Re: New to group...introduction

[Guest guest]

Jeanette, I understand very much how you hate to medicate your son. I put

off medicating when he was first dx'd with ADHD because I was hoping

that getting into a stable home would help him in school. His behavior did

improve but his attention span in school did not. After seeing the results

on his report card, I reluctantly allow him to be on Ritalin. It was good

for the short run but not for the long haul. Stimulants are as bad for

children with bipolar as they are for some children with autism. I tried

many supplements for Evan and the gfcf diet before we started medication for

him--Risperdal. I did not like it and decided to wean him off it. Boy, did I

find out in a hurry just how much that tiny bit of Risperdal was helping

him. If a person has a chemical imbalance and they need meds, then it is

just a fact a life that they should have them to meet their full potential

and be able to get along in life. I homeschool and Thursday I could

not get him to settle down and do one thing without a big fight. I could not

understand the attitude or the behavior. Actually, I should have went and

checked his med box but I did not. He asked to be allowed to take a nap and

I let him sleep. He sleep too long a time and I realized that his depression

was kicking in. Since his dad was recently killed in an accident that seemed

normal and it is but when I got his meds out the next morning, I saw his

Adderall and Zoloft for Thursday morning were still there. Apparently I did

not empty all his meds for the morning out. MY fault. With all the meds he

takes for his Bipolar, allergies and his supplements I did not notice that I

missed the ones for his depression and ADHD. I would rather he did not take

the meds but they are the world of difference between him being able to

function and him not being able to function.

BETTY ANN-62 yo, possibly undx'd Bipolar

Effexor, Buspar, Lorazepam as needed, Lithium orotate

grandma and guardian to

ANDREW - 12 yo-- Bipolar/ADHD, Homeschooled

Depakote 250 mg., Adderall 30 mg, Abilify 20 mg, Zoloft 50 mg,

EVAN - 9 yo-- nonverbal autism

Abilify 20 mg 1x daily, 25 mg Trazodone, Risperdal as needed

DAVID 7 yo Bipolar/ADHD

Adderall 20 mg daily, 1 mg Risperdal 3 x daily,

50 mg Strattera

and mother to ANDREA -33 yo, their mom -

Bipolar/ADHD, Topamax, Tegretol, Singular, Wellbutrin

wife to BOB - 72 yo, a very tired grandpa

--- Jeanette <jeanette170@...> wrote:

.

My

> husband and I are not big fans of medication. We

> had no choice when

> he was hurting other kids, teachers, and aids. I

> actually put off

> giving him medication for a year.

>

> Jeanette

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanette,

I would request speech therapy(my son still gets it though he speaks in full sentences and can converse). Ask for help with pragmatics. Your son needs to be taught how to interact using verbal skills, and he needs some language so he can make requests that will help him self-regulate and avoid behaviors(if you can tell someone "I need a break" you might be able to stop a meltdown or biting/hitting)or some other phrase, like "don't touch me", etc. so the child can tell people when he wants something/doesn't want something. Just a thought. Sally(my son's speech therapist worked on things like that and social skills).

[Guest guest]

HI ! and welcome LOL, we are all in the same boat here, but youll get some really good vent time in LOL

CB's Granny

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Jeanette, you have come to the right group! All our kids have or have had behavior problems. I am Pat K and the grandmother of 11 year old Karac. I diagnosed Karac when he was two and a half and have been his consultant, therapist, and advocate ever since. I have him seven days a week. Karac functioned without medication until his 11th birthday; since that he has been on Abilify, Risperdal (on which he gained 30 lbs.) He is presently on Geodon, Straterra, and Clonidine. The Geodon had controlled the aggression; the Clonidine makes him sleep at night, and the Straterra seems to help him focus whenever it is not putting him to sleep!! I'm trying to talk his mother into lowering the dosage of Straterra. It is not easy for me to have responsiblity and no control. I'm not as good at getting along with my daughter-in-law as CB's grandmother ( who is also on this list). There are a lot of people on this list who are very good at being helpful; I'm not one of them. I don't seem to have any answers, but I try to be supportive. Again, welcome! Pat K

[Guest guest]

LOL, oh...we go at it every once in a while, LOL