WeeBeaks Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 If you are supplementing with amino acids, could you share your experiences? My specific child has ADHD and probable bipolar. I came across some recommendations for amino acids for ADHD of acetyl L-carnitine, phenylalanine and tyrosine. I'm familiar with these from reading about them in The Mood Cure, but this is the only book I have read suggesting them for ADHD in children. DS has several weeks until his next psych appt so I'm asking here to see if this is more common than I realized. :001_smile: My son does take Rx meds too. My second question is regarding experiences with a partial hospitalization program. Anyone BTDT? His psych (he has seen him 3 years now, very old school, does his own therapy and knows son well for background) recommended a 2 week hospitalization at a psychiatric facility for further diagnosis/observation by a variety of further subspecialists and medication adjustment. Son does not care for the idea, and I'm on the fence. Personal experiences there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: I'd love to hear thoughts on acetyl-L-carnitine in particular. I'm going to be asking the DAN-affiliated integrative neurodevelopmental pediatrician (what a mouthful :lol:) about it on Wednesday at our consultation. DD was found to be low in carnitine and I've heard that the acetyl-L form can cross the blood/brain barrier while the regular L-carnitine fom cannot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyinMD Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I think Kenneth Bock's book also talks about amino acid supplements. http://www.amazon.com/Healing-New-Childhood-Epidemics-Groundbreaking/dp/0345494512/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329763359&sr=8-1 We have given Acetyl-L-Carnitine and it was hard to tell if it helped much. What we are doing this week is a Urine Amino Acid test to see what amino acids we should be supplementing. I think it will give us a much better picture than trying ones without knowing ds's levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funnygirl Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Can you explain what the "partial" hospitalization will look like? We have done two short term and one long term hospitalizations, and none of them were successful. I'd like to hear more about what your psychiatrist has in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Can you explain what the "partial" hospitalization will look like? We have done two short term and one long term hospitalizations, and none of them were successful. I'd like to hear more about what your psychiatrist has in mind. They go all day but don't have to stay nights. It is considered outpatient but intensive in that they spend all day there for a couple weeks. Our local description reads like this, but I found a link to another hospital for privacy reasons. It explains though: http://www.baystatehealth.org/Baystate/Main+Nav/Clinical+Services/Departments/Behavioral+Health+Services/Child+Partial+Hospitalization+Program Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funnygirl Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I would have done this in a heartbeat, ESPECIALLY if the place you are using is following Ross Greene's approach. I think the biggest problem with full hospitalization is that the kids don't get to practice what they learn during the day at home WHILE they are getting their treatment. When our dd came home after her hospitalizations, she just wanted everything to go back to "normal". It was immensely difficult to implement the changes that had been prescribed while she was at the hospital. Bottom line, if I had the same opportunity you have, I'd go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 If it is a good partial hospitalization program, I would go for it. Have you tried any meds for bipolar? We tried the True Hope supplements and do use the fish oils, etc. but honestly, the meds are where it is at for the ADHD and bipolar here. My 16dd takes 2 mood stabilizers along with an AP and Dexedrine for ADHD. My 15dd takes 1 mood stabilizer along with an AP and Dexedrine. Both are doing well with this combo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Thanks for the info. I called them today. Now I just have to deal with an angry husband and MIL that I'm doing this. Yes, he takes Trileptal for rages/possible bipolar. He has for about a year, and the rages seem a little bit less intense at least. DH insists his meds are the reason he has no conscious/ethics. Could this be true? I'm doubtful. DH feels the meds dull his affect and thus he doesn't feel anything and shows lack of consideration of others, is cruel, lies to get himself off the hook and others in trouble. I see no research showing this could be the case. Anyone have links that I'm wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Those things are often SYMPTOMS of a mood disorder, not a side effect of the medication. For us, the proper medication has ALLOWED my girls (esp. older dd with more severe issues) to really grown and mature in these skills. Is he on anything else other than the Trileptal? Did you try anything else before that? For rages, Risperdal is one of the most commonly used meds and it is indicated for bipolar. If he goes to the program will they make some med changes or just watch him? check out http://www.bpkids.org and http://www.bipolarchild.com for lots of great information. Google Pediatric Bipolar Treatment Guidelines for a great but older article on the meds, their uses, side effects, combos used, etc. Well worth printing it out to review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 DH insists his meds are the reason he has no conscious/ethics. Could this be true? I'm doubtful. DH feels the meds dull his affect and thus he doesn't feel anything and shows lack of consideration of others, is cruel, lies to get himself off the hook and others in trouble. I see no research showing this could be the case. Anyone have links that I'm wrong? The above actually sounds like it could be Asperger's. The self-centeredness and lack of empathy for others in particular. Some Aspies are actually very good at manipulating others- where they struggle is with healthy reciprocal social interaction. AS is also frequently misdiagnosed as ADHD. Before you take the step of partial hospitalization, I would recommend having an evaluation done by someone familiar with AS to see if that might be a better explanation than ADHD/Bi-Polar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Thanks to you both. Yes, he has been on Risperdal in the past but with not as great of a result as we have had with Trileptal. He also takes Tenex for hyperactivity and impulsivity and a stimulant (old one, dextroamphetamine) for ADHD. We went him to a research university for full workup between this psychiatrist and the last. They didn't feel Aspergers or autism. They did a lot of testing I know but I wasn't in the room the whole time. They used all kinds of computerized tests of attention, emotional results to situations, interaction with the clinician, etc. So I'm relatively confident on ADHD, but of course things can be mixed so much that who really knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 If he goes to the program will they make some med changes or just watch him? check out http://www.bpkids.org and http://www.bipolarchild.com for lots of great information. The goal would be medication optimization as well as behavioral therapy with him and also family therapy to give us more techniques. I got the call back from the social worker and actually the partial outpatient program won't take him because of his rages and wants inpatient intensive followed by outpatient. I'm okay with whatever will help him. My husband hates me right now pretty much. I'm okay with that too. This mama bear wants her son all he can possibly be, and right now he is pretty miserable as well as causing misery for others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Just an update - He goes Monday for pre-admission evaluation. DH isn't responding at all to whether he can watch the other kids, just "too busy" at work to deal with this whole problem at this point. :001_huh: I'm going to get there somehow, some way. I'm worried too, but sticking my head in the sand and avoiding it won't get him the help he needs. It will be decided after eval whether inpatient or outpatient is more appropriate. I'm praying, praying this is what he needs and won't make any of our existing problems any darn worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Thanks for the update. These things are always hard and many dads have trouble admitting that their child has a special need. Is there family counseling or a social worker available as well to help work through these dynamics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Is there family counseling or a social worker available as well to help work through these dynamics? I'm thinking so but will know more Monday. I know the partial hospitalization program has parents go in some number of days in the evenings as well. Knowing my DH that will be me and not him at all, but there is indeed something for families at least. I'm crossing my fingers it is not only support but some techniques and helps that I can use in the household to really make a difference, in conjunction with what he is of course working on in his behavioral therapy. The partial hospitalization program includes the social worker I have already talked to, psychologists, psychiatrist, OT and other therapies and a teacher who will teach the kids 2-1/2 hours a day from the PS system while they are hospitalized. They already know we homeschool which they did not know what to do with but that is what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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