Update on Angel.....

[angelportia]

Angel is still doing great with the IC. Starting in the beginning of June we will be taking her off the meds to see how she does.
The school, her therapist, and her doc have run more tests on Angel. We found, after putting all the info together, that she really doesn't have "ADHD". She has depression, anxiety, and Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID). She also may be mildly autistic. We still have a little more testing to do. But, we found that the "ADHD" is more a side effect of the other problems. She gets so overwhelmed that she doesn't know how to deal with it. So, she acts out. It can get pretty bad and very hard to deal with. So, now I am learing more about the SID and how to help her with it. She may end up being put on meds for that too. Most likely it would be antidepressants. I don't like giving them to kids... but, I want to help her.
My friend's son had many of the same problems. At first, the diagnosed him with ADD. When the meds didn't work, the looked into things a little more and found that he actually didn't have ADHD, he dealt with depression and anxiety. They, then put him on antidepressants. He did great! He is now 17 and getting really good grades in school and doing great in other areas of his life. They took him off the meds a few months ago and you can tell he's still having some problems, but now he can deal with them better than he did when he was younger. I met him when he was 3 years old. He was soooo hard to handle! So... yeah... I know that the meds worked!
It's just that Angel is already taking enough meds! Poor child. But, I am willing to do what ever I need to do so that she can get better. No one ever helped me when I was younger. I too dealt with depression. But, instead of helping me, my parents beat me - and if I cried, I got beat even more. Crying was bad.... that's what stupid people do. And, my parents weren't going to deal with a "stupid" person. Well.... now I am 32 year old and finally getting better. I don't want Angel to go through life the way I did. It was very painful.
Anyway, now that I know more about what is going on with Angel, I have two feelings - 1.) I am scared. I feel like I have failed. And, I am worried for her. 2.) I am relieved. Now I can help her. It's like a fresh start.
This stuff is tearing me up inside. But, I know that is is really tearing her up inside and has been.
Thank you all for being there!

Heather :pray:

[amethyst79]

Hi Heather,

I'm sorry for all your little one is going through :( . On a positive note, my 5 year old is autistic with attention problems (but no ADD or ADHD), and sensory integration dysfunction - with 0 meds. For the SID he receives occupational therapy at school 2x a week, at the beginning it was 3x per week. His therapists have taught me many different techniques in helping the SID. Maybe this is an alternative that may be able to be followed?

Good luck! :grouphug:

Chelle

[Sandy N.]

Dear Heather. I work at a private school for children with special needs.The one thing that I am sure you know is to be patient and be willing to try different things. I just love all my kids,trying as they may be. I have been out of work for almost a week and I miss them all terribly. My prayers are with you.:pray: Sandy

[tigger2]

Hi, I just want to thank you for the PM you sent me. Sorry it took so long for me to write back, I just had surgery on my right hand less then a week ago, so this is my 1st time typing since. I really feel for you, I know how hard it is, my sons therapist spoke with his psychirist and now they are also going to put him on meds for depression and anxiety, since he is not handeling my health to well. We just had a death in the family and she was 34 years old and the next day I was going in for surgery and my son flipped out he thought I was going to die also since she was my age. Even though I did stop breathing on the OR table and they had to try to reverse the meds, but I am here and alive and dealing with a more difficult child. My son has always been psychic (weither you believe in that stuff or not), so maybe he sinced something was going to go wrong. By the way he ended up going to the hospital with me because he through such a fit that I couldnt go for surgery that he had to be by my side through the whole thing to make sure I was going to be okay. I have to go it is very hard to type and I am in pain.

[carla_2004]

Thanks for the update on Angel.

If your school isn't suggesting this- you can request an OT eval and treatment be provided per her IEP. Depending on her need, the OT related services need to be sufficient enough to remediate the sensory dysfunction.

Some programs I've used over the years in this area for my children are standard SI play therapy using Jean Ayres ("SI and the Child") methodology http://www.sensoryint.com/ , the Alert Program ("How Does your Engine Run"), Wilbarger protocol (brushing and deep pressure program), etc.

A book I found invaluable for "melt downs" and extreme acting out behaviors is called, "The Explosive Child" by Dr. Ross Greene http://www.explosivechild.com/ I bought a few extra copies and handed them out to school professionals. Good book, your library will probably have this one.

Hang in there- meandering through the diagnosis jungle and alphabet soup for parents can be most trying.

Hugs from a parent of two unique adult children (ages 18 and 20), Carla

[carla_2004]

Thanks for the update on Angel.

If your school isn't suggesting this- you can request an OT eval and treatment be provided per her IEP. Depending on her need, the OT related services need to be sufficient enough to remediate the sensory dysfunction.

Some programs I've used over the years in this area for my children are standard SI play therapy using Jean Ayres ("SI and the Child") methodology http://www.sensoryint.com/ , the Alert Program ("How Does your Engine Run"), Wilbarger protocol (brushing and deep pressure program), etc.

A book I found invaluable for "melt downs" and extreme acting out behaviors is called, "The Explosive Child" by Dr. Ross Greene http://www.explosivechild.com/ I bought a few extra copies and handed them out to school professionals. Good book, your library will probably have this one.

Hang in there- meandering through the diagnosis jungle and alphabet soup for parents can be most trying.

Hugs from a parent of two unique adult children (ages 18 and 20), Carla

[blue]

How old is Angel? She's a lucky girl, to have a mom like you!