Thank G*D the week is over! (Well almost) | ADHD Information
It sounds at least like you have understanding employers and a great boyfriend/father figure to your son.
You are on the right track by getting him in to the doctor...it was the best thing I have ever done for my son, and I put it off far too long because of misconceptions about ADD/ADHD. We didn't have quite so drastic of emotional issues to deal with, but Chase's self esteem was plummeting at an alarming rate before we started him on Concerta.
Hang in there, hopefully this will be the worst of it, and it will be uphill from here.
I think that sometimes our kids act out just like other kids act out, but because they have adhd we attribute it to adhd and therefore it must be bad.
There are lots of 5 year olds who don't like trick-or-treating.
Is it possible that he's just reacting to the obvious tension between you and his dad? If it comes through in a post on-line, it's certainly obvious to him, too.
Just a comment about school behavior mod programs--we had my son on one at school in first grade. We would "talk to" him in the morning about not getting any sad faces or about getting lots of smily faces and what the rewards and consequences would be. It turned into a disaster. It became so stressful for him that it actually triggered more bad behavior in class. If the teacher said anything about getting a sad face (because they try to use it as a tool rather than a reporting device) my son would just spiral into worse behavior because the chance for a reward was already gone and he felt overwhelmed. When we stopped doing that and stopped asking about steps and stopped obsessing about him being perfect in school, he behaved MUCH better. Starting the day with the cloud of failure looming over your head is really REALLY hard on a little guy, and adhd kids tend to be less mature than their contemporaries anyway. Just something to think about.
Also, how did church with grandma go? That hour of quiet sitting can be impossible, so if he did well, celebrate!!
chasesmom79-
What is concerta like? I'm worried that if I put my son on any meds that he'll become a zombie. Did your Ds take well to taking medicine?
I'm now worried that Jon won't be able to swallow the pills...I wonder if there is a chewable form. heh.....
This week has been the week from h***!! Here's a quick recap:
Started Sunday afternoon - Jon was supposed to be dropped off between 2 and 2:30pm(EST). His father had him call at around 3ish and Jon was prompted to ask if he could stay and watch the football game with Daddy. I of course grew a little aggitated with his father, and said that we were supposed to be going pumpkin picking and I want you home by no later then 345!. So, he came home at 330(not bad) and we went pumpkin picking. My boyfriend Pat (Jon's soon to be stepfather) had an emergency call once we got home and had to leave for work. No problem. Jon and I spent time together, made dinner, watched some tv and went to bed.
Monday - wasn't that bad. He had a few "oopsies" in school, and had some homework to do, but other then that, Monday was ok.
Tuesday - I informed Jon before leaving for school that if he got anything under a 3 on his point sheet, he wouldn't be able to go trick or treating after I get home from work. So, I'm not sure if it was because I told him this or because there was TOO much going on, he got a ton of 0's, 1's, and 2's. Once I got home, we got ourselves together to go to my mothers house for dinner (Halloween tradition). On the way, we stopped at my co-workers because she invited me to stop over to see her puppy, Bubba. That didn't go over to well. Jon flipped out, started screaming, crying and throwing a temper tantrum. We immediately left (with apologies of course) and went to my mothers house. He went in with no problem (never really does have a problem going to Grandma's!) and refused to eat. Ok, issue. My mom told me to take him out to at least one house. SO, being that "Mom knows best" I took Jon out and we TRIED to go to one house. He got as far as the front porch, turned around, started to cry, and ran back to Grandmas. Which is really odd. I don't think he was scared since all of my parents neighbors know us really well, so it's not like he's never been there before. So, we fed him, and he went to church with my mom. Nice - I guess. Once he got back, and we went home, he flipped out when it was time for bed. We got him to bed around 930 (which is an hour and a half later then normal). No problems after that.
Wednesday, he FLIPPED about 2 hours into school. He took a pencil, placed it against his neck, and said to himself "Die Die Die." Now, he's not on medication and his teachers and I have NO clue what sparked this. He continued after having lunch with the nurse - temper tantrums, flipping out, screaming, kicking, the works! After getting the call about this, I told them to monitor him until after lunch. I then broke down, AT WORK (which I NEVER do) and talked to my boss and HR rep. I cried for 10 minutes and they told me to take care of Jon, and they'd see me tomorrow. Well, when I got Jon he refused to get in the car. I had to pick him up and PUT him in the car. We got home, and he immediately went down for a nap, because I could tell he was EXHAUSTED! I made TONS of phone calls to get an appointment for him, and actually had to fight to get an appoitnment for Friday with the nurse of his pedi's office!!! I explained 3 different times what was going on, and the phone was FINALLY ripped from her hands and Jon's pedi said that he would see him first thing Friday morning (945). YAY! Once he got up, we discussed his behavior and we made decisions as to what he could and could not do that night. No problems what so ever.
