DS's Appointment with the Psychiatrist

[Marseeya]

I'm fuming!

DS had his first appiontment with his new psychiatrist this morning. Unfortunately, I was unable to go because my Praxis was scheduled for this morning as well. I wrote down a list of meds and comments about how they worked for DH to take, but he forgot. Luckily, they had his records.

Anyway, this genius doctor said that the diagnosis of bipolar was incorrect and that DS just needs to be treated more aggressively for his ADHD. What on earth did he think we did all those years??? He said that DS's other doctors were just "wrong" and too quick to give up on the medication, even though he was on each different one for at least a year. Oh, but get this, if we don't see improvement in 2-3 months, he'll switch him to something else. So, he gave DS a prescription for Adderall (which he'd been on unsuccessfully) and told DH that I needed to read Driven to Distraction as if I haven't already read every book on ADHD written in the past 10 years.

He said, "I don't see a kid with bipolar, I see a kid with unsuccessfully treated ADHD, and a stubborn kid, and a kid who doesn't get enough sleep."

Right. All this causes a kid to engage in terroristic threats (telling me he's going to cut my throat out), cussing me out, raging, then going all apathetic and miserable.

I'm so upset right now that I'm shaking.

 

[HayGan]

I can't imagine what you are going thru right now.

I don't know who you are seeing but if you are interested I can give you the name of the pediatric psych specialist that we see for my son. We see him for my son's reevals for therapy services for PDD-NOS (high functioning autism.) I do know that he is very highly regarded in the area and he is SO thorough!!! I think he is wonderful!

If you are interested, send me a PM!

 

[RitaZ.]

All this causes a kid to engage in terroristic threats (telling me he's going to cut my throat out), cussing me out, raging, then going all apathetic and miserable. I'm so upset right now that I'm shaking.

That is very worrisome. I don't know what to tell you, it sounds like another psychiatrist may be in order.

Hang in there.

 

[Pooh67_68]

 

[DisneyPhD]

Dr.'s opinions are just that, opinions. Just because a doctor spends 1 hour with your child and gets an evaluation doesn't mean they have all the info. Infact dx of bipolar in children is very new. 10 years ago they didn't belive children could have bipolar and labled them all Conduct disorder. Having said that bipolar dx shouldn't be given lightly and with out major evaluation. (The same really should be said for ADHD. (as you already know I am sure.)

Has he been respoinding well to the treament for bipolar? The dx can be difficult because in children (like adults) it can be very different from person to person.

Best of luck. If you don't feel this Dr can help you and you have already tried tx for ADHD and it didn't work, please go another way. There are many good psychiatrists out there. They don't all agree with each other (often times don't.)

You know your child best. I think that reading up, reseraching is a good idea, but something tells me you already know that.

Best of luck. Hugs.

 

[DawnCt1]

On the chance that he could be right, work diligently towards this new approach. Untreated ADHD with Oppositional Defiant Disorder can fit the pattern you describe. I think its a better diagnosis to have actually, as long as its accurate. Set a time table for improvement and if it doesn't work, move on then. Also consider if he would be a candidate for inpatient treatment. You may get a firmer diagnosis.

 

[tevagirl]

I can't imagine what you are dealing with. I'm so sorry.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

You must be so frustrated! I hope you are able to find a treatment plan that WORKS for your DS! Good luck!

I am taking DS9 to the pediatrician Monday to sort out our options for treating his ADD. I imagine it will be a long road to finding something that works that doesn't have horrible side effects. I have also heard that kids with ADD generally have a "companion disorder". I don't know if that is true, but it seems to be the way it goes for many kids. Perhaps your son has bi-polar disorder and ADHD? There must be some way to treat both to achieve results.

 

[dcentity2000]

That he doesn't see your son as bipolar is very good news; it's a horrible thing to have.

If you are in doubt, however, I would encourage seeking a second opinion; don't dismiss that diagnosis just because it is different.



Rich::

 

[DawnCt1]

That he doesn't see your son as bipolar is very good news; it's a horrible thing to have.

If you are in doubt, however, I would encourage seeking a second opinion; don't dismiss that diagnosis just because it is different.



Rich::

I agree. I would be more incline to pursue the more benign diagnosis as well. If it doesn't pan out, you can always look further. I wouldn't describe bi polar as "horrible" but certainly ADHD would be preferable.

 

[dcentity2000]

I agree. I would be more incline to pursue the more benign diagnosis as well. If it doesn't pan out, you can always look further. I wouldn't describe bi polar as "horrible" but certainly ADHD would be preferable.

What can I say? I totally agree.

Hope it all works out, Marseeya - it's all just a matter of timing



Rich::

 

[JESW]

I am so sorry you are going through this. DS11 was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was 9 - and that was after many years of unexplained rages and other behavioral problems. We eventually did put him on medication (Abilify) and it did wonders - at least in the beginning. His psychaitrist kept wanting to up the meds dose but we held our ground and he is still on the lowest dose.

