ADHD confirmed....

[smiley]

Hi all,

 

I knew it was coming - but he's still my babby

 

Had the appointment with consultant today - ADHD has been confirmed (so that's AS, ADHD, dyspraxia, SID, OCD - and a 'maybe' on tourettes).

 

Sledge hammer to the tummy moment - i burst into tears

 

She (Dr) wants to trial Ritalin - 10mg after breakfast and 5mg after lunch, school days only..... I don't know what to do..

 

[Clare63]

Oh Smiley, I am so sorry to hear your news as you say another blow.

<'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'>

Clare x

[Guest Lya of the Nox]

keep remindin u self that he is still u son who u adore

and be nice to self, and give u self time, one to get used to this and then concider the meds,

 

and shout me if u needs me

xxx

<'> <'> <'>

[madme]

My son has a dx of adhd AS, dyspraxia and Dyscalculia. He takes ritalin. His Iq score was much higher - v high- after he had been on ritalin which helped us accept the decision to medicate. Be warned that in some children the AS becomes more noticeable once they have meds. He is still the same child. I have learned to love my sons adhd which now as he hits his teens gives him such vibrance. Life is never quiet but it would be boring if he wasnt. I would add that I didnt feel like this when he was 6! Good luck

[jools]

<'> <'> <'>

 

G has dyspraxia, asd and add traits.

i burst into tears when ritalin was first mentioned and it took us 10 months to finally decide to give it a go. even then i was convinced it wouldn't and was only doing it so i could say 'we've tried it and it doesn't help him so stop asking us!'

8 months later, he's still on it and it the best thing we have ever done for him.

he is a very different child.

sometimes i think his asd does show more but maybe thats because he's calmer in other ways?

 

 

take things easy and don't be pushed into making any decisions until you are ready <'>

[sandyn]

Hi, I was exactly the same when R was dx with ADHD (he has dyspraxia and HFA). He is on Equasym XL which is like ritalin, but slow releasing. I wasn't 100% convinced I was doing the right thing, but since he's been on it he is a different boy. Take your time in your decision. Read up as much as you can about it (and try and ignore the scare mongering) and talk to as many people who have children on medication. 2 really good websites are :

WWW.ADDISS.CO.UK and WWW.ADDERS.ORG, the latter has a ADHD specialist which will answer any questions you may have.

 

Good luck

 

Sandra xx

[Bambi]

Awww hun <'> >< <'> >< <'>

 

Sorry no advice on ADHD a friend of mine tho has a 8 yr old with ADHD and he is on the lowest amount they can have at breakfast and after lunch, i definately see a difference and when its early evening thats when u can tell he has ADHD coz the meds are wearing off. He also has it at weekends but i suppose u could give it a go to see how he gets on, is he on any other meds?

 

Bambi x

[elun1]

<'> <'> Sorry to hear your news - even when we know things are the case it's still a shock to hear them out loud

Elun xxx

[baddad]

<'> <'>

 

Always a shock when you go from 'knowing' to knowing...

Give yourself time to get your head around it, but as you say he's just the same ol' M he's always been...

L&P

BD <'>

[BusyLizzie100]

Smiley, lots of <'> <'> <'> <'> to you and yours.

 

Lizzie x

[smiley]

I'm so lucky to have you lot - Thank you <'>

 

I'm swinging from to a stroppy 'Why him!', to a pathetic 'Why me?'.

 

Then i start to beat myself because he was prem............ What ifs... what ifs.. what ifs..........

 

Ho hum....... I'll be bouncin' around again in a couple of days....

 

<'>

[David Matthew Baker]

I know a few of the children at the special school were on Ritalin. It did make quite a difference for them too. One was started on it during my time there and after some work to find the correct dose (it can make things worse in the short term from what I saw) it calmed him down significantly. One of the students I got on particularly well with was also on it. He was on it from before I got there but on a couple of occasions his lunch time dose was forgotten. Again it made a lot of difference. He went very hyper and seemed to find it even harder to control his temper. That said if it was my child (which as I'm not married nor with a partner isn't going to happen for a while yet - want to be settled work wise before I look at relationships) I expect I would want to check other possible solutions first before using drugs.

