hi 4inoregon,
welcome! You know getting the diagnosis and starting "the swim to the edge of the whirlpool", can be hard, but once you reach the edge..................for sure some relief! Hang in there, this is only step one, but it's a BIG one. Just getting a proper diagnosis and the first step on the path is a big step.
First just know 18mg of Concerta is a pretty low dose. You may not be jumping up and down day 1 saying YIPEE!! BUT then again you may, you can never tell before hand with these meds, unfortunately. There are so many meds and even more combos out there, dont get discouraged if things dont click immediately. Quite often finding the right med and dose takes a bit of figuring out, but you will.
I have a couple of suggestions
Start a journal, log behavior, appetite, mood, sleep. This will be invaluable as you look back.
Give each med 2 weeks before you give up and try each med to it's fullest before switching (meaning try raising the dose or play with timing) always writing down what you do.
Good luck, keep us posted, it's why we're here! There's a lot of experience on these boards and people willing to help for the sole purpose of "getting" what you're going through!
Welcome! Believe me, we all know what that whirlpool feels like. Believe Diane when she tells you to keep a journal. Sometimes the meds need adjusting before you get it just right - remember we are talking about body chemistry here, and everyone's is different. Having the journal will remind you when you talk to the dr's just what has been working, or not working.
Nothing is a miracle cure, but meds can definately help your kid get some focus and help your family with frustration. ADHD always affects the whole family, not just the child with the condition. We have all walked, and are still walking in your shoes.
This forum is a GREAT source of information and support. I don't know how I would have gotten this far without it. Help with meds, side effects, school issues, discipline issues - etc. You will find there is someone here who has been there, and can be a great source of brainstorming.
Hang in there - it WILL get better. Welcome to the board!
, GREAT!! Love it when people have a great first day!! Thanks for sharing...........Welcome 4inoregon!
We all remember the days you are describing; the tears, the frustration. I even had a psychologist tell me that I just had a difficult child. The ped diagnosed him 2 years later during an office visit for a cold or something. We started on Concerta, too.
Diane had some wonderful suggestions. I want my two cents. I also keep a medical notebook on my son. Our kids usually see more than one doctor. I keep copies of all the test reports, meds information and copies of any paperwork I fill out for anyone. I use a 3 ring notebook with page protectors. I also take it to all his appointments. It is very useful when visiting doctors to have that information at your finger tips. Many times I write down questions to ask/discuss with the doctor, I leave room on the page to scribble notes down. Keep that in your notebook too.
Next set of advice--read as much as you can. Learn the proper medical terms and use them when speaking with the doctors. You will be treated much better because they will see how serious you are about helping your son. I do lots of research online, you will see the common threads and be able to disregard the screwball ones. I subscribe to 4-5 ADHD newsletters, they are fill lots of new information.
Be aware there is no one mirace med and what works now, may not work in the future. You need to monitor your son's progress. My son has been on meds for 6 years and we have been on 4 different ones. You may have to have more that one med to help them. My son takes vyvanse and lamictal (mood stablizer). You have to watch for side effects, our most common were appetite supression and sleeping difficulty. Rebound, (which is that behaviour resulting from the meds wearing off), can be manage by diet or booster meds in the afternoon.
The meds really help with school but they also help with social interaction. Kids can be tolerance of the crazy behaviour, the parents and other adults usually aren't. And it is often the adults that give us the most grief about our children.
The meds help my son's real personality come out. It calms him so that he can do things with us. These kids are so funny and can be so much fun to be with.
I am so freaked out. I am cool with meds, but I am afraid they are not going to be all I think they are. I know there is no "magic pill" My son (9yo) will be in behavior therapy too, but Good God, I need some friggin help. I love him, but some days I want to strangle him. He is so defiant and angry because he doesn't understand what is happening to him. Please let them work for him, please let them work!!!Hello 4inoregon and welcome to the forum. You will receive a lot of support and help in this forum. You said your 9 y/o was dx a few days ago. What was he dx with and who dx'd him? Also, what meds and the dose did they put him on?
If it is ADHD and he was prescribed a stimulant med you will most likely see a change the first day. Please keep us up to date.
Randy
That's what I'm hoping. I really have not had a lot of support. Not to say folks don't mean well, they do, but they really don't have a clue. I have reached out to friends and family looking for the answer, and I either get "Oh, he's just being a boy, he'll grow out of it and figure out his way..." or I get something like"Have you tried natural consequences? Love and Logic? Sounds like you need to find the right consequence..." When I hear that, I want to tear my hear out. My son is 9!!! OF COURSE I have tried EVERYTHING!!! Consequences work for kids who have an attention span to put the two together!!!!