MaggieB
02-28-2002, 06:12 PM
My son is 9 years old and has been treated for ADHD for the past two years mostly with Concerta. He has always be disruptive in the classroom, but lately he has become more aggressive and the other kids are shying away from him. The school insisted that he see a psychiatrist (the pediatrician has been managing the ADD meds). I switched him from Concerta to Adderall because I heard that Concerta can cause aggressive behavior. Well, the psychiatrist has put him on Risperdal .25 mg twice a day. Does anyone else use this? Does anyone else see alot of aggression? The kid is fine at home but, apparently, a holy terror at school. Suggestions? Thanks. Maggie :bouncing:
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mlgable
03-01-2002, 10:16 AM
We use a lot of Reperidol at the nursing home I work at with very good results. I realize this is not exactly the same but the fact that I have seen good results with Resperidol has me thinking that it will hopefully work quite well for your son. I hope the phsychiatrist is making progress with your son's agressive behavior in the counseling sessions. Hopefully he can get to the bottom of your son's agressive behavior and figure out what is causing this in school. Good Luck
MaggieB
03-01-2002, 05:54 PM
mlgable: Thanks for the response. I also work in a nursing home and my experience has been that Respirdal puts the old folks to sleep which, obviously, would make them less aggressive. I guess I'll just have to wait to see the difference in the way the age groups react. So far, nothing but it's still early in the game. Maggie :bouncing:
Babernethy
03-07-2002, 12:23 PM
I wrote the story here a year ago about my cousins son who became an animal after eating a lunch of Cheesies and Coke...he went berserk and was even biting at his mother. I spoke to her about changing his diet and he has never looked back. By the age of 7 he had been kicked out of school 4 times, had bitten several students and sworn at the teacher...he was unhandleable.
He was a changed boy when he returned to school...marks went up, has never been in a fight since, never thrown out...a joy of a boy now. They keep him on a strict diet like the ones we use and have not had any more problems...and the other 2 are also doing better in school. This is now 5 years later.
Check out what your kids are eating...you may get a big surprise! So many things can trigger this behaviour but you can reduce it or eliminate it by sticking to a natural food diet, away from sugars and chemical additives.
B
He was a changed boy when he returned to school...marks went up, has never been in a fight since, never thrown out...a joy of a boy now. They keep him on a strict diet like the ones we use and have not had any more problems...and the other 2 are also doing better in school. This is now 5 years later.
Check out what your kids are eating...you may get a big surprise! So many things can trigger this behaviour but you can reduce it or eliminate it by sticking to a natural food diet, away from sugars and chemical additives.
B
mandy
03-07-2002, 04:37 PM
I don't mean to keep harping on this point either but check out my post about anger, aggression and food. We had the same situation as Babernethy and what a changed boy we have now simply by changing his diet. What have you got to lose?
(P.S. He is not on any medications.)
[This message has been edited by mandy (edited 03-07-2002).]
(P.S. He is not on any medications.)
[This message has been edited by mandy (edited 03-07-2002).]
mlgable
03-08-2002, 10:34 AM
I am interested in a sample of what you child eats on a typical day so that I can modify things at home here. We do not eat tons of junk food and the kids only have things like soda when we go out since that is a treat for them but if I had a sample menu it might help me make even more changes here.
ssmfeen
03-08-2002, 10:46 AM
I would love to see a sample of the foods as well. I have considered purchasing a book about what foods are good for ADD and ADHD kids but think a parent that has had success would be better information! Thanks!
Babernethy
03-08-2002, 02:54 PM
Here is a complete list of what we don't allow the kids to have...basically anything with chemical based flavours, colours or preservatives.
We eat all natural, mostly ORGANIC food. The kids are allowed to snack, but with natural cookies, or natural candies from the German food stores (no artificial anything in the German products)
The kids eat good balanced meals, with as little added sugar as is possible, snacks that are wholesome, no pop, no kool aid, no store bought popsickles. We look at the ingredients of every product we buy and don't buy 'garbage'. All our meat comes from an organic farmer about 2 hours from my house...I pick it up 2 times a year. It actually costs less than the meat sold in grocery stores because we buy a side at a time. The kids get unsweetened juice, milk or water (from our well) at meal times, and for the most part don't even ask for sweets in the store. They are tempted sometimes but I remind them we have GOOD candy at home. They are allowed to have it if they ask. Since we know where it comes from and it does not affect me, the kids are allowed to have it also. Both children also are supplemented with a natural multi and natural C, and my son also gets essential 3,6,9 which is a combination of natural essential omega oils, as he has very low attention span due to his high IQ.
The other boy I wrote about is on a diet much the same...he actually knows what he can't eat, so refuses it if offered. He is still pulling off good grades, and is a different person. My sons teacher has also noticed a marked improvement since we started him on the Essential 3,6,9 and his marks have all increased from high Bs and low As to As and A+...this alone has been a great indicator. She can actually tell when he has missed his vitamins...or if he has snuck some honey nut cheerios, which we ONLY allow the kids to have on the weekend. Another banned product in our house is margarine...we buy high quality butter only. All our bread comes from the German deli, or from a Trinidadian baker not far from where I work. No Wonder bread for us
Read the ingredients of everything for a real eye popping experience! Don't hesitate to ask more questions...I'll write when I can.
