new to forum...looking for advice | ADHD Information
I have enjoyed reading eveyone's stories. it is nice to not feel so alone in theis mad mad ADHD land we navigate!
my DD is 8 and acts a couple years younger than her age. Fine. She was born with a severe heart defect and spent the first year of her life in a fragile state and 9 months in hospital. She has a mild form of CP but it doesn't effect her abilities to do things. The major problem, FOCUS and BEHAVIOR. Infact some days she seems out n out crazy....
She doesn't "get it" she just doesn't get it. For instance, Discipline, works on an individual basis (like right now, this minute, this day) and the next day...same infractions. She is easily agitated, and her constant focus issues are wearing me out!!
A major problem is school. (2nd gr.) She is starting to fall behind and seems to be unmotivated to do work, and is defiant to her teacher (mortifying to me) she was "academically up to par" and is currently recieving NO extra help, although i am about to change all that as I am a Proactive person, the school...REactive, so this is a HUGE issue for ME! her teacher seems to be at wits end and I don't know WHAT to tell her or to DO for that matter...I think I am sooo overwhelmed, I don't even KNOW where to begin! I am going to have the school test her to see "where she stands" as far as LD but other than that...I am flustered (sounding ADD myself now)
I do have a question for anyone who would like to input. Do your children have trouble sleeping. She falls asleep easily, stays asleep, but once awake in the AM that is it. Even if it is 5 in the morning...even if she stays up later, or goes to bed earlier. She doesn't seem to "require" that much sleep (and for the record I DO ) problem with Early wake up is I CAN"T trust her...she gets into things, like the peanut butter (weird fascination with eating it out of jar with a sppon...at 5 in the AM...this si a BIG NO NO in our house) and sicne it is like every night she is "reset" discipline doesn't seem to "take hold" Was wondering if the early riser thing is a problem for anyone else...
I know I am being vague, but I am so overwhelmed right now and so alone, that I don't even want to list all the "issues" we have and things we "tried" I am sure that will come later!
Thanks in advance. it is nice to know we are not alone!
PS: She is on 27mg ER Concerta. Please understand in advance I was wary to medicate at all do to underlying heart issues, but had the a ok from cardiologist...so I am nervous to change meds frequently. (just FYI)
My daughter, who is 8 yrs old, is the opposite when it comes to sleep. Shehas trouble falling asleep but once asleep stays asleep and sleeps late. Both my kiddos get up early. Annoying to say the least. I've turned into the worlds most boring person. The boys are completely asleep by 8pm, and I'm not far behind them. If I stay up much later than 10pm, I'm a bear in the morning. I tried the TV in the room thing. DS was supposed to watch cartoons until I woke up, but that didn't last long, and I would find all kinds of food in their room when I got up. NOT ok. I don't really have any advice on this, just thought I'd tell you to hang in there. One other thing, I SWEAR Adhd habits wear off on you as a parent. I have always been a laid-back type, maybe even a little inattentive. Not so since DS was born. I've learned to adapt, sort-of. Sleeping in is 7:30!!! I LOVE those mornings.
Hi, I'm fairly new here myself. My 8 yr old son sounds just like your daughter. We only got a diagnosis on my son for ADHD about 5 weeks ago and he started med's (Dexamphetamines) about 3 weeks ago. They have contained his issues somewhat but I feel he may need an increase. I hear what your'e saying when you say your daughter "just dosn't get it".....neither does my son. My son has mostly always been able to go to sleep at bedtime, no hassles and I'm talking like 7 - 7.30pm. He has always woken up earlhy in the morning (around 5am) but in the last year or so he generally wakes up 5.30 - 6.30am and it makes no difference to what time he goes to bed at night. Since taking the med's plus on school holiday break (Australia), wev'e noticed he's not getting to sleep till between 8.30 - 9.30pm ...... a few nights alot later than that and still up early. Up until about 6-12 mths ago, when my son woke up, he had to wake the whole house up. He would even deliberately wake up his younger sister or he'd come into our bed and then fidget or makes noises or talk etc.....he could turn our house into turmoil at 5am! Welcome here anyway and there's always plenty of good advice and it help's to know your'e not alone.
Candycane
Do you feel like the Concerta is helping her? It sounds like it may not be doing the trick for her if she's still having the problems with impulse control that you are describing.
My son is the same way if his medication is not working properly. He just doesn't "get it!" and NO discipline works. He does the same bad behavior over and over and each time he acts like it's the first time he's ever been told not to do it! 
That is lack of impulse control. When his medications are working properly he actually responds to discipline and remembers not to do things.
I'm sorry I don't have any advice about trying to get her to sleep later but there may be medication options that allow her to be properly medicated when he wakes up so she's under control before she gets you up-maybe the patch???
Hang in there! If you keep at it, it WILL get better! 