So Confused

[misty]

katiekat.....................Thread Started on Nov 12, 2006, 1:08pm

I am checking into natural alternatives for Sean since he cannot take any meds because of his heart. There is so much info out therethat that I am just confused and overwhelmed. [image]
Is anyone currently giving their child any of these things,if so specifically what and do you see any difference?



Charlie Girl

I gave my son omegas for quite a while and they helped immensely with his behavior. I did see an improvement on his school work but that may have been due to his actually doing his school work on a steady basis.

Just a friendly reminder: If you give Sean supplements, remember to check with his ped first as even a natural supplement can affect his heart. Omegas also can thin the blood so its vital to have the ped aware of what he is taking.



mom2adhdkid

We work with a Naturopathic Doctor and give our son Omegas, Magnesium and a mix of amino acids. It is overwhelming at first. My advice is to pick one to research and get familiar with first. It's always better to start with one and then add others later. I'd look at Omegas and then try some (it can take up to 12 wks to see a difference). You can look at diet modifications as well as adding in Magnesium too. Hang in there!

crazyhouse

I'm so glad someone else is lost on the trail of what can I give my child! My son is 5 yr old he has Asthma Excema and Severe Allergies. Some of his meds increase his heart rate Allbuteral, Orapred, Pulmicort Respules. I am looking for something that will not alter his heart rate. So far everything I've seen except one med that I haven't found any test panel negatives positives just the Ad thats all I can find. The ingredients seem all herbal. I'm going to take it to my Peds Dr. and see what he says. It's called Synaptol. I can't put him on anything that will thin his blood or race his heart, and at the same time I can't keep letting him feel like he is wrong all day everyday, and I'm tired of people in stores looking at me like I'm some lazy mom who lets him run wild! But you can only do so much, without wrecking there self asteem


katiekat

Crazyhouse-We are in the same boat. I cannot give my son anything that will alter his heart rate either. I am scared to try anything even herbal. However things can't go on the way they are. My house seems to be in a constant uproar,as his behavior is pushing all of us to the brink of insanity. And school is an even bigger concern and he's only in kindergarten.
As far as being the crazy mom in the store-I am at the point where I really don't take him anywhere unless absolutely necessary because he gets so out of control. I read once in a book about ADHD that some parents feel that they are prisoners in their own home because they dont want to take their child out and deal with their behavior-that's me.

[misty]

misty

Heres some general info on Omega3 (fish oil). Theres TONS more info in the Omega thread in this section you all can read, but I looked up "Omega3 and heart health" to get started. As always though, please check with your childs Dr before starting even a natural supplement.

General omega 3 benefits include:

* Protecting against cardiovascular disease and improving heart health.
* Improving joint health.
* Improving moods and behaviour, including ADHD.
* Good development of the fetus during pregnancy.
* The inhibition of some cancer cells.
* The Omega 3 Benefits For Heart health.

The omega 3 benefits for heart health have been well documented. The Food Standards Agency and the British Nutrition Foundation recommend that people eat 2 servings of fish a week, one being an oily fish like salmon that is rich in omega 3 fatty acids.

Their resting heart rate at rest and after exercise was measured. It was found that those taking the omega 3 fish oils had a lower resting heart rate, and their heart rate returned to normal more quickly after exercise.

Several studies suggest that diets and/or supplements rich in omega-3 fatty acids lower blood pressure significantly in people with hypertension.

One of the best ways to help prevent and treat heart disease is to eat a low-fat diet and to replace foods rich in saturated and trans-fat with those that are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (including omega-3 fatty acids). Evidence suggests that EPA and DHA found in fish oil help reduce risk factors for heart disease including high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Studies of heart attack survivors have found that daily omega-3 fatty acid supplements dramatically reduce the risk of death, subsequent heart attacks, and stroke. Similarly, people who eat an ALA-rich diet are less likely to suffer a fatal heart attack.



