help needed for daughter -

[L]

Please, I'm looking for any suggestions to help my daughter. She is
diag ADHD. I would much rather find a way to cure her instead of
treating the symptoms with meds that add side effects and other
emotional issues. She has been off meds for the summer. School
started this week and I want desprately to find a homeopathic
treatment for her so I wont have to have her back on the meds.
I cant fly right now and I'm on several waiting lists for video/phone
consults. If anyone has any suggestions we'd be very gratefull.
We just moved from VA to upstate NY. my daughter was diagnosed ADHD
inattentive at age 4. She took ritalin for most of that time as well
as trying some other meds and natural methods. at 9 bipolar was added
as the primary and she started on modafil (sp?). Now at 11 she's in
middle school and the lack or executive functions are even more
problematic.

BTW there is good chance my husband and I are also ADHD. Pregnancy
was text book and she was delivered without an epidural (I did end up
getting pitocin however). She received all vaccinations.
When she is in my care (hard to control school and grandma's house) I
watch her diet. I try to keep out sweets, preservatives, processed
foods and dairy. She is pretty good about the diet when I'm around
but I'm not so sure what happens when I am not around as she does
crave milk and cheese.

In the last 2 years I made a huge discovery in my own health. I was
having digestive issues as well as sinus problems that were getting
to be unbearable. After a few years of Internet reading I solved my
problem.

After surgery and a small fortune in meds a homeopath solved the
problem with a tiny bottle he sent me to put a few drops under my
tongue. Unfortunately I just moved and have not been able to get in
contact with him again.
It appears to have been candida. I cleaned my diet from most sugar,
corn syrup, additives, dairy and processed food. Then I added some
anitfunguals & probiotics. I'm now working on MSG but it will take a
while for me to learn more on getting rid of these.
My questions...
Does anyone know of a connection between candida and ADHD. Should I
put her on the anti fungals (capric oil, GSE, psylumium (sp) and
bennonite)? Has any one tried this with any success?
Can any one suggest any homeopathic remedy, or someone that could
treat her? We are in upstate NY and I have 2 other children under 2
so It would have to be within driving distance or by phone.
a new school year is about to begin. While I would prefer to not to
use stimulants again, it's a hard decision to make when I have to
watch her struggle. She is very bright but can't keep track of
assignments or focus on long tasks. She can test out way ahead in
most subject but is more than a year below grade level in math.
I just came across a site and read about a case.
I changed it a bit below but it really describes my daughter...
she doesn't like to see people disagree.
she never saw or heard her parents argue.
parents are not together, the mother is rather casual about it.
The separation was a very simple process, before child was born.
The mother's husband is very nice to child but the biological father
has only made an appearance in the last 2 years. By any standard she
lives in a loving and providing environment.
child's not happy about her mother's ease with this issue. says "I
have a different name from my mother and siblings".
Later she expressed a great desire to please her mother. The mother
spends a good deal of time with her but she feels she is inattentive.
Tiffany's frame of mind revolves around the feeling of being like an
orphan.
I saw the following on a web site and it really describes her well...
Let's look at the four major groups.
The Support-Needy Ones
hypersensitive to environmental factors, does not make eye contact
when talking to people.
moody (anger and tears) and impressionable
lazy and apathetic, day dreamers
inconsistent thoughts, cannot materialize what he thinks
(theorizing), thoughts come too fast, they cannot stay put in one
channel
fictious thoughts, builds castles in the air
inability to concentrate, weakness of memory
slow learners, need to "mull" things over; it leads to being
perceived as "dumb", even by the child himself
passionate indulgence to achieve unnecessary objects with mental
restlessness
easily fatigued, mentally and physically with a desire to lie down
complain they want to do something but they don't know what
anxieties and phobias in children: fear of darkness, being alone,
animals, going to school, fear of failure in school, fear of being
laughed at
aversion to be in company of strangers, crowds; likes to be one-on-
one, being with his one "best" friend or would rather play by himself
chronic worriers: about leaving home, coming too late at school, not
performing well at school, about the welfare of their parents,
sensitive about horrible things they see on TV, in the street (they
are greatly disturbed by them)
lack of discipline, untidy appearance
very attached at the home, does not want to leave family to go to
summer camp; hangs on to the mother and looks for constant
reassurance;
when family splits (divorce), this child can feel lost and will join
a gang, "just to belong"; or he suddenly changes his behavior from
easy going to very volatile.
when sick, is very clingy, wants constant reassurance, wants to be
held or have mother at home
loves playing in nature, in the woods, camping on an island, loves
all kinds of animals and animals are often their only friends
cannot tolerate noise and crowded places
lots of imagination

