firehorsewoman
Member
I am posting this to give other hope. There were many days over the past nine years that I had no hope that things would ever be better....That my poor son would always be tormented by the demons that seem to plague him.
difficult child had latest psychiatrist appointment yesterday and being that his response to lithium over the past 6 months has been dramatic, they officially changed his diagnosis from Mood Disorder not otherwise specified to Bipolar Disorder plus ADHD. We were happy that they had changed his diagnosis since we are having trouble getting health insurance (that we can actually afford) and Bipolar should qualify him for a risk pool insurance.
Several months ago when we reintroduced Focalin I was having some problems with him being irritable in the afternoon. The way we have addressed this is by increasing the dose from 10mg to 15mg in the mornings that he goes to school. On days that he doesn't go to school I don't give him Focalin but at his dad's house they give it daily seven days a week. That is working for all of us and the psychiatrists approve of how we are handling it. They say many kids take a "break" from the stimulants on the weekends.
Unfortunately, we are still dealing with his bone infection. Of course, thankful that it is not bone cancer but still a big pain in the butt with all of the antibiotics, probiotics he has to take on top of the psychiatric medications. Plus the side effect of the antibiotics.
Life is not perfect. difficult child still takes the energy and attention of several children. difficult child is still difficult child. His demons are still there but not to the degree and frequency that they plagued him before. Our lives are all so much better and I am grateful.
difficult child had latest psychiatrist appointment yesterday and being that his response to lithium over the past 6 months has been dramatic, they officially changed his diagnosis from Mood Disorder not otherwise specified to Bipolar Disorder plus ADHD. We were happy that they had changed his diagnosis since we are having trouble getting health insurance (that we can actually afford) and Bipolar should qualify him for a risk pool insurance.
Several months ago when we reintroduced Focalin I was having some problems with him being irritable in the afternoon. The way we have addressed this is by increasing the dose from 10mg to 15mg in the mornings that he goes to school. On days that he doesn't go to school I don't give him Focalin but at his dad's house they give it daily seven days a week. That is working for all of us and the psychiatrists approve of how we are handling it. They say many kids take a "break" from the stimulants on the weekends.
Unfortunately, we are still dealing with his bone infection. Of course, thankful that it is not bone cancer but still a big pain in the butt with all of the antibiotics, probiotics he has to take on top of the psychiatric medications. Plus the side effect of the antibiotics.
Life is not perfect. difficult child still takes the energy and attention of several children. difficult child is still difficult child. His demons are still there but not to the degree and frequency that they plagued him before. Our lives are all so much better and I am grateful.