MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN ON VYVANSE FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS. SHE'S BEEN ON ALMOST
EVERYTHING OUT THERE. SHE CAN NOT SWALLOW PILLS. ALL THE ADD MEDS SHE'S BEEN ON MAKES HER VERY MOODY AND SHE GETS VERY ANGRY AND DESTRUCTIVE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS
Hey Handiweinster,
The book was published in 1999, so I think there's a chance that your library has it. If they don't, talk with the librarian. Sometimes it's possible to borrow books from other libraries.
I encourage you to read the reviews about the book on Amazon. The reviews are so helpful. I search regularly for friends who need help with a medical condition by reading book reviews. I find the most wonderful books that way.
I will do some research and get back to you about resources in or near Albany. I've got a unusually busy schedule this week, so give me 2 - 3 days to get back to you.
Grandma Lise
Hey Handiweinster,
Well, I decided to take the day off. It's been an intense week. Too many 12 hour days. I spent a couple of hours looking around on the internet to see what resources are available for you locally in Albany, New York. Oh, and by the way, my Mom lives in Voorheesville. Small world, isn't it?
Medication can be helpful or harmful. I can't say it any plainer than that. My hope is that you and your daughter's doctor will eventually find a medication that helps her. It takes time, patience, and perhaps luck.
As she gets older, hopefully all of her diagnoses will become clearer. Sometimes learning disabilities or conditions such as Asperger's make ADD worse. Sometime allergies or food sensitivities - (conditions that do not respond well to stimulant medication) - cause ADD-like symptoms.
Reading books on the subjects of raising a difficult child as well as diet and nutritional supplement approaches can be helpful. It's also important to watch for any indications that something in her environment or something she's eating is making her symptoms worse. Single incidents don't mean much, but over time you may see a repeated cause and effect relationship.
I hope you find some or all of this information helpful. My wish for you is that by contacting these organizations, you will no longer feel so alone as you continue in your efforts to help your daughter.
Grandma Lise
Albany, New York Resources
Greene County Parents Satellite of CHADD
518.966.8104
www.chadd.net/template.cfm?affid=174&p=about
Meets monthly on 2nd Tuesdays, 7 - 9 pm at Freehold Community Center, Route 32, Freehold, New York.
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Families Together in New York State Annual Conference: "Youth Development: Start Early! Start Now!"
April 27 and 28, 2008
The Marriott Hotel, Albany, NY
For conference information, contact:
Joan Cullen
518.432.0333 ext. 25
For additional information, contact:
Families Together in New York State
737 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
518.432.0333
Regional Parent Advocate: Barbara Callahan, 845.454.8692 (office)
This conference is coming up next month.
Conferences like this can be very informative for parents. They feature regional, and sometimes, national presenters on topics relevant to parents who have children who are facing emotional, behavioral, and social challenges. They typically have a vender area that will include useful information about services from state and local agencies and groups. They may also have a room with books for sale on topics that may be useful to you as you continue to help your daughter. I've found some excellent books that I didn't know about in this way over the years.
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Learning Disabilities Association of New York State
LDA of New York State is a nationally affiliated non-profit parent/professional organization chartered in 1958 to promote the education and general welfare of individuals with learning disabilities. LDA of New York State membership includes parents, educators, adults with learning disabilities and professionals from a variety of related fields.
LDANYS
1190 Troy Schenectady Road, Room 225
Latham, NY 12110
518-608-8992
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Wildwood Programs
Wildwood Programs enables and empowers children and adults with learning disabilities, autism and other neurologically based developmental disabilities to lead independent, productive and fulfilling lives. Wildwood serves individuals and families throughout the greater Capital Region.
Program Services Offices - Family and Community Services, Clinical and Consultation Services, Recreation, Community Employment Services, Residential Services, and Service Coordination
1190 Troy-Schenectady Road
Building #1
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 640-3300
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Recovery, Inc.
It's not uncommon for parents to have their own issues and needs in addition to their child's needs. I certainly do. In my 18 years of advocacy experience, Recovery, Inc. is the best self-help program I have encountered to date for adults who are having difficulty coping on a daily basis. I personally trained in this method for six months in an effort to learn how to better manage my feelings of fear and frustration.
This program was originally developed in the 1930's by Chicago area psychiatrist Abraham A. Low for institutionalized patients. Many of those patients got better and returned to their homes. In response, Dr. Low began serving outpatients. Word began to spread about the success of the Dr. Low's self-help method, and people began to move to the Chicago area to learn the method. Those people after six months or so returned to their communities and began teaching the methods in their communities.
Today, there are more than 700 local Recovery, Inc. chapters throughout the US, Canada, and the world. I encourage you to spend some time learning about this proven method by visiting their website. For those who do not have a local meeting, national phone groups are available. For more information, go to the website - (see below).
Recovery, Inc. offers its members a free method to regain and maintain their mental health. By studying Dr. Low's practical method of Mental Health Through Will Training, Recovery Inc. members learn techniques for handling trivial, everyday situations.
