Please help me! My son with pdd-ns and adhd won't sleep and is driving me nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Erin - posted on 08/24/2012

His behavoir never seems better. The more he knows something bothers me the more he does it.

Christal - posted on 08/22/2012

Very warm bath with a cup of epsom salts. it helps my son relax n knock right out after a story in bed. Lavender lotion at bedtime

Jennie - posted on 08/22/2012

Erin, I know every day is a challenge. We just go with the flow. School is going to be starting here in about two weeks and i am not looking forward to homework time that's for sure. Just take it one day at a time.

Erin - posted on 08/22/2012

Thank you, Jennie. He's sleeping better. Now I'm dealing with a difficult behavoiral problem. I believe too that God won't give me anything I can't handle. He must think I'm stroger than I think I am.

Jennie - posted on 08/22/2012

My son also had a hard time sleeping. He would fall asleep late at night. Then wake up in the middle of the night a couple times and then be wake in the early morning. This was even before his medicine for adhd. So it wasnt the medicine that kept him awake. Hes also a VERY picky eater. He will only certain things and if the package is different he will not eat it. My son would never try any diet. Since his meds decrease his appetite (he didnt have much of an appetite before meds anyways) so he wasnt gaining any weight his dr put him on risperidone 1mg at night and it makes him tired and one side effect is weight gain. Hes sleeping much better and he gained weight. He only likes about 10 different foods and we stock up on those foods so he can eat them whenever he wants. My son has adhd and aspergers. I hope you can get some sleep soon. Hang in there. God wont give you anything you cant handle :-)

Nahony - posted on 08/19/2012

Well, it is a really hard, my son is 5, so in may house we all make the diet (hubby, me and son), so i think it depends, if you have more children it will be harder... for example, instead of bread in the morning we can have:
plantains
yuca
tortilla ( corn)
eggs
potatoes

All the proteins, vegetables and fruits are allowed.

and for lunch
rice
or rice or quinoa nooddles

and instead of milk, we drink almonds milk or coconut milk,

for cakes or pancakes we use an special gluten free mix...

This diet really help, my child used to be always in a bad mood or crying, and he did not sleep when he was a baby, after i chance the diet everyting became like better, he is easy going, calm, he almost never cry, and he seams happy like in peace, he is not cure, he has autism, but is a calmer child.

give a try, maybe if you just take out the milk, you will se some changes within a week.

Emily - posted on 08/19/2012

Same here. my son barely eats as it is. I worry about restricting his diet even more. I heard it gets expensive too, buying specialty foods. thoughts?

Erin - posted on 08/18/2012

Nahony, I've heard of these diets are they hard to follow?
My son is so picky

Nahony - posted on 08/18/2012

hi, my son used to be that way (awakes at 3AM and did not go to sleep until next night), he did not get to sleep the whole night until he was 4 years old, as soon as I began the diet, CFGF ( nothing with milk or wheat) everyting became better, no more crying, sleep well most of the nights, this diet really help us. give it a try, it may help you as well. just google CFGF diet for autism or so and you will find a lot of information.

good luck

Emily - posted on 08/15/2012

Maria,
Erin posted on Circle of moms asking about her child with PDD having sleep issues. She is going through a lot and reached out to other moms who might have advice. She didn't ask about whether vaccines and medications are safe or about the validity of vaccine arguments. Obviously you feel very strongly about your opinions, to which everyone has a right to feel. But, maybe you should start your own post about this issue and have people respond there, instead of jumping into a discussion about pdd struggles, posting your thoughts and arguments about vaccines. Now, we would love to hear about your struggles you have faced with your child on the autism spectrum and what you did when he/she had sleep problems. Does this pertain to you? If it does, than I am all ears and open to hearing how you dealt and what strategies you used, as I am going through the same thing Erin is and it is not easy. So, please share your advice and experience on this, as this is what the topic of this post was to begin with. Just as you feel very passionate about vaccines and the research you have done, which I am not saying is true or not true, Erin also feels very strongly about her child that is suffering right now, and her sanity as well, which is what we should be talking about.

