DEar folks,

About all this ritalin stuff with the mom, if she is a stay at home mother
why the meds. If she works maybe only for a work time then no other.  Withh
ADD staying on task is a problem expecially for long concentrated work. As
with children motherhood at home is from one task to another quickly.
Sometimes we stop mid ways to do something more important. The only thing
with the kids however is they tend to dagerous stuff without thinking of the
consequences.

As a woman with 5 count them 5 in the house with the disorder check some
genetic history as well.  yes all have been diagnosed with some level of
severity. 4 of the five have dyslexia as well. Yes two different disorders
but lots of times in combination. The kids were tested At Bowman Grey
Hospital in Winston Salem NC. My husband was tested by Mrs Orton herself,
way back in the 60's.  Here my husband and i fought long and hard about
medications for our children. Yes, all were breastfed, including hubby for
about 9 months. Children from oldest to least- 10 months , 2 years, 3.5
years and 4.2 years.  The split in children is even 2 eldest boys, 2
youngest girls. we as a family have becone permanant research subjects along
with many others to help with these weitrd combinations of gifts/ disorders.

Husbands reation to medication - allergic reaction- period. no more
and his feeling no more for the kids period. Well he was taugh  a bunch of
coping methods all of which have helped. Still can't quite finish something
unless he is at work. Takes a while at home. he hs tried to pass them on to
the kids. The boys and last girl are not on medication, buy ritalin has made
all the difference for the eldest dayghter now 8 years old. I was fit to be
tied. My oldest son is having some success with ginko and SJW combination,
but i still think he could benefit some from the meds. But in a few weeks he
will be 18 and can make up his own mind. The two youngest seem to have
faired better, because we got very early help with speech therapy and
remediation.
The second son though has add without the hyperactivity.

By the way ritalin and adderall is expensive in US even with insurance
covering part. Maybe not in other socialized medicine countries. My daughter
has shown no side effects as of yet and actually has grown better, and
better appetite than without. But we  do not give her the stuff on weekends
and holidays- on a rare occasion i have to see formyself how it is working.
School is still tough for the elders in the family. Stephen, the hubby has a
steady job and has had the sme one for years now. (of course since they keep
him locked up from 7 until three doesnot hurt) He is the maintainence man
for the local prison unit. He seems to be pretty level without the meds.

if mom decides to use it - watch the mom and babe closely. see if a nearby
teaching institution will get levels in her milk and the reactons of the
babe so we will have more in writing. this is just personal experience.

Thak you docs for agreeing that this medication is sometimes overprescribed
and a crutch for not dealing with the problem first hand.

Mechell Turner- who some days are a mad house with this bunch.




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Date: Friday, December 18, 1998 12:03 AM
Subject: LACTNET Digest - 17 Dec 1998