Tinsley House Support Thread

[IndigoBell]

An awful lot of us are now doing Tinsley House, either by going there, or by following the recommendations in The Brain Food Plan

So this is just a general support (and hopefully good news) thread.

Stage 1 of the TH therapy consists of:

1. Multivitamins

• Omega
• Zinc & Magnesium
• Multivitamin

1. Healthy eating diet

• High protein, low sugar, no artificial sweeteners, additives etc.

1. Specific exercises done 3 times a day

who I am likcy and that ds1 will take both that Robin recommends but I agree with indigo try something else...eyeQ might work? Robin was ok with that when I suggested it for ds1 (it has amazed me that he will take the vegepa and floradix!)

BF Just a thought....maybe if your dd is on the Th regime for a while the dietary changes will stop the migraines??

A few months ago I asked DD (aged 11) what music he liked. And he said "music has no value".

Today he came up to me and said "I know what music I like. I like Queen" :) :) :)

He's going to be absolutely fine by the time he starts secondary school in Sep :)

indigo The boy has taste Ds1's fave is "Dont stop me now". Ds2 favours lady Gaga.

Ds1 got mathematician of the week again yesterday at assembly

Its working guys.....its working

Keep the faith x

Hello all .... Just need a bit of advice. While doing the research, Zinc supplements appear to be common practice for ADHD kids. Can anyone advise me on a good product and safe dosage for 9 year old boy? Also looking for a really good omega supplement that isn't too fishy!! Many thanks

My 10yr old takes Vegepa omega supplement and has Osteocare for zinc and magnesium. He is able to swallow tablets which makes a huge difference.

Some others on this thread use the chewable Vegepa and liquid Osteocare. I thnk it can be disguised in other things e.g. Juice.

The boffins are still deciding how much zinc is the right amount for kids with ADHD.

The RDA is 15mg.

I think everyone on this thread is either using osteocare or floradix saludynam.

The floradix doesn't contain as much zinc as the RDA - but it does seem to be effective for ADHD

Ds1 has the floradix

DS did his exercises this morning almost perfectly (stairs) he did the 3 reps well a few weeks ago so has been on 5 reps for a while but very wobbly until today. It seemed to literally improve overnight. It got me wondering how you all noticed a difference in the ability to do the exercises and whether that coincided with a difference in any of the other symptoms?

jal Ds1 is now doing 5 reps backwards and, like your ds, he does seem to have improved overnight almost....we seemed "stuck" on 3 reps for a long time...

Ds1 was reading to FIL earlier and it was great He was reading some really hard text (about dinosaurs).

He got more team points today at the easter church service too. For singing!!!!!

This from a child who "hates singing"!!!

I met with the SENCO and a TA today and explained to them about the stairs exercise.

The intervention will run all next term. 9 or 10 Y5 kids, all with loads of problems. Stairs 3 times a day, for the whole term.

Fingers crossed. If it works it will be amazing.

If it doesn't work, we've lost nothing.

That will be so interesting Indigo. Let us know how it goes.

Ds definitely varies with the stairs but is on the backwards ones, doing 7 reps. His balance does seem to have improved when teeth cleaning though. He used to have to stop every few seconds.

He did a piece of homework last night and I thought that his writing looked a lot neater.

Just returned from neurologist this evening. He has been diagnosed with epilepsy, so will be interesting to see if that changes anything Robin suggests.

Does anyone else's dc have epilepsy?

Bec that's lovely

Indigo good luck, do the parents know about the intervention? Are they willing to do the fish oil too?

At this stage we're not telling parents/careers. That might change. And certainly we'll explain if they ask.

Most of these kids are on FSM and the parents would struggle to afford fish oil.

We're still deciding whether or not to use the pupil premium to buy them fish oils.

To me, the whole reason this pilot is exciting, is because it costs no money. And therefore can be done by any school.

We already know if they did the supplements and the diet as well as the stairs it would work. What nobody knows is if just the stairs is enough. Even Robins's not sure. Nobody has tried this before.

Obviously their progress won't be as good without the diet and supplements. But any improvements for these kids would be amazing. So far they've never made good progress.

Hi Everyone
Things going really great with DD the last 3 weeks no incidents in school and had a really positive annual review meeting of our statement yesterday now SS is totally off the cards and DD will be staying in MS WooHoo thrilled to bits.

