Help with what to do next? WAS: hello - intro

April 28, 2008

QUESTION: My kids have or are having established an IEP, but no official diagnosis has been made, even though we're sure they are HFA. What should my next step be?--------Response to previous email-------Yes, after reading some I realize I am VERY fortunate to be on the IEP path so early, and fortunate that I live in a county that has the money in the school system to be able to provide for the kids that need it. In some ways I do wonder if because of the speech delay involved in HFA those kids are more likely to get appropriate treatment early. Right now I'm dealing with trying to figure out what our next step is. As I said, both kids either are in the IEP process or have a formalized IEP, but we've only been diagnosed informally through those systems. With the 4 year old, his biggest issues are not education oriented so much, but behavior oriented, and I'm wondering what my next step is going to have to be to help with that, and whether we need to seek out an Autism specialist (we're an hour away from Baltimore, so we've got some options) to get an "official" diagnosis and help other than getting them set up to be able to participate in public school. Plus I've got a summer ahead of me where the 4 year old will be home all day, every day, and the behavior issues are going to be a problem. (He gets bored and then gets into stuff...dumps the salt, fills the toilet with paper, decides to fingerpaint the TV with his fudge pop, etc., and telling him NO or offering something else to do doesn't usually work.) So I'm thinking that at least for him we need to seek out strategies to help him learn how to control his impulses and behave somewhat appropriately. But I'm not sure what my next step should really be. He does have his yearly check-up in a couple weeks, so I'm going to talk to his GP then, but maybe some of you can help me at least have an IDEA of things we could pursue.Thanks,Mina Creative Designs by Minahttp://www.minasmol.etsy.com On Apr 28, 2008, at 8:27 AM, BRYAN DOLEZAL wrote:Perhaps because you are LUCKY to be having IEP's so young, too............a lot of us with Aspergers, did not get a diagnosis that early out, so we are NOT in your shoes; I think, which is what you would want, unless we are an 'expert' in it, we are NOT going to respond to you either; I know I don't want to misinform or say something I DO NOT KNOW FOR A FACT (or at least a fact in my area / state depending upon what it is............and, I did read about 10 of the 1168 letters in my box over the weekend; I think we are still in the same boat. Hang in there, dear...........and, we are HERE------------Ruthie From: madideaszoominternet (DOT) netDate: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:21:55 -0400Subject: Re: ( ) hello - introHi Mina,It's such a busy list that getting attention is sometimes difficult. I know I am swamped in my "real" life and behind in reading emails. You just have to find your voice here and you will. I have a lot of experiences in IEP "stuff" and still remember when my kids were that young. So if you have questions or need help, just yell. But give me a few days to catch up sometimes. lol. RoxannaAutism Happens (Aspegers Support) hello - introWell I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehension issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. TammyNo virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

April 28, 2008

Yes, I have a couple of ideas (isn't that shocking?!?!)........lol...........

You just typed about my now nearly seven year old, and we now know it is aspergers (did NOT know that at 2-4 years when he was dumping things, and costing us; on the verge of getting kicked out of daycare so we pulled him before she could and decided I would be staying home to work with him; only to find out that, he was even more than I could handle alone (SERIOUSLY!)..............so, believe it or not, against all my instincts, beliefs, and medicating before school, I knew that was an option; I also knew that the head of the psyche dept. at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS had once told me that NOTHING will happen, help, or work therapy or other wise if a child is not medicated and PROPERLY SO (medicated); he is right. No one can listen to you if they cannot listen. You cannot MAKE someone not have all these crossed wires from ADHD by making then 'just be good enough.' That would be like asking your lights to work when you did not hook them in to the switch...........sounds extreme but true.

And, on that note, I would urge you to consider medicating the ADHD proponent and impulsivity for your child; if you are completely against it, then, do it just for one dose a day (like ritilin or generic); thirty minutes after giving it (has to chew it up perhaps in a snack---my son at nearly seven still won't swallow them----FOCALIN--you can put in applesauce (dump it in) or pour it in their mouth (it is capsule---ONLY ADHD med you CAN do that with though)----------anyway, and work with him HARD while he is medicated.

STOP and THINK is a great technique. They must stop before doing everything; if leaving the living room, must stop, ask your permission to go to the restroom, go to their room and get a toy; if not back in amount of time you feel it should take, then you need to ask what doing...........they forget what they are doing. Anyway, this is STILL what my six year old does; we are trying to get the fourteen year old to do it again! He is resisting.

Magic 1-2-3 great for discipline. Read that book if you have not already.

And, structure, routine, therapy, play therapy, and medication. Those would be good components; and, IGNORE ALL THE GARBAGE BLAMING YOU AS A PARENT(we wasted enough years with that---everyone busy blaming us when our children have real issues--------low and behold, some of these professionals don't know how we do it now------DUH?!!!!----we have NO choice!!! It never WAS us!!! Keep advocating, being strong, and looking for help; everything does help.

MOST IMPORTANT: Date your children's spouse (or your significant other, or your friends!!!---but DATE / GO OUT / get a break!!!!!); go places from time-to-time totally alone (a night at your parent's home when they are not home/hotel / friends / anything but a break from EVERYONE!!!!); bath to relax (or shower if you're a man---but FOR NO REASON---just because it would feel great to have a nice, hot shower / bath and RELAX!!!!; read a book, write a letter, journal, but always make time for yourself. When my 14 year old was 4-6, I journaled nightly, too. This will be part of a book series I intend to write one day (as he has an abuse history 0-6 1/2, so my journaling was pretty intense) but it is also great to go back and see what doctor said what, where it was, etc; and, I track phone conversations in there (like who said what, services recommended, etc.). Down the road, it is important (or can be).........

Good luck, and hang in there.

Ruthie Dolezal

From: mina@...Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:59:33 -0400Subject: ( ) Help with what to do next? WAS: hello - intro

QUESTION: My kids have or are having established an IEP, but no official diagnosis has been made, even though we're sure they are HFA. What should my next step be?

