new to board | ADHD Information
I agree that you shouldn't be forced to put a child on meds for ADHD. But if your son has bipolar disorder, that is a different story entirely. Bipolar disorder is a progressive disease that does get worse over time if it is not treated with medication. Again, please find out first and foremost if your son has bipolar disorder. I have two children with bipolar disorder, and while they are not yet completely stable, I have seen the positive effects the right medication can have. We wouldn't be able to have any semblance of a normal family life without medication.Hon, I want to put this is another perspective. First of all, I have bipolar, and, trust me, my life is GOOD and RICH *because* of meds. It was hell before meds, and as a child when I had it, but back then it went undiagnosed. If your son had diabetes or epilepsy, would you medicate him? If he has ADHD, it's a neurological problem that he can't help and as much an illness as diabetes. Because of the aggression, I'm guessing he probably has bipolar. In that case, the bipolar is a medical disorder and, without treatment, like ANY medical disorder you don't treat with meds, will only get worse. It's a progressive disorder if you don't stop the cycling that causes the rages and aggression. I would see a Psychiatrist (with the MD--not a Psycologist or other therapist), especially if you have mood disorders, substance abuse, or any suicide attempts on either side of the family tree. Don't feel bad and don't think your son can't have a normal life. Like a child diabetic, he CAN as long as he takes care of his medical problem. I wouldn't give him any ADHD drugs yet because ADHD drugs can make bipolar worse, even with co-morbid ADHD. Many parents of bipolar kids choose not to medicate the ADHD part because of this. Here are a few links you may want to visit. Don't be scared. Either of these disorders can be helped, but your child does need medical attention and a good professional who can really figure out what he has. There is no need to rush with meds. Wait until he is re-evaluated by a top professional (again, I'd make sure he's the guy with MD and that it's a good one that you've heard of). I might add that I agree with smallmom. If it's ADHD only, medicine isn't mandatory. Because of his aggression, I'm thinking he'll visit the bipolar diagnosis. The only choice besides medicine for bipolar is a very sick, disordered, out of control kid. Good luck.
www.bpkids.org (you have to pay to join, but if you can't afford it, they will waive the fee. Very good Juvenile bipolar site)
Good luck and calm down. There is so much hope for your child.
OlderMom38790.2625347222Just remember you are the one running the show. Don't let the doctor convince you to put him on something you aren't comfortable with. I think I have told our doctor no more times than I have said yes! I wish you the best and please know we will be here every step of the way. Hi Birdietiel,I am also feeling terribly guilty for even thinking about putting my son on
meds. It seems I have developed two camps around me over the past two
years since dx. The yes to drugs camp on the right and the natural
alternatives camp on the left. All the lefties have been so excited at our
success with alternatives until this year when everything has gone to pot.
I'm sure all those sitting on the right are going to say I told you so... ugh.
I'm almost certain Sams behaviour has become a lot worse because he
has changed school, and is totally unsettled, but I am also very concerned
about his mood swings - eg after sitting with me chatting pleasantly, he
gets up to kick the toy his brother is playing with right out of his hand.
The kids at school also say he is aggro, but then he is being teased and
ostracised terribly. I had never considered bp, but reading your posting,
I'm wondering if I should ask the new paediatrician we're seeing
tomorrow...
If your son is found not to be bp, then I can still vouch for natural
alternatives to a certain extent (supplements, herbs, fish oil and diet) as
we had great success with these originally. Our nutritionist discovered our
son has leaky gut syndrome, as well as candida which has been linked to
ADHD like behaviour.
I hope you get to the root of the dx and can find some good treatment
soon. I would like to hear how you go if you end up trialling medication,
as I imagine that is our next step too...