 

Hope you feel better about this soon. All the best, David. <'> <'> <'>

Edited April 18, 2007 by David Matthew Baker

[BusyLizzie100]

I'm so lucky to have you lot - Thank you <'>

 

I'm swinging from to a stroppy 'Why him!', to a pathetic 'Why me?'.

 

Then i start to beat myself because he was prem............ What ifs... what ifs.. what ifs..........

 

Ho hum....... I'll be bouncin' around again in a couple of days....

 

<'>

 

Oh Smiley, don't beat yourself up! It's not your fault. I know it's easy to say. I go through periods of feeling the same myself - did I do something wrong, am I neurotic, why does everyone else seem to cope... these are impossible questions to ask.

 

As Baddad says, it's always a shock when you go from 'knowing to knowing, so try to take that on board and give yourself some time. Cry your eyes out, if it helps. you WILL be up and at 'em again soon, but in the meantime take time to take it in.

 

Lizzie xxx <'> <'> <'>

 

Just a quick edit to say, like everyone else: He is still your babby, he hasn't changed, and he is still your lovely boy. Lx

Edited April 18, 2007 by BusyLizzie100

[bid]

Been there, too, hun <'> <'>

 

For some reason, that dx upset me far more than the AS or the Dyspraxia...even to this day I still can't bring myself to read anything about it!!

 

You'll get there, hun <'>

 

Bidx

[forbsay]

Sending you lots of hugs. Take each day as it comes.

 

Take care

 

Forbsay

xx

[Kathryn]

Smiley

 

Thinking of you

 

<'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'>

 

K x

[pearl]

<'> smiley <'> be kind to yourself over the next few days.

[JsMum]

Hi ADHD is a disability that hinders a lot of my sons life, a lot of people, teachers and parents dont really understand ADHD and I feel their is a lot of predudice, I know that J has a lot of obstacles to cross with having the symptoms of ADHD and many of them dont come with others understanding, I feel that this has effected him the most, not actually having ADHD.

 

Js most difficulty is acting without thinking, just so impulsive, his short term memory means he will repeat many of the actions which may look like he is delibrately doing things, in the classroom he is very destracted, and disrupts others because of his impulsive reactions are so difficult for others to ignore, many of Js friends have come to accept Js behaviour now, and are helping him feel less anxious as Anxiety causes the impulsive reactions to worsen.

 

I know J has many issues having ADHD its certainly effected relationships with others, but one thing that is beginning to happen is that his freinds even though they fall out with him they love his ways, I love certain parts of his ADHD.

 

J has so much spark to him, he is determined and dedicated to a mission, he is driven and always smiling, you know that really cheeky, suspicious smile where you dont quite know what he has done but its written all over his face.

 

J has a statement and this has been the most beneficial help, the LSA supports J, and helps find ideas that will get J to learn like his peers, she has brought into the classroom fiddle objects, and he has regular breaks away from the classroom.

 

Your sons school could do a lot of stratagies to help your sons ADHD symptoms.

 

We trialed the ritalin and defo made him more anxious, and wasnt very good for his frail frame and stopped the it after 6 months.

 

Its a case of trial and error but there is a lot more others can do to support your son.

 

Addiss is very good information and support too.

 

JsMum

[puffin]

<'> <'> <'>

Hi

I don't know whether my experiences can be of any help but my daughter is diagnosed with AS and adhd.

 

Until she was about 6-7 her life was hell. She alternated between impulsive behaviour and ranpaging around the classroom and sensory overload where she would at times spend entire school days lying under desks/sofas etc.

 

We were very reluctant to use medication - surely there must be another way we thought. We tried dietary changes but it was not very effective and it was very hard to get M to cooperate especially at school. We went to the doctor for allergy testing but that descended into a complete farce when M screamed her head off when the doctor came near her, hid under the cupboard and eventually the doctor stormed out saying that she would nt do anything when the child was so obviously opposed to it.