Good luck!
B
We eat all natural, mostly ORGANIC food. The kids are allowed to snack, but with natural cookies, or natural candies from the German food stores (no artificial anything in the German products)
The kids eat good balanced meals, with as little added sugar as is possible, snacks that are wholesome, no pop, no kool aid, no store bought popsickles. We look at the ingredients of every product we buy and don't buy 'garbage'. All our meat comes from an organic farmer about 2 hours from my house...I pick it up 2 times a year. It actually costs less than the meat sold in grocery stores because we buy a side at a time. The kids get unsweetened juice, milk or water (from our well) at meal times, and for the most part don't even ask for sweets in the store. They are tempted sometimes but I remind them we have GOOD candy at home. They are allowed to have it if they ask. Since we know where it comes from and it does not affect me, the kids are allowed to have it also. Both children also are supplemented with a natural multi and natural C, and my son also gets essential 3,6,9 which is a combination of natural essential omega oils, as he has very low attention span due to his high IQ.
The other boy I wrote about is on a diet much the same...he actually knows what he can't eat, so refuses it if offered. He is still pulling off good grades, and is a different person. My sons teacher has also noticed a marked improvement since we started him on the Essential 3,6,9 and his marks have all increased from high Bs and low As to As and A+...this alone has been a great indicator. She can actually tell when he has missed his vitamins...or if he has snuck some honey nut cheerios, which we ONLY allow the kids to have on the weekend. Another banned product in our house is margarine...we buy high quality butter only. All our bread comes from the German deli, or from a Trinidadian baker not far from where I work. No Wonder bread for us
Read the ingredients of everything for a real eye popping experience! Don't hesitate to ask more questions...I'll write when I can.
Good luck!
B
MaggieB
03-08-2002, 09:53 PM
Wow! How long have you been following that diet? Was it hard to get your kids to start eating healthy? I can't imagine getting my kids to eat "real" food. My ADHD kid eats cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Part of the problem I have is that he eats virtually nothing. It's very hard to find things that he finds appealing enough to eat. Some of the anorexia is from his pills and some of it is just the way he is. He would barely drink formula as a baby. Are these healthy foods really kid friendly? Also, I'm a working mom and we do eat out or order in alot. How do you manage to follow an eating plan when out in a restaurant? I would love to feed my kids better but I'm very intimidated. Thanks. Maggie
mlgable
03-09-2002, 01:50 AM
Eating out is far more expensive than eating at home and you know the food isn't all that healthy. I can understand a working mom as I work part time PM shift and my hubby full time plus hubby goes to night school right now too. I depend on my crock pot to put a hot healthy meal on the table each and every night of the week. Weekends we don't always do the full meal with meat,potatoes and veggie but it is still not take out food. I am going to do more looking to see what I can do to make better changes in my home diet wise. We have little candy here and no soda for the kids but we do use kool-aid/ drink boxes here and those will probably be phased out soon. Cookies are rare here as the only cookies the kids really enjoy eating are home made ones. We do eat a lot of pretzels and popcorn popped on the stove. We too use only butter here in this house. I started early when the kids were little since my husband didn't eat sweets and desserts etc I didn't buy them because if they were in the house I would have eaten them and I certainly didn't need them. Hence we eat fairly healthy here but certainly nothing like Bernathy's family which is why I asked for his suggestions. There are many excellant crock pot cookbooks out there so why not pick one up and start using it to get your family eating healthier.
mandy
03-11-2002, 10:28 AM
Our family eats very similiar to Babernethy. I am a working mom too but once you get into a routine it all falls into place. For example, I don't buy store bought cookies but will make my own cookies or unfrosted cupcakes/muffins; just cutting the suger in half--we find most recipes taste no different. For quick suppers I go to a natural food store and can get boxed mac and cheese (Annies brand) that is just like Kraft but without the orange food coloring or rice that is seasoned but organic. We also found organic tator tots call spud puppies--they taste no different. The cereals in the natural food store are something else that helps out on busy days and taste good too. I have a bread machine and run a couple of loaves through each week but we also have Montana Mills stores around and for a treat we get this bread which is all natural. In the natural food stores there are snack foods like potatoe chips, tortilla chips and even cheese doodles that are organic with no added colors or preservatives. Drinks are probably the hardest but my son handles milk really well and we drink unsweetened pineapple juice and Snapples for a treat on weekends (although high in sugar) aren't loaded with preservatives and colors. I feel bottom line is with just a few changes, you can find substitutes so your children don't feel like they are being cheated and in the process you switch to food that eliminate most of the junk that is being put in our foods. It's getting scary lately--they are even make food that changes colors -- that can't be good for us.
[This message has been edited by mandy (edited 03-11-2002).]
[This message has been edited by mandy (edited 03-11-2002).]