--------Response to previous email-------

Yes, after reading some I realize I am VERY fortunate to be on the IEP path so early, and fortunate that I live in a county that has the money in the school system to be able to provide for the kids that need it. In some ways I do wonder if because of the speech delay involved in HFA those kids are more likely to get appropriate treatment early.

Right now I'm dealing with trying to figure out what our next step is. As I said, both kids either are in the IEP process or have a formalized IEP, but we've only been diagnosed informally through those systems. With the 4 year old, his biggest issues are not education oriented so much, but behavior oriented, and I'm wondering what my next step is going to have to be to help with that, and whether we need to seek out an Autism specialist (we're an hour away from Baltimore, so we've got some options) to get an "official" diagnosis and help other than getting them set up to be able to participate in public school. Plus I've got a summer ahead of me where the 4 year old will be home all day, every day, and the behavior issues are going to be a problem. (He gets bored and then gets into stuff...dumps the salt, fills the toilet with paper, decides to fingerpaint the TV with his fudge pop, etc., and telling him NO or offering something else to do doesn't usually work.) So I'm thinking that at least for him we need to seek out strategies to help him learn how to control his impulses and behave somewhat appropriately. But I'm not sure what my next step should really be. He does have his yearly check-up in a couple weeks, so I'm going to talk to his GP then, but maybe some of you can help me at least have an IDEA of things we could pursue.

Thanks,

Mina

Creative Designs by Mina

http://www.minasmol.etsy.com

On Apr 28, 2008, at 8:27 AM, BRYAN DOLEZAL wrote:

Perhaps because you are LUCKY to be having IEP's so young, too............a lot of us with Aspergers, did not get a diagnosis that early out, so we are NOT in your shoes; I think, which is what you would want, unless we are an 'expert' in it, we are NOT going to respond to you either; I know I don't want to misinform or say something I DO NOT KNOW FOR A FACT (or at least a fact in my area / state depending upon what it is............and, I did read about 10 of the 1168 letters in my box over the weekend; I think we are still in the same boat. Hang in there, dear...........and, we are HERE------------Ruthie

From: madideaszoominternet (DOT) netDate: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:21:55 -0400Subject: Re: ( ) hello - intro

Hi Mina,

It's such a busy list that getting attention is sometimes difficult. I know I am swamped in my "real" life and behind in reading emails. You just have to find your voice here and you will.

I have a lot of experiences in IEP "stuff" and still remember when my kids were that young. So if you have questions or need help, just yell. But give me a few days to catch up sometimes. lol.

RoxannaAutism Happens

(Aspegers Support) hello - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehension issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

April 28, 2008

Mina,

I've had IEP's for my two ASD chidren since they were 3 years old.

They both started in the First Steps Program which is for children

from birth to 3 years old. Once they turned 3, then the school's

preschool program created their IEP's. My ds is now 6 & ds is 5 both

have IEP's and are doing great. With my ds hers was mostly

behavioral issues, but the teachers told me that they had to get the

behavioral issues under control, so that she could learn the

educational material.

With your son, if he's in preschool, then talk to his teacher. If

not, see about getting him into a preschool program, then they can

evaluate him & creat the IEP.

Hope that helps. I too am very lucky because I started with my

children with they were 12 months old. I knew something was wrong &

couldn't put my finger on it. That's when I contacted the First Steps

Program which is federally funded. The FS program sent an evaluator

out to my home & did some tests with my children to see if they

qualified, which they did. It's been such a blessing to see them

improve so much both in their behaviors & education.

Hope this helps. Hang in there.

Connie

> >

> > Hi Tammy,

> >

> > You seem to be doing a very good job with your kids. What is

EH?

> > Does the school recognize the comprehension issue? Our son, 9,

> > stuggles with comprehension. What help are you getting? With

that?

> > Sorry you felt ignored. I have felt that way on lists before, I

> > just keep hanging in there.

> >

> > Regina

> >

> > From:

[mailto:

> > ] On Behalf Of kidsrmylife12

> > Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 10:00 PM

> >

> > Subject: (Aspegers Support) hello - intro

> >

> > Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you

all

> > are just used to each other or just are unsure about my

qualifications

> > as a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be

totally

> > ignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15

years

> > and have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses

and

> > many doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from

others

> > about how they deal with their teens and the school system,

puberty

> > and dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to

join

> > the group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than

> > welcoming.

> > I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivty

> > disorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder

as a

> > younger child but seems to have outgrown it but has an EH label at

> > school, an IEP and a learning/comprehension issu e. She however is

> > doing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My

14

> > yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but

the

> > school system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally

in a

> > regular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment

> > (shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over

anxious

> > and then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that

at

> > all costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to

frighten

> > people when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can

stand

> > up to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but

> > thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.

> > He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a

short

> > answer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences

and

> > he is overwhelmed. His learned behavior has been that if I throw a

> > big enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rking

> > anymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and

they

> > are letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win.

> > Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have

something

> > to offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

> >

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG.

> > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date:

> > 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

> >

>

April 28, 2008

We only medicate Dylan for attention issues when he is in school and he takes the lowest dose possible. Right now we're using the Daytrana patch (10mg for my 97 pound 11-yr-old boy.) He puts it on @ 7am and takes it off when he gets in the car after school (3:30pm). He never has anything in his system in the evenings, weekends, summertime, holidays, etc... I like it too b/c he's able to work on his behavior in his "natural" state, which I suspect helps him as a whole. I liken it to being on Demerol when I was in labor with Dylan. They had me on so much medication, I slept between my contractions. I'd wake up every 2-3 minutes with a killer contraction but couldn't get

a handle on my breathing or any coping mechanisms b/c as soon as the contraction was over, I was zonked out again. I ended up basically having 2 hours of non-stop contractions before my epidural. If I hadn't been on so much medication, I could've gathered my thoughts and I think the contractions would've been a bit more manageable.

This is a personal choice of mine though. I like the balance of it. It probably would've been easier when he was younger to always have him medicated, but it just didn't sit right with me so we never did it. So if parents out there are reluctant about medication, you might want to consider doing what we've done (only medicating during the school week.) I know all of our kids/families/stories are different so I'm not judging others who always medicate, it's just not the right choice for my son/family.

