We are in the process of getting a 2nd opinion about our DS's ADHD diagnosis. (3 years into it) We have a family history of Bi-Polar. He has lots of symptoms that are not neccesarily ADHD related (rages, anger, irritability, etc.). He has reacted badly to almost all the stimulant drugs.
Anyway, just wondering if anyone has had their diagnosis changed from ADHD to Bi-Polar? What was the process of determination? Then, after the change, how did treatment change?
Thanks!
My son (10yrs) was diagnosed about 10 months ago with ADHD. He has taken Concerta and Vvanyse and now on Strattera. All worked well at first but then he would go back like the medicine was not even there. He to has had problems with rages, anger and irratiblity. With the Concerta and Vvanyse the rages, anger, etc were much worse after a few weeks on them. His Psychiatrist said that if the Strattera did not work we would have to consider BiPolar disorder
Two weeks ago we had to evacuate because of the Hurricane. He was great while we were in the car for 17 hrs. Once we got to where we were going, it became a nightmare. It was like we were at the very beginning again. I emailed his Psychiatrist and Psychologist. They both discussed my son's situation and have determined that he has ADHD along with BiPolar. I also met with the both of them. They have added another medication a Mood stabilizer (Lamicatal). He is only taking half the dose this week and next then he goes to 25 mgs. I can see a difference already.
Thanks for your response. We are also on a mood stabalizer - Abilify.. We have also been on Risperdal in the past. Sometimes I think he's doing better then we have a huge tantrum where he's breaking things, smearing sun screen on the walls, cutting up favorite books with scissors, etc. and I reconsider.
I can't remember what exactly his personality was like before meds but I know we initially sought treatment when he was 3 for the rages not ADHD behavior.
What was your behavior like before meds?
My guy was initially diagnosed with ADHD and is now being treated for Bipolar related symptons. You'll noticed that I did not say he had Bipolar...DMS4 (the psych's guide for diagnosing mental illiness) will not attach a Bipolar label to a child under the age of 16. There's just to many things that can be mistakenly diagnosed for Bipolar in a child who is maturing physically, mentally and sexually. But you can still treat the symptoms.
My guy has challenges focusing and some of the meds used to resolve that will result in evening rages. Many say that this is an indicator of a Bipolar condition. Regardless, we avoid the meds that cause those side effects. My guy often goes from being very happy and gitty to frustrated and angry so we use a med to keep these episodes short and infrequent. Finally, when he does get angry we attempt to temper it with another med. Bipolar? Perhaps, but regardless of the dx, with the use of therapy, behavior modification and meds, we attempt to keep his behavior as predictable and modulated as possible.
Again, don't be so concerned with a dx, rather, focus on treating the symptoms and be very aware of any influences both mental (lots of home work, stress and peer related stuff) and physical (changes in meds, diet, lack of afternoon protein, sudden weight changes, etc) that might cause the most recent episodes.
Paul
My son was a very happy out going boy. He was very loving and sweet. Then at the age of 42 I had another child. At first I thougth ds was acting out because there was now a third child and I had to go back to work. Then his grades started falling, he was struggling so hard with school and everything. Which was hard to accept because he always loved school and made great grades. After the first nine weeks of school the teacher called us in and we discussed grades and behavior. The teacher indirectly asked if was ADHD. So I researched it and continued to watch him. It was not until he was in a rage and told me that he wanted to die that I sought treatment for him. We first went to the pediatrician. At that appt my son told the dr. that he had thought of dying many times prior to him saying it out loud to me. I was devasted. The ped made my son promise that for two weeks he would not do anything to hurt himself so that we could get an appt with a psychiatrist. The ped also gave my son his cell number and told him to call him day or night if he thought of dying. We got an appt within a few days to the psychiatrist,he evaluated my son and determined it was ADHD.
We went through concerta and vvyanse. At first they worked great then he would go back to being mean irratiable, attack us physically. He would get extremely agitated with my husband and my daughter. And when he was around our 20 month old I would get nervious because he always seemed too rough with him. I would not leave them alone in a room together. We then started seeing a psychologist for behavior therapy. That too was helping to get things better. He was actually using the techniques to control his anger and rages.
AFter we evacuated for Hurricane Gustav things got worse again. I emailed both dr. and they met and discussed my sons history (bipolar runs in my husband's family) and we met again all of us and they are now trying the mood stablizer. It seems to be working he is happy and seems normal again. He is looking out for his sister and I am not afraid to leave him alone with our 20 month old son (though I am not out of earshot)
It has been a long 10 months, but I am confident that we are on the right path to making things better for my son. It has been emotionally draining and quiet exhausting, but I will go to the ends of the earth for my children.
I guess I gave too much information, but if you are struggling I find it helps to know what others have gone through and yes there is a light at the end of the tunnel, you just cant give up.
We too have an ADHD son/Bipolar. My DH and I secretly call him our bipolar bear! Our doctor also does not want to DX him with bipolar because once your bipolar your always bipolar and at this age it is hard to determine. But we can treat the symptoms. We do a combination of meds including Risperdone for mood stablizers. Some days are better than others.
We find that the hard part of the bipolar is that you never know which child you are going to get that day. When he wakes up we are walking on egg shells to see are we going to get the happy go lucky...sweat little boy....or are we going to get the moody I hate the world I want to argue littel boy.
It is nice to share and know that we are not the only parents that struggle with these issues, because it sure seems that in our perfectly little subdivison we are the only ones that have these extreme issues.
Yes, I think it does help when we share our stories - we often find commonality and just knowing we aren't the "only ones" going through this, and that there are those who have gone before us, and can tell us, we can make it through, and often life does get better, but sometimes, in the here and now, life sucks. So it's nice to share, and know, that things can get better.
:-)