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/15/2012

I must admit before I leave this website..that ATTACKS on a persons point of view is neither helpful or advancement..................I only joined to try and help other mothers not to be personally attacked..to offer a point of view for you to think and question...not to eb insulted, abused verbally or attacked 'behind the scenes'..............this kind of attack only helps to grow ignorance

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/15/2012

This is one of the best posts I have seen and hope they dont mind me copying it here

Raine Irving Saunders - posted on 01/04/2012


The vaccine issue is a complicated one, and it's certainly an issue for children's health. But there are also many other factors. Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride, M.D., a pediatric neurosurgeon, has developed a wonderful protocol called GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome is the book title) to help children with digestive and gut damage from issues such as poor diet (which most children in the U.S. have), vaccines, poor dietary habits of the parents (which cause poor gut flora and subsequent health in the unborn child), and environmental factors. Dr. McBride doesn't blame vaccines for children's health issues like autism, hyperactivity, learning disorders, dyspraxia, ADD and other related issues. Rather, she discusses how vaccines are a tipping point for a child that already has gut issues, and can send some children who appear otherwise normal over the edge to full-blown autism and other related issues. If a child has parents who have maintained poor lifestyle and dietary choices, the child him or herself hasn't received adequate nutrition, and has been exposed to enough environmental toxins, he or she can develop autism or other disorders. It's all about gut health.

By profession, I work in the real food and alternative health community and I've seen and talked to countless parents whose children were vaccine-injured, and who have irreparable damage to their health. My own son, who was 9 weeks premature and is now 11 was vaccinated until nearly age 3 because I didn't know any better. He had various issues including colic, multiple illnesses (flus, colds, sore throats, etc.), and I definitely noticed a pattern with when he received vaccines. He received 25 vaccines by the time he was not even 3, and that's more than his father and I had in our entire lives. He exhibited signs of autism early on, and we thought perhaps he was. Fortunately, I became knowledgeable about the healing power of real foods shortly after his last vaccination, and I changed his diet by completely eliminating all processed foods. We started eating nutrient-dense foods such as grass-fed meats and poultry, eggs from hens on pasture, raw milk and home-made fermented dairy foods like cultured yogurt and kefir, real butter, lard, tallow, and other healthy animal fats, olive oil, coconut oil, bone broths, soups and stews, organic fruits and vegetables, sprouted/soaked and fermented grains, organ meats, seafood, and cod liver oil.

Traditional people all over the world for thousands of years consumed these foods and knew the significance of these foods to positively influence fertility in mothers who were trying to conceive, pregnant and nursing mothers, and growth and development in children. Our modern diets are devoid of nutrients and completely lacking in these kinds of foods. This is one of the major contributors to the influx of disease and illness our children experience - both with higher frequency and at younger and younger ages.

With regard to herd immunity: If vaccines are as effective as people say they are, there is no reason why any child who is immunized should be "at risk" around those who are not vaccinated. I hear this argument time and time again (with regard to herd immunity), and it's simply not valid. A non-vaccinated child is not going to threaten a vaccinated child. The vaccinated child will likely have immune system issues due to "gaining" temporary - not permanent - immunity from the vaccine. The body does not gain natural immunity from vaccines. It gains immunity from exposure to a virus or bacteria, and building immunity to it via exposure through the skin (topical), lungs (airborne), or bodily fluids (blood or saliva). Vaccines also contain many toxic substances, which can cause long-term damage from mercury and other metals, and other questionable substances. Here's a list from the CDC of vaccine ingredients:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkboo...

I know I don't want those substances injected into my child. There have been so many diseases which the severity of its incidence has been overblown, and the incidence of those diseases was already in decline before the vaccine was developed:

http://www.vaclib.org/intro/present/inde...

If you look at the historical timeline of other disease decline, you'll get the same results:

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/w...

There are many things which occurred in the last 100 years which have slowed down the development of disease - sanitation, plumbing, running water, cold storage of foods and beverages, and improvement in sanitary handling of foods and beverages. But no one ever mentions those factors.

Here are some other posts about the safety of vaccines:

http://www.cheeseslave.com/kidney-doctor...

Vaccine injuries:

http://www.cheeseslave.com/vaccine-injur...

Here are some links from my web site, Agriculture Society. You'll find more information about Dr. McBride, gut health in children affecting disease and illness:

http://agriculturesociety.com/green-livi...

http://agriculturesociety.com/politics-a...

http://agriculturesociety.com/politics-a...

Charlie's Story, From a Mother's Heart:

http://agriculturesociety.com/politics-a...

