Well... we r no longer on the vyvanse... got changed to concerta today. she was having alot of stomach issues with the vyvanse. and after the first week or so didnt even seem to help. Hoping this works better, time will tell.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DIAGNOSED THIS WEEK WITH ADHD... IM AT A LOSS WITH THIS IT SEEMS...IM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH HER. SHE IS STARTING ON VYVANSE IN THE MORNING AND IM HOPING WITH GOOD RESULTS. SHE WHINES ALOT CANT KEEP HER ATTENTION FOR ANYTHING SHE IS WAY OVERWEIGHT AND SHE WANTS TO EAT ALL THE TIME. AND HONESTLY I HAVE MY OWN ANXIETY PROBLEMS AND AM HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME HANDLING THIS, AND I DONT SEEM TO HAVE THE PATIENCE THAT ARE NEEDED AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL REALLY BAD. I WANT TO HELP HER SO MUCH AND JUST WANT HER TO FEEL THE WAY SHE SHOULD. SHE WAS DOING SO WELL IN SCHOOL AND NOW IS ON THE VERGE OF FAILING, AND HAS A "NEW" TEACHER WHICH DOESNT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE HER.
ANY ADVICE? I CAN USE ALL I CAN GET....
Hello Mom -
You sound pretty overwhelmed right now. Take a deep breath. Although you are heading into some challenging days ahead, you and your daughter will survive. You seem to be taking it seriously and are expressing a desire to make things work. Congratulations - that was step number one!
If you are not getting help for your own anxiety, I would strongly suggest that should be a high priority. It is difficult to focus on our kids when we are not in a balanced spot ourselves.
You have just gotten the diagnosis. Hopefully some of the annoyances you are experiencing will begin to diminish. That being said, ADHD is a lifelong condition. There may be good moments, days weeks and years, but there will also be bad.
To increase your patience, realize two things:
If your daughter had a more visually obvious condition, such as Down Syndrome, you would change your expectations for your child. With ADHD, kids appear more "normal" and so we expect "normal" behaviors. Accept that your child is different, for both the good and the bad. Your child is not trying to "manipulate" you or be "bad". She is trying to navigate her world with the tools she has developed to date. She wants to be good, loved and appreciated.The medication can have a tremendous impact on appetite and weight. There is a good chance you will see her weight decrease, due to the meds.
Lastly, when it comes to school, nothing is more important than your child's mental health and well-being. School can be a major hurdle for a child with ADHD. Don't let the typical school's expectations and calendar dictate what's best for your daughter. Forcing an expectation that your daughter fit into the bell curve can be a recipe for her own anxiety, depression and self-image issues.
Be honest, loving, accepting and flexible with your daughter. You will both find your path.
- Chris
My son is 10 and has been taking Vyvanse for almost a year. He's experienced the least amount of side effects with this drug. We've also tried Adderall, Strattera, Biphentin and Ciprolex over the past 3 years. My son was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago (although I knew he was different from the age of 4)and now we're thinking he may have ODD as well. His teacher, principal and counsellor all seem to think so....and I do, too. He's made progress over the years but it's like taking 1 step forward then 2 steps back. He's not violent but prone to instant rage and high frustration levels (clenching, red face, screaming, stomping, swearing and is verbally abusive) He'll argue anything and everything in school and at home. I get so frustrated by his contant defiant attitude that I'm often left feeling exhausted and emotionally spent.Thanks for the advice....
We did start the VYVANSE today and today has been wonderful... she has had a good day... even working on homework without me telling her too... and asking for my help even.. i just hope she continues and this helps her... and yes she is under the care of a specialist in out area for adhd...only problems is she was kinda of emotional a few times and complained with her belly hurting..small side effects for me...
My son takes Vyvanse and hasn't had the sore tummy issue, but I have heard of it from others. Make sure she takes it with food, this may help.
As far as being emotional - don't be surprised if some of her reactions are surprising. Our doctor explained to us that our son is experiencing a whole new world, and it will take him a while to figure out how to react to it. He kind of withdrew at first, was obsessed with drawing etc and lost interest in playing with other kids. Now he is doing fantastically well, back to being boisterous and fun-loving but without the self-control issues he had before.
I hope you have as good an experience with treatment as we have had.
cheers,
Willa
My son had the stomach issue on Vyvanse. His doc thought it was a