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Post by Jessie on Oct 29, 2008 8:51:45 GMT -5
With his sleep issues, is it possible he has sleep apnea? That can cause behavioral problems to be intensified because of the lack of good sleep.
We have struggled for so long about whether to put Jason (15) on any type of medication. Years ago, his mother put him on everything under the sun - it was truly overkill. The school has wanted us to put him back on something for the last two years but we had resisted. He's so good 80% of the time - it's that 20% of the time that he's too physical when he gets mad - and being a 15 year old boy, he's extremely strong.
We finally relented and have him on Zoloft. He was doing ok at first, but last week and this week he's had problems again with controlling his anger. We had just wanted to take the edge off for him with the Zoloft, not change who he is. I've always felt that his issues are because of his lack of ability to communicate well and . . . well, just simply the fact he has Ds. The specialist we took him to at University of Michigan completely agrees. He was hesitant to put him on anything (probably because we were too), so I'm not sure what we will try next. We have a follow up visit in a couple of weeks.
I can say that the NUMBER of episodes has definitely decreased over the last few years - maturity, a little bit better communication skills all help. However, the intensity of his episodes are worse, probably because he's so much stronger now and it's impossible for him to be physically restrained when needed.
Jessie
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Post by momofrussell on Oct 29, 2008 9:10:18 GMT -5
Tracy, sorry I didn't get to this sooner!!! Man, I am truly sorry you are dealing with this... I wonder what it setting him off??? Jessie brought up a good point on the sleep apnea... I'd make sure there is NOTHING physical that is masking this... Dr. Capone talks in great detail about ruling out other things before addressing the behaviors with medication.
Russell is on Risperdal and it's made a big difference. For Russell it wasn't because he was out of control but he was not wanting to focus at home or be in our world... it's brought his focusing up and he engages with us and can "hear" us now.
I think you will find it will help with the sleeping. It also made Russell very tired and zombie like in the beginning but that med can be adjusted easily and that is what we did. We have to give it to Russell AM and PM for it to be effective.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!! And HUGS to you!!!
A.
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Post by edugator on Oct 29, 2008 10:06:40 GMT -5
Sleep apnea has been discussed before, and right now, without doing a SA test, we don't think he is dealing with it. James' problem is he doesn't FALL asleep! He will sit in his room for HOURS and talk to himself, knock on the wall, play with toys, etc... And when he does sleep, he doesn't snore or toss around- we pretty much find him in the same position he was in when we found him asleep. (generally sitting crosslegged with his arms in his lap, bent over at the waist-OW!!!)
The meds thing has been such a difficult road. Initially we were hoping to just slow him down enough so he could pick up things- be it academics, language, or social cues. In the past 2 years we have had big gains in language and we were really hoping that would curb the behavior, but it really hasn't- as a matter of fact it created another problem... he can tell us or at least indicate what he wants (finally!) but if he is told no, he looks at us like we are crazy and repeat himself, as if we didn't hear him correctly! Poor guy, he can't win for losing!
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Post by jelanismom on Oct 29, 2008 12:08:10 GMT -5
Tracy I swear this is a description of what I am now seeing in Jelani. Let me share this with you, it's not advice, but just an example that we're in the same frik** boat... Yesterday I thought about treating Jelani to an ICEE after school. I picked him up and we drove to Target and I was talking about the yummy ICEE....OK, so we get inside the store, purchase the ICEE and walk around for a minute to grab a few items.... we've done this before and he's been VERY good about holding the cup and drinking thru' the straw with zero spilling, AND he will allow me to take a sip now and then. Well NOT YESTERDAY! It was no sooner that I took a sip through the straw that he BLEW UP into this RAGE with all sorts of muscle tension, a red face, growling noises and swinging arms. I had NEVER seen this kind of RAGE before!?! He grabbed the cup from my hand and screamed NO! At which time the cap pops off as he's squeezing the ICEE so that RED stuff was ALL over the floor, on his clothes, on me and then he stopped. He looked scared. He was silent and then turned into a peaceful sweet child. I was horified and notified the store clerk of the mess, apologized, and then quickly left the store. I learned my lesson. But I still can't believe the rage my son is capable of and how quickly he turns back to himself again. Almost like something out of the exorcist!
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Post by Jessie on Oct 29, 2008 13:57:49 GMT -5
Yup, Jason does the same thing. Almost kind of bi-polar maybe? Goes from one extreme to the other. Jason can be completely rotten about something, I can be "discussing" it with him and the next thing I know he's all smiley and moving onto something else. I'm standing there going okkaaaaaayyyy, wait, I'M still upset!!!!
Jessie
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Post by edugator on Nov 11, 2008 9:57:41 GMT -5
Well, if has been two weeks today that we went to see the developmental ped. We have seen some very interesting things since our visit, some good, some very good, and some we are still working on! The new treatment we are doing has brought out a new, more cognitively aware James. He is making more consistent and lasting eye contact. He (sometimes) responds almost right away to a direction. He no longer likes the dog to use his arm as a chew toy- he finally realizes that it hurts! (starting sensory integration therapy soon!) He has still been throwing, but rather than throwing- and throwing- and throwing- and getting more stimulated, he tends to be able to stop or be redirected after just throwing once. A couple of times he has even thrown something and then SELF corrected. Language has been another interesting development. He has been a talking/babbling machine. Only now his babbling is clearly trying to tell you something because he will repeat himself and look at you to repeat or respond- and if it isn't the right response, he tries again. He has gotten a bit frustrated with that, so we are REALLY trying to learn how to decipher his words. He is waking up happy and calm, which is wonderful. Haven't seen any over eating (yet) but we are still working on dosage (currently at .25mg of risperdone). We are encouraged, but with baited breath. He has even been showing improvement at school! ;D YAY! But, the biggest, most coolest thing he has done is this: He was in my garden tub playing and he found a tube of conditioner from when I colored my hair recently (d**n grey!). Anyway, he picked it up, it kind of looks like a tube of toothpaste, and he rolled it over in his hand. Then he handed it to me and looked at it, almost studying it. Then, my darling boy, in the most clearest well spoken way ASKED ME- "What's this?" I almost fell off the chair. That is the first time he has EVER verbally inquired about ANYTHING. Come on cognitive light, stay on! Please stay on!!
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Nov 11, 2008 11:45:24 GMT -5
Well that is wonderful {{{{{HUGS}}}}}
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Post by sd112170 on Nov 11, 2008 23:57:00 GMT -5
WONDERFUL!!!!
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