likes to collect things: cards, memorabilia, "antiques," toys and
dislikes to getting rid of anything.
loves food in general, eats or snacks all the time; favorites are
rich, creamy foods, ice cream, milk although it often disagrees,
meat; chews on his pencil or finger nails
timidity: in conversations, at parties, at school: they don't like
the attention drawn to them, don't like to be looked at; avoid taking
initiative, are always followers, never a leader even to the point of
cowardice
Parents' marital status: mother remarried
Stepparents? step father
Parents age at birth: mother 25, father 21
Date of Birth: 12/25/95 Age:
11 Birth weight: 7.0 lbs
Height/Length: 20"birth 5'2"current Weight: 85
lbs % ile (if known)

1 What is the child's chief complaint (CC)?
lack of Executive functions, Attention problems

2 When did this problem begin?
first noticed at age 3 1/2

What happened in the child's life around that time?
biological father was not involved in her life. He made a brief
visit right before problems began

What do you think caused it?
I'm torn on this one....
could be related to emotional problems from missing biological
father. Ever since she was a toddler she wanted a relationship with
her dad like all the other kids. He's made very brief appearances
every few years. I believe she may have internalized his absence as
her fault.
She was a very well behaved pleasant toddler (even during the 2 year
old Independence stage). Learned to talk at 8 months, potty trained
at 18 months, learned to read at 3.
She had the initial meeting with her dad when she was 3 1/2 and she
took to him like he was there every day of her life. After 3 days he
was gone for the next 3 years. It was that very next week that
complaints began from preschool... day dreaming, decreased ability to
sustain attention/play. First problems with peer relations.
I'm not sure if vaccines could be a factor here. At the time she
received the vaccines I do not recall specific problems, but then
again I was not aware what to look for.

3 What aggravates the CC (certain types of foods or weather,
movement, light, noise, heat/cold, being at the seashore, or anything
else that you can think of)
anything that requires mental focus, attention, planning.
She does love to read. She will get distracted from any task she
should be doing and either go to something else or start reading a
book.

4 At what time of the day or night is the CC the worst?
Specify an hour if you can.
I pretty much have to monitor her at all times. She is not
destructive but just messy, leaves a trail where ever she goes. Can
not remember to do basic functions.

5 What symptoms can you identify that accompany the CC?
see description above

6 What was your predominant emotional state when pregnant
with this child?
I was happy about pregnancy but some fear and saddened by her
biological father not being involved.
7 During the pregnancy, did you suffer any particular shocks
or traumas or losses?
not that I can think of.
Biological father's family was against pregnancy/birth

8 Did you take any drugs?
none

9 How did your food cravings and aversions change during
pregnancy?
nothing in particular, just more frequent meals.

10 Were there any particular complications at birth?
text book birth. No epidural but I did receive pitocin to induce
contractions

