[MONTY]

My wife took my 14 year old daughter to the doctor last week to be checked for ADHD. I did not go so I do not know what all took place but do have some concerns. I asked my wife what the doctor visit consisted of and how the doctor determined that our daughter did have ADHD. My wife told me that she had to fill out a 3 page questionair and that the doctor interviewed my daughter. I asked how long the interview lasted and was told about 20 minutes. Now here is my question, does anyone have a child or yourself diagnosed with ADHD? I have been doing some reading on the internet about this condition and from what I have read the process to determine if someone is ADHD is a lengthy process. I myself do not believe my daughter has ADHD. I just think she is a normal 14 year old girl, in a new school situation, we have homeschooled her untill this year. With the new school situation, taking pre-ad classes, juggling school work and a very hectic soccer schedule I just believe she is dealing with a bunch of different situations that has been dealt her at once.
She was prescribed a medication and took it for the first time yesterday. Made her sick to her stomache and gave her a headache. I am not happy about putting a child on a medication without knowing all the facts. If anyone here has any experience with this please let me know.
Thanks

[sleepy]

My son (now 21 was diagnosed with ADD and ADHD when he was 12). I didn't take him in my EX did that. I don't believe it for a second. It is my opinion that doctors and parents are looking for an excuse for bad behavior. It's not my fault is all you hear from kids. Discipline Is being replaced with drugs. IMA

[Rob B]

I can give you horror stories with the medications and so forth! I dealt with my ex claiming my son was ADHD and every other term you could think of to call it. She had him put on all kinds of meds etc etc. When he really wasn't. Doctors are to quick to prescribe medication because it's an easy way out. I would stop the medicines and give her time to adapt and adjust. If your daughter had been home schooled all these years then all of a sudden she's in a public school environment, that's a huge change that she maybe fully hasn't adjusted to. Doping her up with these types of medications is not the answer. What was she prescribed? What is the dosage amount? How big is your daughter (weight)? Has she become a "woman" yet? Might sound like stupid questions but all that is taken in consideration for Miligram amounts. Feel free to PM me about this.

[Rob B]

Originally Posted by sleepy

My son (now 21 was diagnosed with ADD and ADHD when he was 12). I didn't take him in my EX did that. I don't believe it for a second. It is my opinion that doctors and parents are looking for an excuse for bad behavior. It's not my fault is all you hear from kids. Discipline Is being replaced with drugs. IMA

Exactly.

[Old Man Taylor]

Originally Posted by sleepy

My son (now 21 was diagnosed with ADD and ADHD when he was 12). I didn't take him in my EX did that. I don't believe it for a second. It is my opinion that doctors and parents are looking for an excuse for bad behavior. It's not my fault is all you hear from kids. Discipline Is being replaced with drugs. IMA

I also agree with this statement. My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in the 3rd grade. I did not allow them to give him any drugs. He is now 40. My middle granddaughter (now 11) was diagnosed with ADHD about 2 years ago. It turns out she had Grave's Disease - a very hyper active thyroid. The Internist was really pi$$ed that the school only pursued the issue far enough to diagnose her with ADHD. He also agreed that the schools are using it as a cop out.

[MONTY]

Sleepy and Rob b thanks for the response. I totally agree with both of you on this. We got in a bit of a fight last night about it. I told my wife not to give her anything untill I do some research on this. The thing is if she, daughter, was just going absulutly nuts all the time, like not able to carry on a conversation, not able to sit at the table and do her homework, have failing grades and have her teachers ask us for a parent teacher conference to discuss her lack of concentraition at school I could understan maybe checking into this. But she does not do any of that. Yes she does get hyper from time to time, and yes we will tell her to calm down and she just keeps on going, but to me thats more of a 14 year old hormone going crazy not sure what in the hell is going on with her body type of teenage girl. One thing I did read on the net was when a doctor examines a patient for this "disorder" they need to take into account any kind of changes in the patients daily routine or any changes in their lifestyle. Exampe was, divorce parents, new school, ext ext, All the deciding factors that it laid out that the doctor needs to be aware of my daughter has gone or is going through. Exept the divorce parent situation. Still married. I do not believe for a minute that a 3 page questionair and a 20 minute interview can provide enough information for a diagnoses. My wife tells me I am in dinial. I dont believe that, I just dont believe that ADHD is all that real and IF it is, there are way to many children diagnosed with it.
Rob,, as far as the amount she is taking, I have no idea I did not look at the bottle. I told my wife and daughter no more medication untill I have a chance to study about this. I do know that the doctor prescribed Adderall. She is about 115 pounds and is going through puberty.
Dont get me wrong, I know my wife is doing what she feels is best. I just think she is overeacting to a teenage girl is all. Thanks again guys.