Sources:

www.healthguidance.org/articles/2924/1/Omega-3-Benefits-For-Heart-And-Mind.html

www.optimal-heart-health.com/fishoils.html

www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Omega3FattyAcidscs.html


crazyhouse

I talked to the pharmasist first and he said with my sons nut allergies (every nut peanut walnut cashew pecan almond ect ect ect) that he would probably not be a good canidate to take omega 3. I havent had a chance to hardcore research but from what he gave me the omega 3 fish oil supplement could possibly not be for him. I am still asking the DR. when we go after Thanksgiving they had the flu and I had to reschedule. what fun that was. Any words of wisdom would be awesome. It seems every avenue I search there is some death defying risk that I keep having to weigh out and then exclude as an option.

[misty]

Charlie Girl

Did he say what a nut allergy had to do with the fish oil? I could understand if he said your son couldn't take the flax seed oil but don't see the correlation between nuts and fish. I would be very interested in finding out if he did.

Ask him about pro-biotics. There is a study showing remarkable improvement in autistic children who take them and many people think ADHD may be a very high functioning form of autism or at least in the same family. At this point, it wouldn't hurt to try them if the dr says its safe. It may even have a positive effect on some of his allergies.


misty

Is the fish oil perhaps processed using the same machinery that processes something using nuts? I certainly feel for you....it seems almost everything you can buy has a warning about nut allergies on them. I did read my bottle of fish oil & do not see a nut allergy warning, so I'll be curious to know the correlation as well.



crazyhouse

This guy was nice (and cute) but anyways He printed me out an info sheet on the fish oil vitamin. Not any brand he said he had never heard of treating ADHD with it. Not everyone is as informed as we are I guess but the safety information says avoid if you are hypersensitve to or allergic to fish, it then says omega 3 comes from fish, nuts and, linolenic acid. I'm worried that a manufacturer might feed these fish mass amounts of nuts in there diet to increase the omega 3 fatty acid production? I have a friend who is bringing me a catalog from puritan pride which is a very good vitamin company sells top of the line vitamins with no fillers preservatives and sugars I am taking lots of notes to bring in to that Dr. I hope hes ready to be quized on the best care for Jake

Also English Walnuts is the nut with the most Omega 3 fatty acid it is also in vegatable oil that contain alpha linolenic acid. The fish with the best omega 3 production is marlin, orange roughy, red snapper and fresh tuna. but you shouldn't eat more than 7 ounces per week if your pregnant or a young child. Something to that extent. 7 ounces is almost half a pound and an adult portion of fish or meat is a quarter pound so really you should be able to serve fish twice a week and it would be like taking a pill everyday. I think It's kinda confusing like stereo instructions. I'm wondering if I can incorperate it into his diet without giving him another pill!!

[mahfl]

Hello! I just joined this forum not too long ago when I came across it while in search for alternative remedies for the treatment of ADHD. I have read some of your posts as well as others and you seem to have a lot of experience in the topic. Therefore, I would like to know if you could guide me toward the right direction. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed! I have also read some information on PS (PhosphatidylSerine) and did not know if you had any information on it.

I have two children, my son is 13 and my daughter is 11. They were both independently and at different ages diagnosed with ADD - the inattentive type with no hyperactivity. My son was diagnosed as Gifted/LD (learning disabled) as well as with dyscalculia (dyslexia with numbers) toward the end of 2nd grade. Although he's extremely smart, he has a VERY difficult time concentrating, focusing and staying on task.

He began taking Concerta right before he began 3rd grade. Since we live in Florida, 3rd grade is an "FCAT retention year", where if you don't pass this test, you are retained regardless of your grades to-date. Therefore, due to this, we decided to put him on medication (Concerta). At first, there were no other side-effects other than the initial weight loss and lack of appetite, which was easily controlled by giving them dinner at a later time when they were hungry. I was able to keep him on 18 Mg's for three years and then on 27 Mg's dosage for two years, always stopping on weekends, holidays, summers, etc. But this year toward the end of the 2nd nine weeks, HE (my son) began to express his inability to concentrate and focus in school. Within a week I was also receiving emails from the teachers expressing their concern. After speaking to his neurologist and pediatric endocrinologist, he was increased to 54 Mg's just to be able to successfully complete the 7th grade. This is where I think I can provide some of you with at last with some information regarding the side effects that Concerta has had in my children.