(Aspegers Support) hello - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but has

an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehens ion issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned behavior

has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

April 28, 2008

I agree, and I disagree; if it works for you AND your child, great, but I think we all need to know if you TRULY have ADHD, it is like broken 'wires', meds make the wires be fixed and work; when there are not meds, the wires are still broken. More specifically, I am an adult, and was diagnosed as an adult, so I have both lives to compare....most importantly, not medicated, I struggled in school working my rear end off for the few A's, B's, and C's, even D's I got all the way through high school and college.........now, I read it and know it forever; think of the difference in ME ALONE had I been medicated all along..........I grew up as an only child on a farm so I had to entertain myself, as my parents did not want to play with me all the time (games, etc.) so I was great at that but I had ADHD to the max; I made some very impulsive choices (would not have ANDREW if I did not at the time).........irregardless, it IS a personal choice; I was a girl and very well behaved per my parents (I was hyper though---but used it productively)----------I think there IS a difference between girls and boys. My boys are all boy but more than that. And, they have the hugest fits that are not normal fits (mine, per my parents, were pretty normal fits-----if my parents gave it to shut me up, I would not do it 'cuz I knew they did not want me to---------so, I was 'unique.')----my boys could care a less. I DO know though, that NO ONE wants to feel out of control. My six year old will get mad unmedicated, if we cannot help him to calm down (he hates the behaviors as much as we hate dealing with them)...........so, it is a personal choice, one that also requires assistance and at some times, your CHILD'S opinion; at six, my son voices his loudly; he is extremely intelligent and is very helpful in helping us to help him, too.

Thank you for your input..............and your opinion.

Ruthie

From: smacalli@...Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:31:12 -0700Subject: Re: ( ) Help with what to do next? WAS: hello - intro

We only medicate Dylan for attention issues when he is in school and he takes the lowest dose possible. Right now we're using the Daytrana patch (10mg for my 97 pound 11-yr-old boy.) He puts it on @ 7am and takes it off when he gets in the car after school (3:30pm). He never has anything in his system in the evenings, weekends, summertime, holidays, etc... I like it too b/c he's able to work on his behavior in his "natural" state, which I suspect helps him as a whole. I liken it to being on Demerol when I was in labor with Dylan. They had me on so much medication, I slept between my contractions. I'd wake up every 2-3 minutes with a killer contraction but couldn't get a handle on my breathing or any coping mechanisms b/c as soon as the contraction was over, I was zonked out again. I ended up basically having 2 hours of non-stop contractions before my epidural. If I hadn't been on so much medication, I could've gathered my thoughts and I think the contractions would've been a bit more manageable.

This is a personal choice of mine though. I like the balance of it. It probably would've been easier when he was younger to always have him medicated, but it just didn't sit right with me so we never did it. So if parents out there are reluctant about medication, you might want to consider doing what we've done (only medicating during the school week.) I know all of our kids/families/stories are different so I'm not judging others who always medicate, it's just not the right choice for my son/family.

(Aspegers Support) hello - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehens ion issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

April 28, 2008

Dylan was diagnosed w/ ADHD at the age of 5 by his pediatrician, the school system, and a psychiatrist. It's also been confirmed by other evaluations by 2 different psychologists and probably 3 more school evaluations. But does he "truly" have ADHD? I don't know. I do know he exhibited many of the signs...easily distracted, very difficult to focus, frequent meltdowns, very hard to get him to calm down when he was upset, etc... The medications helped him in school. But we also did lots of behavioral/play therapy at the time too. I know doing the combination of the 2 helped tremendously. He's been evaluated so many times and given other diagnoses too, but I think Aspergers is truly what we're dealing with. If I had medicated him for

everything he's been diagnosed with, he'd literally be on an anti-anxiety med, an ADHD med, med for reflux, allergies, and asthma prevention. We've done what we can with his environment/eating to eliminate the need for meds for reflux, choose not to medicate for anxiety, and he's outgrown the asthma problems for the most part. If he can outgrow asthma problems, why can't we see improvements in other areas too?

I frequently see people on here w/ a situation similar to my son...ADHD diagnosis when young, Asperger's diagnosis later on. I know the patch helps him at school b/c the teachers can tell when he forgets to take it. And he can tell it helps him to focus. But if someone could follow him around school and rub his back/squeeze his arms whenever he was anxious, distracted, excitable, etc... he probably wouldn't need the patch. He himself asked me the other day to rub his back when he was trying to focus on something in the evening but was having a hard time. He said "Mom, can you rub my back so I can focus?" I almost fell out of my chair. For him to put the two together was fantastic!

When I was struggling w/ depression earlier this year, my doctor suggested a medication. I tried it and had moderate/severe side effects so I got off. When I went back to my doctor, he wanted to try me on another medication but I was hesitant. He said "You could try counseling too. Clinically, with a good therapist, you'll have the same results as you would taking a pill. Most people just don't have time for therapy though so they use the pill." I decided to not take another pill and try other methods instead (exercise, getting a bit more sleep at night, making more time for myself, and being more careful about what I eat.) I feel so much better now. Think about pills you take to lower cholesterol. You can get similar results w/ an increase in exercise and better eating habits. That works for a lot of people. I'm not saying this would work for everyone, but it does help a lot more than

I think people realize at times. And I think physicians are trying to help us get the easiest fix b/c they know we are overstretched w/ our time and resources.

So when contemplating medication for your child, it doesn't have to be an all or nothing approach. Somewhere in the middle might work well too. And then your child gets the benefits of both being on it at school and not taking it outside of school so they continue to grow normally and aren't always on a psychiatric drug. I know there is a group of kids who probably need around-the-clock medication, but that's not always the case.

