ADHD & OCD 10 yr. old son- Out of Control

[Paula B]

Dear Sherry,

It was not a novel..I enjoyed it. Honestly i wish that there were more parents like you who are not only educated about their child's disability but are willing to stand up to the school system and do something about it. All of the administrators in my building assume (like everyone else) that ADD, ADHD,ODD,etc. are all just discipline problems. You and I know the truth. I love teaching any child with a disability...that's why I have been the Inclusion teacher for so many years. I was an Inclusion teacher before anyone ever even spoke of it. My daughter graduated from college 2 years ago and she too majored in education. I talked her into also majoring in Special Ed and she is so thankful. She is a 5th grade SPED teacher and absolutely loves it. It's so much fun to bounce ideas off of each other. She has some of the same students that I had so I am able to help her out a bit. You are very fortunate to have the support that your son needs in the school system. I had to fight and fight. It even got to when the high school principal saw me coming he would go into his office and shut the door. Only 2 of my children are left in the school system and thank God they are "normal". By the way, I teach in the same town in which I live which doesn't make it very easy. Talk to you soon. Paula

[delrae4753]

my grand daughter has the same problems as your son she too is 10 now periodically her meds quite being as effective as they need to be and will show very violent behabiors at that time the psycharitis is called and a change made to her meds she is on zolfot 50 mg and concert 54 mg seems to be working ok for now but her meds usually have to be changed every 6 months because her body becomes immune to them and they quit working.

[tm67]

Sherry,
I have a son who is ADHD, OCD and has PANDAS, which is a form of Tourette's caused by a strep infection. He is in 7th grade. He has elevated levels of strep in his system. He experiences tics which make him uncomfortable. He stretches his head as if he is touching his shoulder but it is a tic.
I have to tell you that he was first placed on Clonidine when he was in the fifth grade. The tics started when he was about 8 years old. That was only done because the ped neurologist at the time would only give him somthing mild if it was affecting my son at school. It was. Then we moved out of state and had to find a new pediatric neurologist. We were thrilled to find out that a strep infection gone bad could be the cause. My son was given a blood test and sure enough he had double the amount of strep antibodies in his system! They give antibiotics and for some children it is a cure. But of course not with my son! So, the doctor decided to put him on Haldol, which is a psychotropic med they give to schizophrenics! No luck! We found himwith his face in the cereal bowl. So no good. See we were desperate. He had started a new school with 4 times more kids than he was used to. He was so anxious and nervous that his tics were going 240! I just could not stand to see him that way and he couldn't either. Hence the Haldol. So when we found him floating in his cereal like I said before, the doc switched him to Risperdal. Make a long story short. He became horrible. Absolutely horrible. Any doctor would have thought him bipolar. Be very careful. Doctors are loving to diagnose children with bipolar without looking at the whole child. Like what meds are they on? Are they in a crisis? ETC! So, I call the neurologist, we go in, and the doctor wants to know prescribe Paxil. Well that I researched and oh no! What I found. Suicide rates sky high with children!
No way. Put him on Paxil just to counteract the effects of Risperdal. So we (I) decide to wean him off Risperdal. Immediately a different child! Risperdal is another med given to schizophrenics. However, he could not stop swallowing which is a withdrawal effect that can be irreversible. Man did I pray and God came through. The swallowing stopped! But let me tell you people have committed suicide from that type of withdrawal effect. In the end we have decided to stay off of meds. My son would rather deal with the hyperactivity, ocd and tics his own way. I realize you are ill.
I have an autoimmune disease and fibromyalgia and most days I am shot! I do work but cannot say that will last much longer. I know think I have neuropathy as I cannot walk so much. I am in chronic and constant pain.
The choice to be on meds is up to you and your child but I have to say that these drugs are tested on mice for a supposed chemical imbalance. How do we know that these mice are ADHD or OCD or Bipolar or Schizophrenic. Sure there are clinical trials but many of them are not done properly. I was part of one. I know. Consider checking his strep levels. Many children with ADHD and OCD have high levels. When my son is getting sick I know: his tics are stronger and his behavior changes. Look into it. Do not make your pediatrician win! Tell him you want the test anyway. Cannot hurt too cover all bases. It may not make things better but you will have some answers.
God Bless YOu!
Tina

[Kimmy26]

I'm not for sure if I can be of any help my daughter is just Five years old and was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD when she was three, at first it was hard for me to beleive she had a problem, because she was so young. My child was attending a daycare center at the time in which she was kicked out because the teacher was afraid she was an endager to other children. I was called at work every day there was a different child she had hurt. I had to work so I decided to take the doctors advice and start medication she went through severeal different medications focalin, concerta, etc. Finally they put her on Ritalin 20mg it was the only on that seemed to have any affect on her after about six months she was up to taking two a day. I blamed myself forever, because I felt like an awful mother to me a three year old should not even know how to swallow a pill. And when she was about ready to turn five I heard about Strattera, it was non addictive, and very little side affects, with the research I did it seemed like it would be a whole lot better on my child than Ritilan so I talked to her Physician about giving it a try. So she agreed to let her try it. She also took the same actions after starting as your son, after a month it became to much for her teacher, and children didn't want to be around her. So when I voiced my conceren to the doctor she said sometimes when a child is on a stronger medication like Ritalin for a long period of time then they switch to something weaker like Strattera it is normal for it not to work as well. So we had to put her back on Ritalin. Now she takes Ritalin and Luvox in the morning, and Focalin in the evening. She still seems to struggle somewhat so that concerns me as she gets older she will become more aggressive if she continues to have some problems. When I had to go to school the other day for her Kindergarten registration they notified me my child would have to be put in Special Education classes, because she is dramatically behind based on children of her same age. So I have a lot of concerns and worries for her, I'm hoping that everything will just workout. So I wish you and your son the best.

[sadie30]

hi sherry , this is also a shari with a ten year old son who has bipolar disorder and adhd. Wow , reading your story is like looking at my own life. First off I feel for your family and most off your son.!!! It is so difficult for them to understand what is happening to thier bodies. .. I was so happy to read that you did not take the zyprexa. It is a wonderful drug that does work for a lot of things but the side effects are huge.!!! My son developed diabetes from zyprexa and he only took it for three months.

I was wondering about the ocd statement. My son is constantly like how you describe. He gets something in his head to do something and that is it , you can expect that the next couple of hours that is what he is going to do. Or attempt. for example , he couldnt get a video game to work on my pc. He wouldnt leave my room for hours , pacing back and forth and trying everything to get it to work. He couldnt let it go. Or he will begin to take apart things .


wouldnt it be nice if we didnt have to give our kids meds.? Go through all the side effects . I had no idea that my son could have been bipolar a few years ago. I mean i knew he had problems and definitely adhd but bipolar. ?WEll it is in his dads side of the family , nana and her brother whom died from the disease.( killed himself with fire.) Apparantly if you have family members that have bipolar it is so much more possible that a child in your family could have it. This would be worth investigating big time.!!!!!!

I really wish you and your family the best !!!!!! My prayers go out to yu

peace