ADHD??Bipolar

[franksmom]

I just thought I'd write this and share it with everyone. We have had a major setback in the last month.
Things for our son got much worse in school and we deceided to go for another opinion. The Dr. we saw seemed to have good credentials so we felt confident .
I should have stopped at the first visit but we thought if we didnt follow it through we would be doing our son a disservice. This Dr. saw our son for about 45 min. and wouldnt even hear me out. Didnt want to hear about past behavior or school problems or anything. He quickly told us that he thought our son was bipolar . He said"If it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck it must be a duck". He told us he needed meds and we would see a major improvement. He sent us for EKG and blood work and started our son on a mood stabilizer/and an antipsycotic. Well aside from the fact that DS was allergic to the mood stabilizer and had to stop it immediately- he began to show behaviors that I had never seen in him before.
He became very angry, violent, nasty and would have major fits at night that resembled seizures. He even spoke about killing himself.This Dr said IMPOSSIBLE!!!
He stopped the antipsycotic and started another mood stabilizer which caused chest pain and the terrible behaviors got much worse. My son would go into these fits on and off and when off would beg me to tie him up so he wouldnt hurt anyone. Asked me "what did this guy do to me"? Well thank the good Lord we deceided to stop the meds (against the Drs advice). I truely believed it was the medication and not my son. The pharmacist said his levels were not high enough to cause physical problems. It took 5 days for that stuff to get out of his system and I am happy to say my hyper, very talkative, loving and affectionate little boy is back with us. Not one incident again after the 5 days passed.
Several Dr.s have advised me to get another opinion because all say my son is NOT bipolar! We have another appt tomorrow with a new psychiatrist. I'll keep you posted. I truely believe this guy mistook my sons depression and anger for the wrong duck! I am so glad it has finally become part of our past.
Sorry I rambled but I needed to share our BAD experience with everyone.

[Amsmom]

wow, franksmom, what a horrible experience. besides improperly dx-ing your ds, the dr was extremely unprofessional to speak to you in such a condescending tone ("if it walks like a duck"---how arrogant!). he also was out of line to blow off your concerns about the extreme behaviors brought out by the meds. good riddance to that quack, i hope the next one is much, much better. there are good ones out there, we just have to look hard. my ds8 is adhd/bipolar and was dx'ed by one of the "good" ones, thankfully. please keep us posted. we are here for you.

[Linda]

Thanks for sharing that....that Doctor sounds like a total idiot!!! You did the right thing by stopping the meds against the Doctors orders! That sort of behavior on the doctors part scares me!!


Please let us know how his "new appointment" goes. I am glad you have your son back.

[ohmama]

It sounds like the doctor was the duck (quack, quack)!

What are your sons symptoms? Was he diagnosed with adhd before this or anxiety and depression?

[franksmom]

Thanks so much for your support.
Today was our new appt. and I must say it went much better. This dr. listened to all my concerns. His present diagnosis is ADHD with possible ODD and depression. He gave us a script for Adderall XR 10 mgs to start -he wants to see his reaction to it. We used it in the past. I am also taking for an EEG in the morning to check on what I thought were seizures. He said we would start with this and then see how the depression is once the adderall is working. Then we can also move to some behavioral therapy. I pray we are on the right path. He told me I can freely use him fish oil and flax(which I was using before the quack made me stop) Vitamins are also ok. My son will probably drop the extra weight he gained from the other meds and Ill work with the lack of appetite like I did beore. Here we go again.
Ill keep you posted and if there are any other suggestions please feel free to make them.
By the way my son was originally dx ADHD...the bipolar diagnosis just came last month with the quack.
Thanks again to each of yu

[AnneM]

Franksmom I am HORRIFIED by the treatment you received from the first QUACK! ... Thank heavens you seem to now have found a doctor who is "on the right track" ... It is frightening that "THOSE" Doctors are "still out there" but it does sound like you are really now on the right track for your son...

KEEP US POSTED!