(Aspegers Support) hello - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but

has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehens ion issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned

behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

April 28, 2008

Hi ,

Re: Daytrana patch. I didn't realize there was a medication that you

can administer on an on and off basis? Hmm, interesting... may I ask

whether this is something new? I am curious because my son had taken

Concerta, and now Strattera. Both were positive fits for him on the

lowest dosages available. Eventually, I found the Concerta to leave

him a bit emotional and it was stopped. I also wondered about non-

medicating within our home, however, our doctor, explained to us that

we should not remove him from the medicine (that was the Concerta)

during weekends, for instance, because it detracts from the effects

it has during the week. As well, he stated that the body is

constantly working harder to rebuild it in his system again. We did,

however, with physician's guidance, remove during summer months to

allow his body to rest. Let me know, because if it is feasible, I

would like to explore this option.

Thanks!

>

> We only medicate Dylan for attention issues when he is in school

and he takes the lowest dose possible. Right now we're using the

Daytrana patch (10mg for my 97 pound 11-yr-old boy.) He puts it on @

7am and takes it off when he gets in the car after school (3:30pm).

He never has anything in his system in the evenings, weekends,

summertime, holidays, etc... I like it too b/c he's able to work on

his behavior in his " natural " state, which I suspect helps him as a

whole. I liken it to being on Demerol when I was in labor with

Dylan. They had me on so much medication, I slept between my

contractions. I'd wake up every 2-3 minutes with a killer

contraction but couldn't get a handle on my breathing or any coping

mechanisms b/c as soon as the contraction was over, I was zonked out

again. I ended up basically having 2 hours of non-stop contractions

before my epidural. If I hadn't been on so much medication, I

could've gathered my thoughts and I think

> the contractions would've been a bit more manageable.

>

> This is a personal choice of mine though. I like the balance of

it. It probably would've been easier when he was younger to always

have him medicated, but it just didn't sit right with me so we never

did it. So if parents out there are reluctant about medication, you

might want to consider doing what we've done (only medicating during

the school week.) I know all of our kids/families/stories are

different so I'm not judging others who always medicate, it's just

not the right choice for my son/family.

April 28, 2008

You know I tried on Ritalin long ago and nothing happened. It has no effect on a person if they don't have ADD. That is how doctors told me I could tell if he really had it or not. Even now he tried Adderall to help him concentrate in school at the beginning of 9th grade but even after about 4 months he wanted to stop taking it because it didn't do anything. However when he was Dx'ed with Bipolar he was on about 7 different meds and was almost a zombie. He now only takes seraquel to help with his mood and to get to sleep at night (as a side effect). He is so much more like a normal/typical child than before. Not the same but closer.

TammyOn Mon, Apr 28, 2008 at 5:10 PM, MacAllister <smacalli@...> wrote:

Dylan was diagnosed w/ ADHD at the age of 5 by his pediatrician, the school system, and a psychiatrist. It's also been confirmed by other evaluations by 2 different psychologists and probably 3 more school evaluations. But does he " truly " have ADHD? I don't know. I do know he exhibited many of the signs...easily distracted, very difficult to focus, frequent meltdowns, very hard to get him to calm down when he was upset, etc... The medications helped him in school. But we also did lots of behavioral/play therapy at the time too. I know doing the combination of the 2 helped tremendously. He's been evaluated so many times and given other diagnoses too, but I think Aspergers is truly what we're dealing with. If I had medicated him for

everything he's been diagnosed with, he'd literally be on an anti-anxiety med, an ADHD med, med for reflux, allergies, and asthma prevention. We've done what we can with his environment/eating to eliminate the need for meds for reflux, choose not to medicate for anxiety, and he's outgrown the asthma problems for the most part. If he can outgrow asthma problems, why can't we see improvements in other areas too?

I frequently see people on here w/ a situation similar to my son...ADHD diagnosis when young, Asperger's diagnosis later on. I know the patch helps him at school b/c the teachers can tell when he forgets to take it. And he can tell it helps him to focus. But if someone could follow him around school and rub his back/squeeze his arms whenever he was anxious, distracted, excitable, etc... he probably wouldn't need the patch. He himself asked me the other day to rub his back when he was trying to focus on something in the evening but was having a hard time. He said " Mom, can you rub my back so I can focus? " I almost fell out of my chair. For him to put the two together was fantastic!

When I was struggling w/ depression earlier this year, my doctor suggested a medication. I tried it and had moderate/severe side effects so I got off. When I went back to my doctor, he wanted to try me on another medication but I was hesitant. He said " You could try counseling too. Clinically, with a good therapist, you'll have the same results as you would taking a pill. Most people just don't have time for therapy though so they use the pill. " I decided to not take another pill and try other methods instead (exercise, getting a bit more sleep at night, making more time for myself, and being more careful about what I eat.) I feel so much better now. Think about pills you take to lower cholesterol. You can get similar results w/ an increase in exercise and better eating habits. That works for a lot of people. I'm not saying this would work for everyone, but it does help a lot more than

I think people realize at times. And I think physicians are trying to help us get the easiest fix b/c they know we are overstretched w/ our time and resources.

So when contemplating medication for your child, it doesn't have to be an all or nothing approach. Somewhere in the middle might work well too. And then your child gets the benefits of both being on it at school and not taking it outside of school so they continue to grow normally and aren't always on a psychiatric drug. I know there is a group of kids who probably need around-the-clock medication, but that's not always the case.

(Aspegers Support) hello - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualifications

as a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from others

about how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivty

disorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but

has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehens ion issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but the

school system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that at

all costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.

He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned

behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win.

Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

April 28, 2008

It is a patch; they wear it up to nine hours a day; we actually do the 5:30 a.m. put on, so when he gets up at 7, he is medicated, and at 3 pm, he takes it off when he gets off the bus; by about 5:30 pm, he is totally NOT medicated, which means, he is at least ready for bed, sort of (if sensory needs are met) but he is then hungry for supper.

And, it is a patch and like ritilin, etc. it is just good for the day, not more----it does not provide continuous support 24 / 7 or anything. It is great for us; we have LOVED it, and it is awesome for youngsters that won't / don't take pills at all or take 'em well.

