Changing treatment for child

[5knights3maidens]

Have any of you gone the way of medicine after a few years of vitamins/minerals, diet, etc.? I really have noticed that dd needs something. I'm so sad about it and I know I cannot ignore this. My friend has a special needs child and she has noticed this is my child also.

I have been sent a packet of forms to fill out from the Children's Hospital where we asked for an appointment. I've only gone to a DAN doctor for her. I am nervous about this.

:crying:

[EKS]

We struggled until just this past September with my 12yo son's ADD behaviors. We tried diet changes and supplements and occupational therapy and vision therapy and cognitive skills training. Everything worked a little bit and homeschooling in itself is one huge accommodation. It just got to the point where even with everything he was still taking five hours to do one math assignment. With high school and college looming, we decided that something needed to be done. The boy simply needed to be able to do schoolwork without his mother (that would be me) constantly redirecting his attention.

 

I have to say that medication was the missing piece. Things aren't perfect but they are a whole lot better. I don't know what kind of medication you're looking at, but for us, once I got past my anxiety about it, I have to admit that it has been good for my son. He feels like he is more in control of himself and that he can actually accomplish school-type things on his own.

[5knights3maidens]

There are days that she literally can not sit still. I know she's still young (5 1/2) but after having 6 dc before her I can see this. Actually, my friend asked me if she always moves around the way she does. All over the place!!

it's so frustrating for her, which gets everyone else in an uproar and then she nags and bugs the others which ends up with fighting and crying with everyone, etc... :tongue_smilie:

[Misty]

Hmmm... I also have a 5 1/2 dd with raging ADHD. She also has Asperger's. She constantly bothers everyone around her. Never stops moving, extremely impulsive, never stops talking.. And everything she says is in a shout. She can be extremely annoying to her siblings and sometimes to me as well if I'm having a bad day. She also has echolalia so she whispers the last sentence or word she hears, which makes the other children think she is "copying" them, no matter how much I tell them she can't help it. But we have not decided to go the medication route just yet. I don't feel that she absolutely *needs* it at this point. Sure she can be annoying, but I don't think that's a good enough reason to medicate at this point. My children do fight over her annoying behaviors, but I think I just need to talk to my other children more about tolerance, respect, acceptance, and also just educating them on *why* she is the way she is. She does have a very hard time with focus, but her school lessons are kept very short and when I see that she can no longer pay attention, we quit for the day. I do think we will medicate someday because she is quite severe, but I still think 5 1/2 is too young at this point since she isn't in a traditional classroom setting.

 

I keep plenty of sensory input items on hand like playdough, Moon Sand, a bin of beans, etc. and I also keep a mini trampoline in our house. I keep "fidgets" in my school briefcase (school for the older ones) that I take with us to dr. appts and therapy appts. so she has things to fidget with to help her keep still. At home, we have wide open space outside so she is able to run around outside and catch toads or whatever and that helps tremendously. I wish all ADHD kids could live out in the country! Dd also goes to occupational therapy once a week and that has helped a lot. Has your dd been evaluated by an OT?

 

Anyway, I wish you the best in whatever you decide. I know it's a tough decision and I know we will get there at some point, just not yet for us.

 

Good luck!

[elise1mds]

:grouphug:

[Ottakee]

Well, we started meds at age 3---and saw the psychiatrist before her 3rd birthday--things were that bad. We have bipolar, ADHD, and a host of other issues.

 

We DO use vitamins/supplements---esp. the Omega 3s but they are not enough. Meds have made about 80-90% of the difference for my dd. She is now able to function well at home where her social worker had said that she thought she would need to be in an institutional setting by school age.

 

Meds are a hard decision and not one to take lightly but there are times when meds ARE the right decision. It can take some trial and error to find the right med(s), dosage, timing, etc. but it can make such a huge difference.

 

It is sad that people would never question you about giving your child meds for asthma, diabetes, cancer, or even an ear infection but give lots of grief over meds for mental health issues.

[Mama Bear]

I'm so glad you posted this. I've dithered and dithered about this, but after reading some of Dr. Daniel Amen's books and now seeing your post, I think I'm done dithering. At least one person in this house will be evaluated for meds -- I'm calling for an appointment tomorrow. Thanks much.

 

:grouphug:

[HeidiD]

Meds are a hard decision and not one to take lightly but there are times when meds ARE the right decision. It can take some trial and error to find the right med(s), dosage, timing, etc. but it can make such a huge difference.

 

 

 

 

Totally agree with this. One of our kids also required treatment at a very young age. I'm assuming your child is on the autism spectrum since you mentioned seeing a DAN doctor. We went through a lot of trial and error with medications through various doctors until she began seeing a psychiatrist who specializes in medication management for autistic spectrum kids.

[mom4him]

Have any of you gone the way of medicine after a few years of vitamins/minerals, diet, etc.?

 

Our little boy was not just unattentive, moving etc but it got to where he would rage 2-3 times a day. I am talking about a rage that would last anywhere from 20min to 1 1/2 hrs. It was life here on earth with a real good idea of what h=ll could be like.

After much study and different approaches we started on the Specific Carb. Diet. We saw amazing results within a couple of days. We have been on it now for almost 3 1/2 yrs and don't plan on any changes there in the near future.

We were still experiencing some raging and was very puzzled about it. I started to keep track of where we were, what we had been doing, who we were around etc and realized that he was having major reactions to chemicals. The diet was a difficult transition but to not just take the chemicals out of our personal home but to learn where it was safe to go has been major difficult. The thing is we have not had a rage now since Oct. Not only that but he not only does his school work(not always happy about it but does it) but he has started wanting more many days.

I never would have seen either of these if we hadn't gone 100% with both but it has been worth it. Our Mr T is a very bright little boy and I don't believe that a drug would have done anything compared to what making these life style changes have.

I you are wanting more info feel free to send me a pm.

I guess I will also say that I am not condemming anyone who goes the way of drugs. Each parent has to do what is right for their child/family. Neither is an easy road.

[chiguirre]

When the boys were first diagnosed, we followed the whole DAN protocal but we didn't see any results. OTOH, risperdal gave us a noticeable improvement in both of them. My oldest has been on it for years and the 8yo has been on a very low dose for 2 months. But, be warned, drugs can sometimes make behaviors worse and there's no way to know that until you try. We've just been through a very rough patch with Abilify and Geodon trials. It's not fun, but it is worth it to help the boys achieve their potential.

 

Good luck!