CoreBrain Training

Actually on the topic of Vitamin D I just learned that these days, with the development in scientific research and technology, performing a vitamin D test can be done yourself. It is not necessary to see a physician anymore to get this test done. There are blood test spot kits available and you can take help of these kits to do it all by yourself. The finger is punctured at a spot to retrieve a bit of blood on a different kind of paper called blotting paper. The result is not difficult to comprehend. I bought a home test kit and found I did have a minor deficiency.

Dear Dr. Parker, Our 5 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD a year ago. We were referred to a Pediatric Behavioral Specialist, and really loved her. He tried Focalin and Ritalin only to become so over-emotional I couldn't handle it. He was sad, angry and would meltdown over the smallest things. We then tried Tenex. We titrated from .5 mg at night to .5 mg in the morning and night and then added another .5 mg at noon. He was doing well in terms of his hyperactivity, but his ability to be attentive was still lacking. Recently it is as if the Tenex has stopped working. Our PBS has sent us back to his regular pediatrician. So, I called and he put him on Intuniv...which has lasted all of 1 day. He now wants us to go back to his previous dosage of Tenex, but to add 20 mg of Vyvanse. Does this seem like an appropriate dosage for a 5 year old? (he weighs 45 lbs) I'm really worried that he'll have the same reaction to the Vyvanse as he did to the other stimulants he tried. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Kristi

People with ADHD rejecting diagnosis as they deny other's opinion.. lol.. I like how you described it... "I am the boss, listen to me, don't argue back..." Just like people with compulsive hoarding behavior, they just don't realize they have some kind of mentally disorder, and that they need treatment urgently.

Thanks for your very quick reply! I have lots of questions about the diagnosis, but there's nothing that can fix that. I think I am actually much better on the meds (that is, when they're right- which has only been once for about 5 days) but like I said, the last few days I've been off. And I plan to stay off until I go back to my doctor. Don't know if that's wise or not. I definitely, right now, have the depression back - which didn't really start until yesterday. At least I see my therapist today... What I really want is for it all to go completely away without having to take any meds or do therapy or anything. Just lead a normal life, work hard, but a normal life. Can you give me some guidance as to what to tell my dr when I go back? Maybe some questions, that if I can answer them, I should tell him? I want my visit to be worthwhile and if I am going to continue with all this, I need to give him the right info --- but I don't know what that is.

Dr. Parker, I had posted something a few months ago (back in september, on the page about intuniv and metabolic issues), but forgot what email address I'd submitted here - so I don't know how to access it at all! Anyways, a couple of things I was thinking about. First, I find all of these links and information so interesting....I wish I had the time and ability to comprehend it all and make sense of it insofar as it is applicable to me. I've read your book and it was very helpful. I'm at a healthy weight, I generally eat balanced though not a lot, I don't eat processed foods for the most part, I exercise at least 3 times weekly, I drink lots of water, I do therapy, I enjoy my work and do things outside my work....but I also haven't had a "check-up" in however many years -- I have no clue what my cholesterol or blood sugar levels are. My heart rate is fine and my blood pressure is good. Secondly, and this is what I'd like your opinion on, I have a concern. Before I went to a psychiatrist, I certainly struggled a lot but managed to have some balance. Then I went and began this whole adhd medication journey thing. And this whole thing with me reading and learning as much as I possibly can so that it's easier, more predictable, and more likely that I'll accept it all. My concern is that before I'd always considered myself to be pretty healthy, but now I wonder every time I have any ailment if it's connected to something else. I don't think this is a result of the medication, but rather with my almost obsession of trying to understand and wrap my head around every possible detail. So now I'm basically anxious and worried that there's something wrong physically -- whether it's hypothyroidism, gluten sensitivity, some autoimmune disorder, etc.... And I don't know what to do because I've never felt that way before. But all this info makes me wonder and I can't stop myself from reading more and more -- but reading more doesn't help; it just makes it all worse! I also was very resistant, despite my knowledge and training, to the adhd diagnosis and medication in the beginning (4-5 months ago). I was also resistant to therapy when I started that (two years ago). But then I was ok with it and now I'm resisting the meds again. I haven't taken them at all for the last couple of days - not for any real reason other than that I just don't want to, even though they do help. Today was definitely regression to patterns almost a year ago - pre-meds and early therapy days. What do you think? In general? About my concern? Thank you for your input.