11 At what age did the child reach these stages:
weaning 11 months
closing of fontanels ?
first milk teeth 6 months
talking first words 8
months
toilet training 18 months
first permanent teeth 5?
crawling 6 months?
walking 10 months?
12 How did the child react to these situations? Please try to
think of mental and emotional reactions as well as any physical
symptoms that may have developed.
vaccinations : dont remember any problems?
birth of younger sibling :first sibling 2 years ago. She was
about another child before the birth. Now she adores both of her
baby sisters

starting daycare regularly: no problems that I can remember
first day at school: she was in the same private preschool from 18
months to 3rd grade.
spending the night with a friend : she's only stayed with family.
Maybe a birthday party sleep over twice.
traveling with the family ok
going away to camp etc. without the family ok
13 How many rounds of antibiotics has the child had, and for
what?
multiple ear infections

14 Any skin conditions treated with cortisone cream?
no?

15 Did the child suffer from a childhood disease with very
severe symptoms? (measles, chickenpox, German measles, croup, mumps,
etc.)
no

16 When ill or upset, does the child tend to cling to you or
want to be left alone?
clingy most of her life up to age 10

17 What is the child's behavior in playing with other
children? Does it make a difference if the other kids are older or
younger?
she's very sensitive. She treats other children well but can be
upset/hurt emotionally very easy.
She tends to prefer younger children but more recently has a
preference for older children. She is somewhat immature emotionally
but academically/verbally advanced.

18 What feedback do you get from your child's teachers about
behavior in class?
can not complete tasks or assignments
looses items necessary for classes
does not seem to pay attention
needs constant redirection
very sensitive to criticism
low self esteem

19 What pets do you have, and what is your child's attitude
towards them?
She loves ALL animals. no pets in our home but at grandparents house
( parrots, dog, rabbit, fish). She's wanted to be a veterinarian
since she was 3!

20 a) What types of food does your child crave? Please
be as specific as possible and list as many as you can.
cheese, diary, milk, pizza,
likes peanut butter
bread/starches
fruit
wanted to be a vegetarian several times
would eat just fruit, veg or bread for meals if it were up to her
b) What types of food does she/he refuse to eat?
none that I can think of

c) What types of food does your child react badly to, whether
physically (bloating, diarrhea, etc.) or behaviorally, and what are
the reactions?
cheese, dairy causes severe bad breath. I'm not sure if it's
yeast/candida but the odor is very distinct.

21 Any fears that are unusual for a child of your child's age
(of the dark, being alone, lightning, thunder, etc.)
fear of being alone/unwanted, needs reassurance, fear of being
different

Are there nightmares? at times but not very regular
22 Is the child chilly? Is there excessive perspiration on the
head and/ or feet?
no?

23 Is the child very affectionate when not sick?
very affection up to last year.

24 Is the child unusually sympathetic (showing concern for the
suffering of other children, animals, etc.)?
VERY

25 Does the child like music? What kind? Like dancing? Do
symptoms (like restlessness) improve with music?
yes. I played classical music in the background when she was growing
up. Not entirely sure if it improves her symptoms though.
In the last year she's taken an interest in pop music
I don't see her dance

26 Is the child obstinate? How is this expressed?

yes. Once she has an opinion or fear it can not be rationally
explained to her

27 Is the child fastidious?
not generally but now that is getting into the preteen years it's
becoming apparent in the last year or so.

28 Is the child sensitive to criticism and reprimand?
VERY! She internalizes and has low self esteem.

29 Can you think of any unusual or distinctive things about
your child's behavior; i.e., fears, fantasies, desires, attachments,
preferences in clothing, etc.?
?
see description above

30 Give a timeline for the child with all possible traumas,
diseases, important events, deaths in the family. Please include the
ages for each event. Describe the reaction of your child towards
these events.
Emotional break down when she was 7. Felt alone sad and isolated.
Wanted her biological father who was emotionally and physically
unavailable. Would actually seek attention/bond from male friends of
her mine. I had /have to be very careful because she is so vuernable
She was actually out of school for 7 months. She was crying
uncontrollably and often had to be picked up from school during the
day. She went to stay with her grand parents who are retired. She
returned to school the following year going into the next grade.
She's very bright so there was no need for her to repeat the grade.
She just doesn't seem to get written work done.