ADHD-DS1 Related

becausemom · March 2014

Hey ladies

I was just wondering if anyone here has experience with an ADHD diagnosis in a child. (Or children if you're a teacher/child care provider.) DS1 was prescribed meds today for it, Concerta to be exact. I am so glad that we are getting help with his problems, but I just want to hear from some moms or teachers with experience. I feel a little nervous medicating him.

I will probably write an intro on parenting soon, so i'll be asking them eventually too.

keags5496 · March 2014

I don't have a child with ADHD but I teach middle school and have many students with the diagnosis. The choice to medicate is super personal. I have seen unmediated students who were able to cope with their ADHD through diet and counseling but truth be told many simply weren't able to so it. I have seen lots of students medicated and do wonderfully with it. A word of caution though, getting the dosage right can be tricky and may take some time. Be sure to openly communicate with the school and the doctors. Teachers are usually pretty good about noticing if a dose doesn't seem right. Be patient! Good luck and hugs! Whatever decision you make with regards to meds will be what's best for your family.

becausemom · March 2014

keags5496 said:

I don't have a child with ADHD but I teach middle school and have many students with the diagnosis. The choice to medicate is super personal. I have seen unmediated students who were able to cope with their ADHD through diet and counseling but truth be told many simply weren't able to so it. I have seen lots of students medicated and do wonderfully with it. A word of caution though, getting the dosage right can be tricky and may take some time. Be sure to openly communicate with the school and the doctors. Teachers are usually pretty good about noticing if a dose doesn't seem right. Be patient! Good luck and hugs! Whatever decision you make with regards to meds will be what's best for your family.

My son's pediatrician JUST called me back about this. He also told me to be patient and pay extra attention to his moods/behavior.

And thanks for your response.

keags5496 · March 2014

How old is DS? I'm mobile...can't see a ticker.

becausemom · March 2014

keags5496 said:

How old is DS? I'm mobile...can't see a ticker.

He is 7.

littlepig2 · March 2014

I'm a Special Ed teacher and have seen a lot of students come through that have been on Concerta. for some of them, it made a tremendous help but like PP said, you have to keep an eye on the dosage and symptoms. I can tell when one of my students missed even one dose but as soon as they take it, they're back to themselves. (keep in mind the medicine was already in their system. you probably won't see results the very first time DS takes it.)

does DS go to school or have a babysitter? my advice would be let everyone know so they can also be on the lookout for side effects. one student would crash after lunch but we saw that in school before Mom did at home. I personally think this medicine is very effective, though!

MamaAllison · March 2014

Agree with Keags (as usual) getting the dosage right can be pretty difficult. Try to communicate with your child's teachers as much as possible!

becausemom · March 2014

Rach521 said:

I'm a Special Ed teacher and have seen a lot of students come through that have been on Concerta. for some of them, it made a tremendous help but like PP said, you have to keep an eye on the dosage and symptoms. I can tell when one of my students missed even one dose but as soon as they take it, they're back to themselves. (keep in mind the medicine was already in their system. you probably won't see results the very first time DS takes it.) does DS go to school or have a babysitter? my advice would be let everyone know so they can also be on the lookout for side effects. one student would crash after lunch but we saw that in school before Mom did at home. I personally think this medicine is very effective, though!

He is in school. And one of the many things I love about his teachers is that they are so involved and pay so much attention to each student. His homeroom teacher was the one who suggested that I get a consult. I will let them know after school today.

Nikkijo1022 · March 2014

I teach 3rd and it's usually around that age where we start to decide weather behavior issues, hyperactivity etc are a maturity issue or something more. I've had to tell many parents there may be something else there besides just immaturity that is hindering their child's ability to learn. Of course no parent wants to hear that and many times they don't believe me. When they are hesitant about medication I explain to them to think of it as a tool their child needs to help reach their full potential and hopefully eventually they won't need anymore! For the child we explain it that their motor inside their body is running too fast and the medicine will help get it to a place where it's running just right!

An example of how awesome they can be is one of my kiddos last year (who was way behind grade level at the start of the year) ended up being put on meds. His parents didn't listen to the teachers to 3 years and I finally got through to them thanks to a lot of concrete evidence through test scores. About a week after he started meds he came up to me and said "I can hear you now! Before I couldn't hear you but now I can And I get it!" His motor was going so fast Inside of him that he couldn't calm it down enough to focus on his teacher hence the academic issues. That being said his mom often forgot his meds and I could tell instantly. One day of no mead or a dosage at a wrong time can throw them off for a week. He's now in 4th grade and I know They still are working on getting the dosage jut right so it's been a whole year. Don't give up! You'll get it and your son will thank you so day for being a great parent

good luck!

becausemom · March 2014

Nikkijo1022 said:

I teach 3rd and it's usually around that age where we start to decide weather behavior issues, hyperactivity etc are a maturity issue or something more. I've had to tell many parents there may be something else there besides just immaturity that is hindering their child's ability to learn. Of course no parent wants to hear that and many times they don't believe me. When they are hesitant about medication I explain to them to think of it as a tool their child needs to help reach their full potential and hopefully eventually they won't need anymore! For the child we explain it that their motor inside their body is running too fast and the medicine will help get it to a place where it's running just right! An example of how awesome they can be is one of my kiddos last year (who was way behind grade level at the start of the year) ended up being put on meds. His parents didn't listen to the teachers to 3 years and I finally got through to them thanks to a lot of concrete evidence through test scores. About a week after he started meds he came up to me and said "I can hear you now! Before I couldn't hear you but now I can And I get it!" His motor was going so fast Inside of him that he couldn't calm it down enough to focus on his teacher hence the academic issues. That being said his mom often forgot his meds and I could tell instantly. One day of no mead or a dosage at a wrong time can throw them off for a week. He's now in 4th grade and I know They still are working on getting the dosage jut right so it's been a whole year. Don't give up! You'll get it and your son will thank you so day for being a great parent good luck!

This made me cry.

Simply because I know how hard DS tries to understand, and he just can't because he can't focus. I'm glad the student is getting the help he needs.

Nikkijo1022 · March 2014

Jaysmommy06 said:

Nikkijo1022 said:

I teach 3rd and it's usually around that age where we start to decide weather behavior issues, hyperactivity etc are a maturity issue or something more. I've had to tell many parents there may be something else there besides just immaturity that is hindering their child's ability to learn. Of course no parent wants to hear that and many times they don't believe me. When they are hesitant about medication I explain to them to think of it as a tool their child needs to help reach their full potential and hopefully eventually they won't need anymore! For the child we explain it that their motor inside their body is running too fast and the medicine will help get it to a place where it's running just right!

An example of how awesome they can be is one of my kiddos last year (who was way behind grade level at the start of the year) ended up being put on meds. His parents didn't listen to the teachers to 3 years and I finally got through to them thanks to a lot of concrete evidence through test scores. About a week after he started meds he came up to me and said "I can hear you now! Before I couldn't hear you but now I can And I get it!" His motor was going so fast Inside of him that he couldn't calm it down enough to focus on his teacher hence the academic issues. That being said his mom often forgot his meds and I could tell instantly. One day of no mead or a dosage at a wrong time can throw them off for a week. He's now in 4th grade and I know They still are working on getting the dosage jut right so it's been a whole year. Don't give up! You'll get it and your son will thank you so day for being a great parent good luck!

This made me cry.

Simply because I know how hard DS tries to understand, and he just can't because he can't focus. I'm glad the student is getting the help he needs.

I should mention also that with the meds he is ON Grade level academically this year in 4th ( after starting 3rd grade at a 1st grade level!!) oh and sorry for the typos! I bump when I nurse .

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