Help ADHD Inattentive Child....

InsaneMom · 08-18-2006, 01:49 PM

Okay I am totally frustrated and confused!!!

My DD who is 9 (10 in Nov) has been off her meds (Focalin XR) for the summer. School started back up on Monday. I gave her meds on monday, tuesday and wednesday, so when on yesterday morning (thursday) she said she didn't want to take her medicine because it doesn't do any good I said okay (trying it out to see if she was right) but if her teacher noticed a difference and asked if she took it that she would go to the nurse and take it immediately. Well her teacher didn't notice, but she had homework last night because she couldn't finish her work in class (everyone else did) and she was very difficult last night. How do I know if she needs her dosage upped or a different med. I made her take her med this morning but she is very adiment that she doesn't need the meds and that they don't do any good.
Does anyone have any advice or experience that might help me deal with this situation. When I talk to the dr and she always says that I am the best judge of that and to talk with the teachers, but since this is inattentive I am at a loss most of the time because the teachers look at her and don't think she needs anything or think that she is just being stubborn...
My DD does not need seem her meds when she is not trying to concentrate on school or something like that. She doesn't really have problems that we notice when at home except her lack of responsibility and immaturity.
I may be going about this all wrong. Maybe she needs the meds all the time but she hates taking medicine. I really don't know what to do because she is telling me that the medicine doesn't do any good. And the Dr. told me that she could only take them during the week and not on the weekend so I am guessing that there doesn't need to be a buildup for them to work.

I would appreciate any advice.. or presonal experiences...

Sassy7843 · 08-21-2006, 04:19 PM

Why does the doctor say only during the week? Did the meds help her last year in school to stay focused on her work? I tell my son (age 10) that what they do is help his brain connections match up correctly. He has ADHD so the hyperness is there too. When I explain it "scientifically" to him, he doesn't mind taking the meds. He usually will get compliments from his teachers right away and that reenforces to him why he is taking them.

Your daughter might need to try something else to help her out. It seems strange that it worked before and is not working now. But it's always a journey figuring out what our kids need. Good luck.

arvc · 08-21-2006, 06:44 PM

InsaneMom,
I have a 15yo son who has ADD/bi-polar combined. He was first diagnosed with ADD inattentive early and then found the bi-polar at about 11yo. Teachers didn't complain with him until he had tons of work missing.Like your child he was not disturbing class so no one said much. His teacher thought he was stubborn also and that he chose not to do the work;therefore offered little assistance. It frustrated him and me very much. He felt like they did not like him. As far as meds you may need to change them. We had to several times to get what was best for him. I never heard of taking your child off of the meds on the weekend. My childs dr puts him back on a week before school starts. He does go off the meds for summer. He is also immature/ not responsible and that is what led to him getting the bi-polar diagnosis along with being quiet, not sociable, and getting upset over little things(low lithium levels). He's not the "stereo typical" what people think of Bp. He is not outrageous,cruel,crazy the way people believe. He gets upset but is the quiet bi-polar most of the time. He said that his meds didn't help but they were, he just didn't want to take them. I had to get him a 504 plan at school to insure he received help. I eventually had to get IDEA for him. If your daughter struggles please get her a plan. She may not be bi-polar, but the inattentive ADD is what causes his school troubles. Does her teacher seem to help her or be passive? Do they seem to blame her for missed work/incomplete assignments or offer to help? Some teachers are great to help and go beyond their call while others will allow your child to fail. I hope this helps. I've been dealing with things for years and school time is always more hectic than summer. Good Luck!

nickkaylee · 08-22-2006, 01:08 AM

My daughter is the same way. When she doesn't have school I don't usually make her take it. She hasn't taken it for most of the summer. The only reason I'm sure it is working is because when she takes it all week she finishes all her work...only has homework when all the kids have it.

InsaneMom · 08-22-2006, 11:44 AM

Okay I talked to the dr yesterday and she told me that we should try increasing her meds for a few weeks and see if that helps. She also said she would suggest that she takes the meds during the weekends also for a while and see if there is more improvement. I am contacting her teacher and the school counselor today to see if I can't get them to help me out with this.
My biggest problem with the school is that they don't really seem to want to help like they did with my other DD who is ADHD with a stress on the H. They seem to try to say that my younger DD is just lazy or doesn't want to do her work.
Thank you so much for the help.. arvc some of the stuff you said about your son sounds like you are talking about my DD. I have been thinking for a while that she needs to talk to a counselor or psychiratrist, she says weird things sometimes that trigger something in me.. Like the other day I asked her what was distracting her in class and she told me that it was the voices in her head. That she can't understand them but it is a constant whispering in her head and it drives her crazy.
I just don't seem to be getting any help fromthe school when it comes to these things. They seem to think that I am making these things up.
Thank you so much for your responses and hopefully this will all work out soon.