dyspraxia, adhd, girls and drugs - concerta/ ritalin

[Mousie]

Ok a demanding title to try and pull in as many experiences as poss. Have posted in special needs but thought probablya good idea here too.

My dd, 7, is dyspraxic and has adhd - recently diagnosed. i have been prescribed concerta - basically ritalin,a nd will start thsi weekend probably. she drives us insane at home - yet is immaculate, if struggling at school. has no friends but doesn't act up - is just a bit of a misfit. I want to knwo if anyone has found taking meds has really improved their lives. I cannot dare to hope this really mgiht be the answer - still in shock and obviously I hoped it would never come to this, but recently her frustrations and violence out of school are becoming totally insufferable. experiences please...

[MissChief]

if you didn't catch it, was an excellent R4 Check Up programme on ADHD - transcript link here
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/checkup_tr_20070823.shtml

thought discussion was balanced and v sensible. Also recommended "One, Two, Three, Magic" by Phelan
here:www.amazon.co.uk/1-2-3-Magic-Effective-Discipline-Children/dp/0963386190?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Raht er offputting jacket cover (v upbeat American,ifykwim?) but v well regarded by professionals apparently. About to order it myself (tro add tro the many on the bookshlef!)

[Mousie]

hello aero - early in the morning on sunday and I have logged on for some support - it is so bad athte moment. so my sypathies with you too. We are still going with the aDHd thing - and have read a good but ultimately depressing book on understanding girls wtih adhd - she fits perfectly. but the meds haven't worked so we are back to square one. it took her to a social skills weekend group this weekend - in my mind hoping/ assuming she would stick out as a child who didn't really need to be there. The opposite - she had facial ticks and quirks and kept grimacing and pulling up her tights and fidgeting the entire time - it was kind of excruciating though she enjoyed it which I guess is the important thing. I feel totally lost now - doesn't help that we have huge financial worries at home and the easter holidays loom horrifically. Aero - CAT me if you would like some one to one. though I may bring you down!!
I feel I am not accepting her - I am infuriated by her quirks and don't celebrate them. I just want her to manage things and have friends and do well at school and make life easier for us all (horrible I know, but this is how I feel atm) Doesn't help that my ds finds life a breeze.
i so worry about her future - i wish we could afford something private educationaly - not though, that that would be the answer, it's just not having the option and seeing her drown more month by month in a big class.
enough moaning. will make myself a cup of tea and rejoice that we have an hour less of the weekend today. to think how outraged i would have been by this pre kids!!

[Mousie]

and miss chief - hello to you too. i have read your other posts and they always make me feel I am not alone...

[Mousie]

and miss chief - hello to you too. i have read your other posts and they always make me feel I am not alone...

[SparklePrincess]

There are loads of us out here Mousie. You are certainly not on your own. Feel very free to CAT me if you want a shoulder to lean on.

I totally understand your frustrations that the meds are not working. We havent got to the meds stage yet, & I cant say im looking forward to it. I love my little girl as she is, its just the rest of the world that have the problem.

From what I understand there are several different med options & its a case of trial & error until you find the ones that suit your dd. Have you got an appointment with CAMHS to discuss alternative meds?

[Mousie]

thank you for support. school she has suddenly found she cant do the work - or the differences with her and her peers are more ovbious. her writing, her maths, all atrocious. and she is too angry and hyper at home to settle down and do work with us. she does do sport - football and am i just starting athletics after easter. she is very sporty - very fast runner - it is what she does best actually.

my ds is very different - i see what you mean about relishing the fact it isn't just me on the parenting front! however he does still (5) have massive tantrums and though doesn't have her social and academic problems isn't an easy child. though on their own they are much much easier, obviously. the two of them together are toxic. I had ten mins with them in sainsburys yesterday and all eyes were on us...

we have tried two sorts of meds - but will keep trying. both were ritalin based. Made her parnoid. did sort out focus a bit but the tearfulness wasn't worth it.

[eclipse]

Mousie, just read the bit about your daughter's tics and quirks at the social skills group. For some children who have tics and twitches, ritalin and concerta can make things worse. Some find clonidine helpful for both adhd and the tics. It might be worth mentioning when you are next reviewed. As others have said, different meds work for different children.