Ruthie

From: johnvel@...Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:37:50 +0000Subject: Re: ( ) Help with what to do next? WAS: hello - intro

Hi ,Re: Daytrana patch. I didn't realize there was a medication that you can administer on an on and off basis? Hmm, interesting... may I ask whether this is something new? I am curious because my son had taken Concerta, and now Strattera. Both were positive fits for him on the lowest dosages available. Eventually, I found the Concerta to leave him a bit emotional and it was stopped. I also wondered about non-medicating within our home, however, our doctor, explained to us that we should not remove him from the medicine (that was the Concerta) during weekends, for instance, because it detracts from the effects it has during the week. As well, he stated that the body is constantly working harder to rebuild it in his system again. We did, however, with physician's guidance, remove during summer months to allow his body to rest. Let me know, because if it is feasible, I would like to explore this option.Thanks!>> We only medicate Dylan for attention issues when he is in school and he takes the lowest dose possible. Right now we're using the Daytrana patch (10mg for my 97 pound 11-yr-old boy.) He puts it on @ 7am and takes it off when he gets in the car after school (3:30pm). He never has anything in his system in the evenings, weekends, summertime, holidays, etc... I like it too b/c he's able to work on his behavior in his "natural" state, which I suspect helps him as a whole. I liken it to being on Demerol when I was in labor with Dylan. They had me on so much medication, I slept between my contractions. I'd wake up every 2-3 minutes with a killer contraction but couldn't get a handle on my breathing or any coping mechanisms b/c as soon as the contraction was over, I was zonked out again. I ended up basically having 2 hours of non-stop contractions before my epidural. If I hadn't been on so much medication, I could've gathered my thoughts and I think> the contractions would've been a bit more manageable. > > This is a personal choice of mine though. I like the balance of it. It probably would've been easier when he was younger to always have him medicated, but it just didn't sit right with me so we never did it. So if parents out there are reluctant about medication, you might want to consider doing what we've done (only medicating during the school week.) I know all of our kids/families/stories are different so I'm not judging others who always medicate, it's just not the right choice for my son/family.

April 28, 2008

It is a patch; they wear it up to nine hours a day; we actually do the 5:30 a.m. put on, so when he gets up at 7, he is medicated, and at 3 pm, he takes it off when he gets off the bus; by about 5:30 pm, he is totally NOT medicated, which means, he is at least ready for bed, sort of (if sensory needs are met) but he is then hungry for supper.

And, it is a patch and like ritilin, etc. it is just good for the day, not more----it does not provide continuous support 24 / 7 or anything. It is great for us; we have LOVED it, and it is awesome for youngsters that won't / don't take pills at all or take 'em well.

Ruthie

From: johnvel@...Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:37:50 +0000Subject: Re: ( ) Help with what to do next? WAS: hello - intro

Hi ,Re: Daytrana patch. I didn't realize there was a medication that you can administer on an on and off basis? Hmm, interesting... may I ask whether this is something new? I am curious because my son had taken Concerta, and now Strattera. Both were positive fits for him on the lowest dosages available. Eventually, I found the Concerta to leave him a bit emotional and it was stopped. I also wondered about non-medicating within our home, however, our doctor, explained to us that we should not remove him from the medicine (that was the Concerta) during weekends, for instance, because it detracts from the effects it has during the week. As well, he stated that the body is constantly working harder to rebuild it in his system again. We did, however, with physician's guidance, remove during summer months to allow his body to rest. Let me know, because if it is feasible, I would like to explore this option.Thanks!>> We only medicate Dylan for attention issues when he is in school and he takes the lowest dose possible. Right now we're using the Daytrana patch (10mg for my 97 pound 11-yr-old boy.) He puts it on @ 7am and takes it off when he gets in the car after school (3:30pm). He never has anything in his system in the evenings, weekends, summertime, holidays, etc... I like it too b/c he's able to work on his behavior in his "natural" state, which I suspect helps him as a whole. I liken it to being on Demerol when I was in labor with Dylan. They had me on so much medication, I slept between my contractions. I'd wake up every 2-3 minutes with a killer contraction but couldn't get a handle on my breathing or any coping mechanisms b/c as soon as the contraction was over, I was zonked out again. I ended up basically having 2 hours of non-stop contractions before my epidural. If I hadn't been on so much medication, I could've gathered my thoughts and I think> the contractions would've been a bit more manageable. > > This is a personal choice of mine though. I like the balance of it. It probably would've been easier when he was younger to always have him medicated, but it just didn't sit right with me so we never did it. So if parents out there are reluctant about medication, you might want to consider doing what we've done (only medicating during the school week.) I know all of our kids/families/stories are different so I'm not judging others who always medicate, it's just not the right choice for my son/family.

April 28, 2008

I'm not sure about Concerta, but some ADHD meds (I thought most, but could be wrong) are not meds that build on each other like you described below. When Dylan doesn't wear a patch on the weekends or over holiday breaks, he's fine. No side effects or anything when he doesn't put one on the next day. Dylan was on Ritalin in the past (again, a very low dose) which was good b/c it only last 4 hours. He'd take one @ 7am and then he'd take a pill at lunch at school and it was out of his system by 3-4pm. With the patch, he doesn't have to dose at school which he likes a lot. He used to not have a problem going to the nurse when he was younger but he really didn't like standing out like that as he got older.

Dylan has been on Adderall XR, Strattera, Ritalin, and now Daytrana. I'd say Daytrana is probably my favorite and seems to work the most consistently.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions and I'd be happy to attempt to answer them. You also might want to call a pharmacy and ask more questions about Concerta and whether it's okay to only take it Mon-Fri. Better yet, maybe tell your prescribing doc you'd like a med for ADHD that is formulated so he can only wear it during the school week and it isn't an issue.

