I am the single mum of a 9yo girl. My girl has always been "wiggly". She never walks anywhere but skips, jumps, walks on toes, runs and any other form of movement. She never finishes anything and takes at least 2-3 hours to go to sleep. She really could talk in wet cement! She is also sensitive, caring, loving, happy, friendly. At school she has gotten into trouble because she has trouble concentrating and sitting still. Her home room teacher for terms 1 & 2 bullied her because she said my girl is naughty and just needs to sit still. Over the years I've joked that she had adhd but all I had ever seen about it was on current affair shows where boys are attacking people and smashing things up and generally being violent.
I was concerned about how much of a bully this teacher was and how it was affecting my daughter as from almost day 1 term 1 she has been sucking her lips raw. I have spoken to the school and other teachers and decided to go to see a gp for help as they wouldn't admit that my girl wasn't a problem but that she needed assessment.
The gp was wonderful and told my girl how she also can't sit still! She got us appointments for a child psychologist and a referral for the paediatric dept at our hospital. The paediatrician prescribed melatonin for sleep and it has been so wonderful. She now takes the tablet an hour before bed and 10 mins in bed she's asleep!!!! After weeks of appointments and sessions yesterday at her paediatric appt the doc confirmed she is adhd. Finally something can be done to help her become the best she can be. It's not going to be an immediate solution but we can work together and get the best possible solution.
For parents of girls who are like my girl but not sure what to do because they don't fit the "typical" adhd mold go to the doctor and ask for help. Get it while they're still young and haven't become disgruntled and have given up.
Finally the light at the end of the tunnel
Finally the light at the end of the tunnel
Posted in:
Parenthood Guilt, Education, Behaviour, Kids
3 Replies
Exactly, and don't feel guilty for medicating a medical condition. It is a medical condition and you can't punish the condition out if the child. And although some kids do seem to improve with dietary changes, mostly the evidence on diet is pretty poor.
My daughter doesnt fit the mould either.
They are just now starting assessments for it...but they have been trying to figure out what is going on for 10 years already....apparently those who have this type often slip between the cracks....
Another give away is that they lose stuff.....not just absent minded but I mean costing you hundreds and thousands of dollars regularly losing stuff....her myki has to be replaced about every month....
Have you heard of Pyroluria? Have a read about it and find a good biomedical practitioner (A GP who has training in nutritional medicine) or naturopath who can test for it. My son has ADHD, was subsequently diagnosed with Pyroluria and since supplementing vitamin b6 and Zn, his symptoms have abated, he is now able to concentrate and is a completely different child.
Here is a link - there is lots of info on the internet about it. Traditionally trained GP's don't know about it and thus won't test for it. They are more interested in treating the symptoms with medication than treating the cause.
http://www.adhd-support.org.uk/pyroluria.htm