[mum850]

I wonder if it would be a good idea to repeat the tests on medication for ADD. Then you may get a better idea of how the ADD is impacting on the IQ>
I know you are not that keen on medication OP but he's really struggling and he is and it's REALLY worth a trial! If the meds don't help, then you just stop them, that's all. No harm done.

[bearboy01]

Hi there X - Im sorry for my delay in replying - Our son is now 8 - and since around October I think we started the ritalin trial - ended up over a period of time on 25mg a day - all was going well - REALLY well - could see a DEF change in his attn span - his teacher noticed a DEF improvement in the classroom - not so much I guess with his work as such but with the ability to sit and not fidget and stare around the room.. sharpen pencils and ask to go to the toilet cause he cant cope

a few weeks before xmas i started to notice a change in his behaviour - very sad - not his usual self at all - I just kept a close eye on him then one day - whilst on holidays - Literally a few days before xmas day - after a morn with some close friends ( ie - everything to be happy about ) we were in the car and I said to him " what is wrong with you ??" he looked up at me - with tears on his little chubby cheeks and said " i dont know mum I just feel sad every day when I wake up " can U imagine how I felt ?

so we stopped the medication there & then - within 4 days I think my son was totally back to being HAPPY - however back to being as VAGUE as all too

it was so hard and upsetting - His dad had noticed the depression too and Im not not being precious - a friend of mines son went through the EXACT same thing on RITALIN - he is now on concerta and FINE.

my pediatrician didnt seem to believe me with regards to the depression and I fought this - I was extremely p*ssed off to be honest - I know my son and I want NOTHING more than to help him as much as we can - anyhoo we have started the RITALIN again

very low dosage - and he is going OK thus far

He is in year 3 now - and in a class of 30 (
the school is on board - and his new teacher seems extremely supportive but Its a pain that sits with me all day and I worry for him - his teacher - i met with her for nearly 2 hours 2 weeks ago - said to me though that he is going to be OK - that everyone loves him & that he will find his way - that there is NO point in worrying about him all the time - and this is true I agree - but its hard when its your child and school is a tough place.
I wish REALLY wish we could send our kids to a private school - I do think this makes a difference

but anyway - thats out story so far - our son is about 2 years behind his classmates - the school has adjusted his work to suit his needs - and this was only done as I was there - ALL THE TIME - banging on & on to the principal - bringing in a child specialist - and NEVER shutting up - u must be a voice for your child - they cant .

Its very painful though and something that Im finding a bit hard to deal with at times -

sending love XXXX

[mumto3princesses]

That's awful that your paediatrician didn't believe you about the depression. Can you find a new paediatrician?

I know ours told me during the trial that I could ring him with any concerns or if we saw side effects. He told me every child is different. Ritalin works for most but there are other medications we could try if ritalin didn't work.

I wouldn't be happy having my DD on a medication that makes her sad or depressed no matter what it did for her concentration. We have seen the opposite actually and she seems SO happy (not that we thought she was sad before but she just seems extra happy). She is extra happy because she is able to concentrate and we hear about what she did that day when we she never really talked about what she did during the day before the medication. Makes me think that maybe ritalin isn't the best choice for him maybe?

This post has been edited by mumto3princesses: 24/02/2013, 09:10 AM

[baddmammajamma]

Thanks for the update, bb. I'm sorry that your paed was so dismissive -- gosh, I'd be looking for a new one! You & your son deserve someone who will take your concerns seriously.

With regards to med, my daughter didn't fare very well on Ritalin either -- but Concerta has proven to be a MUCH better fit. I hope you are able to find an approach that both helps with your son's core deficits but also doesn't make him sad or dejected.

hugs to you.

[bearboy01]

Wish i could find a high school that he could fit into. Wish wr could afford montessori. They sound amazing those schools