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by sleepy

My son (now 21 was diagnosed with ADD and ADHD when he was 12). I didn't take him in my EX did that. I don't believe it for a second. It is my opinion that doctors and parents are looking for an excuse for bad behavior. It's not my fault is all you hear from kids. Discipline Is being replaced with drugs. IMA

"It is my opinion that doctors and parents are looking for an excuse for bad behavior".

BINGO!!!! I am an Administrator of a before and after School program that services Kids ages 5 to 14. I've been doing so for 15 years. I've seen it all!!!!! 9 out of 10 Kids who I have who are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD and some others, are Kids who's lives are so busy, and the Parents generally from seperated or divorced or single parent homes are so wrapped up in their busy lifestyles as well that the Kids act out, and in a big way. They are starved for attention, they are like a sponge and will act out if they see or hear situations between parents in or out of the home, such as arguments, fighting, name calling they often will keep this bottled up inside and feel they are somehow to blame for the Adults problems so they generally resort to un exceptable behaviors as a release. I wouldn't say "bad behavior" they just choose a behavior that they know will get the attention from the Adults in their life. The Meds are nothing more than a cover up, often causing Kids to feel ill, tired, hungry, lathargic, like in a zomby state. It's an easy fix to medicate rather than fix the behaviors with an accepted behavior. Now every instance is different. Yes Kids need a time of adjustment to situations in their lives, however acceptable behavior needs to be reinforced by THE PARENTS!!! Even if it means the PARENTS need to change behaviors as well. JMHO but I see it every single day 5 days a week, and have taken many workshops on this topic. Good luck!

[69goatboy]

My wife is a special ed teacher in a local public school system and is very much NOT a medication type teacher but knows many who are. Some of those teachers try to coach the parents into meds for students they have trouble controlling or getting through to. These teachers are out to make their job easier, and the script-writing-happy Dr's usually are all too eager to comply with a parent in this area.

In her opinion, about 80% of those kids on some ADHD meds do not need it. She has seen way too many kids walking around like zombies on one med or another.

She has also seen kids that truly needed the meds and have responded well while on them.

Also another angle on this subject. The the last letter in the acronym is the almighty important one when dealing with welfare families. The magic letter "D" for disorder means extra monies in the welfare check for anyone that qualifies. And believe me, the loopholes to get someone "qualified" are a mile wide and well known.

My .02 is to fight the medication route as long as you can and absolutely grill the Doctor to death if you do have to go that route. Also, talk to the school and figure out their agenda over this, go in with a very biased mind for they are NOT always out for the best interest of your child.

[sleepy]

My current wifes daughter does have ADHD with depression. She went to our doctor got a physical and was sent to a psychologist for four one hour sessions. After that it was back to the doctor and he prescribed the meds based on the psychologists report.

Very lengthy processes.

[Rob B]

Originally Posted by sleepy

My current wifes daughter does have ADHD with depression. She went to our doctor got a physical and was sent to a psychologist for four one hour sessions. After that it was back to the doctor and he prescribed the meds based on the psychologists report.

Very lengthy processes.

If meds are prescribed, this is the way it should start with minimal dosages (miligrams) then re=evaluations every couple of weeks. To many Drs just prescribe the stuff because Mom says she needs it or some school official who doesn't want to deal with the kid(s) under thier supervision. It's easy to give a bunch of kids meds so they are a bunch of zombies throughout the day.

[MONTY]

Thanks again all... Want to comment on some posts.

OMT, Thank you for the post. The Graves disease part will be helpfull.

Firedup,,, I agree that medicating is a cop out and its easier to say,, lets put this child on some meds and all your problems will be taken care of. We are a "microwave" society right now and what will fix the syptoms first is what we are after not what will take care of the problem. Thanks again for your post.

69goatboy, I intend to do just that, fight this with everything I have. This is our first teenager in the house and just need to figure out how to deal with a hormone crazed teenager.

Sleepy,,, You nailed my thoughts to a T when you said, "She went to our doctor got a physical and was sent to a psychologist for four one hour sessions. After that it was back to the doctor and he prescribed the meds based on the psychologists report."
Thats what I am looking at, 1 3 page questionair and a 20 minute interview and now you want to put my child on some mind altering drug. I damn sure dont think so.
As far as the school, my wife has had a few conferences with her teachers and to my knowledge, and I am sure my wife would have told me, not a one of them has suggested having her tested for ADHD. I however do play on talking to all her teachers myself and ask them how she does in class as far as paying attention and focusing on class discussions. Like does she perticipate in class discussions, when she is called on in class to answer a question does is she following the flow of the discussion and can answer the question. Basically is she freaking paying attention in class or is she in la-la land.

