Will it ever get better? | ADHD Information

It does get better. Push for a higher dose as long as he's not having bad side effects.

Life can be very frustrating with an ADD child. I'm ADD myself so it's like we just ignite each other sometimes. I've found myself dreading when he came home from school. The homework battles in the afternoon were horrible.

I know it's hard in the UK since ADD 'doesn't exist' . I'd like for those that say it doesn't exist to spend a week with an ADD/ADHD child. Then have them tell us it doesn't exist.

Just think of this as a soft place to land. No judgements of you, your parenting, or your child. WE UNDERSTAND!

Thanks he takes 10 mg ritalin at 8am 10 mg at 12 and 10mg at 4 we tried him on long acting concerta but he reacted badly to it and became very depressed.He seems to be okay when we first change his medication but soon becomes "used" to it.He was evaluated by a top doctor as they are the only ones who can prescribe drugs for adhd over here or even diagnose it. [QUOTE=cr12345mr]

Hi and welcome. By your description, it sounds like more than ADHD is going on here. You need to get him into a specialist such as a psychiatrist and get a full evaluation done if you haven't already done so. If you have, you could try a higher dose of Ritalin or another medication. Don't give up until you find the right one. These behaviors seem so extreme. I can see why you wonder if it is more than ADHD. I'm afraid behavior management techniques aren't going to do much until you get the right med to get him under control. Good luck and keep us posted!

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Hi, I'm Angie and have an 8 year old son with similar problems-maybe less extreme though. Last year in 2nd grade has been the worst thus far. He was suspended from school at least 2 times weekly-and just lke you I was angry because they weren't dealing with his issues at school and kept sending him home which made him happy.

At the end of the school year last year he kicked a huge hole in the time out room at school, he ran from the school and it took 8 adults to carry him backmany of which were injured in the process.

I can go on and on- he also head banged as a toddler and even last year did it occasionally.

He is on Concerta 27mg and Tenex 1mg twice daily. Seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist. We are using Ogram's marble system which is working wonders-but we could not have done this last year. We had to get the right medications on board.

So far he only boasts the diagnosis of ADHD and ODD possibly may have other stuff but the psychiatrist said we wont worry about the diagnosis just yet as long as the meds are working.

The good news is he had a better summer and so far things are going well at school. I kid you not I serious compteplated running away last year. I felt like a huge failure and I just couldn't handle it anymore.

Well I am still here and I love Erik more today than yesterday. As you said about your son I have always known Erik was different-but now I thank God for his differences and pray for strength.

Yeah-it gets better I PROMISE

Hi,

It must be so frustrating for you. The people (medical and others) who doubt that ADHD exsists must not believe that depression is real. I'm sure they would say to depressed people "Just get happy." Another comment you may hear is there is no medical test (ie blood, scans etc.) to prove ADHD. Well, I say to them most mental disorders do not have a test to confirm a diagnosis. Depression certainly does not, nor do most other mental disorders. You may want to examin other issues of your family and your child's father's family, that may hold some clues to possible problems. Many times these issues are genetic and that may help you. Doesn't solve your problems but it may shed some light on your sons problems. Good luck and keep us posted.

Hi. DD also had a negative reaction to Concerta. So she is on Ritalin LA (long-acting) She is on 40 mg in a.m., and at 3 p.m. she takes ritalin 15 mg short acting. We started with 20 mg Ritalin LA, and now we are up to 40. That is equivalent to 20 mg in a.m., 20 mg at noon. Maybe ask your doctor to increase the dosage if he isn't having side effects. Wouldn't it be nice if it were that simple?

I can understand how you would be extra cautious after the Concerta experience. I was too. But if the Ritalin is working, try to get it up to a therapeutic level. I'm Cameron's mum he is 6 years old, he has always been different, as a baby he didnt sleep, clung to me like there was no tommorow ,never crawled, and from day he sat up banged his head against anything he could! I have been going to my health visitor since he was 18 months old begging for something to be done, i was even told i was a paranoid mum.We have been through various behaviour programmes,attented centres, had childrens mental health services involved,phsycolgists,Doctors etc etc.He started school at 4 and has been in constant trouble since, He cant read even the most simple words,write his name and can count to just 7.He spends most time sat in the head teachers office ( well he di dbut im getting to that)He was diagnosed this May with ADHD.He is 6 and wont go to bed if and when he does sleep he has nightmares.He wont get dressed,he soils and wets himself,he wont eat,use a knife and fork,swears constatly smashes things up hits other children stabs them with pencils etc.He hits his baby brother who is 7 months old.He likes certain things ie watchin dvd's but he has to watch em over 100 times before he even starts to get bored.He wont wash,clean his teeth,he is very defiant.He was issued with a statement of special educational needs this year stating he needed a one on one teacher he never got one.Then last weds he was excluded from school for an outburst on a teacher,he hit her swore at her kicked her spat at her n smashed the school up.The main stream school isnt the place for him.He cant sit still constantly talks (starting to wonder if he ever comes up for air, fidgits constantly,picks at things and destroys them.Walks up to ppl and will say somethig like are you havin a baby?they reply no he asks why they are so fat then with a few swear words thrown in.He cant ride a bike,catch a ball etc has very poor hand eye co ordination and struggles to do the most simple of tasks.I feel so sorry for him as im sure he does not see he is doing anything wrong he thinks it is normal behaviour,he is aggresive towards all my family and gets obsessed by people or things!He is takin Ritalin but it does not make much difference.I just cant see it ever getting better.He scored very highly on the tests they do infact think he got maximum,Is it just adhd or does he have something else wrong with him? I cant see him ever gettin any better he seems to go down hill day by day and to be honest im scared.What sort of future can he have?Why is there not more support help understanding for these children? IS THIS ADHD ???