To make a looooooong story much shorter, we decided to go a completely different route. We had a topometric brain scan done of our son. It was AMAZING what they found from that! When it was being read for us they were telling us our son's behaviors just by reading his scan. It was also found that he was borderline ADD and there was no sign of bi-polar, which runs in DH's family.

He is currently undergoing bio-feedback one hour a week and it is AMAZING how his behavior has changed! His teachers have noticed a big difference in school. While he will never be "cured" from Asperger's, as that is part of who he is, he is MUCH better at dealing with things that in the past set of the rages.

Lately he has been dealing with some hyper-sensativity issues so this morning the dr. focused on a relaxation protocol.

I am not able to speak intelligently on the subject, but the brain is an amazing thing and what they can do to help the brain waves is nothing short of miraculous. A little spooky too, and I admit that I was reluctant at first since it was so "out there". But they only stick things ON his head and not IN it so that made it easier to deal with.

Since the method is still so new it is not covered by our insurance. The brain scan was somewhere around $800 and the sessions for bio-feddback are $75/week with 20 weeks recommended. Pricey, yes, but worth EVERY PENNY to our family. He also takes Omega-3 supplements.

On a side note, my DH was diagnosed as bi-polar but I HIGHLY doubt that is what he has. Last year he went through HELL with doctors and medications and it nearly sent him over the edge. It took him a while to give in, but he goes for a brain scan in 2 weeks! it will be interesting what they find as I think he is more like our son.

I just wanted to give you another side of things. We are getting the word out about bio-feedback to everyone we know in the same situation. DS's school is aware of what we are doing (we have his IEP meeting next week) and the school counselor has been telling others about our successes.

It won't be for everyone, but neither is medication. I hope that things work out for you and your son as I know how it can tear families apart.

Jill

 

[barkley]

i am always amazed at how doctors with similar educations and backgrounds-given identical case history information can come up with completly different diagnosis!

when i became ill several years ago, because there were 4 different insurers involved (my med, my mental health, employer's wkman's comp and state wkman's comp) i ended up having to go for 4 separate mental health evaluations-while there were some common diagnosis (depression and acute anxiety) one insisted i was bi-polar (i'm not), one insisted i had ocd (i don't) and 2 recognized ptsd (which i do have). it was maddening to keep getting conflicting diagnoses and conflicting meds/treatment reccommendations!

ultimatly i chose to involve an uninterested (not insurance covered person) to review everyones tests and medical records. i located a neuro-psychiatrist who took all of my medical and mental health records and reviewed all of the information before meeting with me. i found that one session to be very illuminating on learning how the differents psychiatrists had taken similar results on identical tests and come up with such conflicting determinations.

ultimatly i opted to go with a psychologist who worked very closely with my md and neurologist (if she detected something she felt meds might help with she consulted with the md's to discuss my overall meds and general physical health to determine any med plans before she requested they perscribe anything new).

i got realy frustrated with the child psychiatrist my son used for his adhd, while she prescribed meds and made sweeping reccommendations on how we "should" be addressing his issues she largly disregarded the input from ourselves and his teachers (who saw him daily vs the once or twice per month for an hour she did) on the practical realities of applying her "text book" principles. i think some child pychiatrists unfortunatly take an "i know best because i've studied" attitude and fail to recognize that living within a situation is dramaticly different than studying/observing it from afar.

good luck in securing the treatment your son deserves.

 

[Marseeya]

Thanks for the responses, guys. When I wrote it, I was very tired and frustrated (been up since 5 after a fitful night's sleep, and a brutal 2-hour test).

I'm going to do what Dawn suggests by following his advice to the letter and giving this doctor a chance to prove himself right or wrong. It just frustrates me that he had the attitude he did (according to hubby) that the last few doctors DS has been to were so completely off base. One of them, who has retired, I trusted completely and she spent a couple of years treating DS and knew so much about him.

I just feel like I'm back at square one.

 

[dcentity2000]

I know that feeling

We have to set our sites on the future - these things are controllable and will eventually pass, even if it doesn't look that way

I know a guy who shall remain nameless who suffers from a Cannabis Induced Psychotic Disorder in a very bad way. He was heavily psychotic, bipolar and had mental problems all round.

For years doctors tried to help him, putting him on every anti-psychotic and mood stabiliser you could imagine. No matter what they tried, nothing seemed to even dent the illness.

Finally, he was put on Clozapine, a last-ditch effort anti-psychotic that is potent to say the least. He's made remarkable progress since that was done.

Point is, if this person can make such progress all of a sudden, anyone can. I have full confidence that in time, your DS will improve in leaps and bounds that will really amaze you.

It's all a matter of time.



Rich::