Babernethy
03-12-2002, 12:55 PM
Was it hard getting my kids to eat healthy??? Well, I'd be lying if I said totally NO.....but since they have been raised, I have always enforced the idea of good nutritious food. The only times we have problems are when the kids go to a friends house....and very occasionally (as I have spoken to the parents) are offered something they won't get at home. Most times the parents will call and ask me...some times the kids say, no thanks, I'm not supposed to eat that. Sometimes, they go ahead and gobble it down. I realize I can't be there all the time.....but if good nutrition is drilled into them they will understand it.
We do occasionally eat at restaurants...I have many allergies though, so we only go to select ones...Subway,
Motanas, Kelseys, Rainforest Cafe. I have to ask exactly what is in the food before I order every time(I am allergic to all pod veggies (beans), corn, onions, and especially HONEY)! I am also sensitive to artificial ingredients and MSG. I ensure that the kids don't get the stuff that I can't eat ( except the corn and beans) and they understand what it is all about.
Is it a bit more work? Yes, it is. The minor struggle is outweighed by the benfits though. We also save huge amounts of money by doing this...and I really don't miss the restaurants anyway. We had pretty much stopped going years ago, as I found they were just too smokey. Since '98 most restaurants near here have been smoke free. (they all are now since last summer) We do go more often, once a month or so, but still not as much as we could if we wanted to. My wife is German...a very good cook. Her food, and my BBQing are better than what we get in restaurants...so the only thing we would get from eating out is a bit of convenience.
Above was mentioned Mac and cheese...here is a great way to get excellent mac and cheese...inexpensive too.
Put 1 cup of milk into a pot and heat, add in a grated block of old cheddar, 2 tabs of butter, a pinch of pepper, a 1/4 cup of Heinze ketchup, and add corn starch to thicken. Boil water in another pot and add regular macaroni...when the 2 are combined, the best tasting mac and cheese you ever had. Time to make over Kraft ...about 10 mins. All natural, home made, great taste.
We NEVER eat the artificial stuff and ours tastes better by far. Crock pot recipes above is a good idea too.
If it is important to you, you will find the time. It is the most important time you can get as it is for the health of your kids. I recognized that from the start.
That is why we always find the time...and we are reaping the benefits too!
Good luck
B
We do occasionally eat at restaurants...I have many allergies though, so we only go to select ones...Subway,
Motanas, Kelseys, Rainforest Cafe. I have to ask exactly what is in the food before I order every time(I am allergic to all pod veggies (beans), corn, onions, and especially HONEY)! I am also sensitive to artificial ingredients and MSG. I ensure that the kids don't get the stuff that I can't eat ( except the corn and beans) and they understand what it is all about.
Is it a bit more work? Yes, it is. The minor struggle is outweighed by the benfits though. We also save huge amounts of money by doing this...and I really don't miss the restaurants anyway. We had pretty much stopped going years ago, as I found they were just too smokey. Since '98 most restaurants near here have been smoke free. (they all are now since last summer) We do go more often, once a month or so, but still not as much as we could if we wanted to. My wife is German...a very good cook. Her food, and my BBQing are better than what we get in restaurants...so the only thing we would get from eating out is a bit of convenience.
Above was mentioned Mac and cheese...here is a great way to get excellent mac and cheese...inexpensive too.
Put 1 cup of milk into a pot and heat, add in a grated block of old cheddar, 2 tabs of butter, a pinch of pepper, a 1/4 cup of Heinze ketchup, and add corn starch to thicken. Boil water in another pot and add regular macaroni...when the 2 are combined, the best tasting mac and cheese you ever had. Time to make over Kraft ...about 10 mins. All natural, home made, great taste.
We NEVER eat the artificial stuff and ours tastes better by far. Crock pot recipes above is a good idea too.
If it is important to you, you will find the time. It is the most important time you can get as it is for the health of your kids. I recognized that from the start.
That is why we always find the time...and we are reaping the benefits too!
Good luck
B
Jmr1969
04-06-2002, 02:22 AM
I am very interested in modifying my family's diet. I am currently being tested for ADD thru neuro-psych testing. I've been struggling all my life, but couldn't quite put a finger on my problems until my 2 sons came along (4 & 3YO). Both of them are currently in OT for SI disfunction and my oldest has auditory processing problems (so do I),is in speech therapy, and I'm almost positive he has ADD/ADDHD. They are both VERY active boys if not borderline aggressive but both can be extremely sweet and sensitive. The oldest one can't even make eye contact with you even when you hold his head still (I'm considering homeschooling him, everything distracts him and me for that matter). Both are very intelligent especially the youngest. My biggest problem with some of your diet suggestions is that. 1. I run a family daycare so I have to get even other kids to follow it. 2. My youngest son (he's the most aggresive one) is allergic to dairy products (not lactose intolerant and some others I don't think I've identified yet) and I have a hard enough time trying to keep those out of his diet (which has been impossible for me to do because he loves yogurt,ice cream,butter, and some cheeses: and I can't keep eveyone from eating dairy products. I would welcome ANY comments or suggestions anyone might have. Maybe even any books that are out there that might cover this. SORRY SO LONG
thanks for listening, Janice
[This message has been edited by Jmr1969 (edited 04-06-2002).]
thanks for listening, Janice
[This message has been edited by Jmr1969 (edited 04-06-2002).]