The program is designed to work in conjunction with professional mental health services. Many people in the groups also belong to 12-step programs such as A.A.; Recovery, Inc. is not affiliated with any religion or belief system, and Recovery, Inc. is operated entirely by non-professionals.
Recovery, Inc. International Headquarters
802 N. Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
312.337.5661
866.221.0302
http://www.recovery-inc.org/
Luckily for you, there are currently two weekly meetings in Albany.
Albany
Monday
7:30 P.M.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Corner of Madison Avenue & North Main
Contact:(518) 765-3061 Brian N. or (518) 346-8595 or 139@recovery-inc.org
Friday
12 Noon
V. A Hospital, 113 Holland Avenue, Btwn 10A & 10D
Contact: (518) 893-7205 Cliff D. or (518) 346-8595 or 139@recovery-inc.org
Thanks for all those resources. I will try to contact some of those places tomorrow. I am also going to contact her doctor. I would also like her to see another doctor. he sees a pediatric neurologist right now. She also has a diagnosis of mild mental retardation which I find hard to believe. She is very social and like to play with her friends. The mild mental retardation was due to a low IQ score. I believe there is some other diagnosis just not found yet.
Today was one of the worse days for my daughter. She threw herself on the ground and tried to bite my friend. She threw coffee at my other daughter (a big canister) My good friend helps me out a great deal. As I said I have a disability (cerebral palsey) I get around my house and everything but I use an electric wheelchair for outside the house. I do have poor balance. My daughter will try to run from me as she knows I can not run after her. At school the teacher says she does not have any behavior problems, but at home she can be very destructive. I don't know sometimes I tihnk she does things just because she knows she can get over one me.
Any thoughts on this? My friend said she shouldn't be on stimulants but barbituites (not sure of spelling) It makes me so upset to see my daughter like this!!
Thanks,
Samara
Hey Samara,
Today sounds like it was a very hard day. I'm so sorry.
To answer you question, after 18 years of working with ADD adults, and a few families, I'd try nutritional supplement and behavorial strategies before I'd try medication. Perhaps Wildwood Programs will have some suggestions as to where to get her a proper evaluation.
As you read through the book I reccomended, I'd really like to hear your reactions and thinking.
Grandma Lise
Hey again Samara,
Here's another thought. The fact that she is not having this problem at school is important. What you are describing could be a rebound effect coming off the medication each day. Rebound is a significant worsening of ADD symptoms after the last dose of stimulant wears off.
The medication may actually be working well at school for her. If it is, she probably should continue taking it.
If the problem is rebound, adding a short acting stimulant in tablet form such as dexedrine or adderall crushed and mixed with applesauce that is not enriched with Vitamin C might do the trick. This may partially address the problems she is having at home.
Before you give up on this doctor, it might be worth it to talk with him one more time about the problems your daughter is having.
Grandma Lise
Dear Grandma Lise,
Well its been almost two weeks with the increase in medicine, we go back to the doctor on Monday. She took the medicine all last week, very miserable in the afternoon, I do not give her meds on the weekends, she is a different child. On Sunday we had Easter dinner and even my mother who doesn't see her very often said she was being very good. Yesterday I gave her the meds and she was awful, she pushed my aid, she was screaming. I talked to my counselor and she said basically she said it is my decision to give heer meds or not which I know but her teacher says she has a hard time focusing. I feel like they just need to deal with it and make her concentrate. I dont know. I really dont want to give her anything!!!
Thanks,
Samara
Hey Samara,
I can see in your posts that you keep hoping that the medication will give your daughter greater control over her behavior but the results have been mixed and you don't know what to do.
When you see the doctor on Monday, try to be factual. Give the doctor as much information as you can. And ask questions. It's important that you understand your daughter's diagnosis and treatment.
Samara, if you lived here in my community, the first thing I'd do is help you get a proper evaluation for your daughter, then I'd help you figure out what types of professional help is needed.
I'd encourage you to read books, lots of books. And I'd also encourage you to attend groups, workshops, and conferences related to your daughter's diagnoses so you could become more expert in your daughter's care.
A few weeks ago, I reccommended a book to you, and I gave you information on some local organizations. Have you been able to find a copy of the book or contact any of the organizations yet?
I think that might be a good place to start.
I know you're feeling overwhelmed right now. I know its hard. I urge you to continue getting supports in place for you and your daughter.
There's no shame in asking for help. We ALL need help from time to time. Sometimes asking for and accepting help makes all the difference. I think this is one of those times.
If you have any specific questions, I will do my best to answer. I check in at the forum a couple of times a day.
Grandma Lise
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Hey Haniweinster,
It sounds like the stimulant medication is making your daughter worse rather than better. If the Vyvanse is making her worse, I encourage you to call the doctor on Monday to let him or her know if you haven't already. I'd hate to see her suffer for another day.
I'm confused as to why the doctor is continuing to prescribe stimulants to her. Have you asked the doctor about this? What did he say?
There are so many causes of ADD like symptoms. It's possible that your daughter has ADD but doesn't respond well to stimulant medication. Or she doesn't have ADD, but she has something else. Or she does have ADD but there's another condition present that hasn't yet been identified or diagnosed.