However................
Today I received her hair analysis results from foresight Hair tested on March 16th we have been giving the floradix supplements etc since January. The results say DD is low in zinc her results 129.00 recommended value 175 also low in calcium her result 300 recommended value 380.Her magnesium level is 49.3 recommended level 38. So what should I do I cannot increase the floradix saludynam as don't want excessive magnesium levels. On the other hand her behaviour concentration etc is really much improved so should I just leave things????

Holy - you are seeing such good results with your DD, I honestly wouldn't change anything at the moment.

Indigo Thanks I dread to think what DD's levels would be like if I hadn't been giving her supplements etc but it definitely goes to show there could well be a link with zinc depletion and ADHD.

Holy I would leave it as Indigo says.

At the risk of outing myself completely (and sounding a bit jobsworthy!) I work in a medical laboratory (admittedly not a trace metals lab now) and unless you have had the trace metals confirmed by an accredited laboratory (with CPA) and also confirmed in blood I wouldn't go against the advice of TH. I've looked at the foresight website and under the section "quality of results" there is no mention of quality management, the stuff they buy in from an external source- it's highly unlikely this is from an accredited EQA scheme (unknown amounts of the metals in the sample and results are sent back and compared with other lab's results to ensure consensus) otherwise they would advertise that. Was this company recommended by your doctor or by Robin? Is there a reason why you haven't had a blood test for trace metals?

I know it seems at odds with the fact that this is a thread about alternative therapies for me to be wary but I am in lab quality management and accredited laboratories have to do so much to prove they get accurate results, it doesn't sound like this company are doing anywhere near enough.

Calcium and Magnesium would be best done using a blood test too, did they explain to you what the high magnesium might mean, is it a lot higher than they would expect or within their reference range ditto the low calcium? Those numbers don't bear any resemblance to blood concentrations so I can't work out anything for you but before you alter her diet or supplements based on these hair results I would get them confirmed by blood test from an accredited lab.

hcj thats so fantastic! You must be thrilled

I agree with indigo...its early early days wrt the supplementation you have implemented (which sounds like its bearing fruit already!) Give it more time - I am thinking another 3 months.

I honestly dont know which part of the programme is helping ds1 most...certainly the diet has helped his bowels! and he is taking the supplements no problem and he seems to be coping with the backwards stairs more easily now too. VT is going well and (I think) is making improvements in his vision.

All in all, very happy!

Just unpacking my shopping and thought I probably came across a bit heavy above Holy, I don't want you to think I'm critical of you getting the test done, just critical of the laboratory and I would confirm the results before changing anything as your DD is obviously doing so well

I've had a long day of lab quality hard to take that hat off sorry

Becarooo we have mush better bowels here too!

After looking so vital for a few weeks DS looks very "dry" again, I'm wondering if he has hayfever as I know mine has really ramped up in this gorgeous weather so I'm taking my pills already.

Does anyone else's DC take piriton or something else long term for hayfever? I have loads of piriton...or should I go to the GP?

Jalapeno thanks I actually got the foresight site from recommendations on this board and did not really research to be honest I was just hoping the results would come back saying everything with DD is fantastic am not going to pursue it any further as I am ecstatic at DD's progress and "if it ain't broke!" Lovely to catch up on everybody's progress it is quite unbelievable how well we are all doing! Thank Goodness for this board and TH I dread to think where we would be otherwise!
Oh and am with DD's bowels too!

Don't I would do anything I could too for my DC, it's only a problem if you act on the results which may potentially cause more harm than good iyswim. It may well be accurate and a good screening test but looking at the site I wouldn't bet on it.

Grrrrr Stupid Calamity what an eejit sending off £30 ah well will maybe not mention it to DH as he is already cross about my "omega supplement cupboard"

No no no don't go by what I say! Oops I'm in one of those stop digging scenarios...I meant it may well be a good screening test but go and get it confirmed by your GP. No eejit about it I would do anything like I said if I wanted an answer totally understand that.

Glad to hear it wasn't too expensive though, a blood test will cost you more than £30 privately for the above tests if your GP won't do it!

Yes, don't blame yourself for spending £30.

The point is not whether or not the results are accurate. The point is your DD is doing so well right now it makes sense not to change anything.

However if she wasn't, then these results would give you some more ideas for what to follow up.

I too did the foresight test and decided to ignore the results.