Hi, My name is sharron and i really could do with some advice.
My son Nicholas was diagnosed ADHD about 4 months ago. He was put on ritalin as we had already tried the preservative free diet. He started having trouble sleeping so was then put on endep to help with that problem. Every single night is a nightmare!! Someone ends up crying. There is screaming and now he has started swearing at us. He is the worse than i have ever seen him and i dont understand whats going on. I havent changed his diet. Its putting a huge strain on the relationship between my husband and i. Basically i dont know what to do next. I feel like this is it, this is what life is going to be like. I love my son so much but when he's like he was tonight i dont like him much. I cant help but wonder if its my fault. was i not strict enough. my mum told me to try letting him get his own way but i dont think that is the answer. Ive never been able to discipline him because nothing seems to work.
Im confused, this is all new to me.
As soon as school ended, I put my son on a no-dairy diet. We also started Omega Mood, an omega 3,6 supplement, along with magnesium and a multi-vitamin. I'm seeing great results with his temper control and his being able to recognize when he's acting out. We started the no-dairy diet because lots of kids have dairy or wheat allergies that don't show the regular allergy symptoms, perhaps because it's a mild form. If ritalin is the only med you've tried, I would talk to the prescriber and try something else. From what I understand, adhd meds come in two families. Both should be tried for at least a month to decide which works best for your child. Clearly, if the solution you are trying is not working for your child, it can't be working for your family, either. Good luck and keep trying.I'll give you my take on what's happening. First of all, my opinion is diets don't do squat so that wouldn't be helping or hurting him. Healthy diets can never hurt (again this is my opinion--never seen a kid change due to diet). Ritalin has a rebound effect. WHen it wears off the child can be significantly worse. This may be what you're seeing (probably is). There are time released meds that don't cause so much of this, but, if your kid is on a stim, there is going to be some sort of rebound. If it isn't helping him that much during the day, it could be that there is more going on than ADHD. Our first dx. was ADHD, and it wasn't. THat's just usually the 1st diagnosis any child with behvior problems get, even though the DSM for ADHD doesn't mention things like tantrums, raging, violence, etc. If you're seeing THIS it's unlikely ADHD. However the stims CAN cause that in some children after they wear off. You may want to try alternatives to stimulants or try a long acting stimulant. What types of behavior are you seeing with your son when he's NOT on meds? Which sort of professional diagonsed him? Has he seen a Child Psychiatrist (with the MD)? A NeuroPsych? Just because a pediatrician or plain psycologist diagnoses ADHD doesn't mean it's right. Yes, it's frustrating (was for us) and often takes a long time to get it right. I'm not liking your son's reaction to Ritalin. My son did poorly on all stims because he didn't have ADHD. He had something else. I'd re-evaluate and try different meds. Why give your son something that makes him worse? My son is almost 13 We've gone through two wrong diagnoses and twelve meds. Been around the block here. There is also another site you may want to ask this question to. These kids have all sorts of disorders, including ADHD, and the parents are older and have been there/done that already.
Ok...lol. I just noticed you're in Australia...duh. Frankly, I don't know w hat kind of help you'll get there. Seems that other countries tend to call everything ADHD and prescribe Ritalin. My post was assuming you were in the US and could switch to the professional of your choice. I'd still keep pushing. The Conduct Disorders board includes a really smart woman from Austrailia. If you post there, I'm sure she'll answer you. (((Hugs))) and good luck. OlderMom38884.2510763889Get your son evaluated by a neruopsy! The dx sounds wrong to me. If they behavior got worse, then you really need to take him back to the same dr and tell that dr you are taking him off the meds, and tell him why. if the dr has a problem with it, ask why. then go to get a second and even a 3dr opinion. It sounds like some thing that is NOT adhd. re-read older mom's post. she is very good at this kind of thing. Good luck and keep us posted.
Hi, Thanks for all the support. I just wanted to let u know that the ritalin is working. He is only on a small dose 10mg morning and 10mg early afternoon. He is really well behaved at school and is doing excellent. Before he started the ritalin he was very diruptive, couldnt sit still, couldnt concentrate. He would jump on tables. Im really looking forward to getting his report card because the teachers say he is the only well behaved child in the class. Its the same at home, daytime is great no worries. We have taken him off the endep of a night time, which was given to help him sleep, because we noticed he wasnt getting really worked up until about half hour after given the tablet. Its been two nights since we last gave it to him and we have seen a huge improvement, we were even able to go without giving him his afternoon tablet without too much trouble. Im hoping its not just a fluke. BTW the doctor that is treating Nicholas is a Peadiatrician who expertises in child behavioural problems. I have however decided to take him to see a child psychologist to get some help.
Thanks againg
Sharron
Hi I too would recommend a Psychiatrist this is who we have been dealing with for a few months now and he has been very receptive too me. I reading your night time issues have a lot of sympathy for you because this is exactly what I have been going through we have found a med that works good during the day and evening but nights are terrible. We got put on Clonidine to help during day and night and help him sleep at night but his body adjusts to the meds fast so we have had to increase it alot and then at night it caused him to have night mares and he would be up all night we recently switched his night med and it seems the three days hes been on it he is starting to get use to it already, another sleepless night last night so I feel for you keep me posted what you find too I have been in the same boat for a while now. I know I keep on my Psychiatrist I go three sleepless nights and I am calling him and he has been good about working with us at last minute. I first would recommend a Psychiatrist I was too dealing with a pediatrician who deals with behaviors too and when the med she put him on didnt work she sent us to the Psychiatrist we are seeing. Good luck to you.