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Post by bransmomma on Mar 9, 2004 16:05:43 GMT -5
My son will be 4 in May and I am having a problem finding someone that will see my son at such a young age. He is already in a special preschool program for his hyperactivity but I feel that he will need meds too. His behavior is only getting worse- telling me he hates me, wishes I was buried in the ground etc. These aren't normal 3 yr. old thoughts. Has anyone had a child put on meds between 3-5 yrs. of age? Just wondering if I should continue looking for a specialist or wait another year if he can't be treated that young.
Thanks.
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Post by catseye on Mar 9, 2004 16:17:25 GMT -5
If we had it to do over again, I would prefer for my sd to have started meds at least the summer before school started or even sooner if possible... Simply because it took so long to get the right combination that actually worked for sd... Because of not haveing the correct dosage right away sd pretty much wasted time by being in school that whole first year, nothing was sinking in...
So from that I would suggest to keep trying... Maybe even explain your concerns on wanting medication right by school time? Good luck
cat
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Post by Amsmom on Mar 9, 2004 19:09:13 GMT -5
bransmomma,
my son was started on meds at 4. His dx at that age was adhd/odd. It was extremely difficult finding the right medication for him, as we discovered that stimulants only increased the negative behaviors. We now know that he is bipolar/adhd and children with mood disorders usually cannot take stimulants. What has been your experience when you try to get a dr to evaluate your son? Does your pediatrician have any good ideas for referrals? Are there any childrens' hospitals located near you? If so, there may be a psychiatric unit inside the hospital with someone who you can use on an outpatient basis.
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Post by bransmomma on Mar 9, 2004 22:33:58 GMT -5
There is a hospital in chicago with good doctors but they need a referral from his doctor. i have discussed these issues with her and we saw one doctor but we could only get an appt. every 3-4 weeks and he was doing behavioral therapy which was not working- positive reinforcement etc. i am on a waiting list through the county to see someone but it has been over 3 months since i've been on the list. he was evaluated by a speech therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, psycologist and others and was accepted into a preschool program to help with his issues (hyperactivity, speech etc.) i've contacted the school psycologist and left a message to see if she can assist. i'm so tired and exhausted from these daily patterns. today i received a report from his kinder care saying he was running around the room at nap time, told people he hated them, hit the teacher in the chest, etc. all in one day and almost on a daily basis. he also goes to bed after i do and is up all hours of the night playing and getting dressed into his clothes. he maybe sleeps 6-7 hours a night. i rarely get a break- except at work everyday. i feel like i've exhausted all of my options. will this only get worse? will anyone ever understand? i feel guilty for having thoughts that my life would be better if i never had him- i love him but he isn't your typical happy, playful, fun child. thanks for being here to share common issues with. this helps me remain somewhat sane.
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Post by Honeysmom on Mar 10, 2004 0:12:10 GMT -5
My gosh, we share a child!!! Honey is 4, he'll be 5 in April. He started on meds last August, so he was just under 4 1/2. It was really hard to find a doc for him, but I just had to keep plugging away at it and I did.
After the fact, our new family doc (we didn't have him at the time) gave me the phone # to a social worker at the hospital. She was more help than anyone we ever saw. She gave me names and numbers of people to try for counseling, doctors, support groups, and a really good pep talk.
The main reason we started Honey's meds was b/c of a saftey issue, and had to stop them a few weeks back. I am about to loose it with him right now, in fact. I just want to cry sometimes, but it does get better, and there will be some good days and they make up for some of the bad ones.
Now all ya gotta do is figure out how to work the system and get him into a doctor. Another thing I did was decide that I am not going to make appts and wait and see what they say. I have started asking the receptionist right out if they will give a kids his age meds, what kind of therapies they offer for behavior, and that kind of stuff. Usually I will not make an appointment until they can get me that info. I don't have time to wait months to get in to see someone only to have them tell me that they can't help me.
Good Luck...Becky
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Post by susanthemom on Mar 11, 2004 1:02:55 GMT -5
My son was dx'd at age four, while in preschool. He was labeled as severe, with high impulsivity and hyperactivity. We've been on the medication roller coaster ever since; he's now 7. We occasionally find a med that works and then he goes into a growth spurt and we're on the hunt for an appropriate dosage once again. It's never ending, it seems, but it has been done. BTW, behavior management didn't ever do much for us either. Fortunately, age did wonders for some the really erratic behavior, but we've still got a few mysteries to solve with some of his behaviors (i.e. crabbing across the floor and making very odd spitting noises once meds have wore off). If it's any consolation, our 3 yr old go-with-the-flow, very laid back son told me "I hate you. You not my parent anymore. Daddy is my parent."  He did make amends tonight (now that Daddy is offshore again and he needed a warm lap to go sleep in) and told me that he doesn't hate me anymore. He loves me again. Until I'm forced to discipline him again, that is.  |
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Post by bransmomma on Mar 11, 2004 11:09:10 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for sharing your personal situations with me. It helps to know others are experiencing or did experience the same behavior with their children. I'm glad to know some doctors do medicate children under 6. I left a message with the school shrink Tues. morning and she hasn't returned my call. It is annoying that I am trying to get help for my son but people aren't willing to help us. I will keep at it though.
Thank you!
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Post by Dad2Brooke on Mar 11, 2004 12:19:18 GMT -5
Brooke was diagnosed at 3 1/2 and her pediatrician didn't want her to start meds until she was 4.
We actually started her on liquid Ritalin a couple of months prior to her fourth birthday, because of the problems she was having with preschool.
I hated the idea of medicating her that young, but I also wanted time to get the meds straight prior to kindergarten.
I wanted to give her every advantage I could. Unfortunately, ADHD kids have the deck pretty much stacked against them in the classroom environment, and anything that will even the odds is a good thing.
Keep plugging away, it will get better.
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Post by AnneM on Mar 11, 2004 12:52:44 GMT -5
My son was very late in his diagnosis and first medication (13 years) ... This was partly due to being predominantly add rather than adhd (i.e. hyperactivity wasn't an issue which tends to be the most noticeable thing) and subsequently behaviour was also never an issue in elementary school (also of course an obvious thing)... he was more the 'dreamer" who was getting way left behind!... medication however has helped him a lot!! ...
Due to my son's add not being recognised until aged 13 there WAS a price to pay ... and that price was depression at age 13. We were told that had it been spotted and treated much earlier the 'adolescent-onset depression' could very POSSIBLY have been averted....
Although we now successfully treat the depression with St Johns Wort it was a high price to pay .. especially when he was aged 13 (he is now 15). The depression was due to his self-esteem being knocked badly during the younger years ... never feeling he matched up with his peers etc.etc. An earlier intervention could in fact have helped him a lot .... !
I know I am not actually answering the question "what age to medicate" ... because I just don't know the answer .... but if I could have my son's childhood again (and known much more about adhd/add when he was younger!) I would have made sure it was treated many years ago! ...
GOD LUCK!!!
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Post by bransmomma on Mar 12, 2004 12:57:47 GMT -5
Good news- or at least a start. I got a referral to a psycyatrist in our area. The first appt. is Monday with just me, then the next appt. is with my son, and the third appt. is to discuss their findings and if we need further treatment and/or medication. If she thinks he needs meds she will work w/ his pediatrician. I hope this helps. It is really expensive and my insurance only covers 60% but I think it is worth the costs. Thank you for all of your encouragement.
Bransmomma
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