Thursday - wasn't so bad at all. the last 30 minutes of school, he fought with another boy in his class and kicked him. It wasn't anything to "call home about" since the anger, etc, was re-directed. Pat picked him up from after school care around 345 (15 minutes after dismissial) and discussed his behavior. He didn't get to do much for the 2 0's that he had, but once I got home his "time out" was taken off since he wasn't THAT bad during school. Eh.
Today - DOCTOR'S appointment!!! We go in about 2 hours. I'm excited for some reason, but nervous at the same time. I want Jon to be Rx'd meds so he straightens out. I am starting the marble system Sunday (hope it works and STICKS). I just hope I don't get called after he gets to school!! AGH!
Well...I just hope this week comes to a GOOD end. It's been crazy and I'm at wits end. I'm trying to come to grips with Jon having ADHD, but it's so hard!!! Right now, he's watching Seasame Street. He tried to put "Fairly Odd Parents" on, but it's toooooo sarcastic for him, so I told him to put channel 13 on...no complaints. If I had marbles, I'd put 3 in!! Heh....
Sorry soooo long. I was venting! Hope all goes well with everyone and thanks for letting me RAMBLE!
I forgot your comment on the pill swallowing. Chse has been a good pill swallower for a long time, and these are not too big..I remember when he had difficulties when he was younger with his allergy pill that I would get a big spoonful of pudding or yougurt and plop the pill on top, then spoon that in his mouth, that usually all went down together. You could also start him out swallowing mini m&ms then progress to skittles, then tic tacs etc and he wil get the knack. There alco used to be a pill cup that I got for my oldest daughter who still has issues w/pills that haad a little opening at the rim to put the pill in then you put the drink in the cup and when you tip up the cup, the pill would go down with the liquid, ask a pharmicist....or a doc
HTH
Jonathansmom
Concerta has worked quite well for my son (EXCEPT for appetite issues). I noticed a change in his homework on the first day at 18mg. He came home with very little (huge difference, meaning he had used time in classes wisely to complete most of his work) and sat down immediately to complete it willingly and with no redirection on my part to keep him on task. Usually 1 worksheet would take us over an hour and constant reminders to him (chase, your work is right here, chase get back to work, etc...) It has only gotten better since then and this last grade card had straight A's which he had never come even close to before despite his obvious potential. He has been on the med since March of 2006.
I did notice his hands being just a tiny bit shaky that first day, but that didn't stick around, so it may have been my overactive imagination. Other than that, he has remained the same, funny, happy, ornery little guy that now excels in school.
Is it a majic fix to all of his issues? No. We still have problems with him overeacting to his peers' actions a little. He doesn't always remember to turn in his work after completing it or to get his planner signed daily by his teachers, but I suspect that these are somewhat learned behaviors that he now has to "unlearn". He needs to retrain himself to do these things. With the help of his teachers and the marble system, I hope to get him doing better by next year when he begins middle school.
All children react differently to the different medications, however, and many parents have reported zombielike behavior in their children while on this drug. And other parents report taht appetite returns after a time on the drug, but this has not been the case with my skinny little guy. I continue to search for help with that issue with my pediatrician.
The key is to try different medications at different doses and in different combinations until you and your doctor find just the right mix for your son. I know it sounds scary, but watch him closely (and fill the teachers in so you can get their input as well) and maybe just maybe your son will be lucky like mine was and hit on the 'right' drug the first time like we didl
Good luck and let us all know how it went
My 10yo ds started Concerta 3 years ago when diagnosed (36mg). The first couple days took some adjusting, but I was happy with it and didn't think he acted like a "zombie" or out of it. School behavior improved as well as grades.
The past few months his behavior became uncontrollable at times (don't know if it's possible to develop a rebound 2 1/2-3 years after taking a med but that's how it appeared), much like what you've described, so we changed his meds to the Daytrana patch - might be a good idea to try if he won't swallow the med. I have been extremely pleased so far, he's been on 20mg for 2 weeks now. I think he has more of his personality back and the med seems to have alot more of a gradual decline out of his system in the evening. I put it on him at 7:00 a.m. and take it off around 4 p.m.
Hope everything goes well for you and hang in there!!!