Take care,

Re: ( ) Help with what to do next? WAS: hello - intro

Hi ,Re: Daytrana patch. I didn't realize there was a medication that you can administer on an on and off basis? Hmm, interesting. .. may I ask whether this is something new? I am curious because my son had taken Concerta, and now Strattera. Both were positive fits for him on the lowest dosages available. Eventually, I found the Concerta to leave him a bit emotional and it was stopped. I also wondered about non-medicating within our home, however, our doctor, explained to us that we should not remove him from the medicine (that was the Concerta) during weekends, for instance, because it detracts from the effects it has during the week. As well, he stated that the body is constantly working harder to rebuild it in his system again. We did, however, with physician's guidance, remove during summer months to allow his body to rest. Let me know, because if it is feasible, I would like to

explore this option.Thanks!>> We only medicate Dylan for attention issues when he is in school and he takes the lowest dose possible. Right now we're using the Daytrana patch (10mg for my 97 pound 11-yr-old boy.) He puts it on @ 7am and takes it off when he gets in the car after school (3:30pm). He never has anything in his system in the evenings, weekends, summertime, holidays, etc... I like it too b/c he's able to work on his behavior in his "natural" state, which I suspect helps him as a whole. I liken it to being on Demerol when I was in labor with Dylan. They had me on so much medication, I slept between my contractions. I'd wake up every 2-3 minutes with a

killer contraction but couldn't get a handle on my breathing or any coping mechanisms b/c as soon as the contraction was over, I was zonked out again. I ended up basically having 2 hours of non-stop contractions before my epidural. If I hadn't been on so much medication, I could've gathered my thoughts and I think> the contractions would've been a bit more manageable. > > This is a personal choice of mine though. I like the balance of it. It probably would've been easier when he was younger to always have him medicated, but it just didn't sit right with me so we never did it. So if parents out there are reluctant about medication, you might want to consider doing what we've done (only medicating during the school week.) I know all of our kids/families/ stories are different so I'm not judging others who always medicate, it's just not the right choice for my

son/family.

April 29, 2008

I disagree a lot.

First - taking kids off meds after school and during holidays is not always a wise move. If it works for you and yours, then great. But people should consider that the effects of hyperactivity and or attentional problems do not stop when school lets out. And these symptoms will affect a child's ability to relate, learn and socialize with the rest of their world outside of school. I personally would not medicate for the school's benefit alone. And if it benefits the child, then it benefits the child outside of school, IMO. I know people who agree with your theory on ritalin and that is fine - I just mean to add my differing opinion to this as I disagree.

Also, please check with your doc if you want to take your child off a med or take them off/put them on on various days of the week or times or whatever plan you've made. It really is important to know the med and get advice from a real doctor on this. Many meds are not like ritalin and they do need to build up in the system for some time. So taking them off and on these kinds of meds would be a bad idea. Even short acting meds that are in and out of the system like ritalin are not all "like ritalin" in that you could take kids off and on at will. Before you think about doing this, please check with your doctor and make sure it's ok to do this!

Regarding depression, I disagree that counseling is all that great and helpful. It depends on why you are depressed, IMO and also depends on what kind of depression you are dealing with. I think it would be important to figure out why you are depressed before deciding whether you should take meds or whether just getting more sleep would take care of the problem. Each person is different. Some people need to therapize and others would rather jump off a cliff without wings before doing that. (Gosh, can you guess which one I am? lol) I think the doc was being lazy by prescribing meds first without exploring other options. But that is just from reading what you wrote.

I think finding out the cause is important for everyone and for kids as well. All anxiety is not created equal either. Why is a child having problems with anxiety, are there ways to relax and teach calming techniques or in altering problem areas during the day so that the anxiety lessens? Or is the child full of anxiety for no apparent reason that is feeding off itself no matter what? I do not feel that medicating oneself or ones child is a first choice for most people. Usually, parents have been dealing with these problems for a long long time before considering meds.

As for problems improving, they might improve and they might not. I have learned that some things will get better, some things won't, some things will change over time or morph into other kinds of problems that are no better or worse than the problem that left. Such is life...

RoxannaAutism Happens

(Aspegers Support) hello - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehens ion issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1399 - Release Date: 4/26/2008 2:17 PM

April 29, 2008

I hear your point Roxanna. It's definitely true that before anyone starts changing their child's dosing, they need to check with a doctor or pharmacist. Some meds this off/on thing won't work for. But I know Ritalin (not the XR version, at least) isn't one of them. I don't think Strattera or Adderall XR are problems either b/c we've never given Dylan meds on weekends, evenings, holidays, summers, etc... and he's been on all three of those. But again, I'm not a physician or a pharmacist so please (everyone!) don't take my word for it. Maybe this could start the discussion though?

"If it benefits the child, then it benefits the child outside of school." Probably, but to what effect? Dylan had side effects with any dose of any of the medicines and it didn't seem right to give him the meds when he was in a completely different environment and didn't have the same needs. He doesn't need to focus on things at home quite like he does at school so it's not out of the question to think his medication needs could be different in both places. Plus, at school he's expected to sit in one chair and work while there's things going on all over the place and he's extremely sensitive to noises, lights, sights, etc... All of the environmental overload distracts him and causes him some level of anxiety. Know what I mean?

It was much harder not medicating when he was younger. But that's when we started behavioral therapy and I instituted time-outs (thank you, Dr. Beverly!) Remember my son is high-functioning and the time-outs worked for him (and me) really well.

Again, I know some of these things are controversial (meds, time-outs) but they really have worked for my son. I know there are other parents on here whose kids are also higher functioning Aspies so I want to make sure they understand there are choices when it comes to interventions, including medication. It doesn't have to be meds all of the time or zero meds. I actually started Dylan on the meds every day, all day (he started them when he was 5, half-way through Kindergarten), but I was so distraught about the whole thing that my pediatrician, with over 30 years of experience at the time, suggested I only give him meds when he's in school. So after about 1 month of trying 24/7, we switched to only during school. I'm really glad we did too.

I think we're actually agreeing about the depression thing (in an odd kind of way, at least.) Counseling, for whatever reason, won't always work for some people (no time, no money, can't find a good therapist, not interested in talking about your problems, etc...) so pills are fine to take. For some of us though, making adjustments to how we live our lives is enough to pull us out of the "funk". I was struggling so bad for several months. I would start crying at the drop of a hat and often felt useless, like a bad mom, always saw the negative side of things. It was horrible. I think I'm on the other side of it now though, thank goodness. I messed up on the time of a birthday party for a friend of my NT daughter, (6) and by the time we got there, she missed the magician who was making balloon animals. I felt like the biggest failure on the planet. You know it's bad when you are talking to your

kids and start to get upset and your sweet 6-yr-old says "Mommy, are you going to cry again?" That's what compelled me to go to the doctor for help. It was becoming as normal as every day life. But more sleep, better eating, regular walking, and making sure I take time to just do something for myself (even if it's just reading a book for 30 minutes) seems to of helped.

