My son, at age three was diagnosed with ADHD, later around the age of 6-7 PDD-NOS, then a year later Aspergers. Around age 8 he had a working IEP for PDD-NOS or Aspergers (which, too me are both the same) then after being hospitalized twice for freaking out at school doctors said he was both ADHD and ODD.
FINALLY---at age 9 we have the correct diagnosis: Bipolar-NOS along with ADHD.
Looking back over the years I can visually see where all the labels interlock with one another and now I understand why the medical community looked down on bipolar in children. I tell ya, ignorance is obvious isn't it?
My point is this---I see both ADHD and bipolar in my son, more so NOW than I ever have in the past; yet I am thankful and grateful for going through what we have gone through. Because now, I know. It's a definitive label and one that should be considered when your son or daughter are freaking out over the smallest things. Or when your child breaks things out of anger rather than boredom, or when you feel for some reason or another that you are not "connecting" with your child.
My son, is or was soup labeled-----but not anymore.
He is my son with many unique qualities that are creative, and inventive. He is bipolar and ADHD and with a little more coaching he will find the cure for cancer.
Tams Thanks for sharing your story and great attitude. I'm sure you saw the Bipolar cover story in Newsweek or Time recently. It was a very grim story about a young boy. It's important for people to realize how common it is for disorders to coexist in children. Can't recall the exact name; comorband or something. My son has adhd and sensory integration disorder; both impact his life in different ways. Congratulations on all your hard work on reaching this point. (you know, the doctor's appointments, meds, ER visits, therapies, conferences, etc) and keeping your son's bright future in sight.
Trixila
The word you want is comorbidity.
im new to the board but i have a 4 year old that was recently diagnosed with adhd the specialist that we saw suggested the possibility of bipolar becuase of the strong family decent when i was frustrated with wondering what was going on with her in tears some days because i got the impression that my daughter was either a freack or a medical mystery either way i knew there was an anserw for all of the questions how ever beings that my daugher is so young she can not be propely tested for bipolor i still did some of my own research and found that my duaghter has alot of the symptoms for it alarming and relieving to have a clue knowing that she will be okay my doctor even suggested aspergers and i was frightend but i have a lot of questions for you so please if you could tell me if ur child had problems with toilet training
also what about sexuall things like overly curious touching or exploring themselves
my daughter is very moody ofcourse but i dont know if its adhd or possible bipolar
Did it make you feel that something was not quite right with all of the dianosis? For me it was a puzzle and I was bound and determined to find out what it was.Yes, my child had issues with toliet training--and too this very day (he is 9yrs old) has to be reminded on how to wipe otherwise it is all over the counters in the bathroom, fingers and hands, you name it, it was there. Now it isn't as bad as you may invison, but the point is he has to be reminded often and hygene is not of importance to them.
I would welcome any question you may have. I have been through quite a bit with my son and it is just now that I am grasping the whole picture. I love to pass on what i have learned.
TamsRingoBingo, I have a 13 year old who just recently started having problems with walking around with bowel movement in his underwear. Claims he can't feel it or smell it. My personal feeling is that he is not wipeing and is putting off going to the bathroom. He also had alot of problems with toilet training. It took me a long time to get him out of diapers. From age 2 to age 4. He still has problems with night time wetness up until last year when I took him to the urilogist and he prescribed a common drug that they give kids now to help them with night time wetness. We had to cut off fluids after 5pm and took this med at night for a month and finally he stopped the night time wetness. I do wonder if there is some kind of an imbalance in the brain chemistry of these ADD kids that puts them at a higher risk for these issues. My kid also had every diagnosis and med that was known at the time for ADD. It is very frustrating! I took me about 4-5 years to really find something that really helped him. We need more support groups for parents of these kids! I personally feel that alot of doctors and teachers out there still don't really know how to treat these kids. It took me awhile to find a good child psychiatrist that had a clue and it still took him awhile to find something to help him. So, I know what you mean! Just hang in there! The only way I can look at this whole picture is that God gave me a very special child and requires alot of my time and love. He is truely a loving child!My daughter is 7 and i am speaking with you ringo on co-exisisting
I have been through so much with her..She sometimes pees her pants if she does not want to stop playing...The problem is she goes thru things were she pees in the corner of her room, on her stuffed animals and outside anywhere which is horrible we live in town...
Dianar--was your child diagnosed with bipolar recently?
The road is frustrating!! I know---for me, it was dealing with other people who had no clue or not enough room in their mind to open up to anything else. The medical community as well because they are often reluctant to diagnosis a child as bipolar.
Your 13 year old son still pooping in his pants sounds like somethingi my own son would do. With my son, he doesn't know how to wipe it although I have showed him over and over again. If I smell him then I know he has poop on his shorts and I make him wash his own underwear out then take a shower and we repeat the process again.
I believe that most of these children do have a chemical imbalance in their brain, which is probably why they prescibed numerous chemicals----to sort of regulate it. And I totally agree that other professionals such as school nurses, teachers and anyone working in public education should be educated about ADHD, PSTD, ODD, Bipolar, etc......any and all!!
Tams
Tough Love Mom---
My son would pee in his bed. Not while he was sleeping but while he was fully awake; because he was or is just to lazy to get up and go to the bathroom. I also have seen my son hold in his pee or poop until he can't hold it anymore and will pee wherever. It's coming super fast and there is no time to find the bathroom--pee anywhere is better. As long as its out. Often COdy was just to busy to take the time to stop what he was doing to pee and this sounds like your daughter. She may be just too busy to stop what she is doing. She is hyper focused at the time and doesn't want to be interrupted.
I have two boys who think its hilarious to whip it out and pee in front of others. My oldest, the one who is bipolar has done it several times. RingoBingo, No Bipolar! I did at one time think he might be Bipolar and we tired some meds for that. They did not help and made the focus problem worse. But, that is a good question. I will ask his counsler again about this potential. The major problem is that he is 13 and the hormones are probably wild! I think they are probably worse with ADD kids! Thanks! Great suggestion!My son started puberty a year and half ago, it has made life more interesting.
That's for sure! I think it's even harder for ADD kids to just. My son seems social withdrawen and only wants to hang with a very few kids. Mostly younger kids! He does not like the popular kids and hangs with the so called nerds. I think he is afraid of what others think to the point that he imagines that the say things about him. He overblows anything the kids say. I try to encourage him to try not to be bothered by what others say and to just laugh about it. But, I guess he just can't. This is very hard for me to understand because I love people and love to socialize. I was very popular in school but I had alot of friends. Do you have any suggestions on how I can encourage him? He also has just started a new school and has an appointment with his counsler this week.
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