Starting new meds and very worried about the outcome.

Kim - posted on 12/05/2011

sorry it didn't work out on the Adderall Barbara, but I am glad you are such a caring and attentive mother! I wish you the best and hope to hear updates!

Barbara - posted on 12/05/2011

Hi Again,
Today was one week Stephanie started her med. and it was so awful, I spoke to her doctor, and we decided to take her off the Adderal. She grabed her Para's arm and twisted the skin, bit herself and scratched herself until she bled, she was crying most of the day...Worst day ever for her....Broke my heart... When we got home, I gave extra hugs, and promised, that even though it was a hard day for her,I would help her to have better days, and no matter what kind of a day or night she has, she is the most perfect daughter anyone could have asked for, i reminded her how lucky I was to have her, and that I loved her very much. Lots of Hugs, and then she was calm.. We had a much better evening....

She will see her doctor on the 19th and we will discuss other options.

Wish us luck!!!!

Barb

Barbara - posted on 12/05/2011

Thank you so much Kim,

You have given me so much good information, and some reassurence that all will be okay with my little princess. I will definately keep in touch with you....Talk to you soon

Barbara.....

Kim - posted on 12/05/2011

Yitza and Barbara...and other mothers that may come into this conversation, I don't know at what age you came aware of the possible issues of ADD/ADHD for your child(ren), but let me be one of the first to commend you for doing the best you can to give QUALITY of life to your child(ren). I hope what I say here can help in someway.



It is very hard to get all the information one needs to give the most opportunity to our ADD/ADHD children since very little info is passed onto the parents...we rely on public knowledge, and trust our child(rens) pediatrians to provide us with the most important info...which sadly is like a 50/50 chance of recieving all or at best minimal info.



ADD/ADHD is easier diagnosed in boys then in girls...for some reason girls are able to more control ...in my opinion I believe thats due to girls maturing at an earlier age...we as humans expect our boys to be rougher, more active etc... I have 5 children with ADHD (yes some are step but I love them all just as if I gave birth to each of them myself!) I totally understand your hesitation...we had it also but just as you said we felt we were at the end of our rope...Shows your a loving parent and want the best for your child(ren)! Friends can be very hard for ADD/ADHD children to gain and keep...why? Because ADD/ADHD children are more advanced then the average child...hence one reason they become Frustrated and show lack of social skills, show aggresiveness and impulsive behavior. Let me explain why......ADD/ADHD children's brains are basically in overdrive all the time. They need the stimulants such as Focalin, Adderall etc...which has the opposite effect on children then it does on adults...it slows their brains down so they can retain the information they are learning...instead of their brains jumping all over the place from one thought to the other. Back when we all were in school years we had to go through the motions they didn't understand what ADD/ADHD was..(keep in mind I am 48 years old)...might be different for you.



The frustration/aggresiveness comes out because they know they should be able to do or say something but when they can't as they feel they should they are no different then any human. When communicating with friends/family about anything and they know what they know but can't get the person they are interacting with to understand what they know in their mind to be so..it is frustration...impulsive reactions. The best way I have found to handle our children is to sit them down and explain to them exactly what is going on...why they feel the way they feel and remind them each time that I understand your frustration but reacting this way isn't going to change the outcome...stop take a deep breath, count to ten and try again... or if need be, have them do something different then what they were doing that brought these feelings to head...explain to them they can try later when they are no longer so frustrated. It works for us.



A couple of points that are very important you want to continue to make a priority....Always be in communication with your child(rens) teachers and couselors....in time you will learn the signs of over medicated ...or under medicated. EX: My youngest son will pick at his bottom lip if he is over medicated....which will be different for all children...you being observant parents you will soon pick up the your child(rens) signs of over or under medicated.

Make sure your child(rens) pediatricain or theropist (whichever you go to...my personal preference is a pediatricain ...they will give you the advantage for what I am about to tell you) is aware of all family medical histories, and don't forget they see so many patients and even tho they have a file on your child you will at times need to remind their pediatricain of family health issues...such as if you have had several family members that had heart issues..make sure your child(rens) doctor knows of what type of heart issues...or if your family has liver or kidney problems etc... Just like any other medication that you, yourself would be taking it is important (thats the reason they ask when you fill out paperwork) for your doctor to know the potential problems that can arrive...some medications side effects are possible on any medication you take...but it doesn't mean you will. The smallest of things could be a sign you may not be a warning so always ask questions!!!!! Always explain why your asking the questions...what brought on your concern!



