway, iykwim? His main problem at the time was not being able to speak.
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Post by lucie on Sept 4, 2006 12:35:19 GMT 10
Oh I agree with you Linda...I do find that the schools are not very adapted for our boys. Boys need to *move* and *do* things, not only sit and read.
My Patrick is not most active type, he is the imaginative kind of boy who spends his days dreaming and thinking, kwim?...and this is why the teacher in 1st grade came to me half through the year asking me if he could have hearing problems. Finally, his ears were fine and we had him seen by neuropyschotherapist and he was diagnosed with the ADD.
He's been taking the meds almost 2 years now and he is doing very well in school. But like I said, I am not happy seeing him not having an apetite....It worries me. I know deep down there are other solutions than meds and I know if school were better adapted for boys, Patrick wouldn't need these meds...
Hopefully, we will be able to try other ways. I just don't want to have him not hungry like this anymore...
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lynn
Regular Contributor
~Inspired To Be Far Above Rubies~
We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.
Posts: 1,572
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Post by lynn on Sept 4, 2006 13:22:44 GMT 10
Hi Lucie, Our middle son has trouble keeping focused. It's like he just zones out and then comes back. No hyperactivity or disruptive behavior. Just focusing. At the pediatrician's recommendation (whose is also an old family friend), we first tried Concerta. It made him very sleepy. Then a low dose Ritalin. It made him angry. So after much going back and forth with myself, I took him off all of it. I really debated, but felt that it wasn't helping him at all. A homeopathic dr told me to try him on grapeseed extract. We did that for awhile, but I didn't see much improvement. I've been reading about calcium and magnesium, so I may try that next. He's very thin also and probably would never eat a whole lot of anything unless I made him.  I'm going to do some reading on omega 3's. I appreciate that info from you and Violet. |
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Post by braided-rug on Sept 4, 2006 15:05:13 GMT 10
My son has been called an absent minded professor type more than once. It is amazing we have all been through the same thing.
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Post by violet on Sept 4, 2006 21:04:05 GMT 10
Ladies, I hope that information helps you. I've not had a child with ADHD/ADD but my middle son was -ahem - a challening child. Because of his behaviour, I spent a lot of time looking at diets, food allergies, additives, etc., and still have a radar for information in that area.
Lucie, I do wonder whether you're correct about eating fish. After eldest ds's appendix ruptured, etc, etc, he ended up with some psychological problems. I did some research and found that eating fish helped repair, I think it was, connections in the brain. Anyway, I started cooking Omega3 rich fish for him for lunch a few times a week. He really craved it for a couple of years, and I've noticed that as he's gotten better he's eating fish less often, so maybe he doesn't need it so much anymore?
I do think diet is very important for maintaining body/mind health.
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Patrick hardly eats during the day. He does eat more in the evenings, but still, I'm worried it will be harmful in the long run and that he will not grow tall like his brothers.
