loulou Report post Posted November 12, 2006 Hi everyone, Kai has been on Melatonin for about a year or so and it's always worked really well. I've been giving him breaks from it at weekends and holidays as i was told the body may get "used" to it and it becomes less effective. He had his tonsils out 3 weeks ago, and since then he hasn't been sleeping well at all. He's got grey circles under his eyes and i'm also exhausted (5 months pregnant) . He used to go to sleep with 3mg Melatonin and a story tape and sleep for 11 hours (lucky me, i know). Now i've had to up his dose to 6mg Melatonin but it's not working at all. He's staying awake until about midnight and getting up at 6 or 7. So for him, he's really sleep deprived. I know some kids hardly sleep at all, but Kai has always slept really well. I don't THINK there's anything worrying him (can't always tell), but he has been exceptionally quiet this last week (maybe due to tiredness?). Has anyone tried anything else for sleep? I don't want him on medication long term, just a couple of weeks so he can catch up on his sleep (and me too). He had Temazepam for a pre-med when he had his tonsils out, which sent him totally hyper (he has ADHD), so i don't know what other options there are (he's 8). Loulou xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisa Report post Posted November 15, 2006 You could try both melatonin and vallagan. The doctor prescribed it for our son because the melatonin got him off to sleep but he kept waking in the night and then couldn't get off again. We gave him both at bedtime and it seemed to do the trick. I was wary at first because the name sounded a bit like phenegan which sent my son really hyper but this was ok. Unfortunately we were advised to give our son some phenegan when we were going on a long flight to the USA when he was about 3 to send him off to sleep. Big mistake!!! Lisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chriss Report post Posted November 26, 2006 Can Gps prescribe melatonin? We tried it before and it worked well and I would like to get it again but thought we had to go through a paediatrician. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lorryw Report post Posted November 27, 2006 Hi Loulou, Kai could still be suffering from the after affects of the general anaesthetic he had during his tonsil op. When my Mum had an op last year it took her ages to get back into a regular sleeping pattern. She was told it can take a month to six weeks for the aneasthetic to clear from the body. I would leave out the melatonine for a week or so and then reintroduce it. Its worth ago especially as the melatonine worked prior to the op. Godd luck and try and get some rest while he is at school. lots of love Lorainexx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loulou Report post Posted November 27, 2006 Hi, Thanks for the replies. He still isn't sleeping and i think it may be anxiety. Lately he has started worrying about war, bombs, fire etc alot, so i wonder if he's just laying there wide awake thinking about things. Last night i gave him 9mg of Melatonin at 8pm and he was still awake at 11 . I'm seeing his paed on wednesday so i'll see what she suggests. Loulou xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
butterfingersbimbo Report post Posted December 11, 2006 i have heard that both vallagan and phenegan are a big no no especially when there is also ADHD as the brain reacts the opposite way, so these would increase hyperactivity. i would also leave it a while longer before re-introducing the melatonin. it could also be the pre crimbo stress building up..... is the melatonin the fast acting or time release one? i didnt know until recently that there is a slow release.....make sure they havent given you this by mistake! gp's can only prescribe melatonin if the consultant has written to them and given them the ok..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loulou Report post Posted December 12, 2006 Hi, Thanks. He seems to be a bit better the last few days. I think you're right about the x-mas stress because we've had a huge "Christmas" meltdown and also a big one about the fact i'm having a baby. Now it's all come out he seems calmer and has gone to sleep with 6mgs Melatonin. Hope it lasts! Loulou xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JsMum Report post Posted December 17, 2006 I know this may NOT work with your son but for J he likes to have it in small size steps to bedtime and we have a visual display on the wall of bedtime and the routine, he recieves a star for each task achieved and the stars add up to a treat at the end of the week. I did the visual chart together taking photos of all the things needed to do before bedtime so it was very personal individual to him, we include things like settled in my own bed, slept throw the night, and a golden star if he achieved all the tasks for the evening. Its something that has really helped and reduce the anxieties to what happens at bedtime as for J its a tempary seperation, he doesnt feel safe, so thoughts of negative can flood in, like your son its bombs and war, a sign of a fear of death or loss. We have a very calming routine, bath, storytime, and larver lamps in his room to give it a soothing effect, he has comforting bedding, and his soft night night bear, also in his pjs as well. It souds to me he really has a difficulty been seperated from you and these could be why his anxieties are so high. JsMum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ange Report post Posted December 22, 2006 Can Gps prescribe melatonin? We tried it before and it worked well and I would like to get it again but thought we had to go through a paediatrician. Hi Yes some gp's do prescribe..although mine won't Which is a pain in the bum! having to go to the hospital to get the prescription every month. Hi loulou Glad to hear your son is settling down a little bit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ellisisamazing Report post Posted January 11, 2007 Hi Yes some gp's do prescribe..although mine won't Which is a pain in the bum! having to go to the hospital to get the prescription every month. Hi loulou Glad to hear your son is settling down a little bit My GP also won't prescribe, but we find a telephone call to Paed at Hospital is sufficent, then it's posted out! We had just put El back on it this week and he is sleeping for around 12 hours (bliss!) Initally it worked a year ago when first prescribed, then after a few months it stopped, so we had sleepless nights, then he fell into a pattern of regular ten hours sleeps totally naturally. I think Christmas has overwhelmed him so we are giving it another go! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chriss Report post Posted January 11, 2007 A phonecall to our Paed might be just the ticket! Thanks for that Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ellisisamazing Report post Posted January 11, 2007 A phonecall to our Paed might be just the ticket! Thanks for that S'ok Chris..... Good Luck! Lisa xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deedee Report post Posted January 12, 2007 We don't have a paed or a consultant or a decent GP so I have to buy my melatonin from the states at the moment.Can anyone tell me how I would go about getting this on prescription?My GP's attitude to anything is well I'm not a specialist in this so I can't help Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mossgrove Report post Posted January 12, 2007 We don't have a paed or a consultant or a decent GP so I have to buy my melatonin from the states at the moment.Can anyone tell me how I would go about getting this on prescription?My GP's attitude to anything is well I'm not a specialist in this so I can't help If your GP is not a specialist you should ask him to refer you to someone who is! Saying he doesn;t know much about it is not an excuse. It's easier said than done in many areas, but it might be time to consider getting a new GP. Simon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LizK Report post Posted January 12, 2007 We don't have a paed or a consultant or a decent GP so I have to buy my melatonin from the states at the moment.Can anyone tell me how I would go about getting this on prescription?My GP's attitude to anything is well I'm not a specialist in this so I can't help Your GP may not be allowed to prescribe it by the PCT who have blacklisted it and to prescribe would mean breaching the terms of their contract. That's the situation here and we have to get ours prescribed by the community paediatrician. It's crazy because it is a safe and relatively cheap drug but because it is not on the drug formularly or licensed PCT will only allow it to be prescribed by a doctor in secodnary care. Our paed gives us enough last 4 months at each appointment Lx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deedee Report post Posted January 12, 2007 Simon we tried changing our GP only to be told we have a local one so can't change..I will follow this up it's on my To Do Epic Any referrals we've had have been through my *ahem* persistance via the school Liz one of my other sons has a physical disability and is in constant pain and we struggle to even get him to prescribe pain meds as 'he's not a specialist..' he just doesn't like dishing out anything! We have to buy incontinence pads for the bed as M won't do waterproof sheets due to the noise/feel and he has more accidents when in a nappy also now he's 8 finding one to fit is a struggle anyway.I also have to buy surgical spirit for under DS2's body brace,special stuff for the bath as M has a weird skin thing going on,etc etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ellisisamazing Report post Posted January 12, 2007 Simon we tried changing our GP only to be told we have a local one so can't change..I will follow this up it's on my To Do Epic Any referrals we've had have been through my *ahem* persistance via the school Liz one of my other sons has a physical disability and is in constant pain and we struggle to even get him to prescribe pain meds as 'he's not a specialist..' he just doesn't like dishing out anything! We have to buy incontinence pads for the bed as M won't do waterproof sheets due to the noise/feel and he has more accidents when in a nappy also now he's 8 finding one to fit is a struggle anyway.I also have to buy surgical spirit for under DS2's body brace,special stuff for the bath as M has a weird skin thing going on,etc etc. Deedee, Do you not get free nappies? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deedee Report post Posted January 14, 2007 Deedee, Do you not get free nappies? Nope nothing for free here... M doesn't 'do' nappies anyhow he doesn't like the feel of them and he tended to wet more when he was in them.We have finally got him dry during the day now although he will still wait til the last minute to head for the loo but its nightimes that give us the probs.We tried waterproof sheets but he wouldn't even get into bed as the feel and the noise drove him mad so have now settled with the incontinence pads (soft and not rattly)which we have to buy (pack of 6 �1.99!!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ellisisamazing Report post Posted January 15, 2007 Nope nothing for free here... M doesn't 'do' nappies anyhow he doesn't like the feel of them and he tended to wet more when he was in them.We have finally got him dry during the day now although he will still wait til the last minute to head for the loo but its nightimes that give us the probs.We tried waterproof sheets but he wouldn't even get into bed as the feel and the noise drove him mad so have now settled with the incontinence pads (soft and not rattly)which we have to buy (pack of 6 �1.99!!) My Son's school nurse filled a form in for him and he recieves 3 nappies per day! We use more than that obviously but it does help keep the costs down! Can you not try your local council? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deedee Report post Posted January 16, 2007 My Son's school nurse filled a form in for him and he recieves 3 nappies per day! We use more than that obviously but it does help keep the costs down! Can you not try your local council? I'll have a word with the school nurse never thought of that thanks!! I spend so much time running round after my tail I do tend to get rather confused Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ellisisamazing Report post Posted January 16, 2007 I'll have a word with the school nurse never thought of that thanks!! I spend so much time running round after my tail I do tend to get rather confused Deedee, after a certain age, age 4 where we are, you are automatically entitled to nappies so I would think other similar items should be available to you.....lets hope so! I know what you mean about tail chasing!! Lisa xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