Here is your Goverments info that is put out there for all to read on Intuniv....

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...



Which can cause Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF)...doesn't mean your child(ren) will have this issue but it's important to be aware incase you need to discontinue the use of Intuniv or if changing your child(rens) diet will help prevent this issue...here is a link to help you know what it is:

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/92...



Barbara...if your looking for Signs on your daughter taking ADDERALL...the main thing to listen for is Chest pains... Our family has a long history of heart issues...our son was put on Adderall first but after 2 years we had to change him to Focalin because of chest pains..had him checked out by a Cardo Pediatricain to determine the change of medication...I know their are other side effects...but thats the one that needs the most attention in our family.



Remember to not say (for example....Let me know if your chest hurts) because young children with or without ADD/ADHD will be like most adults and become concerned and look for things ...get paranoid and create symtoms in their mind... but if your child(ren) come to you and say (my chest hurts...or my heart hurts...or my heart is beating real fast...or my heart feels like it is going to jump out of my chest...etc...it could be said in so many different ways...just listen)...don't freak out stay calm and have them checked out.



Make sure your child(rens) school provide's IEP classes...make sure your child(ren) are aware that they aren't in a stupid kid class...they are taught the same material but taught in a different way. If they understand that, they are more prepared to handle any comments from other children or family members that don't truly know all the info on these programs provided for ADD/ADHD children. You have the right when your child has an IEP class to request your child to have more time to complete work if they need it...you have the right to request printed notes for your child if they can't keep up on making notes in class, Your child has the right to go to another room (that the school has reserved for this purpose) to do school work if the other students are being loud and it makes it difficult for your child to do their work in class.



It is important that if you ever have your child on a NON-Stimulant such as Intuniv you ask your child(rens) doctor how long (consistant days) it takes before you see the full benefits of the medication. Ask your doctor if it must be tapered off if you decide to discontinue the use or switching to other medication.



Knowledge is power in all things! The more you educate yourself of these medications or ADD/ADHD itself the better you will be equipped to help further your childs experience in school or everyday life.



ADD/ADHD children show you where their interest are..simply because they want to do it all the time..



EX: playing with legos, or anything with small pieces can be a sign your child may grow up to be a surgeon...

FACT: over 90% of our surgeons have ADD/ADHD

FACT: a lot of ADD/ADHD child may show poor grades in class and deminstrate frustration with a certain subject...even tho you see a huge potential of being able to do the subject at hand...because they are advanced and not chanllenged enough.



Here in Oklahoma they do testing at the end of the year...my children always come back shown as ADVANCED in READING...but in ele. school they never explained to me exactly what it meant...



Our youngest son is 13 now..born at the end of the year so he had to wait til he was 6 to start kindergarden. In 6th grade they did their test but the results weren't mailed to us until he was in the 3rd week of 7th grade (jr. high)...We had his IEP meeting (teacher's and us together talking about concerns for him and what they know and what they want to know etc). They asked if we had recieved the test results from 6th grade (which I hadn't yet)...They showed us their copy...We had just talked with his reading teacher and she was sharing her concern with his grades so far and his lack of interest in class...it was very noticeable she wasn't all that educated on children that have ADD/ADHD...When the other teacher pulled out his 6th grade test results she learned a few things...Our son tested to be in the 9th grade 2nd semester in READING...the other teachers (that either are more educated due to having an ADD/ADHD child or knowing someone that does) said they believed he was bored with it...which I wasn't totally suprised because he can pronouce words I or other adults can't. He was lacking in vocab but we know why...he can pronouce the words but hates looking it up in the dictionary...but when he sat in on this meeting and heard what the teachers and we were saying it boosted his self esteem and he realized that he could do so much better by putting in the effort ...or not fighting looking up vocab on words...that it will exspand his knowledge and raise his grades even higher. We got a different dictionary (larger print) so it won't be so intimadating to him. Wow what a difference it made! In Math he was tested at the 8th grade 2nd semester level...which he loves math!!!! Loves helping the other children and his math teacher loves him and wishes all her students were like him. On that test his geometry was 100% correct. In the end the asked how we felt about him going into the ADVANCED CLASSES.



