New and confused

[StrugglingAgain]

HI!! Welcome to the Looney Bin! Yep, many of us on here have become very looney! It comes from our ADD/ADHDers!! Just kidding, but many times we feel looney. DS9 has been on Ritalin LA and Clonidine for several years. When he first started the Clonidine, it put him to sleep in minutes. He quickly adjusted and it no longer knocks him out. I feel pretty certain that your child's sleeplessness is caused by the stimulant, but that will adjust soon, too. The Clonidine is, in fact, a drug designed for hypertension in adults. In children it acts quite differently and has a calming nature. My son was given his first EKG after being on the Clonidine for quite some time. Now he has one every year to make sure he doesn't need to quit taking it. Your doctor may want a baseline EKG, but maybe not if there's no other reason to have one. It IS overwhelming when you first get a diagnosis, but in a way it's relief to find out there really WAS something going on that your child couldn't control. These drugs HELP, but are not the complete answer. Behavior modification, medication, and lots of patience is the mix you'll have to come up with. Each of our children have something different that works and with most of them, trial and error was the only way. That part gets really frustrating, but eventually you'll hit on just the right combination.

Stick around here! ALL of us have vented, cried, been angry, and gotten lots of answers and if not answers, lots of pats on the back and hugs. Many of us have been on this support board for several years....I've been here probably four years and still need my net friends all the time.

By the way, we share the broom and the pointed hat when we head out to protect our children!

[jessicasmom]

Thanks everyone. I did call the pharmacist last night and he pretty much said that the medicine does react differently to each individual. He told me to keep giving it to her and speak with her doctor next week. I will do this.

Last night was the worst. We are headed to Daytona Beach for my oldest daughters dance competition. DD was so excited that at 2:00 am, 3:00 am and the final straw at 4:45 am, she was up and playing with our dogs. I finally got her to sleep after 5:00 this morning. So far today she has almost been unbearable. We will work thru it.

I’m afraid it may be a very long weekend. Especially since the competition itself lasts from 5:30 pm until usually close to midnight. It is hard to keep any child sitting down that long. Oh well. Maybe the fresh, and cold air will simmer her down.

I gave her the adderall this morning and I don't think it is working yet.

Anyhow thanks for all the wonderful kind words and advice. I honestly listen to every bit of it.

Daytona Beach bound and worried

[finnmom]

Jessicasmom and a warm welcome from me too

You´ve come to the right place to vent and seek support and have fun when most needed ;D

You´ve got so many good advices already, so I dont want to sound like a broken record here Med try-out´s take time, sometimes you need to adjust them or change to get better effect...it´s a long road, feel´s miserable, but you´ll get there in the end. We´ve all been there, some with med´s and some with alternative´s, take´s time to get the right combination that work´s the best.

I dont know about clonidine, but as has been said, give it some time to build up in her system. Good luck with that!

My ds is 9 also, but he´s (as doctor said it) severe case of adhd, being in here has thaught me that he´s not severe at all, a handfull, but not at all as bad as he could. This is really a great place for adhders parent, it´s hard to get this kind of a understanding from the people around you, it take´s one who has been there and is living the life, to understand how this is.

And btw, have fun at Daytone Beach, I wish I could be there right now, it´s snowing in here right now(actually it has been snowing for last 2 day´s )

[vickilyn32]

Tell your older DD "break a leg" ;)from me. I also am send good luck to you keeping younger DD entertained during the competetion. Maybe she will so enraptured by the other dancers, that she will sit quiet. Oh well, we can hope cant we? Make sure you get some me time away from all the crazies. You will need it to be strong when things start going wrong.

[jessicasmom]

Thanks vickilyn32. My oldest daughter did great at the competition. They came home with one high 1st place and two third place trophies. I was very proud of her because she has such a bad cold, but she performed awsome. Little DD did do great sitting at the competition for 7 1/2 hours. It certainly helped that she fell asleep for almost three hours.

I brought my 9 year old niece with us to Daytona to help keep her company. They were pretty good. There were a few times that I wished I had thrown them into the deep end ,but I maintained self control and they did come home safe.

I think what helped her is letting her tire herself out so much. I let them swim ALL day long. Thank heavens for indoor pools, and outdoor heated pools. We walked several miles on the beach and spent time at the boardwalk.

It was after 1:30 am last night until we got back to our room. DD went directly to sleep. She also slept thru the night on Friday. I hope this is a good sign. DD has already gone to bed tonight. She asked me if she could go to bed now. I certainly didn't say no.

I am going to call her Dr. in the morning to ask questions still. We also meet on Wednesday for her two week appointment.

[Amsmom]

hi jessicasmom, forgive my delay in welcoming you, but the wish is just as sincere!!! i am so glad that you have joined our forum family. i see that you have already experienced the warmth and support from our wonderful members. i'm glad to see another floridian here, i am in miami

i want to tell you never to beat yourself up for not recognizing jessica's symptoms as adhd before. you have been doing everything right to help your dd. we are taught to look at medications when behaviors change and you were rightfully doing just that. you are a great mom, so don't doubt yourself for one minute. keep up the good work, mom!!!

[vickilyn32]

Congratulations to both your DDs, for jobs well done. I know how hard it is to sit thru something that you are not involved in, and it sounds like younger DD did great. And a job well done for older DD. Competitions are very stressful, and I am glad to hear how well her team did.