Just wanted to follow up on this.
After speaking with two doctors and a nurse (all relatives - lucky me) and holding onto the prescription for a couple of weeks, we decided to give the medications a try. We've been trying to deal with the same dang behavior issues since difficult child was in preschool and my gut told me that the medications were a reasonable approach whether or not I liked the doctor.
We gave him a conservative dose, 36 mg with is on the low side for his weight. He's still himself, but we've noticed significant improvements in his impulsivity and ability to concentrate. He also seems a bit more invested in trying to control himself, even when the medications are worn off. I haven't been pulled aside to talk with the teachers since he started on the medications, which is a welcome relief! Who knows...could just be a honeymoon...we could all be falling for the placebo effect...but I'll take it for now.
We saw the psychiatrist again today...I think I need to take back my rather dismissive statement about his office being an "ADHD medications factory." I didn't realize until today that you can't get refills on a stimulant prescription, due to the fact that they are a controlled substance, so you have to go back once a month.
Thanks again for everyone's two cents!
*******************
Our pediatrician politely refused to deal with our ADHD concerns about difficult child because he felt difficult child's seizure disorder and anti-seizure medications took the situation out of his comfort level. He suggested we see a specialist.
Not wanting to pay approximately $4k out of pocket for a neuropsychologist exam, I've been calling around to find psychiatrists and tdocs who are covered by my health insurance. I'll spare you the details of why I have walked out of 3 different offices and never come back, but this new guy was so happy to give us pills that I took them, and now I'm wondering if I should have.
This new psychiatrist was covered by my insurance. I made the appointment by saying "I am looking for someone who can diagnose ADHD." When we get there, I can tell it's an ADHD medication prescribing "factory." Lots of teens in the waiting room for their 5-minute medication management appointments, lots of ADHD medication logo items...perhaps this is a familiar scenario for some of you?
After 5 minutes he sends difficult child out of the room, tells me difficult child clearly has ADHD, and says, "Let's talk about medication options." He decides on Concerta because "my health insurance probably covers it," then he advises me to start difficult child on one pill, then try two, then three if I think he needs it. Feel free to start him on a school day, don't worry about addiction issues (P.S. my father, a drug addict, killed himself this year...would hate to worry too much about that...), don't tell him the side effects because he'll think he's having them, don't tell his teachers because they'll fall for the placebo effect. Yes, they'll probably lower the seizure threshold. Then, "OK, come back in 2 weeks."
GAH! I'm so frustrated by this stupid system. Not even a teacher survey? My friend whose son is on ADHD medications is supposed to ask his teachers to fill out surveys ONCE A MONTH. She pays a ton out of pocket for her doctor.
If I weren't so certain that difficult child has ADHD I'd leave this doctor and never come back. therapist, who can't diagnose but spends 80% of his professional life with ADHD kids says my son is a textbook case. He's really great - we've been with him for 3+ years. I pay him out of pocket, of course.
So, what would you do if you were me? Give difficult child the medications and go by my own judgment about whether they work? Tell the teachers? Scrape together $4k for a neuropsychologist test? I'm told I can get a TOVA (Test of Variable Attention) from my therapist's office for something like $350 - do you trust this test?
I try the ADHD advice sites but I keep coming back here because the caliber of advice and caring is just so much higher here. Thanks so much if you have any advice to share.
Jen
After speaking with two doctors and a nurse (all relatives - lucky me) and holding onto the prescription for a couple of weeks, we decided to give the medications a try. We've been trying to deal with the same dang behavior issues since difficult child was in preschool and my gut told me that the medications were a reasonable approach whether or not I liked the doctor.
We gave him a conservative dose, 36 mg with is on the low side for his weight. He's still himself, but we've noticed significant improvements in his impulsivity and ability to concentrate. He also seems a bit more invested in trying to control himself, even when the medications are worn off. I haven't been pulled aside to talk with the teachers since he started on the medications, which is a welcome relief! Who knows...could just be a honeymoon...we could all be falling for the placebo effect...but I'll take it for now.
We saw the psychiatrist again today...I think I need to take back my rather dismissive statement about his office being an "ADHD medications factory." I didn't realize until today that you can't get refills on a stimulant prescription, due to the fact that they are a controlled substance, so you have to go back once a month.
Thanks again for everyone's two cents!
*******************
Our pediatrician politely refused to deal with our ADHD concerns about difficult child because he felt difficult child's seizure disorder and anti-seizure medications took the situation out of his comfort level. He suggested we see a specialist.
Not wanting to pay approximately $4k out of pocket for a neuropsychologist exam, I've been calling around to find psychiatrists and tdocs who are covered by my health insurance. I'll spare you the details of why I have walked out of 3 different offices and never come back, but this new guy was so happy to give us pills that I took them, and now I'm wondering if I should have.
This new psychiatrist was covered by my insurance. I made the appointment by saying "I am looking for someone who can diagnose ADHD." When we get there, I can tell it's an ADHD medication prescribing "factory." Lots of teens in the waiting room for their 5-minute medication management appointments, lots of ADHD medication logo items...perhaps this is a familiar scenario for some of you?
After 5 minutes he sends difficult child out of the room, tells me difficult child clearly has ADHD, and says, "Let's talk about medication options." He decides on Concerta because "my health insurance probably covers it," then he advises me to start difficult child on one pill, then try two, then three if I think he needs it. Feel free to start him on a school day, don't worry about addiction issues (P.S. my father, a drug addict, killed himself this year...would hate to worry too much about that...), don't tell him the side effects because he'll think he's having them, don't tell his teachers because they'll fall for the placebo effect. Yes, they'll probably lower the seizure threshold. Then, "OK, come back in 2 weeks."
GAH! I'm so frustrated by this stupid system. Not even a teacher survey? My friend whose son is on ADHD medications is supposed to ask his teachers to fill out surveys ONCE A MONTH. She pays a ton out of pocket for her doctor.
If I weren't so certain that difficult child has ADHD I'd leave this doctor and never come back. therapist, who can't diagnose but spends 80% of his professional life with ADHD kids says my son is a textbook case. He's really great - we've been with him for 3+ years. I pay him out of pocket, of course.
So, what would you do if you were me? Give difficult child the medications and go by my own judgment about whether they work? Tell the teachers? Scrape together $4k for a neuropsychologist test? I'm told I can get a TOVA (Test of Variable Attention) from my therapist's office for something like $350 - do you trust this test?
I try the ADHD advice sites but I keep coming back here because the caliber of advice and caring is just so much higher here. Thanks so much if you have any advice to share.
Jen
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