alijoy60

I've used Melatonin as I was desperate for sleep after hysterectomy and ovaries out at 41 - instant meno meant sweating and insomnia for me! I take 3mg and it helps me drop off, but more importantly, keeps me asleep. When I don't take it, no matter how tired( could be up for 24 hours and have demanding job, 13 hour shifts) I'll sleep 1 half hours, then ding! wide awake. I don't use it every night cos don't want to get used to it. I don't get a hangover from it. My middle son's used it very occassionally, and seems ok with it., works well and no after effects. love Ali xx

Hi all That's the great thing about this board - you read things and think, wow, I'm not the only one! I've read lots of traits/behaviours that made me see how complex it all is. And I have to say, it's the friendliest, funniest board I've come across - I've looked at a few and they frightened me sometimes! Catfights and bitchiness....On here, I feel people really understand and try their very best to give a constructive opinion, and it's also helped me to air mine and my son's story and get viewpoints that are "looking from the outside in". I kind of exploded on here the first time, there was so much I had churning inside, and everyone helped me, no one said go away and behave yourself! Hats off to all you parents and kids. <'> love Ali xx

Hi Eleanor Good analogy there, with aspirin and heart conditions. That's exactly what I meant! They don't really know why Risperidone works in elderly either, but it does for some and it is around the anxiety issue. There's a certain satage in dementia when the anxiety is terrible - these people know that they're lost in a fog, but can't control it, and it drives them daft. We always say to each other, it'll be great for them when the illness progresses beyond that stage, as it's such a torment. Must be similar whatever anxiety you feel and whatever the cause. love Ali xx

Just a word of caution - if you decide to stop the Risperidone, wean the dosage down very slowly over a matter of weeks as withdrawal symptoms can be awful for SOME folks. Your Doc may not emphasise this enough as they don't see people on a daily basis and so don't always realise the effects of what they prescribe! No offence meant to Docs, that's just the way the job is. I'd advise this approach with virtually any meds unless you're stopping because of intolerable side effects. I'm only speaking from my experience as a nurse, haven't needed to use it in the family. love Ali xx

I haven't read all the info on Risperidone and ASD but it is used for some of our patients with dementia who also have extreme anxiety. It is primarily an anti - psychotic drug but that doesn't really mean a thing, it's just the class of drugs it belongs to. Sadly, most of our people who were on it have had to stop it as there is an increased risk of stroke in over 65's so GP's were forced to stop prescribing it. Some have managed on an alternative, but one poor man has never regained his equilibrium. I feel in his case, there's been no risk V benefit assessment made, it's a blanket ban for fear of litigation. We're still working with his GP to try and give him some peace back. I have to add, in the home where I work, we have a very low level use of this type of medication - it's only tried if the individual is clearly suffering with their dementia/anxiety and not to "keep them quiet". I'd say with all drugs, you can only try, after doing your research and it can be stopped if you have side effects. Im glad it's worked for some of your kids and hope they continue to feel a benefit. I have seen some folk have side effects and we stopped giving it straight away, but then they can happen with ANY meds. For instance, if I take Voltarol I have rectal bleeding and terrible pain, so bad I had an allergy wristband put on me when in hospital, However, my arthritic pain was cured by it! love Ali xx

Hi, all I just found this forum the other day and posted a very emotional post about my eldest son. Have had lots of supportive advice from people here. A potted history: I'm a working nurse, single Mum of 3 to Rob, 21, Mike 20 and Alex 16. Their Dad left when Alex was 5 and we haven't seen him since! This has had an effect on my kids that I don't even think they can verbalise. The oldest 2 say they're not bothered, have no interest in him but Alex can't remember him and remains angry etc. My oldest, Rob has undiagnosed Aspergers. If anyone reads my first post you'll see what happened when he decided to go it alone. We always knew he was "different" but just accepted it as he was"just Rob" and he was just himself. His differences became clearer when he went to 6th form college and then Uni - he made not a single friend or aqquaintance and it didn't bother him. He still had his own circle of friends and socialised with them. It was only really when he left home and struggled, that we started reading in depth about AS and realised this was Rob, if only to a mild degree. He has great difficulty in voicing his feelings, realising what a friend is, has rigid routines etc. Lots of things from the past came flooding back and me and my 2 younger sons sat there saying "remember when". These were all incidents that we'd accepted as just Rob being Rob and were passed into family history kind of thing but on reading, realised they were all classic signs. My main concern for Rob now is that he has broken all communication with all his family and friends and is vulnerable to exploitation. I'm leaving him to it, so he doesn't feel pressured but sort of keeping a discreet eye on him as we live in a small town and people see him around and report back that he's in one piece. He refuses to accept that he has any problems at all, despite giving him reading stuff etc. He does read articles and say " that sounds like me" but doesn't seem able to translate that into life, if you know what I mean. School, primary and secondary, did point out on many occassions that he was " different" ie. very quiet, wouldn't contribute to discussions, rigid in routines but I think cos he acheived exceptionally well and caused no trouble to them it was never pursued further, and didn't really need to be at the time. He was assesed at 7 by the ed psych who thought his differences were due to his high intelligence - I'd asked for this as some of his teachers were being cruel to him and one even said to me " he acts as though he's brain damaged". Yes, I did make my anger felt to the Headmaster! He told me I was overprotective, so I told him to put his latest issue of Cosmo down, with it's pop psychology, and come and see him at home. I'd had 4 babies in 5 years, all involved lengthy stays in hospital so I couldn't see where the poor child had the chance to be over protected! In fact, he's always been very independent and self reliant, in many ways, beyond his years. Between the ages of 7 - 12 he was the local guru for all the kids regarding computer games - they'd come and get him to show them how to do it! I recall vividly when he was 5 he would not do any work at school or speak to the teacher and I would take stuff in he'd done at home and she must have thought i'd done it! When I asked him why, he said he didn't see the point in doing his work or telling the answers to his teacher as he knew it inside. I tried to explain that she couldn't see inside his head and so he had to show her he understood, and he would then write things down but never contributed verbally in class, even at Uni. His case is mild anyway, and has only become more apparent as he's trying to make his way in the world - he has no concept of being street wise. Hopefully, he'll learn a little on the way, without suffering too much. Gosh, that was a long intro, wasn't it! But it's nice to meet you all and this board was recomended to me by another Mum on another board I visit about unrelated issues. Thanks all love Ali x