TiredSoul
Warrior Mom since 2007
Hi Everyone!
It's been a couple months since I posted. I'll post a quick summary and then my questions.
5 yr old son in 1/2 day Kindergarten
diagnosis'd with ADHD (combined) and severe ODD in Oct. 07
Finally got evaluated by school and an IEP in place in Mar. 08
IEP is for social/emotional/behavioral issues only
130 IQ - very bright
Extremely hyper
Extremely defiant
ALWAYS wants to be in charge/the boss/do things his way
We started ADHD trial (Focalin XR 5 mg) in Dec. He took this for 3 mos. During that time we noticed:
1. stomach aches every day
2. loss of appetite (I think he lost close to 10 lbs)
3. became anti-social (no longer wanting to play with friend or visit neighbor)
4. sad/depressed/angry - more so than usual
5. stopped leaning on me all the time and no longer sat ON kids during circle time - in fact sat as far away from everyone as possible
6. stopped licking/mouthing objects (for the most part)
7. evenings remained totally out of control and chaotic
8. mostly good days at school
We decided to try a new medication and a new doctor. He took him off the medications for 7 days and it was TERRIBLE. Every day in school was bad. It made us really see that the medications were working, even tho we wondered if they were or not. The teacher noticed immediately.
Started Adderall XR 5 mg on 3/18/08. Here is what we see:
1. rarely ever a stomach ache
2. some headaches
3. he isn't as willing to take the pill as he was with the last one
4. remains social
5. appetite is better than when on Focalin
6. chaotic evenings - bouncing off the walls
7. mix of good/bad school days
8. still sad/depressed/angry at times - more angry than sad
9. says horrible things (like when he grows up he is going to buy a gun and shoot himself, or he is going to kill me or others, calls himself stupid - this was happening a little with the other medication too)
So now what? I really do not know what to do. I don't know if we should increase his dose and see - or if we should try something else - or what. I believe there is more there than ADHD/ODD. When I look at the situation, to me the most worrisome problems are the anger/sadness/depression/poor self worth. Do we focus on fixing those problems first? Or are those problems because of the ADHD and because he senses he is different from others? I just want a happy well adjusted child who can live to his full potential. I guess that's what we all want.
Any thoughts/advice/suggestions? Thanks everyone. I appreciate each and every one of you.
It's been a couple months since I posted. I'll post a quick summary and then my questions.
5 yr old son in 1/2 day Kindergarten
diagnosis'd with ADHD (combined) and severe ODD in Oct. 07
Finally got evaluated by school and an IEP in place in Mar. 08
IEP is for social/emotional/behavioral issues only
130 IQ - very bright
Extremely hyper
Extremely defiant
ALWAYS wants to be in charge/the boss/do things his way
We started ADHD trial (Focalin XR 5 mg) in Dec. He took this for 3 mos. During that time we noticed:
1. stomach aches every day
2. loss of appetite (I think he lost close to 10 lbs)
3. became anti-social (no longer wanting to play with friend or visit neighbor)
4. sad/depressed/angry - more so than usual
5. stopped leaning on me all the time and no longer sat ON kids during circle time - in fact sat as far away from everyone as possible
6. stopped licking/mouthing objects (for the most part)
7. evenings remained totally out of control and chaotic
8. mostly good days at school
We decided to try a new medication and a new doctor. He took him off the medications for 7 days and it was TERRIBLE. Every day in school was bad. It made us really see that the medications were working, even tho we wondered if they were or not. The teacher noticed immediately.
Started Adderall XR 5 mg on 3/18/08. Here is what we see:
1. rarely ever a stomach ache
2. some headaches
3. he isn't as willing to take the pill as he was with the last one
4. remains social
5. appetite is better than when on Focalin
6. chaotic evenings - bouncing off the walls
7. mix of good/bad school days
8. still sad/depressed/angry at times - more angry than sad
9. says horrible things (like when he grows up he is going to buy a gun and shoot himself, or he is going to kill me or others, calls himself stupid - this was happening a little with the other medication too)
So now what? I really do not know what to do. I don't know if we should increase his dose and see - or if we should try something else - or what. I believe there is more there than ADHD/ODD. When I look at the situation, to me the most worrisome problems are the anger/sadness/depression/poor self worth. Do we focus on fixing those problems first? Or are those problems because of the ADHD and because he senses he is different from others? I just want a happy well adjusted child who can live to his full potential. I guess that's what we all want.
Any thoughts/advice/suggestions? Thanks everyone. I appreciate each and every one of you.