Hi, New to Foyer

[Noah]

Well, Unfortunately we've all joined this party for the same reason, just with different twists to the story. Just a little history about me. I am a single mom of three. My youngest, Noah, age 7, has epilepsy. Or atleast thats what what Ive come to call it. No etiology of course. Since age 11 mths, Noah had been plegded with this disorder on a regular basis with vengence. After a no win fight against this disease, my marriage fell apart because of constant stress and helplessness to beat it. In my efforts to control the situation, I completed my RN degree this December, thinking somehow it would make me alittle bit smarter than my opponent. Wrong. Well, last year during my clinicals rotations, my Noah stopped breathing after a seizure, ended up on a vent, his vocal cards had been damaged during intubation, and ended up with a trach. To get up to date on this story, Noah was placed back on Keppra with good results. Only one seizure this year, my divorce is final and I graduated. Now Im just fighting with the ex to maintain custody of the three children, since in his interupation of the situation, I abandoned the family. This is not the case and quite a lenghy story. Maybe a different time Ill explain it if someone is interested. Anyways, as most people are probably aware, eplipsey and adhd are friends. Noah, is developmentally four at his birth age of 7. His behavior is completely out of control and very difficult to manage. I dont favor using stimulents as a way to deal with his behavior. On a small trail with adderal, his seizures appeared to increase. Or at least it was difficult to determine which side effect I was dealing with. My newest venture is diet elimination. Any success stories would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jen (Noah's mom)

[RobinN]

Hi Jen - Welcome to CWE from another mom.

Diet has had some great results.
It certainly has helped my daughter with seizure control.
Here are some sites that I have found to be helpful.

www.stankurtz.com
www.pecanbread.com
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/
www.danasview.net

Plus closer to home:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/...ive-treatments

and one of the most important therapies for behavior and ADHD:
http://www.eeginfo.com/research/adhd_main.html

[Bernard]

Hi Jen, welcome to the forum.

There are a lot of old timers here. Hopefully we can offer you and Noah some new tools/directions in your journey if not a place to just talk to people who understand.

[josieb]

Hi Jen - Just wanted to welcome you and wish you and Noah good luck with everything. You'll find that this group has a lot of great members.

[Meetz1064]

You've found a great home here.

Robin is quite the wealth of information when it comes to nutrition, and her work with her daughter should prove helpful to you, too.

Feel free to hang around, vent, ask questions, whatever you need. I'm sure Buckeye will be by soon with some coffee. I need some myself, but I need to go to the store.......

Welcome!

[BuckeyeFan]

Hi Jen - welcome to our house.

When the kids allow it, put your feet up and I'll get you a cup of coffee.

Hope you find what you want here. Lots of great info, but plenty of support and relaxation as well.

[skillefer]

Hi Jen! Welcome to CWE. Robbinn is a goldmine of information in regards to vitamin supplements and diet. As for the ADHD....I understand. I'm a special ed. teacher, and work with special needs kids everyday. I was wondering.....since you don't want to put Noah on pharmaceutical stimulants....have you tried seeing if coffee helps him focus? I've had other parents that tried giving their kids a cup of regular coffee, no sugar, and it helped their kids to focus enough that the parents and teachers agreed that meds weren't necessary. Just a thought.

[Loudmouth]

My brother is a 17 yr old unmedicated ADHD suffereer my mum tryed him on ritalin he was awful side effects she took him off it. she gives him a can of red bull.she did this every mornign and he staretd attdendin ull time school when he was 10. he sat his gcses and he got 5 A*'s and 6 A's and 2 B's. Red bull is very good for that ot work really well for him hes doing his a levels now just been acepted into unioversity he was expelled from prescool at 3 for throwign a table at the teahcer.he was not at school at all cos he kept geting kicked out cos they couldnt deal with his behavoir when he was 5 and 6 and 7 then he was half days till he was 10 when my mum started giving him the red bull.just one in the morgnin before school and one after scholl at homework time.

[RobinN]

Many kids with ADHD and ASD do well with stimulants. Something about the frontal lobe being slower than "normal". Not sure I would go this route, but it seems to be a better alternative than what conventional medicine has come up with.

I highly suggest neurofeedback for kids in this situation. There is a great video about a child that has been helped here:

[Noah]

Hey,

Just wanted to say thanks for all the replys, Not too chatty right now just cause I just got done working 12hours at the hospital and my children are bouncing off the walls right now. Ive got to do this tomorrow so when I get a chance to sit down and vegatate in front of this computer I'll be alittle better company. With my coffee.

I'll try to catch one of our psychologists on the floor tomorrow and see if their familiar with neurofeedback. I'll let you know tomorrow. As for Noah, he starts a new daycenter tomorrow where I work at, so I'll try the coffee in the morning when I drink mine. Thanks Jen

[skillefer]

Just remember....no sugar in his....if you need to sweeten it, try stevia.

[BuckeyeFan]

Jen,

Stay positive about Noah's future. My granddaughter has a form of autism. However, with much work has went from a toddler screaming, unable to talk, and banging her head on the floor to a little Miss Socialite heading into the third grade. She still has a way to go catch up developmentally, but she is making huge steps all the time.

Just keep fighting for Noah!

[Loudmouth]

for my absolutely atrocious spelling and grammar the other day...I was having trouble with my medication (topamax) and seem to be getting on top of it now my dose has been lowered. I would like to say a PROPER HELLO!!! to you, and hope you are getting the support you need here.

[seizures4ever]

Welcome to the forums. I'm new here as well although I feel like I've been here much longer than a week! You will find so many great, supportive people here. Take care Jen and Noah -Julie

[morgan381]

Julie
Welcome to CWE! I'm sure you'll find lots of helpful info here.

Just curious, how did the coffee trick work? My mother-in-law always said it helped my hubby and his 3 brothers to be calmer and more focused. I always wondered about it. I guess it makes sense, though...caffine, like adderal, concerta, ritalin, etc are all stimulants.

[ashmstng]

Hello Jen (Noah's Mom),
Welcome to CWE. I hope you find all of the information you need on this board. Make yourself at home and enjoy. You will meet alot of wonderful people. Take care