My 9 year old son still has enuresis (peeing the bed). He's had it his whole life, has never been out of diapers. He still sleeps with Good Nites on and a mattress cover.
Switching stimulant medications for ADHD will probably not fix it (I'm sorry, I'm probably not making you feel any better ).
You could take him to a specialist (oncologist, I think?). If he's hiding it, you know it's not attention seeking (I know some kids that do this intentionally for negative attention). My son, too, used to get up at 3 am and change the sheets, or put bath towels down on top of it, get up, go to school, and pretend like it didn't happen.
I've spoken to ped. about this and pdoc also, and neither have had any advice for me. We all just hope he will outgrow this.
As I said, I keep mattress covers down and put him in Good Nite pull up diapers. I don't know how well that would work with your son.
We did trial DDAVP back in 2003 for this. It came in the form of a nasal spray, however, it didn't help Dylan with the problem. I found this online if you'd like to read about it:
http://www.drgreene.com/21_791.html
Dylan was picking at his skin too - his finger tips. They were all picked raw. The pdoc thought this was an anxiety issue. Since upping the Abilify, we haven't had this problem anymore. You can try rubbing something like aloe vera on the scab, as much as possible, and see if that helps it to go away.
From what I've read, there is a connection between ADHD and bladder control/bedwetting. I have had a lot of success with a bedwetting alarm (PM me if you want the details on that) to reduce the nighttime accidents-- we are still waning and waxing, but there is notable improvement overall. I am getting the distinct impression that he has to focus to control his bladder, and it's harder for him than for your average kid. I am even using the alarm when he is home during the day, and this helps him pay attention to his bladder.
Hi,
This is the first time I have been here and I am so glad I found it. I am the mother of 4. Dan 12, Nicole 11, Jack 8(ADHD) and Madelyn 5. Jack was diagnosed ADHD Aug 05. He has been on Ritalin, concerta and now adderall. He is doing much better in school with neatness and completing work, but he has tics (eye blinking), he wets the bed (hides it) and he has been scratching at an old scab on his hand for about a year and now I think it is a permanent scar. My pediatrician is really not helpful, we just keep switching meds. Can anyone please offer some advice? I think I'm going crazy!!!!!! Thanks
[QUOTE=seger] My pediatrician is really not helpful, we just keep switching meds. Can anyone please offer some advice? I think I'm going crazy!!!!!! Thanks[/QUOTE]
Has he only been seen by his ped? They don't specialize in those meds. He needs to be seen by a psychiatrist- they are the specialists.
Also, if the meds are causing the problems with the tics and skin picking, it's probably the wrong med.
No he was seen by specialists over a four visit testing session. They did IQ, medical and psych tests on him. They diagnosed him and recommended we get meds from our peds since it would be closer and easier for us. He has been scratching and bed wetting before meds. Tics I just noticed as being more frequent.I am going for the Tourettes. After Todd started Concerta the tics appeared. Stimulants will aggravate a Tic. Get your son OFF the Concerta and onto something that doesn't last as long if he HAS to be on a stimulant. There is no cure for tics and the medicines they have to control the tics have side effects WORSE than the tic itself, so don't use em unless it is a severe tic.
Tourettes is more heartbreaking for me as a parent than his ADD is. Most kids will outgrow the tics after puberty and tic wax and wane... come and go and most likely he will develop quite a repetoir of tics.
Bedwetting can also be from food allergies. With my ds it was milk. You could try eliminating common food allergens one at a time and see if you see a change. You need to give it at least 3-4 days to see. Good luck with figuring everything out.Have no idea what sort of specialists you saw, but unless you included a Neurologist, I would want the child seen by one for the tics. Tics aren't something therapists or Psychiatrists are specialized to know about and Tourettes Syndrome or another tic disorder is obviously going on. On the site I listed below, scratching is listed as a tic too. Maybe that's why he has the inattention as tic disorders often go co-morbid with ADHD. I personally wouldn't give my child any medication that made tics worse. I wouldn't trust a pediatrician with this either. I'm surprised he hasn't referred you to a Neurologist himself unless he hasn't seen the tics. A tic disorder without vocal tics is just "Tic Disorder." With vocal tics (throat clearning, noises, etc.) it is Tourettes. He is a site that includes "Tic Disorders." You may want to look at it. Good luck!
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