Today has been a day of trying to get back to normal around here. It was more or less successful. But because Mondays are early out days and also contain two gymnastics lessons, I always end Mondays feeling a little frazzled and tired of driving places in the car. Tuesdays are a little better, but it is usually Wednesday before I really feel settled into the week. I’m hoping to slow things down some in January by putting Gleek and Link into the same Art club rather than separate Gymnastics lessons. Conveniently this art club will sandwich right between Link’s pick up from School and Kiki’s pick up from School. So potentially Mondays will be much nicer in January. BUT even though Monday’s are always tiring, at least this Monday was tiring in the familiar way rather than in a new and different stressful way.
It has now been two weeks since Link’s first dose of ADD medication. The first couple of days were a little frightening with how focused he was. He has settled down quite a bit since then. He was off the medicine for a couple of days during our Thanksgiving holiday. He slept 12 hours straight both days that he was off. He also complained that I forgot to give him his medicine. He was complaining because he couldn’t think or talk the way he wanted to be able to do. So far the only real drawback I’ve seen to the medication is increased difficulty getting him to settle down to sleep. Last night I went to check on him about an hour after tucking him in and he was sitting up in bed carefully organizing his shelf. On one hand, he’s never been very good at organizing and there he was doing a marvelous job. On the other hand, he was supposed to be sleeping.
Link’s teacher is amazed at the difference she sees. He’s right on task and happy most of the days. This is a vivid contrast to how he used to be. I concur. I am continually amazed at the ways I don’t have to slow down or simplfy so that Link can process what is happening. So mostly medication has been a positive experience thus far. Obviously I intend to monitor things closely because he is still growing and changing. What works perfectly now may not work so well in a few months.
Now I’m eyeing Gleek and wondering if she has ADHD. It might explain why she is so frequently a handful. I’ve been mentally listing symptoms and I’ll bet she has 8 or 9 out of the hypothetical list of12. I’m not ready to begin pursuing diagnosis on her yet because I don’t know that a child as young as she is can be adequately diagnosed for ADD due to developmental immaturities. Also I’m concerned that I may just being seeing this because medication made life with Link so much easier and I’d like Gleek to be easier to deal with. The gripping hand is that I’m just not ready to introduce another large change into our lives before Christmas. When things settle after the holidays I’ll see where we’re at.
Sleeping
The sleeping thing could be an issue of an overdose, especially if it is a time release. I would talk to your doctor about it and see if this is an issue. Mainly it could be just how fast his system processes it and because it is a stimulant it hasn’t worn off yet thus causing the late nights. One way of checking this is if hes staying up roughly an hour later give him the dose an hour earlier, and see if it causes any difference.
Sleeping
The sleeping thing could be an issue of an overdose, especially if it is a time release. I would talk to your doctor about it and see if this is an issue. Mainly it could be just how fast his system processes it and because it is a stimulant it hasn’t worn off yet thus causing the late nights. One way of checking this is if hes staying up roughly an hour later give him the dose an hour earlier, and see if it causes any difference.
Re: Sleeping
I would also suggest the following, and only because the Tayler Children are on the whole extreemly mature for their ages…
Talk to Link, and see if it would be possible to try moving bedtime forward an hour. Maybe he just needs some extra time to settle to sleep.
And I agree that Gleek’s too young to nail down ADD…
I’m sure that when it comes up you’ll make a very well informed, very rational decision. It’s what you and Howard do…
Re: Sleeping
I would also suggest the following, and only because the Tayler Children are on the whole extreemly mature for their ages…
Talk to Link, and see if it would be possible to try moving bedtime forward an hour. Maybe he just needs some extra time to settle to sleep.
And I agree that Gleek’s too young to nail down ADD…
I’m sure that when it comes up you’ll make a very well informed, very rational decision. It’s what you and Howard do…
In no particular order: Wow, that’s so great for Link!
To be honest, I’d assumed Gleek had been diagnosed with an ld already. You seem to do that structure-instead-of-meds thing.
He might be on a dose that’s a little high, or a little too extended. Might just be enjoying being able to do it too. He’s probably picking up some immunity.
Hope your Mondays get easier. It’s always harder settling back in when the break is longer isn’t it? We got into that this morning, a friend was explaining how her police department had gone to 4 day weeks, and had to go back, because they were just making dumb mistakes all day.
In no particular order: Wow, that’s so great for Link!
To be honest, I’d assumed Gleek had been diagnosed with an ld already. You seem to do that structure-instead-of-meds thing.
He might be on a dose that’s a little high, or a little too extended. Might just be enjoying being able to do it too. He’s probably picking up some immunity.
Hope your Mondays get easier. It’s always harder settling back in when the break is longer isn’t it? We got into that this morning, a friend was explaining how her police department had gone to 4 day weeks, and had to go back, because they were just making dumb mistakes all day.
You’re right, I’ve been instinctively doing structure rather than meds. I’ve done it for years for Link and Gleek both. The reason I shifted to meds for Link was because he was suffering internally because of things I could not restructure for him. I realized that even if I devoted my whole life to helping Link, I probably couldn’t help enough. And yet part of me feels guilty for not doing things that way.
