Strange Pead Appointment today

[cakemom]

So DS 5.3 had his pead appt suspected ADHD (but with other emotional and sensory issues) today. Have been in the system for the last year and each time told to come back as too young. So today a different doctor again(never the same doctor, drives me insane).

Spoke to her for a while repeated the same old information, looks at the connors that the school has filled out for the 3rd time. Turns to me and says so we will give him Equasym XL. I nearly fall off my chair and says, so what are you saying, she says thats why you where pushing for an appointment you want medicine, so I say no we were looking for a dignosis, she replies look at these forms of course he has ADHD and learning difficulties, and then proceeds to try and pressure me into agreeing to put him on the pills. I say I cannot make this decision without my husband.

So I am assuming by this appt, his diagnosis is ADHD, done so tactfully.
Also has anyone put such a young child on this medicine as all the info says at least age 6?

He's probably had a dx for a year and they haven't told you :(

I don't know anything about ADHD medicine, but I would certainly start with Omega, Zinc and Magnesium before meds.

Zinc

Currently, based on research from different parts of the globe it is suggested that adding zinc sulphate to the daily administration of omega 3 & 6 (essential fatty acids) enhances the action of Ritalin or may be used in its place. This is very exciting news as at present there is a great deal of concern about the use of Ritalin and the long-term affects it may have. As zinc is a normal part of our diet and as far as we know has no side-effects apart from a metallic taste in the mouth and/or nausea in some cases, this may prove to be a valuable aid in the treatment of conditions such as ADHD.

Magnesium

A Polish study of children with ADHD found that almost all of them (95%) were deficient in magnesium and that the greater the deficiency the more severe the symptoms. When some of the children were given magnesium supplements to restore the deficiency their symptoms improved, while those in the trial who did not receive the supplements continued to deteriorate.

Adequate levels of magnesium are also needed for a good nights sleep.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for magnesium ? Age 1-3yrs 80 mg, 4-8yrs 130 mg, 9-12yrs 240 mg.

She had the tact................of a brick....

Is this brick going to send you an offical report confirming diagnosis?
Has she offered to refer to OT for help with sensory issues?
Emotional issues could be due to the sensory issues or social skills issues that a SALT could help with?

I do not know anything about meds I am afraid and it is a whole matter of personal choice. I think you need to way up the odds together with your DH.

It could be that if a sensory diet was installed in school and his other sensory issues dealt with your ds could end up a stage more calmer in concentration? Learning confidence in social skills can also help this too.

And the above suggestion from indigo!

I would consider trying all these first for a little while and see if it made a difference if you feel he and you can cope without meds for a while to test them out :)

Yep, ds1 had meds from age 5. And I did push for them. They meant he wasn't excluded from school, I was able to keep him safe when we visited his grandparents, he learned to read, I didn't go mad.

They weren't a panacea. He now has an additional diagnosis of ASD, and there may well be a bunch of other acronyms on the way.

Thanks all for the advise, I think I will try the supplements first.

I assume I will get a report from the lovely doctor, not counting on much support from her though.

I have filled out a sensory questionaire, so hopefully will get to see them in the new year.

Just a little weary of the meds as not sure they will give us the support if they adversely affect him, will try the other options first.

DS2 is 5yo, and has dx of ADHD, DCD, and AS, plus lots of sensory problems. The paed has pushed a bit for meds, but we are holding firm that we are not yet ready to go that route. He has a FT 1:1 at school, and we monitor him carefully at home. But yes, everything I've read has also said not before the age of 6 for meds. We plan on waiting until next summer, then discussing it again, perhaps putting it off for 1 more year before deciding whether or not to do a trial.

It is a big step, and there are possibilities of side effects and such. I would never tell anyone else they should or shouldn't, as obviously everyone's child is different. We're simply not willing to go that route at the moment.

I am really scared of the side effects, and how it will change him. My DH has ADHD and was on meds from 9 but I feel 5 is so young.

Hopefully the statement will come through and the 1:1 support will help and there will probably be a different doctor at the next appointment that won't be so pushy on the meds side and might give some other advice and help(laughing to myself like that will actually happen)

My DD is 5 and yesterday just prescribed dexamfetamine half a tablet 2.5mg per day. Went to collect from pharmacy pharmacist refused to give me them as she said her book stated not before 6 just checked NHS guidelines though and can be given to 3-5 year olds as long as it is just the 2.5mg per day, pharmacy say they will deliver this evening but the whole incident has scared me witless!!

Well that was handled well cakemom! We were also not given a dx for ds, but medication was suggested (on ds 5th birthday as it happens) as a way to balance the chemicals in his brain. I think the theory was that if the medication worked in the desired way then it would help understand ds brain functioning. A much better way of explaning it (except it took a while for me to cotton on) Like you we wanted to try everything else first but it takes time to research and ask for services (OT etc), so we needed thinking space.
Ds was eventually DXed (LF) ASD with ADHD. We did try medication in the end and the underlying autism (masked by ds constant flitting about ( no attention span constantly moving -which made it very hard to assess anything or interact) became more obvious. Of the other things what helped our child bearing in mind all children are different? well fish oils helped ds (and we notice if he misses a few doses even now at 12), understanding his way of thinking ( in his case the autism), having protein for breakfast, lots of opportunities for running off energy (in hind sight I think that is associated with his sensory needs - diagnosed much later) and yes eventually medication - which has slowed him down just enough to interact a little! He is still ds and still very fizzy. What pushed us to try medication ( after therough research) was a series of difficult curcumstances not least of which was not having enough care and support in ms school - I really feared for ds life at times especially at school!

Thanks, I will try the fish oils & try protein but DS is such a fussy eater too. We are extremly lucky, we have a very supportive school that go out of there way to make it easier for him(I thank my lucky stars that we picked this school now).

I know in the end he will go on the medicine, but when is the question we will have to decide when we feel it is right for him. Or when I am at my whits end and cannot keep up with him anymore.