Holy cow! Why we continued meds all summer.

[MomA]

One day into summer vacation, and it's coming back to me. I tried skipping my sons meds the last two summers, but changed my mind fast.

Alllll the long day yesterday he was yappity, yappity, yappity, hopping, bouncing, rolling, falling out of chairs, flipping over furniture, changing games every two minutes, then bouncing into me saying "What now, Mom?"

I was so strung by the end of the day, my husband and I had a loud argument over--get this--what kind of pizza to order. (My husband skipped his Concerta, too, accidentally.)

The only thing is that my stuck-in-a-size-five 8-year-old ate everything in sight yesterday and is doing the same this morning. I'm going to go one or two more days and see how much I can bear, just in case the eating part is worth it. Maybe he'll be better when we get a summer routine. But I'm not too hopeful.

I can't help but think it's hard for him to feel so out of control. And how nice is it to have stressed out parents who start to sound like they're yelling all the time?

[Linda]

Wow MomA I too would give it a few more days and see what happens...but I think you already know what is going to happen...NOT MUCH!!! Some kids just need to be on the meds almost year round..just to function

You are right though about him feeling so out of control....poor kid...Just a suggestion here but couldn't your ds have a lower dose for the summer?

[amcfanny]

It's so hard to tell if it's just a rebound thing or if they just plain need it. Mine always bounces off the wall when I take the meds away and shoves food into his face nonstop. But it passes. Your kiddo may just need it though like Linda said. I'm a big advocate of ear protectors...I've got mine on now.

[Linda]

amcfanny said:

I'm a big advocate of ear protectors...I've got mine on now.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[mothercat]

moma said:

Alllll the long day yesterday he was yappity, yappity, yappity, hopping, bouncing, rolling, falling out of chairs, flipping over furniture, changing games every two minutes, then bouncing into me saying "What now, Mom?"

I was so strung by the end of the day, my husband and I had a loud argument over--get this--what kind of pizza to order.

;D ;D Weeelll...atleast I am not suffering alone! ;D ;D
Bobo is understanding tho...he is taking me catfishin tonight..wander if i will have a house left when i get home. NO it wont get better...this is the summer routine... ;D ;D but if Jared is gaining weight ..then so be it.. ( I have now relandscaped the front yard and am starting the back again..just to stay outside when I am home ;D ;D ;D)

[kstquilter]

i feel for you! brittany hasn't been on meds for the past four years and she needs to be! she says she's taking them again when she goes to school. i think she's taking them when she works some. i notice some difference but doubt there's much in her system when she's home.
at her age, i'm hoping she is starting to notice some of the differences and see if she can make some changes on her own or at least realize what she's doing and take meds for social reasons too.
good luck for the summer and just think what a gorgeous yard you're going to have by the end of summer!
karen

[sportsmom]

Well I tell you~~~~Levi has to stay on his meds during summer break (he is on strattera) anyways I took him to Walmart and we stopped at some yardsales along the way. Whew that kid had me wore out before we got home talk talk talk talk~~~~grabbing everything then when we got up to the checkout he laid spread eagle on the floor trying to get a tag off my new computer chair box so I wouldn't have to pick it up (nice thought I know) but he was laying on the dirty nasty floor. I think he is more bored then anything that is why I wanted him to go today but man~~~then when we get home he insisit on helping me put the chair together~~~all I have to say is he loves his tools ;D. Well we got it together in one piece . Now he is outside helping his dad with a campfire!!!!

[MomA]

I knew I wouldn't be suffering alone around here!

Must buy ear protectors. Maybe body armor too. The boy gave me a good whack in the head yesterday by accident when he was rocking madly in a rocking chair and I was trying to talk to him. He then helped my husband with yard work, so I stayed far away from him and the loppers.

We're on day three, and my husband felt brave enough to take him to church. I don't feel brave enough, so I'm going to the late service alone.

Linda, thanks for the idea of a smaller dose. He's on the smallest, 18 mg. dose of Concerta and probably needs an increase. I've been hesitant to discuss an increase because he's grown so little and I hate to start a cycle of needing more. I do have some 5 mg. Adderall leftover which might come in handy.

[mothercat]

kstquilter said:

i feel for you! brittany hasn't been on meds for the past four years and she needs to be! she says she's taking them again when she goes to school. i think she's taking them when she works some. i notice some difference but doubt there's much in her system when she's home.
at her age, i'm hoping she is starting to notice some of the differences and see if she can make some changes on her own or at least realize what she's doing and take meds for social reasons too.
good luck for the summer and just think what a gorgeous yard you're going to have by the end of summer!
karen

OMG four years ! Jared will be medicated the first day school starts! I can guarantee it as I will camp out on the Dr's front yard if he isn't! ;D ;D Actually ...last night Jared did pretty good (we used up one of his emergency pills before we left to go fishing) We had never left Bud in charge at night before and probably wont again for awhile even though it went well...it worries me too much. ;D The yard will be nice but the house is starting to lack so next week I will send the kids away from the computers and outside ..it will be my turn to stay inside. ;D (only I wont have time toplay games on the computer ) ;D ;D ;D

[finnmom]

MomA I feel for you Well, look at the "bright" side, at least you know and you´ll be able to show anyone who´s interested that he really need´s his med´s

We do the med´s on schoolday´s only-routin in here, but I have to say mine is not as hyper as your´s sound´s to be.... he can be loud, bouncing, running and all the work´s but not as extreme as your´s... I hope your adderal help´s....

[MrsFish]

I know that if I take David off of his meds, all he does is talk, non-stop!! We tried Concerta at one point but it did not really help and he all but stopped eating. Once we changed meds he started eating again. Just something to think about. Good luck.

[savvymom1]

Would you be interested in trying Focalin? That's what we switched our two dds to last summer so they would have more appetite. They are on concerta during the school year, but take a small dose of focalin for a boost for homework after school.

It is fast acting and they both like it even better than concerta. The only drawback-- is it lasts for approx 4 hours, so if you give it at 8:00 am, you'll need another dose around noon. My oldest takes 10 mg and the youngest takes 5mg. It might be worth looking into. I haven't heard from a soul who didn't have a positive experience with this stim med. Check with your doc and get his thoughts.

[mothercat]

If focalin does the same thing and lets them eat...why take concerta...I plan on mentioning it to the Doc next time...sounds interesting even as a homework boost
(although right now I would be willing to give him anything at all..he was so hyper today he passed lunchtime without remembering it..dad was home and in charge so it was like 2pm before he ate lunch.) They take him off meds so he will eat and then he is so hyper off the meds he spaces meals out unless we are right there to do it for him. go figure!

[kstquilter]

i can sympathize with the constant talking! i was absolutely exhausted by last night and i didn't get a darn thing done! brittany was home and just chatting away like crazy!
but hate to ignore her when she wants to talk too.
but there is some good news. when she went for her check up yesterday, she got a new script for ritalin xr!!! i truly do think she's been better the past 3 weeks or so. she's been taking some of her older ritalin that she never finished up. not always but enough that we aren't ready to strangle her every day!!! so maybe we're heading for a slightly more peaceful trend! well i can hope anyway!
karen

[milesofsmiles]

A couple of weeks ago we miscounted meds for home and school and did not have enough for the weekend. My wife was gone for the day on Saturday and was wondering why I did not get anything done around the house while she was gone. On Sunday she found out why. I counted that he could ask 20 questions a minute. He asked the questions faster than I could think of an answer, and moved on to the next topic just as fast. I think that it is good to have that amount of enthusiasm for life and wonder. I just wish I had the energy to keep up.

Miles