 

So paediatrician offered us a 30 day trial of Concerta when she was 7- a slow release form of Ritalin that lasts for 12 hours and means she does not have to take tablets at school. She just takes one dose per day so it wears off in the evening and she can get a bit hyper but it enables her to cope at school. The results have been dramatic and she is able to cope in class for the first time - it has not solved her impulsivness but I always say that it "buys" her about 30 seci�nds thinking time so she is much more able to control her self and has meant that we have been able to teach her appropriate verbal responses - such as asking someone to leave her alone instead of shoving/hitting etc. She has also been able to participate in activities that she has always wanted to but never been able to to such as having a part in the school play and, she is especially proud of this, competing in 2 figure skating competitions despite her coordination issues.

 

So for us it was a positive thing but I'm aware that it is not right for everyone - you could try dietary changes or you could try the medication for a trial period and then assess whether it has been an improvement.

 

Anyway I don't know if this has been useful but I hope it helps.

[butterfingersbimbo]

aw chic!!! <'> <'>

 

i was very upset when i found out that el also has adhd, but tbh it was the best thing cos it answered so many questions about her behaviour, i always thought that she hated me, but she really couldnt control herself, so on the bright side she only hates me sometimes now.....

 

meds is a very personal choice but i am so glad, and so is el, that we tried them for her, it was very trial and error and it does make a difference when they also have autism. i dont think el would be at school now or be able to read if it werent for meds tbh!

[Frangipani]

Hi Smiley <'>

 

I remember it was a sinking feeling when B.. was diagnosed too. Many have given their accounts of it and all I can say is he is still your gorgeous little M. I also remember the blaming myself and the what if's, they are all natural reactions, even though you had a gut feeling of 'knowing, and finally knowing' it does take you for a six, so be gentle with yourself.

 

You are a wonderful Mum and you have such wonderful advice already, so just want to send you lots of these <'>

 

F xx

[loulou]

Hi Smiley <'> ,

 

I found "Understanding ADHD" by Dr Christopher Green (author of toddler taming) really really helpful. It has a large section on medication too.

 

It's perfectly normal to be apprehensive about medication. No-one wants to medicate their child unnecessarily.

 

For what it's worth, i've had Kai on and off Ritalin, Concerta and Straterra for 2 1/2 years now. I keep thinking "Maybe he doesn't have ADHD" and having guilt trips about medicating him. I've now realised that he definately DOES have it and he's been taking Concerta soildly for about 3 months now and he's much calmer.

 

I think if his ADHD is affecting his behaviour and learning, then i think medication is worth a go. It's not like you can't stop it if it doesn't work. It sometimes takes a bit of "fine tuning" with the doses too.

 

All the best <'> ,

 

Loulou xxxxxx

[smiley]

thank you everyone <'>

 

I'm not really up to saying much - but i am reading and wanted to say thanks.. <'> <'> <'>

[JsMum]

Hi just looked at my favourates and still had an previous webpage on it that has been really helpful understanding ADHD.

 

http://www.drthomasebrown.com/

 

It is american but the information is good with video clips ect,,, and other information.

 

Its got information on medication on their as well, but another suggestion was what about a school meeting and having a planned discussion on whether they would support you on the observations of his possible trail, Js previous school where predudice about ritalin and wouldnt monitor his behaviour so want to suggest this because if the school where to support you and give comparasons then you would have a more insight to what is best for your son and know if the trial is a success or not.

 

just an idea.

 

JsMum

Edited April 19, 2007 by JsMum

[annie]

<'> Smiley <'>

 

We've been where you are too .

 

All I can say is don't rush, take some time to take everything in first, then make decisions when you feel ready to make them.

 

Annie xx

<'>

[Flora]

Smiley <'>

 

I know it's hard, but you'll get through it hun, and used to it.... like you've done before <'>

 

Flozza <'>

[Bagpuss]

Huge hugs Smiley, thinking of you <'> <'> <'>