Dr. Wakefield and the MMR Scandal:

http://agriculturesociety.com/politics-a...

Please, I urge all parents to do the research and learn about alternatives to vaccines, the significance of real, traditional diets on children's health, growth and development, what's in vaccines, and how they may affect your child before vaccinating. You can't take back a vaccine one you give it, and that could affect your child's health for life.

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/15/2012

Also the point about recurring terrible deseases nearly erradicated.???...well the vaccines are making new deseases and also the use of antibiotics is causes new strains and mutations.......

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/15/2012

I started with my comments not to scare but to make you think...I will sign off from circle of mums and leave you all alone...I genuinely KNOW what I am talking about. Alot of other parents just wnat to make life easy for themsleves and not have to think..I did my research and join the research and have seen very emotional 'miracles'. I am priveledged and very lucky and wanted to pass the info on. BUT truth is scary and people always want to silence it...Take DAN doctors..they face threats that I bet they dont talk to you about, but they fight for the right to treat the children

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/15/2012

I am insulted by Your comments Chris...........I am stating FACT...not paid for by drug companies............and I work with the latest research...so I am not posting misinformation...not information discredited by drug companies and people who get threatened to remove their MD statuis by drug companys

Chris - posted on 08/14/2012

To insinuate that we don't struggle, grieve, research, cry, get other opinions, have anxiety, fear for our child, and research some more before medicating our children is sickening. Stop creating fear.

Chris - posted on 08/14/2012

PLEASE stop posting misinformation about vaccines. The original doctor who started this hysteria has been proven to be a fraud. YOUR INFORMATION IS WRONG AND IT'S CAUSING RECURRENCE OF HORRIBLE DISEASES NEARLY IRRADICATED. Children have DIED because they contracted diseases that could have been prevented by vaccine. And yes, I've read the conspiracy books. Please stop. It's tough enough to decide what to do to help our children without conspiracy theorists creating guilt and fear.

Heather - posted on 08/14/2012

All I have to ask is did it start after you put him on the tenex. I know my little girls dr always askes about her sleep off meds she don't sleep much 3-5 hrs a day on aderrall she sleeps about 10 hrs but the dose is high 15 mg xl in morning 10 reg at 3pm she was 4-5 yrs at that. Now she is on folclin and she is sleeping 6 hrs a day and not going to bed till like 1-2 am. So if it started after the med change call the dr Right now I'm having the sleep battle with both my 5 yr old litlle girl and her 3 yr old brother so good luck.

Erin - posted on 08/14/2012

Maria, I understand being hesitant about medicating a child believe me I was sceptical. But I researched the medication and thought it to be a good fit. My son's mind goes a million miles a minute and he CAN'T calm down. He's on a behavioral plan as well I didn't just throw my hands up and give it to him. I want him to be able to consintrate so he won't be frustrated.

Anyway the vaccine theary has been disproven. The Dr. who came up with the theary to begin with has even admitted to have been wrong.

Emylie thank you for your sympathetic post. It's always comforting to know I'm not the only one with this issue. My how you must have your hands full with a 10 month old as well. I would love to talk sometime.

Barb - posted on 08/14/2012

My son has the same problem except he won't fall asleep until1-3 am and has to get up at 6 for school so has nosleep and bags under eyes.tried melatonin didn't take for very long.Try asking doctor about a additive drug called kapavay it helped extend the aderell and helped him fall asleep good and stay asleep.

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/13/2012

I am not telling anyone what to do I am just trying to help /warn or even make you think twice...if one parent just stops to question and really look into the drugs and vaccine they give you then i would be happy.....its a start

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/13/2012

sorry meant to say drugs approved by FDA...

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/13/2012

Thats true Emylie we do ingest it through fish..so fish are off my list..as regards the FDA...hmm..who are they paid by?..I dont wish to alarm anyone but I have done extensive research into this area and it is scary.........look at the drugs on TV all approved by the DFDA, government and now look at side effects?....everyone..........

Emily - posted on 08/13/2012

By the way, this is the fda's info on mercury in vaccines. Most of our vaccines have never contained mercury (see chart). They also say that we naturally ingest mercury through many other substances, such as fish.

http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccine...

