Maybe the zoo was a bad idea

Cmarie08

Hi again! So, these past few weeks have been absolutely crazy. We went from finding out DD has a speech delay to being put on a wait list for Vanderbilt to see where DD is at on the spectrum. I know I said I would update on how speech was going once we got that started but we're still waiting to start! You guys were SO right about the wait times being ridiculously long. I was told our wait for Vanderbilt is going to be 6 months! 

I'm sorry this post is all over the place but my nerves are totally shot after today. Long story short, I got in with her pedi to discuss the potential of Autism and he agreed that she was displaying signs and referred us. I told him about her tantrums and he gave us a medicine (risperadal, I think) for her and it seems to be working really well, at the lowest dose. Well, we took a short overnight trip and I thought everything would be fine. It was not. OMG. We went down to breakfast at the hotel and had to leave because she was overstimulated, then the shower scared her and she fell. Once I finally calmed her down, we left for the zoo and she seemed to be okay as long as I was carrying her in the Ergo. She seemed a little disconnected but that was all. It was when we sat down for lunch, all hell broke loose. She's gluten-free and all she could have were fries, that's been the norm for some time now when we go out to fast food like places. I dont know what I was thinking but I ordered her cheese fries, instead of plain with ketchup, and she just went off once she saw they were different. She was trying to knock everything off the table, screaming, crying, all of that kind of stuff until I realized what was wrong and even then she didn't completely calm down. I ended up giving her my fries and eating hers instead. 

Did I handle that correctly? I really don't think she was acting out because she just didn't want cheese fries, she didn't even try them. On the other hand, I just felt like I was just giving in to calm her down. I was in tears because I really don't know how to handle her when she has these outbursts and it's especially challenging in public. Any suggestions? Reading over this, I can see where there was just too much going on in the past few days and that's probably what triggered her and I feel terrible.

joshsmandy

My son is on risperidol 0.25mg once a day and we have seen dramatic changes in his mood swings, he not only has them less often but we can work him out of the swings quicker then before.

Cmarie08

I think paperwork and the volume of children in the area needing EI or speech services has been our hold up, if I'm understanding correctly. As far as Vanderbilt goes, they said they had faxed over our paperwork but that's the last I've heard about it. I didn't know I could get on a cancellation list, thanks for that suggestion! 

She's also on a dose of 0.25/day. We asked him about side effects but he said for her dose there shouldn't be any? Idk. I tried looking it up and what I found emphasized the side effects were more for schizophrenia, so i really can't say I'm educated on the side effects. What should I be looking out for? We have seen improvements as well on this dose as well. I think yesterday was just too much for her. I had tried preparing her beforehand, but I think it probably is best to keep days minimal for now.

She has celiac, so that's why we're gluten free.

@fredalina we're in north alabama, so about 2 hours south of Nashville! 

MaxandRuby

As you know, you need to be careful with all sorts of food in case there is hidden gluten. I am also Celiac and still learning and trying to be 100% gluten free (I really miss gluten).

As for Vanderbilt, can you find another private provider that your insurance takes? We go to the children's hospital there and the seating clinic but we do not do our therapies there (we live an hour away and our therapy is local to where I live).  Sorry you are having to wait so long. I hope you are able to get an appointment with them sooner then later.  Our former SLP works at one of the other hospitals in Nashville. She may have some openings and she was fabulous. I was so sad when she decided to no longer make the trek to where I live (although I can't blame her!). She did wonders for DS2 and has probably been are best speech therapist out of all the ones he has seen.