Hi guys!
I posted a couple of weeks ago about my son and his negative reaction to mostly all meds. and I got a lot of answers from you guys that talked about that he needed to get re-evaluated.
We have recently done that and this new doctor has put him on seroquel to help him sleep, (which has been wonderful for him, and us!) but he is getting really irritated at everything. Like at school, when the teachers confront him with something, or even just ask him a question, he is going a little overboard, very defensive.
So I have called this doctor for the last 3 days, (and she has been wonderful to us, I can't believe what a difference a doctor makes, she has been so kind to us, we have never had an experience working with a positive and helpful doctor like her).
So anyway, she said that she spoke with a child neurologist that she studied with and that now teaches at Harvard. She told him about Kenny and what kind of reactions he has had to these medications. She told him that she didn't want to diagnose him with bi-polar at this time, that other doctors had said that he might somewhat/slightly have asperger's, sensory itergration problems, others add/adhd, you name it, doctors couldn't seem to put their finger on it.
Kenny is also on adderall xr, for the last 4 years. I know for sure that Kenny has sensory integration problems. for sure!!!!!!
This Harvard doctor told her that when you are treating kids with sensory problems, asperger's or add/adhd, you do "NOT" want to put them on a stimulant. The stimulant lites up their whole brain and just makes the sensory problems worse. He said, get him off that adderall xr, it will take probably 5 to 6 months, but get him off. The reason it will take longer, is because of his sensory problems and how he reacts so sensitively to the medications.
Try him on the Stratera. The Stratera only lites up the frontal lobe of the brain, instead of "everything"!
Therefore, the reason for the aggression and anger. Right now, while he is on the adderall xr, the dopamine is way out of control and then you have the extra, the sensory problems on top of that.
Could you imagine how you would feel if you were that kid? No wonder he's out of control, because he can not control it! He is feeling everything 100x's more than you or I would feel it. I guess it would be like going to a rock concert, constantly. At first it might be fun, but then you would want to go home and sleep and you couldn't because the concert is still going on and it won't stop. But you look around at everybody else that went to the concert and they can handle school just fine and they can sit still and have a conversation with others and the concert doesn't even look like it's effected them, But this kid is looking around and going nuts and can't figure out why he's the only one that can't handle it. and your teachers and other kids are looking at you, like get a grip! What's your problem?!?!
Could that maybe be a reason why the kid has not self-esteem? Feels like he's totally stupid. says to me crying, "Mom, what's wrong with me, why can't I just be normal?"
Make sense? It sure makes a lot more sense to me, now.
I know that there is more to it and that it will take a lot longer to work on things, but it makes sense. So this sounds like it is going to be a good start. (again!), but in the right direction.
Kendra
I am glad to hear that you are finally getting somewhere with the doctors and that the new doctor you are working with sounds like she is doing everything she can to make sure that she treats your son properly. Wow...to the whole concert analogy, that does make a lot of sense. Hopefully the meds will be worked out soon and your son can start feeling a lot better about himself and feel more in control. I am glad you have a good team to work with for your son's treatment. Hopefully, effective treatment will be achieved soon.