Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
So glad to find you all!
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 413771" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>Why has the psychiatrist ruled out Strattera? We've fond some doctors (specialists) want to take difficult child 3 off stimulants, because the autism also brings Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Sensory Integration Disorder (SID) and anxiety. There is a belief that stimulants aggravate anxiety. However, it is my observation that a large component of the anxiety comes form the child feeling they're not coping. And if the medications help them cope...</p><p></p><p>We had problems with Strattera with difficult child 3. Never going there again. Anti-Wow factor! But for us, it's dexamphetamine that is the Wow. difficult child 3 was struggling with language, had a handful of nouns in his vocabulary only. We started him on dex about the same time that easy child was off on a (well-deserved, I had just spent three weeks in hospital) young carers camp for a week. She came back after a week and said, "OMG, he's talking in sentences!" That was 1997, difficult child 3 was 3 and a half.</p><p></p><p>You've got nursing experience, so you understand scientific principles. That is so important when you are trying to get help for your children. Again - snap. I've not worked as a nurse, but I have done some medical training in my science degree. In fact, that's how come I needed that immunisation... it was work-related.</p><p></p><p>It's funny about kids being different about cuddles. easy child was a non-cuddler. I had been so desperate for a baby, I wanted a little angel to rock, to mother, to love. And I got a whirling dervish who wanted to explore the world and who found my arms confining. She would only consent to be held while being breastfed. When difficult child 1 was born (very cuddly, despite the Asperger's which was only diagnosed when he was 15) easy child saw the baby loving to be held (and I was in 7th heaven!) and decided that perhaps she was missing out on something. She tried cuddles for a little while but they cramped her style!</p><p>Then easy child 2/difficult child 2 - another Aspie, we now believe. And cuddly. Very. Ridiculously so. She would reach and hug at the worst possible times, not caring if I was in the middle of trying to chop onions or get scones out of the oven. it is the extreme of it and inappropriateness of it that is the hallmark.</p><p></p><p>We taught difficult child 3 to hug and cuddle by asking for them. he will hug and cuddle on his terms. A hug from him, spontaneously, is gold. These kids need to be taught how to express and demonstrate the emotions they do feel. People often assume autistics don't feel emotion. That is so wrong - they often feel emotion more strongly, but don't always express it in ways others can recognise.</p><p></p><p>Another warning for you - I note you have a BiPolar (BP) diagnosis. First, some docs get this confused with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) in some form because kids with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) also get very depressed at times. Often elated at other times especially when doing something they love. So first - you could be 'missed' Aspie yourself. And second - your kids are more at risk, if your BiPolar (BP) is correct, of also having problems with mood disorders. Autistic kids find life a lot more challenging and stressful, so will be more prone to mood swings naturally. If there is a tendency to have BiPolar (BP), tis can be aggravated.</p><p></p><p>I possibly have some Aspie traits. I know my husband does. I had a lousy time as a kid and I know there were times when I was very inappropriate socially. It might have been lack of experience, or simply my inborn inability. i did learn. But I also was very unhappy a lot of the time, very depressed. I have had periods of serious depression in the past. I have learned to cope, I adapted without medications. I cannot tolerate antidepressants, they either knock me out or send me loopy. It's taken a lot of angst but I get by emotionally without problems these days. Being a pragmatic person helps, I am sure. But getting there was a long journey for me, and will be so for any kids on the spectrum.</p><p></p><p>I'm glad to meet you, even if only over the electronic network.</p><p></p><p>I could be off the air for a couple of weeks, though (won't know for a few days) so if I don't respond after tomorrow, I will be back in April.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 413771, member: 1991"] Why has the psychiatrist ruled out Strattera? We've fond some doctors (specialists) want to take difficult child 3 off stimulants, because the autism also brings Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Sensory Integration Disorder (SID) and anxiety. There is a belief that stimulants aggravate anxiety. However, it is my observation that a large component of the anxiety comes form the child feeling they're not coping. And if the medications help them cope... We had problems with Strattera with difficult child 3. Never going there again. Anti-Wow factor! But for us, it's dexamphetamine that is the Wow. difficult child 3 was struggling with language, had a handful of nouns in his vocabulary only. We started him on dex about the same time that easy child was off on a (well-deserved, I had just spent three weeks in hospital) young carers camp for a week. She came back after a week and said, "OMG, he's talking in sentences!" That was 1997, difficult child 3 was 3 and a half. You've got nursing experience, so you understand scientific principles. That is so important when you are trying to get help for your children. Again - snap. I've not worked as a nurse, but I have done some medical training in my science degree. In fact, that's how come I needed that immunisation... it was work-related. It's funny about kids being different about cuddles. easy child was a non-cuddler. I had been so desperate for a baby, I wanted a little angel to rock, to mother, to love. And I got a whirling dervish who wanted to explore the world and who found my arms confining. She would only consent to be held while being breastfed. When difficult child 1 was born (very cuddly, despite the Asperger's which was only diagnosed when he was 15) easy child saw the baby loving to be held (and I was in 7th heaven!) and decided that perhaps she was missing out on something. She tried cuddles for a little while but they cramped her style! Then easy child 2/difficult child 2 - another Aspie, we now believe. And cuddly. Very. Ridiculously so. She would reach and hug at the worst possible times, not caring if I was in the middle of trying to chop onions or get scones out of the oven. it is the extreme of it and inappropriateness of it that is the hallmark. We taught difficult child 3 to hug and cuddle by asking for them. he will hug and cuddle on his terms. A hug from him, spontaneously, is gold. These kids need to be taught how to express and demonstrate the emotions they do feel. People often assume autistics don't feel emotion. That is so wrong - they often feel emotion more strongly, but don't always express it in ways others can recognise. Another warning for you - I note you have a BiPolar (BP) diagnosis. First, some docs get this confused with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) in some form because kids with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) also get very depressed at times. Often elated at other times especially when doing something they love. So first - you could be 'missed' Aspie yourself. And second - your kids are more at risk, if your BiPolar (BP) is correct, of also having problems with mood disorders. Autistic kids find life a lot more challenging and stressful, so will be more prone to mood swings naturally. If there is a tendency to have BiPolar (BP), tis can be aggravated. I possibly have some Aspie traits. I know my husband does. I had a lousy time as a kid and I know there were times when I was very inappropriate socially. It might have been lack of experience, or simply my inborn inability. i did learn. But I also was very unhappy a lot of the time, very depressed. I have had periods of serious depression in the past. I have learned to cope, I adapted without medications. I cannot tolerate antidepressants, they either knock me out or send me loopy. It's taken a lot of angst but I get by emotionally without problems these days. Being a pragmatic person helps, I am sure. But getting there was a long journey for me, and will be so for any kids on the spectrum. I'm glad to meet you, even if only over the electronic network. I could be off the air for a couple of weeks, though (won't know for a few days) so if I don't respond after tomorrow, I will be back in April. Marg [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
So glad to find you all!
Top