[MONTY]

OMT, question about the Graves disease, did you grandaughter have any kind of weight gain or loss from this? When I hear thyroid problems I automatically think of weight issues.

[Rob B]

Monty,
My ex had my son on 3 different medications at once and the dosages where changing every other week leaving a ton of "extras" for herself. While this was going on she was refusing to let me son follow the custody schedule we had, convincing him that I was everything evil under the son. I watched my boy and his older sister go thru a meat grinder all caused by my ex. After a court battle that lasted a year, I finally was awarded full custody of both my kids. I immediately stopped the meds and here we are a year later, they are basically out of the meat grinder of their mothers care and my son has been "ADHD Drug free" since I regained custody and is now as normal of a boy that he can be.

[stevep]

My son and daughter were both diagnosed with ADHD at an early age after MANY doctor visits and tests.
If either one of them did not take their medicine, they would not have gotten an education. My son also has symtoms of Asbergers Syndrome. I am happy to say that my daughter (25) has her associates degree and working on the next level and my son is in his 4th year at Massachusetts Maritime Acadamy. He will take 5 years to complete his courses.

[Bob Dillon]

Isn't it interesting that these "diseases" only exist in the USA?

[MONTY]

My wife is open enough that if I can provide amble information and really stay involved with this we will be ok. Please dont get me wrong my wife is a loving mother and a fantastic mother. It takes one hell of a person to homeschool 3 children all the while putting her own life and needs on hold. She is truelly looking out for the best interest of our daughter, I just believe she is going about it the wrong way and is to trusting of those in the professional world.
Reading the post about children acting out to get attention, I believe this is some of what my daughter is doing.
During soccer it is all about my daughter. Bassically 9 months out of the year we devote our life to her and her soccer. Going to practice together, going to out of state tournaments and so on.
The past 3 months the attention has been switched to my middle daughter who competes in competitive cheerleading. All the attention that was once given to the oldest has been switched to the middle child. My oldest has expressed the fact that during cheerleading she has felt left out. Factor in the fact that before this year she was with her mother pretty much all day during the homeschool years. Now she does not have that interaction with her mother and I do believe she feels left out since her other 2 sisters are with their mother almost every day. Thanks again guys, I am really getting some great information to put together.

[MONTY]

Steve... YES!!!!!!!!!! Diagnosed after MANY doctors visits, not a 20 minute visit.

Bob,,, microwave society sir,,, microwave society.

[Keith Seymore]

I have one child on medication.

By way of background, my wife and I have been married 25 years and have our own natural children. After our kids were almost grown we adopted a set of bi-racial twins. The birth mom was a crack addict and alcoholic, so the twins have shown signs of fetal-alcohol syndrome and ADHD. They were pretty sick little girls when we got them at an age of 10 months old.

My wife and I are very much "non-medicine" people and have tried discipline, counseling, diet, time outs, rewards, stickers, charts, you name it. Finally, this year, we started one of the twins on medication.

The difference has been night and day. We are talking about a 9 year old child that has had a tantrum every day for her entire life (over going to bed, or brushing her teeth, the most miniscule stuff) and instantly they stopped. We are going on about 10 days in a row with no tantrum!

So I am saying that in some instances medication is appropriate, but I think you'll know when that is the case. In our situation, the twins have some clinically diagnosed challenges and we will do whatever it takes to help them through it. But - I think there is definitely something biological/genetic going on inside these little girls of mine.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by stevep

My son and daughter were both diagnosed with ADHD at an early age after MANY doctor visits and tests.
If either one of them did not take their medicine, they would not have gotten an education. My son also has symtoms of Asbergers Syndrome. I am happy to say that my daughter (25) has her associates degree and working on the next level and my son is in his 4th year at Massachusetts Maritime Acadamy. He will take 5 years to complete his courses.

God bless you Steve!

Sounds like you had some additional hurdles to overcome but you were able to help your kids through it and they are moving onwards and upwards!

K

[b777d]

Originally Posted by Old Man Taylor

I also agree with this statement. My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in the 3rd grade. I did not allow them to give him any drugs. He is now 40. My middle granddaughter (now 11) was diagnosed with ADHD about 2 years ago. It turns out she had Grave's Disease - a very hyper active thyroid. The Internist was really pi$$ed that the school only pursued the issue far enough to diagnose her with ADHD. He also agreed that the schools are using it as a cop out.

My wife is and has been a teacher for 20 years and she agrees with that statement.

Cop out...