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Dawn22

melatonin saved my sanity

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Hi guys,

 

I post quite infrequently but have always found this forum a great way to find advice and get new ideas.

 

Last time i posted,my ds,and the rest of the family were all at our wits end to put it mildly.I was concerned that my son may have more than 'adhd traits' and was suffering with extreme tiredness and stress due to my sons lack of sleep,terrible tantrums and the horrible effect it was having on us all.

 

I made an emergency appointment with the clinic he is under and sobbed my heart out.I had previously been refused melatonin as he slept 8 hrs..even though this was from 11-7.Well that had gone out the window,and I was ready to push for an adhd diagnosis and seriously considering stronger meds as i thought we had gone past the whole sleep issue.

 

The guy spoke to me,calmed me down and handed me a prescription for melatonin.I admit,at this point i was apprehensive about what effect if any it would have.I had spent the best part of the previous week being battered by my 10 yr old and cried myself to sleep each night.

 

I explained the rules of taking it to my son,and within half an hr,he errupted like a volcano,kicking,punching,yelling etc etc.He looked dozy and could barely stand after ten mins.Ten mins after that,he was asleep..it was 9.00!!

 

During the holidays,his gong to sleep had stretched to 11.30 plus and one night twenty five to one..all with unbearable tantrums.

 

The next morning,i opened his door,and he was bright as a button,no problems with him,happy as larry.

 

He has taken it every night since( been on it about a week and half 2mg) and it takes about an hr and half to work,but he is asleep between 9 and half nine..he has even asked to go to bed!!!!

 

It feels like i have my son back,he has been backing down from arguments,he is much more reasonable and he is more thoughtful before any kinds of outbursts..infact,i have not had to punish him in all this time,as he has managed to control some of his more challenging behaviour.

 

I feel so happy,and am still in shock that it has had such a massive impact on our lives,and am so pleased that the clinic has given us time to try other options before getting to this point.Despite being beyond desperate at times,i feel they have not just rushed us willy nilly down the med route,and despite me being gutted each time i came away with a new technique to try am pleased they have held off.In my heart of hearts,if he had an adhd diagnosis,i would not have waned him on meds for it,but i would have begged them for it last time if they hadnt of come up with melatonin as a possible solution.And what a solution it has been...i feel i have to give credit to the clinic,as i was not thinking straight (for obvious reasons) and am pleased that they gave me a sympathetiv ear and some sound advice..and melatonin.

 

I think it is quite telling,that my son now sleeps for at least 10 hrs a night!!

We are all over the moon,as it is not just the ds who is calmer and happier,my 3 yr old is not witnessing quite so much stress and anger and my partner and i have our evenings back,which is just unbelievable,i feel invigorated,and whilst i appreciate it is not for everyone,my son has taken to it sooo well so far that it is nothing short of a miracle.Earlier in my post i said i wouldn't have wanted to put my son on stronger meds such as ritalin,and that is a personal choice,but i want to make clear that,i am not being negative about people who do,i can completely see why.If my son hadn't of taken to melatonin then he would have ended up on stronger meds of some sort am sure.Am just pleased the clinic,who know my views,helped me get through this even if it did take quite a rocky journey to get through it.

 

My word..what a long winded ramble..can you tell i have a bit of free time on my hands?!!

 

Thanks for the support and advice,

 

Dawn.

 

 

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Though J is having a break from melatonin at the moment I totally understand your post, it sounds like it not only save your sanity but the family on the whole, I know daught believe now that you too will be getting some better sleep because when our kids dont sleep us parents dont either, when J was going to sleep at 1,2 in the morning it ment I didnt sleep for another hour or two because I was having to calm down, then get a bit of me time and then finally fall to sleep because when we have difficult moments its on our minds and more so at bedtime, J been dreadful for the half term since not having his melatonin, but he has also been unwell over the weekend, he has recovered now but been ill did slow him down not that I prefer him to be ill but it did give us both a breather from his hyperactivity.

 

Anyway im really relieved for you and Im sure that the increased sleep will make a difference in the day especially his moods, but hopefully it will give you a better life good luck.

 

JsMumxxx

 

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