Diane is an adult ADHD person who works  and is also studying for a degree. Late in 1999 she decided to give supplements a trial. These are her emails to us up until late February 2000 and through them you will read what she tried,what happening, what got in the way, and where she is now.This account may give you some solutions too, and some precautions to think about.

Entry 1
I've started on pycnogenol today.  I'm taking a half dose for the first few days to try and bypass severe detox symptoms of which my research made me aware.  I'm going to do this for a while before starting Optimum Omega and Lifepak, just so I can see what results it has by itself....or at least how my body responds.  Interesting so far, 3 hours after today's dose, I was aware of detox symptoms....at first some general swelling feeling, flulike
symptoms and frequent elimination of fluids.  It has been building over the last few hours.  Right now, the fragrance of the perfume I applied this morning has become so strong, I can hardly stand it....odd.

Anyway, I hadn't intended to give you a blow by blow, but will let you know the highlights over the next few days.  The claims have been pretty amazing....hard to believe....so I'm putting this compound to the test on myself to see what happens in my case. I'm going to journal (one of those compulsory things psych research students do) my experiences and results and will let you knowwhat happens.

The first day, I noticed a keen-ness in vision.  I was able to read magazine articles without my reading glasses, a first in about 5 years.  I can still do that if I'm not tired; but when I am, still need those readers.  The last
couple of days, I've noticed a slight increase in ability to concentrate, and to retain more of what I've studied.  I seem also, to be slightly less "hyper" ---- that was fast becoming a serious problem for me.  I've been
unable to sit still for long periods of time.

I have to get myself to work and then to class this morning

Entry 3

It goes well.  Ability to concentrate, etc. is up considerably.  I'm hopeful about successfully avoiding the ritalin route.

I just returned from a trip to Washington---  business and personal combined. I think it was a very successful trip.  There was so much going on, and not much of it was sleep, though my friends tried hard to make opportunities for me to sleep.  I don't seem to need quite as much sleep at this point, and can
keep going, pretty high energy, even when I'm not getting much sleep.  This is more that is different since starting the "aniti's" as I have fondly named them.

Entry 5

I think the pycnogenol information will be valuable and some will benefit rom it.  The benefits will be substantial, but it sounds as though other options may be faster.  The person who wrote about Stabilium sounded as
though he had immediate results, similar to what people have with Ritalin in the amount of time, and that is most appealing to me.

People around me tell me there have been notable results.  I see some, especially when I foget to take the pycnogenols for a few days (it's an ADHD thing, as you know), but am a bit frustrated at the amount of time it takes to build in the system.  I'm facing a lot of stress at school....taking 19 hours and working part time,
and the quick result is tempting me to go to Ritalin again until this program of pycnogenols and Omega-3's has time to establish itself.  Maybe I'm just a tough nut to crack!

I can see some improvement in the ability to concentrate and focus on tasks, but it could be substantially more.  It is nowhere near the result I had from Ritalin at this point in the game.  I wonder what other actors are coming into play here.......I often don't eat the kind of balanced diet I should be eating, frequently go with very little sleep for long periods of time, and this entire semester have rarely exercized except or the several miles I walk on campus each day.  I'm sure those things affect whatever program I'm on, and I'm equally certain that once a program's well established, I will be able to better manage the time to work those things in better than I am now.  It's really hard to judge how this is going based on so many confounding factors.  I'm not sure how useful that is for your readers.

I'm taking pycnogenols, Omega-3's and Evening Primrose.  I don't notice much difference if I don't get the Omega-3's and Evening Primrose down for a couple of days, but really notice a difference if I forget the pycnogenols.  My big problem with them is not whether or not they are good, that seems to be the case with pycnogenols, but they are not quick to effect change in the system.....not for ADHD symptoms.  I did have
the immediate response to vision that I'd mentioned before.  I'm happy to try Lifepak to see if it's faster......especially if people are having faster results with it than with the stabilium.

Does it seem to you that the world is going at a faster and faster pace?  I raised three children and various
other "drop-ins" over the years.  I don't remember being this busy when I had four teenagers and a job.....

Entry 7

I had to make an emergency trip to Student Health for an out of control migraine and was knocked out for a couple of days.  Yuck.  Now I will be running to try to catch up (missed three exams while I was out and have another comingup this week....yikes!) for the next two weeks

I have learned something new about Ritalin that I hadn't noticed before which may also speak to value of the supplements.  It is really important to watch diet when on Ritalin.Too much sugar, soft drinks, too little protein, all can tip the balance with Ritalin dosages.  I've not gathered any scientific data of course, but this
might suggest that staying with supplements to help maintain nutritional balance could be useful.  This is only an observation, not a professional suggestion, but it's worth further investigation I think.

School is crazier this semester with 3 hours fewer than it was last semester. I suppose because I'm taking all upper-level classes, but it is more work than I imagined it would be.  I thought I was slowing down a bit!  Life is
very hectic right now

Diane

Diane talks about the need to be organised,and  how hard it is as an ADHD adult to do that.This book addresses exactly that problem. Women With Attention Deficit Disorder : Embracing Disorganization at Home  and in the Workplace  Several reviewers are ecstatic about this book, One health professional says,"Thank you Sari Solden for writing this book. I recommend it to all my women clients and parents of girls who come to me for diagnosis and treatment of their A.D.D. Besides having all the basic information for people learning about A.D.D., it deals with the often unmentioned emotional effects this disorder can have on girls and women. It provides sound suggestions for growth and change to  improve the lives and relationships of women.

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