I read yesterday that Vyvanse can be taken by dissolving it first in water, but it must be taken immediately after that.
Gosh, I feel so badly for you and your daughter.
Please feel free to post more detailed information about your daughter and her symptoms before she began the medication trials.
How old was she when she first began having symptoms? How old is she now? Have the symptoms changed over time? What are all of her diagnoses? How is she at school? How is she when she's at home?
Is there a history of a problem with the pregnancy or prior to, during, or immediately following her birth? Has she ever had a high fever or a brain injury?
Is she having other seemingly unrelated symptoms? (Dark circles under the eyes for example).
Do you see significant changes in her behavior after eating specific foods?
Does ADD or any other brain disorders or other conditions run in her family?
I'm not a medical or mental health professional. I am an ADD adult with 18 years of advocacy experience working with ADD adults. If I can offer any suggestions for you to explore with your doctor, I will.
Grandma Lise
Dear Grandma Lise,
Thanks
Dear Grandma Lise,
Thanks for your quick response. My daughter was diagnosed at about 5. She had an an 18 month delay in speech and motor skills. She has been receiving PT, OT, ST, since pre-school. She was in a special classroom since the middle of kindergarten. She is now considered to be in 3rd grade but maybe at a first grade level.
She can be very difficult. SHe is at times impulsive and explosive. She is on the Vyvanse right now. She has been on Metadate, The patch, AdderallXR, and a few that I can't remember. They all make her very emotional. The teacher has said she is more attentive right now than with the Adderall. It is very difficult for me to handle her at times because I have a disabilty. It is also very frustrating not to be able to find something that works. I hope this helpful.
Thanks,
Samara
Hey Handiweinster,
I too hope you're able to find a medication that works for her.
Is there a parent support group near you? If you privately email me the city you live in, I will try to find a ADD parent group for you. You'll need support as you learn how to support your daughter both emotionally and behaviorally.
An ADD Clinic in our community teaches a wonderful parenting class for parents of ADD children based on the book, Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured Heart Approach: Shifting the Intense Child To New Patterns of Success and Strengthening All Children On the Inside by Howard Glasser, MA and Jennifer Easley, MA.
If you look up this book at www.amazon.com you will find 79 reviews. I encourage you to read what other parents are saying about this book and to consider purchasing it. It was published in 1999, I believe, so it's probably available used for little cost.
There is also a workbook, and I believe there is a new book by the author that was published this year.
I suspect you have already discovered that traditional parenting methods don't work well with your daughter. This book is incredible. It changed how I parent.
Grandma Lise
Thanks for your reply. It is very difficult parenting, as I have another daughter who does not have ADHD. My older daughter is 12 and she will say a lot of times that I am not fair to her. It is hard to get my younger daughter (who has ADHD)to do things around the house. I have to use a lot bribery and of course my other daughter says its not fair!!
Do you think they might have that book at the library?
I have also talked to my daughters teacher about the difficulties I have at home, she is trying to help me, also.
I try to be understanding of my daughter when she becomes very moody and unreasonable but it is so hard!!!!
I am going to call her doctor by the end of the week but there is really nothing else to put her on as she can not swallow pills!!!
A friend of mines daughter is on Concerta, but that has to be swallowed.
Thanks,
Samara
I live in the Albany, NY area.
hi samara, my name is heather. i have made some post on this site, my username on this site is heather and kaleb. i have a son who is 9 and is about to finish his 3rd grade year of school in about 3 weeks. my son was diagnosed w/ADHD when he was 4 in half, and last january of 2007 he was also diagnosed having ADHD w/behavioral, aggression, and last fall he was diagnosed w/also having anxiety issues as well. the anxiety med. he was on in the begining (prozac) didn't seem to help him at all so i told the psychiatrist that it wasn't working and he seemed to be better so she didn't try anything else, then this spring his anxiety came back but worse than it did when it first came. he now takes celxa for his anxiety, my aunt told me that her and my other aunt didn't do well on prozac either it didn't help them when they had depression issues. my aunt informed that her and my other aunt take celxa for their depression when they have issues w/it. so i told this to the psychiatrist when my son's anxiety came back this spring and she put him on it about 6 weeks ago and the dose he was on didn't seem to be helping him, so she upped his dose to 1 1/2 pills (30mg's) instead of just the 1-20mg pill he took. i will wait about 6 weeks to see if this new dose works for him or not, then i will let her know. the meds my son takes for his ADHD & behavioral issues are ritalin 60mg's (3-20mg pills), clonidine 0.2mg's (2-0.1mg pills), strattera 50mg's (2-25mg pills) and then the celexa 30mg's (1-20mg pill & a 1/2 of a 20mg pill), he takes all these meds thru out the day except for the celexa he takes that between 7-8pm at night all of the other doses come at breakfast by 730am at lunch by 1130am and then after school by 445pm, we have tried other meds. in the past but they didn't work for him. we have tried ritalin xr, adderall xr, and concerta and the only ones that seem to work for now are the ones i have mentioned above that her takes right now. hope everything does go well for you. take care - heather and son kaleb