Emily - posted on 08/13/2012

Sorry for posting three times... My computer messed up. We've also tried the gummy melitonin bites, and really they only helped our son to get tired. They didn't help him stay asleep. Look into imiprimine, and see what your doc says.

Emily - posted on 08/13/2012

Hey erin, boy do I know the boat u r on, bc I'm on it with u! My 3 yr old son has pdd-nos as well and adhd. We had the same sleep problems, but ours were accompanied by night terrors and nightmares nightly. We started seeing a child psychiatrist, who started him on imiprimine. He's now up to 20 mg and it has been a godsend! I also understand the feeling of just wanting to get away, always having a child hooked to u. My husband works a lot, and I work full time too. We also have a 10 month old. It's a lot of work and I am tired and sick of working nonstop without a break. Let me know if you'd like to talk sometime. Good luck!

Emily - posted on 08/13/2012

Hey erin, boy do I know the boat u r on, bc I'm on it with u! My 3 yr old son has pdd-nos as well and adhd. We had the same sleep problems, but ours were accompanied by night terrors and nightmares nightly. We started seeing a child psychiatrist, who started him on imiprimine. He's now up to 20 mg and it has been a godsend! I also understand the feeling of just wanting to get away, always having a child hooked to u. My husband works a lot, and I work full time too. We also have a 10 month old. It's a lot of work and I am tired and sick of working nonstop without a break. Let me know if you'd like to talk sometime. Good luck!

Emily - posted on 08/13/2012

Hey erin, boy do I know the boat u r on, bc I'm on it with u! My 3 yr old son has pdd-nos as well and adhd. We had the same sleep problems, but ours were accompanied by night terrors and nightmares nightly. We started seeing a child psychiatrist, who started him on imiprimine. He's now up to 20 mg and it has been a godsend! I also understand the feeling of just wanting to get away, always having a child hooked to u. My husband works a lot, and I work full time too. We also have a 10 month old. It's a lot of work and I am tired and sick of working nonstop without a break. Let me know if you'd like to talk sometime. Good luck!

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/12/2012

More children die or are damaged ffrom the vaccines...look up the REAL figures...to vacinate or not is your choice but at least they should be honest to allow you to make a decision...read the new book...vaccine epidemic

Erin - posted on 08/12/2012

How come every child isn't autistic then? Look up how many kids got sick or died due to not being vaccinated. I understand there are chemicals in vaccines and in other things in the envirnment. But children need to be vaccinated and the risks of not are much more dangerous than the risks of vaccinating.

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/11/2012

Erin I understand your situation but I know for a fact that 99.9% of the problems with children today is caused with polution and chemicals of sorts.,...just ask for a vaccine that does not have mercury and see how long they take to get it????..get your childs blood tested and see what is missing or extra?..extra titanium, arsenic, mercury..the list is endless

Erin - posted on 08/11/2012

Vaccines did NOT cause my childs problem. And not vaccinating a child is dangerous and ignorent. My little boy is very bright and gets a lot of support and behavioral theropy. His brain just wants to work to fast and learn everything at once. The medication can calm him down and allow him to focus and reach his full potential. He's also very anxious and this medshould help with this too. I wouldn't have put him on medication if I didn't know in my heart it was the right thing to do.

Maria Theresa - posted on 08/11/2012

Giving medication DRUGS...on a young child?!?..melatonin is ok as it is a natural product..but to give drugs and expect your child not to have SERIOUS problems later is madness...STOP THE DRUGS...use supplements. It was the drugs and vaccines that has caused all these problems in the first place !!! please listen

Chris - posted on 08/08/2012

And to be clear...he also takes Clonodine. But, without the melatonin...there is no falling asleep. Its quite interesting.

Chris - posted on 08/08/2012

He is 14...sorry, been out of town and just saw this. Weighs about 120

Erin - posted on 08/07/2012

My son has his blood pressure taken on a regular basis to make sure it's not to low. I'm hoping it can calm him down enouph and not just run off. His mind goes like a million miles a minute. He's now sleeping better for me thank god. He comes into my room at 4 am and wants to sleep in my bed with me which he never did before. For now I'm allowing it but soon I am going to have to break him of this habit.

