: OT-potyt training and adult ADHD(long)

[Guest guest]

Listmates -

I have a few questions and would like some advice on these issues if someone has some good advice.

I have a 3.10 yr old daughter, dx severly autistic. We have been chelating, gf/cf,enzymes, bio side of the disorder, ABA, and other traditional therapies.She is doing wonderfully, a huge change in the last year - no complaints here at progress. I do, however, have some real concerns with potty training. I know that there are many ASD children who aren't even close to potty training early on. She has gotten to a point that she will bring you a diaper when she's had a bm, but it's not very consistent at all. I have attempted time training with no luck, I made a schedule and notated when she was wet/dirty for 2 weeks to see if there was a patterning issue I could somehow work out, nothing - it varied so much it wasn't funny. She will sit on the potty, so she's not afraid of it, she has to be prompted several times about pulling up and down her pants, and has some degree of difficulty with this. I think some of it is related to diapers and training pants being so big and in the way. I'm pretty "anal" (for lack of a better word) and a little OCD myself - I cannot bring myself to allow her to wear panties and wet herself or let her pee on everything,I can't stand to smell it. I really don't feel that she's really "ready" yet, but I have a concern of her getting older and me possibly missing signs and her just being used to going in her diapers and that's what she's used to so it being a more difficult habit to break later. If someone could tell me anything in regard to this that will make me feel better, I'd appreciate it. I'd love for her to be trained, however, being delayed by almost 2 years, maybe she'll just do it when she's ready. I understand that there are some things you cannot teach, they will do it when they are ready - she's like this with anything (very stubborn - got a double whammy of it from both parents). OK - make me feel better - give out that really good free advice you guys do so well with.

Second, I have a younger sister, 29, dx ADHD, at age 7. Insurance cancelled when she turned 18 and they took her off of meds, she has been surviving (barely) on meaningless jobs and has to live with friends to have a home (no she won't live with me, doesn't want to burden us more).To date, hardly any money, mouth full of amalgams, etc. What we have finally been able to do was convince her that she does have issues. We are going to public health and they are able to give rx's for meds. They are working with her, when she gets the right meds, it is our hope that she will be able to get a decent job with insurance, get amalgams removed and begin to chelate and heal her body. In the meantime we have been trying different meds and I wanted to know if anyone on the list has had any luck with any meds for an ADHD adult. She tried Straterra - made her nautious and sick, now on Ritalin, unsure if that's going to do the trick. Any feedback is welcome. I'm fighting the system from both ends and would like some suggestions as to what would possibly work for her.

Thanks for any feedback.

Karyn