One thing we are really going to work on this summer (you mentioned it below) is self-calming techniques for Dylan. That's one area we really need to work on. The fact he's able to verbally express when he's anxious and maybe even the reasons why is such a huge step for him. On Sunday, he went to church w/ my parents and wore a short-sleeved shirt and shorts. It was a little chilly outside (I won't tell you guys what we consider chilly in Austin, TX!) but that's what he wore. When they got back (after eating lunch too), my mom said Dylan had been acting up ever since the church service. After she left, I asked him why he thought he was still being so antzy and just a bit argumentative, and he said some boy at church was coloring really loudly and it was bothering him a lot. Plus he said, "it's cold outside and I was cold and I didn't like it." He was able to connect the environmental triggers to his

behavior. AMAZING! We are having these little epiphanies all over the place over the past month or so. It's so encouraging to hear/see.

Sorry, I got off track there, but I'm super-excited about his progress in this area (as you all can see!)

I don't necessarily agree with everything you said, Roxanna, but as always, I still have the utmost respect for you and really appreciate you putting your view out there so families can consider all of the facts/opinions when deciding what's best for their kids.

Take care,

(Aspegers Support) hello - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but

has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehens ion issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned

behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1399 - Release Date: 4/26/2008 2:17 PM

April 29, 2008

How's this for timing! Here's a good article about treating ADHD w/ meds...

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/brain-and-behavior/2008/04/21/treating-adhd-without-stimulants.html

(Aspegers Support) hello - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but

has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehens ion issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned

behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1399 - Release Date: 4/26/2008 2:17 PM

April 29, 2008

On Dec 25, 9:22pm, MacAllister wrote:

} This is a personal choice of mine though. I like the balance of it. It

probably would've been easier when he was younger to always have him medicated,

but it just didn't sit right with me so we never did it. So if parents out

there are reluctant about medication, you might want to consider doing what

we've done (only medicating during the school week.) I know all of our

kids/families/stories are different so I'm not judging others who always

medicate, it's just not the right choice for my son/family.

Just wanted to add to this that not all medications can be used this

way. Some need to be taken regularly and weaned off if the person is

no longer going to use it. So be careful before deciding to only

medicate some of the time.

Willa

April 30, 2008

Magic 1-2-3 is a really good book! Just wanted to add an "endorsement" for the book! I was at our new library over the weekend and I saw they had a version for Christian parents. I wonder what is different in that book? But anyway, you can often find these books at your local library too if you have trouble with the cost or are not sure it is for you.

RoxannaAutism Happens

(Aspegers Support) hllo - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learningcomprehension issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkingare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1399 - Release Date: 4/26/2008 2:17 PM

April 30, 2008

I remember you discussing "time outs" and I agree that is a great idea. I think you start with the easiest methods of handling problems, then progress if they don't work. So if something works and resolves the problem, then why get more severe methods of handling the problem? Stay with what works, IMO.

I have been reading a book lately called, "It's so much work to be your friend" by Lavoie and what colors my thinking a lot, especially when reading books such as these, is just how much one problem area affects other areas of ones life. You don't even realize the connection sometimes...well, I know I don't. Then when Mr. Lavoie explains it, I think, "Of course! It makes perfect sense that if you have this problem, it's going to affect these things as well!"

I cite this book especially because it discusses the problems that kids have in school (hyperactivity or organizational/executive function, for example) and then it tells you what this affects in the child's life outside of school or in social situations (i.e. not academic.) As Mr. Lavoie said in a conference I attended, "The ADHD does not turn off after school." So it is fascinating/interesting to read more about the ways that these kinds of issues affect the kids outside of the "sit in your seat" situation.

This is why I think the on and off method of using ritalin is not a great idea. No, you are not requiring a hyper child to sit still in a desk all day once he is at home or on the weekends. But there is more being affected than just the obvious physical problem of staying seated when dealing with ADHD (or other problems, really.) So often the "in your face" problems are the ones we see, the ones we want to fix, the ones the teachers yell the loudest about! And I am no different - when a child is eating his clothes, this is something we need to fix asap vs. perhaps the same level of anxiety without the outward chewing. I guess having my oldest ds be an "innie" has taught me that there is a lot going on even when there are not any obvious "in your face" signs happenings.

And of course, back to the Lavoie book I am (still) reading, you would just be surprised I think to know what kinds of problems kids have that we do not even consider associated with having these learning/attentional problems. It is a great book for anyone interested in understanding more about the social problems our kids have. While he often references kids with ADHD, the problems he outlines are problems most/many kids with AS/HFA deal with as well.

RoxannaAutism Happens

(Aspegers Support) hello - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehens ion issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1399 - Release Date: 4/26/2008 2:17 PM

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.6/1404 - Release Date: 4/29/2008 6:27 PM

April 30, 2008

Thanks for sending it. The OT (per my other post on this topic) feels that the only way of handling my ds's issues are medicating him (i.e. ritalin or equivalent.) So I am on the search for other options, if possible.