Regla - posted on 08/07/2012

My son has been on it for about 1 1/2 years already. We had started him with the 1 mg and then had to move him to the 2 mgs. We recently got him down to 1 mg and it took him about 2 weeks to adjust to his body. Pretty much I dont see a difference between the 2 mg and 1 mg. He's pretty much acting the same. I'm just having problems with him staying in his seat and when out with him he doesn't stay by my side, so I was hoping that there was something else like a supplement to give him that will help him to relax, focus and concentrate more.

Chrystall - posted on 08/07/2012

Tenex's main effect as an antihypertensive is to lower blood pressure. One potential problem is that blood pressure could be dangerously lowered, and heart rate can be slowed, according to Shire, manufacturer of the medication. A friend's kid was taking the Tenex's and her daughter has been on it for two weeks now and she has been having really bad night terrors to the point that she wont even go into her bed room anymore which is a side effect from the medication. So be careful with it

Regla - posted on 08/07/2012

I usually give my son 5 mgs, but it doesn't do anything, he goes to sleep but around 2 or 3 am he is up. I tried giving him 6 mgs, but still the same. Does anyone know what is the max. mgs that an 8 year old can take to help sleep at night?

Katherine - posted on 08/07/2012

Wow, 10mg's is a lot!

Regla - posted on 08/07/2012

Chris, how is old is your child that you give him 10 mgs of melatoni?

Carin - posted on 07/31/2012

I'm new here, so hope you don't mind me jumping in.

Anyway, I agree about trying out the melatonin. I was hesitant for the longest time about trying it even though several recommended it, but really it has helped so much. My son also has PDD-NOS and my DH and I suspect ADHD and/or SPD (or APD if you want to be specific) and he is just wired all the time. Without it, he would not sleep as well as he does.

Chris - posted on 07/31/2012

One more comment about Melatonin...the child MUST be in the dark or very low light for it to work. Since my kids refused to completely shut the lights off, they are told to put their head under covers (with a breath hole of course).

Chris - posted on 07/31/2012

Definitely ask the doctor if its okay to add Melatonin. My son takes 10mg of it and my daughter without a disability takes 3 mg and neither can sleep without it. HOWEVER, just because it's a supplement, doesn't mean you shouldn't check with the doctor first.

Katherine - posted on 07/30/2012

Yes, in my experience it helps them sleep the entire night.

Erin - posted on 07/29/2012

So he's on 1/2 a tablet of tenex for hyper activity he seems a little calmer when he takes it. but I'm wondering if maybe it's tapering off in the middle of the night and causing him to be extra hyper once it's out of his system.

Erin - posted on 07/29/2012

Katherine does it help them stay asleep, that's the major problem right now. I felt like it may be his med it calms him down durring the day but he seems to wake up at around 3:00-4:00 a.m. with crazy energy. And it's not enouph for him to be up he pesters me to be up with him. I get next to no break from this child, As much as I love him he is very demanding of my attention. I was looking forward to the summer to do a lot of fun things with him but when he doesn't sleep at night it gets me so frustrated.

Katherine - posted on 07/29/2012

Try one mg of Melatonin, it's all natural and will ease him into sleep mode. Ask your doctor about it. I use it on my 3 year old because she is so active and won't go to bed until 10pm no matter WHAT I do! It's also very inexpensive.

Erin - posted on 07/29/2012

I googled recipe care. My son is high functioning so I don't know if I can get it and is it expensive? Now he'll go to sleep but will not sleep lnog at all. He's not napping, he went down at 9 and is up at 3! and won't go back to sleep. I don't understand he used to sleep so good for me. If this child would just sleep again I'd be fine.

Chris - posted on 07/27/2012

Thanks for the info. It really is difficult and the hardest part is that it just never seems to stay the same. My son is 14 and the difficulties just change. You are doing what you can with your schedule and making it work so don't stress about that part. You are doing the right things, you are just in a rough patch right now. It will get better, and then it will get worse again. Sorry, but I am a realist on these things because after all these years I still get caught when things are good thinking that they are that way permanently. You sound exhausted. I feel like I have been there since before my son was born. I knew something was wrong before he ever made it out of my body. That said, he is a beautiful, incredible young man who has brought so many blessings to our family.
You MUST find some respite and maybe a network of moms who are in similar situations. You can also look into some type of summer school situation next year...and this school year is about to start! Yay for both of us! (I work full time but from home and it's exhausting...not sure which was harder...but I am pretty sure it was easier to go to the office!)