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SN children

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Original poster

Omega 3 help needed

14 replies

sapphire · 02/09/2004 21:20

Feeling pretty desperate tonight so excuse me if I ramble ...

Has anyone got any tips on how to get a defiant ADD child to take Omega 3 fish oil? I tried Efalex but DS wouldn't have it, then got a Boots strawberry one which I've been sneaking in his bedtime strawberry milk drink for the last four weeks. Now he's decided he doesn't like the drink any more, so i tried sneaking it in other things and eventually just asked him to have it but he's refused and now hasn't had any for a week.

DS is nearly 7 and has just been diagnosed as Attention Deficit Spectrum with some autistic traits, possible Aspergers, oppositional defiant disorder and some coordination problems. Paediatrician recommended we try Omega 3 for six months before he considers anything else - I'd noticed a change while he was having it, but a week without and the old "Nasty DS" is coming back again.

He was excluded from school at the end of summer term, before the diagnosis was made, for repeated violent behaviour towards his teacher. All sorts of wrangles going on there. He's currently without a school and might not get admitted to the Behaviour Support Unit for two months. We're planning on moving at Xmas and he was going to go to a tiny village school where he'd get loads of attention but I've just found out today that his exclusion is going to make that difficult for various reasons.

I'm meant to be starting the third year of my degree course next week, and am doing my dissertation, moving house and getting married within the next year. it's all suddenly got too much for me. :(

Any advice/support much appreciated.

OP posts:

misdee · 02/09/2004 21:25

no idea how to get him to take it. i have been giving eye-q to my girls, but have run out and havent had a chance to get any more. they have only been on it a month but the change in them (especially dd2) whilst on it was great. dd2 is concentrating more, not as rowdy etc. the last few days she has been acting all weird again. must get some more oils tomorrow.

Original poster

sapphire · 02/09/2004 21:30

Are they happy to take it? Does it taste okay? I tried the Efalex but knew that with that oily texture DS wouldn't touch it. He's so defiant anyway, I need to find a way to let him think he'll benefit from it without telling him there's anything wrong with him.

OP posts:

WedgiesMum · 02/09/2004 21:33

Have you tried the Haliborange one?? It's quite sweet and very orangey - that might work. Would DS take a tablet at all?? You can get the supplements in tablet form too from your health food shop - and I've noticed that Tescos are doing one in their own brand too.

geekgrrl · 02/09/2004 21:34

my children like haliborange multivitamin & dha. it's orange flavoured. maybe you could sell it to your ds from the vitamin angle? you could start taking a daily multivitamin too and (hopefully) convince him that it's a health thing, rather something to do with his behaviour

misdee · 02/09/2004 21:35

i sneak it intpo their morning drink (got the vanilla one) so dd2 doesnt notice, but dd1 is harder to get to take it.

coppertop · 02/09/2004 21:35

Hi Sapphire. I've just replied on the other thread.

roisin · 02/09/2004 21:37

We taught the kids to take capsules by cutting up Haribo-type jelly sweeties, and practising. (This tip was found on mumsnet, of course!)

It took them about 3 minutes to get the knack when they were aged 4 and 6. Now they take huge ones (1000 mg) daily no problems.

Original poster

sapphire · 02/09/2004 21:53

DS isn't overkeen on orange but I might get some and try the vitamins angle ... especially if his DD and I take them too. Fingers crossed!

OP posts:

Saker · 02/09/2004 22:07

I don't think the Haliboorange one has the recommended dosage of EPA vs DHA. I think you should have a higher dosage of EPA than DHA ideally but this is the other way round, but I guess it would be better than nothing.

We use Eskimo oil from here but I don't think it tastes any better than the others although it is more concentrated so you only have to take one spoon unlike EyeQ which needs three.

Chocol8 · 02/09/2004 22:36

The difference when they stop taking it is really amazing isn't it?
My ds (ADHD/AS) takes 4 (2 in am/2 in eve) capsules of EyeQ a day or else I get the "nasty ds" back again...very scarey...very violent.

Goodness, you already have enough on your plate without this as well. I am very lucky that my ds actually gives me the container of EyeQ as I told him that it will make him big and strong (unlike his father!!!), and make him grow big muscles.

My ds is also on Ritalin but it is only this that has stopped him from being excluded from school for repeated violence toward his teacher like your ds.

Could you possibly make a game of syringing it with a mouthful of drink? My ds hates taking his Melatonin (3 tabs) so now he finds it easier to take a big mouthful of drink and I pop in the tablet through his pursed lips and he swallows his mouthful, taking the tablet with it. Of course, he gets stroppy after the 2nd one cos there's still one more to go and he's had enough, but it eventually goes down after some general wingeing.

No help as such, just know what you mean. I really wish you luck in getting some into him. x

Jimjams · 02/09/2004 22:47

I have problems with ds1 sometimes (autistic) I bury it in bread and smear the top with jam. BTW Efalex is foul!

Would he take capsules - they are easier if he can. Alternatively if you buy capsules and cut them open you have less oil to get into him. EyeQ (which can have a funny effect on some children- sends them hyper) do these strange microcapsules.

of the worst comes to the worst you could massage flax oil or hemp oil into his skin (if he'll let you). Quite a lot can be absorbed that way.

heartinthecountry · 02/09/2004 23:29

I give eskimo oil to dd - it is lemon flavoured but very oily - I hide it in her juice. I think you can also get eskimo oil capsules which might be easier? AFAIK all the different oils have diff concentrations of DHA, Omega 3, EPA plus other things so it is definitely worth looking closely at the contents.

jmb1964 · 02/09/2004 23:53

Sapphire, our ds1 (7 on Sat) takes two huge capsules of omega stuff, a smaller one of evening primrose oil and a large chalky magnesium tablet every day, often all in go! He saw it as a challenge from the beginning, about 2yrs ago, when I said 'I bet you'll never be able to swallow these'! He has Aspergers, and I think they have helped - certainly wouldn't dare stop the fish oils now! We get them here
Are you called Sapphire BTW? We know someone who is..
Sounds as if you have a lot on your hands - good luck!

Tartegnin · 03/09/2004 16:05

our dd (aged 5) takes two tablets a day of Eye Q tablets, which are in a gel capsule (so a little slippery). We also "dared" her to try, and she swallows them no problem. We call them jellybeans (which she also swallows whole...) Our back up plan if she couldn't or wouldn't take the capsules was to squeeze them into her pasta sauce, which we sometimes puree with tuna, so is quite strong in any event. I don't know if it's coincidence in timing or a direct result, but she's really improved her speech and attention since starting the Eye Q (four tablets to begin). Good luck.

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