ADHD children

[Frozzie]

Sounds like you havé it all under control... You should be proud as not many people Foster yet alone tolerate adhd kids... especially more sévère cases.. Although hé seems to be ok.. Musnt be easy for anyone though least of all for him as à kid who truly has adhd and not just hyper and throws on drugs as there is à différence .. Its à constant struggle for them to try and fit in and control their behavioural impulses..

[DizzyGirl]

Oh Hally you are doing a wonderful job. ADHD is hard on all those involved. I have a wonderful book called Everyday with ADHD. The author has a website. The book gives you an insight into the world of a child with ADHD as well as coping strategies.

DS had a BAD day yesterday. Everything was fine until we got to swimming. He refused to get in the pool and spent half the lesson sulking. Finally got him in the water (after a little chat) and then was on fire. One of his best lessons.

Left swimming to get his new BIG boy doona and some groceries. Everyone we met, he screamed, refused to talk to and hid behind me. These were people he normally talks to.

The joys of parenting

[Halex]

He slept right through until 7am. Struggle to get hm to take tablet. In the end I just said his mumwould be cross with me if he ddnt take it, so he took it.

DG dont know how you cope, all of you with kids with bad adhd your amazing.

Hes full on now, dh on shift. His mum will be here in about 20 mins, he calls her by her name, nit mum, but he has started to call dh, dad.

Will try & find the website.

H

[dede]

It does improve Halex as they get older. Although some days my DS is over the top. I would take my DS off them altogether if I thought he would cope at school, but I know he just can't concentrate and constantly gets in trouble at school while off them. I'm looking forward to the end of grade 10 and no more medication

[DizzyGirl]

Luckily I don't have too many days like yesterday. Unfortunately something triggers this behavior. Just have to find out what.

DS has been getting into trouble at school. He is perfect in the classroom, but doesn't cope well in drama or library where there is no structure. He is fine with music and singing, because he loves music.
Last drama lesson he was given a pink slip as he mucks up every lesson. I will see how he goes this week.
He is off his medication because I don't think it is working. When on Ritalin his behavior was the same.

His stuttering is really bad atm too. Poor boy. I wish I knew what was really wrong. Have to wait 6 months to get into another paedatrician.

Hally enjoy your peace and quiet.

[natmum]

Sounds like you are doing a great job...
My son is on 10mg twice a day and yes by 4pm he is a handful.
Just have to be strict..sounds like you are.
Also my son responds well to his peers telling him in a calm manner he has gone to far and needs to walk away..so encourage your son to as you might get a few more like this darling.
They are very smart and if you can find out what he is into you will be doing great!!

[mcmich]

My DS now 22yrs has been on dexamphetamine and then ritalin since he was 4yrs old.
No medication now.  It does take a dip when when they hit puberty (hard to get a good balance on the meds).
He has always been very sociable. Had several jobs and apprentiships since leaving school.
He is back continuing his butchers apprentiship atm.
Hang in there. I'm still waiting to exhale.

[dede]

Yes I had a lot of problems with medication from puberty onwards. The medication my DS was on gave him migraines. So the doctor tried other medication and they all done the same. So no he is on the same medication he was on at the beginning of puberty but also has anti-migraine medication as well. This has worked really well thank god.

[Henndigo]

He is a lovey boy full of hugs & i love yous which he gets back from us.

Ritalinf 20 per day, but i think he needs a top up at 2-3, but I am not hs Dr.

Yes my DS whom we adopted when he was little has Ritalin LA 20mg every day, it's a long acting medication and it does wear off at 2-3pm.  It works very well for him, without it he was just getting into trouble constantly at school and now he is getting positive feedback   He often says to me how much he loves school.  Our doctor has given us the option of adding some short acting Ritalin at 3pm if we wish to but we don't do this currently, although we might in the future if his homework load increases.   His ADHD is quite severe and I'm really not too sure if he is going to grow out of it.  Fortunately he is a lovely sook and people are drawn to his exuberance.  I just feel sad for him that he has these struggles but relieved that he is being helped with medication and has a wonderful school.

For the sleep, I would look into melatonin drops which has to be be obtained on prescription in Australia but other countries can just buy it at their pharmacy.  It is very expensive since it has to be prepared by a compounding pharmacy but works a treat.  It is a natural hormone that our bodies make for sleep. 

The sleep issues and excitability in the early evening are often caused by the medication leaving the system - the steep plunge back to the ADHD self which leaves them unable to settle.  Some people address this with the extra dose in the afternoon.

Otherwise very strong routine, same bedtime each night, calm down in a nice warm bath, stories - all these help.

[Halex]

Wow, it was like a mini trnado for a few hours. After he left sunday we were all pretty stressed. Peaceful week I hope.

They will contact me soon about how it went, when can we have him again etc. they were wanting us to care for him once er month, but thats too much, maybe once every 2 months. It would be better to organise respite in dry weather, pack up a picnic & head out for the day, park or somewhere where he can let off steam without breaking or damaging anything.

I really apprecate everyones input as it was hard for hose few hours.

H

[obbie]

Your doing a great job Hally

[mcmich]

You and your family did very well Hally. I can only imgaine how welcome the peace and quiet is now.
No wonder his foster mum needs some respite.

[DizzyGirl]

Well done Hally, you all survived. It must have been very hard on the child too. New people, routines etc. Perhaps with time he will settle down.
If you decide to care for him again, have a chat to his foster mum and get some ideas from her. Try and stick to her routine as much as possible as this will make it easier for all.
 How does CP feel about caring for this little boy?

[Halex]

CP enjoyed it apart from the 3 hour tornado. He says he would like him back again, even though he rammed his arm into a door and smacked him hard on the but.

Yes I feel for the boy too, I cant imagine he goes to many play  days etc.

His foster carer is a single mum, dont know how she does it.

H

[Frozzie]

Yes ditto doing a great job hally