After the first year on Concerta I began to notice that he was not changing pant sizes (length) when usually every winter, I would need to buy new uniform pants since the others would be too short. I began to address it with his pediatrician, and he had dropped from the 95th percentile that he had been on, but since he was still above the 50th percentile, it was dismissed as "normal". After the third year of height loss, I finally switched pediatrician and found one that listened and agreed with me. Fast-forward another year, and he is now on the 11th percentile! He is 4'10" tall and weighs 86 lbs. Two years ago I began the long and frustrating process to meet with a pediatric endocrinologist. It took me 9 months to get an a "first-time" appointment, and then there's been a lot of wait time, since we've had to do multiple bone age tests at different times. During our first visit, the pediatric endocrinologist agreed that ALL ADD/ADHD medications slow down the growth rate. Genetic testing was also done to determine if it was in the genes (although dad is 6'4" and I am 5'4") but this was not the case. Next week have yet another appointment to see who much he's grown, and then this will determine if he undergoes hormone-stimulation testing to see if he can begin HGH therapy/injections. Although all the literature states that it only "slows down" the growth rate and that they will eventually achieve their "targeted" height once they come off the medication, this could not be further from the truth! The endocrinologist has also told us that if he continues to be on the growth pattern that he is now, not only will he NOT reach his "intended" height, but there is also a window in which these HGH treatments can be done before it is too late!

As I mentioned earlier, the only side effects that he was showing were the initial weight loss and lack of appetite, but this was not the case with my daughter. She also began taking Concerta at the beginning of 3rd grade. At first, once again, the initial weight loss and lack of appetite. She had no "growth issues, but then toward the end of 4th grade she began having tics, the neurologist lowered her dosage from 27 Mg's back to the initial dosage of 18 Mg's. A few months later, now in 5th grade, she began having syncopal episodes (fainting) and beginning of seizure activity. Needless to say, she was immediately taken off the medication and can no longer take any type of ADD/ADHD medication, not the stimulant nor non-stimulant type. She completed 5th grade but with great difficulty, which also affects their confidence.

Due to all these medical problems, we've decided to look into a non-pharmaceutical approach to treat ADD. Therefore, if there's anyone out there that has been "successful" in accomplishing this through a homeopathic or natural approach, I would really appreciate any information - no matter how small....

[puzzled]

My son was on Concerta, and though it helped him focus...he is ADHD inattentive....he never got over the appetite issues and was small to begin with. Feeding him dinner at a later hour did not help, he was simply never hungry from morning till bedtime, breakfast was even an issue, even cookies or ice cream did not wake up his appetite, so he ended up losing 4-5 pounds. At age 10, he weighed 52 pounds and was 52 inches tall. When we switched his meds to ritalin LA and added tenex and periactin (an older antihistamine that has a side effect of appetite stimulation), he started gaining almost right away. By that summer, he had gained 20 pounds which only made him look 'normal' instead of a skeleton with skin stretched over it. Now, at age 12, he weighs 78 pounds and is 54 and 3/4 inches tall...he is in the 5th percentile for height (he has lingered there most of his life, regardless of meds...) and he 25th for weight, which is better than he ever was, usually he was in the 10th percentile even before meds.

He is in the seventh grade, doing well...we did use fish oil for a time, and I think they helped him to focus a bit, as well as improve his moods, but they gave him a bad case of acid reflux that took a month and many of the ladies on this forum to help me pin down. His only symptom was repeated, unexplained vomiting, which (unknown to me) is a common symptom when children have acid reflux. He had been vomiting in the wee hours for over a month before we figured it out. Stopping the fish oil stopped the vomiting. Apparently this is NOT too common, so trying the fish oil may well help some of the symptoms in your children. There are also some studies that say that tenex (guanfacine, generic) helps focus as well. This is not a stimulant med, but an older blood pressure med, that seems to even out the moods, aggression, temper in some ADHD children (all of which it has done for my son) as well as aid in focus. There have been days Chase forgets his ritalin and still is able to function quite well in school.