Fiona
x
Hi birdietiel, and welcome. My son is 6 and has ADHD - impulsive type with comorbid depression (gets the ADHD from DH and the depression from me) and he presented with agressive tendencies. We had almost the opposite problem as you where DS would seem pretty normal at home and then lose it at school. No one in our family would believe what the school(s) were saying because he seemed perfectly normal to them ;). We've had a lot of success with DS on strattera and welbutrin which has really taken the edge off his behavior at school and at home. We're still fiddling with dosage but last year he visited the principal an average of 3 times a week and hasn't been once this year.
I hope your new psychiatrist will be more attentive to your concerns about the potential for bipolar which I believe can only be diagnosed by a psychiatrist anyway. When you see the new psychiatrist, they should re-evaluate your son before they prescribe *anything*. And keep in mind that you have hired this professional to help your son. You are paying the bills and should be treated with respect, not dismissiveness - good for you on leaving the first one. You are your child's best advocate, especially because you see his behavior issues first hand. A lot of people on the board have also recommended seeing a neuropsych if you can find one.
Welcome and best of luck to you.
Hello there...
You asked if you minded a email buddy. Here I am.....looks like we are going through some same feelings. I have felt very sad and guilty about my son due to the fact that I found out at 6 months that I was pregnant with him (longgggg story) and that I was drinking and smoking during those first 6 months (and so was dad). The "what if" episodes have been many and strong. Stay strong and hope to hear from you soon!!
Hi, I am new here. My son was just diagnosed with adhd. The psychologist wants him to see a psychiatrist and start a drug trial. We have suspected him of having adhd, it just took this long to get a dx, and I believe it is the right one. She also said he might have underlying bipolar. So, I am feeling very worried and overwhemed by all of this. Medicines scare me with all the side effects. It would encourage me if some of you can share success stories with me. I realize the meds might not work right away, or we might have to try several or adjust doses before it works. I just feel very sad and guilty about this. I wish I could have a normal child. I am tired of feeling like an outcast. I know if he doesn't take meds, it will probably get worse. His main problems are aggression and hyperactivity. Thanks for listening, and I'm happy I found this board.
First of all I want to warn you that if your child has bipolar then a stimulat medication can make things much worse!! Do you have bipolar or drug/alcohol abuse and or suicides in your family history? If so that is really important to know before you start your son on stimulants. As many others on this site will tell you aggression is not an ADHD symptom. That is exactly how my son presented when we first got the ADHD diagnosis. THe ladies here are the reason why I did my research and found out about the possibilty of him having bipolar. If you really believe that may be the case then I HIGHGLY recommend coming over to www.bpkids.org. There is a fee to join, but it is soooo worth it! They have a message board and a chat room and that is where I have found my sanity again. Talking with other parents whose children are as out of control as mine. Finding what works for them and just being able to vent to someone who understand is really helpful. I wish you the best and feel free to ask any questions you might have.I agree with momoftwoboyz wholeheartedly. I have two children with BP -- an almost 13-year-old boy who also has a dx of ADHD, anxiety and tic disorder and an 11-year-old girl. It is imperative that you know for sure whether your son has bipolar because ADHD meds -- stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall as well as antidepressants like Straterra -- can make him much, much worse if he does. I urge you to find a board-certified child psychiatrist who has experience treating kids with bipolar. The bipolar disorder needs treatment first (with mood stabilizers) and then you deal with residual symptoms like inattention and hyperactivity.
The best book about this topic is The Bipolar Child by Demitri and Janice Papalos. It is available in bookstores, libraries and on amazon.com.
Good luck!
Hi, smile4u2, my email is listed in my profile, you can email me any time. As far as the BP dx, I am not so sure he has it. His paternal grandpa has bp, nobody else. I was annoyed at the psychologist and one psychiatrist when I mentioned the problem of taking stimulants w/o mood stabilizer(I had read about that). They basically blew me off, and said it's not true. I hope the new psychiatrist is better, he sees him on the 22nd, and we will figure out what he will take. I don't want him on all kinds of meds right away, and that is our right, so I hope he doesn't prescribe a lot right away. I would prefer to start on a low dose of ritalin, and go from there.