You’re right, I’ve been instinctively doing structure rather than meds. I’ve done it for years for Link and Gleek both. The reason I shifted to meds for Link was because he was suffering internally because of things I could not restructure for him. I realized that even if I devoted my whole life to helping Link, I probably couldn’t help enough. And yet part of me feels guilty for not doing things that way.
Re: Sleeping
The bedtime thing was a problem when he got his medication at 9am instead of at 7am, so I doubt it’s dosage. It’s probably just timing. He went to bed fine tonight.
Re: Sleeping
The bedtime thing was a problem when he got his medication at 9am instead of at 7am, so I doubt it’s dosage. It’s probably just timing. He went to bed fine tonight.
I have the same trouble with Emily and sleep. I have found that a cup of coffee before bed helps a good bit… as does coffee on the days I don’t give her medication (Once a week, on Saturday, Em doesn’t have meds. That way she can get one day of eating and more sleep.)Watch Link’s eating habits too… this could kill his appetite and you’ll have to remind him that he needs to eat even if he is not hungry.
I have the same trouble with Emily and sleep. I have found that a cup of coffee before bed helps a good bit… as does coffee on the days I don’t give her medication (Once a week, on Saturday, Em doesn’t have meds. That way she can get one day of eating and more sleep.)Watch Link’s eating habits too… this could kill his appetite and you’ll have to remind him that he needs to eat even if he is not hungry.
“The gripping hand,” indeed. 🙂
“The gripping hand,” indeed. 🙂
Re: Sleeping
The stuff has a definate shadow effect – While I don’t know the figures for the time-release, the short-release is effective for four hours, but has a somewhat cumulative stimulant (aka anti-sleep) effect for several hours per dose thereafter. One needs to time the amounts and dosages right, else you’re up all night. I was gonna comment on that to Sandra though, and it’s 10PM and I should be in bed for tomorrows work though, so I’ll leave this at that for the moment! *flompznrkZzzz…*
(Oh, last thought – it’s a long standing, but short term side affect – short term in that it’s an effect per pill so it stops the moment the meds stop or their timing is shifted accordingly, long standing in that it’s just something you get used to working around, ‘cuz it doesn’t go away over prolonged use – your body doesn’t ‘attune’ to it or anything, as is the case with 99% of the rest of this medication. Um. If this doesn’t make sense poke me, but. Nini!)
Re: Sleeping
The stuff has a definate shadow effect – While I don’t know the figures for the time-release, the short-release is effective for four hours, but has a somewhat cumulative stimulant (aka anti-sleep) effect for several hours per dose thereafter. One needs to time the amounts and dosages right, else you’re up all night. I was gonna comment on that to Sandra though, and it’s 10PM and I should be in bed for tomorrows work though, so I’ll leave this at that for the moment! *flompznrkZzzz…*
(Oh, last thought – it’s a long standing, but short term side affect – short term in that it’s an effect per pill so it stops the moment the meds stop or their timing is shifted accordingly, long standing in that it’s just something you get used to working around, ‘cuz it doesn’t go away over prolonged use – your body doesn’t ‘attune’ to it or anything, as is the case with 99% of the rest of this medication. Um. If this doesn’t make sense poke me, but. Nini!)
(Actually, this shall be my last thought before sleep.)
Would you feel guilty giving a kid glasses instead of eye excersises? No? Then while it’s hard to get ones head around, don’t fret about it.
The fact you’re doing both structural and meds will mean the world. As the fabled email will suggest, I’ve seen all three (med-only, combined, structure-only), and you’re definately, definately doing the right thing. Your methods will teach him the tools he’ll later rely on in life to cope with it, even by himself. The meds mean he’ll be able to flourish easily enough to get to that point, and soar.
Promise. 🙂
(Actually, this shall be my last thought before sleep.)
Would you feel guilty giving a kid glasses instead of eye excersises? No? Then while it’s hard to get ones head around, don’t fret about it.
The fact you’re doing both structural and meds will mean the world. As the fabled email will suggest, I’ve seen all three (med-only, combined, structure-only), and you’re definately, definately doing the right thing. Your methods will teach him the tools he’ll later rely on in life to cope with it, even by himself. The meds mean he’ll be able to flourish easily enough to get to that point, and soar.
Promise. 🙂
Add diagnosis
ADD can be diagnosed in children who are in kindergarten. But whether you WANT to do that is a different issue. In the long run, behavior modification is a good first step, I believe and diagnosis of ADD should be contemplated in addition to structure not instead of. Structure is still important. One important point is whether the child’s self-esteem is best served by using medication. This is more important than making life easier for the teacher!
As to the issue of sleep, the medicine can take longer to wear off in some children than others. Just because the doctor says it will be out of the child’s system in “x number of hours” does not mean that it will happen for your child.
Add diagnosis
ADD can be diagnosed in children who are in kindergarten. But whether you WANT to do that is a different issue. In the long run, behavior modification is a good first step, I believe and diagnosis of ADD should be contemplated in addition to structure not instead of. Structure is still important. One important point is whether the child’s self-esteem is best served by using medication. This is more important than making life easier for the teacher!
As to the issue of sleep, the medicine can take longer to wear off in some children than others. Just because the doctor says it will be out of the child’s system in “x number of hours” does not mean that it will happen for your child.