Hi,

Wow, you are really dealing with severe behavior. In my very limited experience with ADHD, the symptoms can very mild to very severe. However, as I am sure you have read ADHD often co-exsists with other problems. So, most likely he may or may not have ADHD, but there seems to be another issue. Are you from a country other than USA?? I ask that question because of your spelling is different then we spell in USA. The mental health care differs from country to country and some countries are not as quick to diagnose certain problems in children. I make no claim to jusify the mental health care in any country. But, his behavior does seem to indicate he is troubled and I feel so sorry for him. I really think these children cannot stop their bad behavior. Good luck and I hope some one on this board can be of more help.

Im from England.Its very hard to get them diagnosed with anything over here.People dont believe adhd exists here.This meaning that there isnt much help available well not where I live anyway.I just want my child to be happy, but he knows he is different and says he is thick and stupid and wishes he wasnt here scarey for a 6 year old to say that.Hopefully at the meeting on wed's with the education authority we can get him into a special school for children with severe adhd and autistic spectrum disorders.Any child with adhd is hard work but reading the boards my child does seem to have more going on.Our health care in uk is free and somewhat under strain,I cant afford a private doctor and the doctor he see's is quite good we just dont get to see him anywhere near enough.Plus I think if they want to educate children in mainstream schools they should have plans in place.I feel lost as what to do Thank you for your kind words..on the odd occasion i see him smile these days i know its all worth it:) cameronsmummy38992.5606712963

Yes [QUOTE=scotmama]

it always amazes me the difference between england and scotland regarding ADD/ADHD.we live in aberdeen

my son is 4 and goes to nursery,he was diagnosed in february,he went for a week assessement at the raeden centre,we see a child psychiatrist every 6 weeks,a homeopath ,a massage therapist,a paedatricin,a family outreach worker and he has an IEP at nursery where he is followed by an educational psychologist.we also have homestart where a lady takes my son all day on a thursday to give me a break.

i also sees a psychiatrist who specialise in adult ADD/ADHD for myself.reding other posts,i would say the problem is with english doctors.you are entitled to all the above,fight for it.

it does sound more than ADHD,i would ask for his child psychologist to have him revaluated.do you have something like the raeden centre next to you.it is a special need school where they do evaluations,they are seen by speech therapist,child psychologist,behavioral therapist,they have their eyes,ears,teeth checked and blood tests,urine tests ect... and they observe them interacting with adults and other children.it would be great if you had one next to you.

[/QUOTE] YES there does seem to be a huge difference between Scotland and England.My doctor wouldnt even diagnose my son until he was six ( doc said thats the guidline in england) 2 weeks before he was 6 we saw the doctor he wouldnt give us anything day after he was 6 was prescribed ritalin.Amazes me too.He has been permantly excluded for mainstream school only option we have open to his is have him home tutuored or a special school.I find it quite funny as the doctor i saw said he would diagnose him as autistic if he couldnt speak so well! We have had his eye's checked ( well what they could manage to do) his ears etc... and he has all the test's and observations done at school.He got expelled from nursery so, i should of known school would be trouble no one would listen that he was "different".I have an appointment in Nov were Doc said he may consider diagnosing ODD OCD and will think about possible Aspergers syndrome.Its just all the waiting about,We have appointments they cancel them change them for in months time.So frustrating.I also have 2 children under 2 life is hard, but we get on with it.Ive had a social worker who was RUBBISH! she told me ADHD was an excuse for bas parenting and this woman was meant to help me! This board is such a great help... I had teachers tellin me he needed stronger meds.. i dont believe they had the right to demand that but thats just my opinion.Im doing all I can to help my son yet the school always find fault and get other people involved.He has bad eczema too and is seeing a specialist its so bad he takes steroids , the teacher pulled me up and demanded i saw the school nurse about it lol i mean what does a school nurse know that a specialist does not..Nothin to do with adhd but im using it as an expample of what u have to put up with.I just wish people wouldnt talk about him so he can hear, they say such awful things. I have tried to explain in the past and all i get is yeah so does my child..likely excuse! I i wish there was more understanding for it.. and as someone else said if they dont believe adhd exists i will let them look after him for a week.. they will soon change their minds infact id be amazed if they last 72 hours! Thanks all xx
cameronsmummy,

have you considered looking at alternatives to help your son? we work with a classical homeopath who has helped my son tremendously.

i posted a link for several homeopaths in england- don't know if any are close to you tho.
http://72.29.197.17:591/nch_directory/FMPro

it sounds like something needs to change and in a big way! i hope you find some help and some answers.
good luck.

it always amazes me the difference between england and scotland regarding ADD/ADHD.we live in aberdeen

i also sees a psychiatrist who specialise in adult ADD/ADHD for myself.reding other posts,i would say the problem is with english doctors.you are entitled to all the above,fight for it.