RoxannaAutism Happens

(Aspegers Support) hello - intro

Well I have tried to interject into conversation, and either you allare just used to each other or just are unsure about my qualificationsas a parent with a child in the spectrum. I am not used to be totallyignored as I have been dealing with these issues for almost 15 yearsand have learned a thing or two, dealt with 3 different diagnoses andmany doctors over the years. I also have a lot to learn from othersabout how they deal with their teens and the school system, pubertyand dating perhaps that may come at some point. I was oping to jointhe group to help and to learn but so far it has been less than welcoming.I have 3 children, one with severe attention deficit hyperactivtydisorder (20yr and on her own), 16 yo dd who had seizure disorder as ayounger child but seems to have outgrown it but has an EH label atschool, an IEP and a learning/comprehens ion issu e. She however isdoing wonderful in 9th grade and so far is on the honor roll. My 14yo ds is my AS and he is also in 9th grade, extremely bright, but theschool system has not been as kind to us with him. He is finally in aregular school working toward a lesser restrictive environment(shortened days) because he gets too stimulated and then over anxiousand then will start getting violent. We are working to avoid that atall costs seeing that my boy is 6ft3in and 300# he tends to frightenpeople when he tosses desks or start growling. I am one who can standup to him because I know he isn't going to hurt a person, but thosebr>who don't know him, are unsure of the limits.He doesn't write and that is our major struggle. He will do a shortanswer writing assignment but anything longer than 2-3 sentences andhe is overwhelmed. His learned behavior has been that if I throw abig enough stink, then I can get out of it. Well it isn't wo rkinganymore because it is getting brought home via the teachers and theyare letting me fight it out with him and I tend to win. Anyway, if I can help I am here. i will interject if I have somethingto offer, otherwise I tend to just read. Tammy

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008 2:31 PM

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1399 - Release Date: 4/26/2008 2:17 PM

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.6/1404 - Release Date: 4/29/2008 6:27 PM

April 30, 2008

I agree, good link, thanks for sending! What I found informative were

the articles that connected from this site because they discuss an

important issue that is often over-looked by both medical

practitioners and parents: Screening the Heart for incapatibility

with stimulants. Let me add, that an EEG may not suffice, but an

ultrasound is most effective at identifying a potential risk. That

said, let me assure, I am not against medications... my child

benefits from one as a matter of fact, BUT he has been thoroughly

screened for cardiac abnormality. My daughter, however, was not

screened... she suffered cardiac arrest and was found to have a

structural defect that had not been previously identified. Medicating

without screening might contribute to underlying health conditions

so, please, be aware... be careful, be safe.

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/brain-and-

behavior/2008/04/21/children-taking-stimulants-need-heart-screening-

group-says.html

Children Taking Stimulants Need Heart Screening, Group Says

Electrocardiograms could identify kids at risk from taking Ritalin,

Adderall, and similar drugs

By Shute

Posted April 21, 2008

Parents needn't panic about today's announcement that children need

cardiac screening before they can safely take stimulants like Ritalin

and Adderall, cardiologists say. The announcement, made by the

American Heart Association in the journal Circulation, affects the

2.5 million or more children who take stimulants to treat attention

deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as children who are newly

diagnosed with ADHD.

(Mark Harmel/Getty Images)

Video: ADHDRelated News

8 Questions Adolescents Are Asking About Stimulants

Treating ADHD Without Stimulants

Cardiac Screening Recommended for Kids Taking Stimulants for ADHD

Discuss Brain And Neurological Conditions

The recommended screening involves a physical exam and an

electrocardiogram, or ECG. The idea of getting an ECG for a 10-year-

old may sound freaky, but it's a painless and inexpensive test that

poses no risk to the child. For most families, the biggest issue will

probably be corralling the kid and getting to the doctor's office.

Cardiologists say it's worth the hassle; they're worried about rare

but potentially deadly heart problems that can be made worse by the

use of stimulants.

" You want to avoid giving this drug to children who have heart

disease, " says Nissen, chairman of the cardiology department

at the Cleveland Clinic, who calls the new screening

recommendations " very solid advice. " Nissen helped push the Food and

Drug Administration to require warning labels about cardiovascular

risk with ADHD drugs in February 2007. For a pediatrician's advice to

parents, you can read this related story.

Doctors don't know how many children have undiagnosed heart problems,

but preliminary research presented in 2007 found that about 2 percent

of seemingly healthy school-age children had potentially serious

undiagnosed heart problems that were detected only by an ECG. That

could mean that 50,000 kids now taking stimulants are unknowingly at

risk of cardiovascular problems.

Stimulant drugs increase heart rate and blood pressure, which can

cause problems for children and adults with underlying heart disease.

Two disorders prompt the most concern: valvular heart disease, in

which one of the heart's four valves fails to open or close properly;

and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, in which the wall

between the heart's chambers is abnormally thick. Between 1999 and

2004, the FDA received reports of 19 children who died suddenly from

unrecognized heart problems while taking ADHD medications. Twenty-six

other children suffered strokes, cardiac arrests, or heart

palpitations.

An electrocardiogram, which takes about five minutes, looks for

abnormalities in heart function by reading electrical impulses from

the heart's muscles. Small adhesive pads are attached to the chest,

and the results are recorded on a strip of paper, which is then read

by a physician. Combined with a thorough physical exam, it can detect

abnormal heart rhythms and muscle weakness. The AHA recommends that

children who have abnormalities get further screening with a

pediatric cardiologist but adds that children shouldn't be barred

from treatment for ADHD just because they haven't had an ECG.

Insurance should cover the test, but it is inexpensive—less than $25

in most cases.

(Mark Harmel/Getty Images)

Video: ADHDRelated News

8 Questions Adolescents Are Asking About Stimulants

Treating ADHD Without Stimulants

Cardiac Screening Recommended for Kids Taking Stimulants for ADHD

Discuss Brain And Neurological Conditions

" There's no question that there are children who benefit from [ADHD]

therapy, " Nissen says. " Like all therapies, there are benefits and

risks. We need to make sure that the ones who have the most to gain

get the drugs and the ones who have increased risk avoid the drugs. "

Parents should ask their child's pediatrician for advice on when and

how to go about getting their child screened.

and:

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080421/cardiac-

screening-recommended-for-kids-taking-stimulants-for-adhd.htm

Cardiac Screening Recommended for Kids Taking Stimulants for ADHD

American Heart Association issues new guidelines in response to

growing concerns about heart complications

By Alan Mozes

Posted 4/21/08

MONDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- The American Heart Association

on Monday issued recommendations that call for cardiovascular

screening before prescribing stimulant treatment for all children

diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Sign In

Help with what to do next? WAS: hello - intro

Recommended Posts

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Join the conversation

Activity