Our son has a huge interest in video games..its seems more of an obcession at times...which means he could grow up to be a game tester, designer...or design cars (geometry is one key to that option).



Don't worry so much on what they show a huge interest in, but keep it in mind...which can help you direct them in a future profession for their adult life... These children are far from being stupid!!!! My dad had ADD and Aspergers but he invented and patiented several things that are just now being used...he used to have lunch with Bill Gates..discussing idea's...Daddy would make notes on napkins and when lunch was over...Gates would always grab Daddy's notes to take with him...Daddy usually had a friend with him and they would always tell him that "Gates grabbed his notes"..Daddy would say "I want him to" When we were kids back in the 70's Daddy told us there would be a day that a computer would fit in your pocket..(Cell Phones)... We lost him in 1996...he was waiting for this time...he was striving for the technology we have today...he helped with bar codes etc...so no these children are far from stupid...far from being handicapped...and I am not so sure it should be concidered a DISORDER...School's have always been set up to teach to the Masses...they are just now getting to the point of truly being able to teach to these Children.



There are other issue's that some ADD/ADHD children can have along with ADD/ADHD but having ADD/ADHD doesn't create these issues...such as ODD, Bi Polar, Aspergers etc...



Don't forget to ask your child(rens) teachers ever so often if they see a change in your child...may it be social or grade wise..this helps you be prepared and stay a step ahead of upcoming problems or medication alterations.



Don't worry so much...they pick up on it...they can be very sensative to your feelings ...you may not realize it is showing. Be the roll model..remeber that schedules and organizational skills are very important these children need...it's not easy and it is something you will have to repeat everyday on everything...be consistant!!!! Never set a rule or consquence you will not follow thru with...They will test you, don't let your guard down because they are that smart!



Anytime any of you need or want to talk I am always here willing to give any thoughts or to listen if you need to vent!



I wish you all the best and hope to hear how well your child(ren) are doing!



Happy Holidays!

Kim

Karen - posted on 11/29/2011

My son takes focalin XR 15 and 3mg intuniv. The intuniv made a huge difference. It has helped greatly for him. For homework we have had to give a small booster of focalin, 2.5 mg about 4 so he can concentrate (he is hyper so literally can't settle). Hope this works for you. It has been our magical combo, he had been taking 30 mg of focalin but with the intuniv we were able to lower the dose by half!

Yitza - posted on 11/28/2011

Thank you for sharing your story. My son was diagnosed with ADD. He cannot focus on anything that he's not interested in at all. He is in a regular class room but the teachers treat him with a bit more attention than they would the rest of the class. If that continues he might be moved to a special ed class room. He sees the school counselor once a week and the speech therapist 3 times a week for the past two years and no change in anything. It makes me sad to see him doing things by himself. Like I said in my post, we started the medication and today he has finished all of his homework in less than 2 hours and it usually takes 4. I am still apprehensive about the whole medication deal but its looking good. I shouldn't speak so soon since its only been one day. Good luck with your daughter.

Barbara - posted on 11/28/2011

I am going through the same delema with my 6 year old daughter. She was recently Diagnosed with ADHD/Hyper type. She is a sweet kid, but just can't sit still. she is just barely doing well in school in a restricted class, but has no friends and is so easily frustrated and very impulsive. Tomorrow we are starting her on 5mg. of Adderall, and I am so worried. I didn't get any sleep last night. I told her about starting the med, and she asked my why she needed it, bacuse she's not sick.... I was totally against meds, but we've done everything else, small calss size, one to one para, counseling, social group, and nothing has shown any signs of improvement in the 3 years we have been doing this. I agreed to try the med because her quality of life is not good, and I want her to have a full and happy childhood. I am keeping her home from school so I can watch for any reactions... But I am still so worried.

Barbara