update from sleep clinic.

[iloveithere]

So, over a month from the hour long meeting in which we discussed every aspect of ds sleep problems, we finally have the recommendations.

I dint think they listened to a word we said! The plan is v basic, no tv before bed, warm bath, rapid return if he gets up, supernanny style. In fact, it is identical to the advice she gives on her programme. It does not deal with the issues we face, and offers strategies for solving things that don't even happen! For example we explained that once he is finally asleep he sleeps till morning. They have offered a whole section of advice on what to do if he tries to come into our bed at night! He has never, ever tried to do that.
I am so fed up, I would like to complain, but need to keep them on side for his stat assessment. Waste of time

And so the sleep issues go on. V exciting day tomorrow so v hyper tonight, and I cant see him sleeping till well after 10.

I'm sorry I hope tonight isn't too bad

We have given him a dose of the antihistamine that we had left over. It doesn't seem to have worked. I just really lost my temper and yelled at him. I know I doesn't help, I'm just so sick of this, he is throwing, shouting etc. DH taken over for a bit.

Think he is asleep now. That was the worst night since about July.

Antihistamine based medication can have the apposite effect, my 6 year old was once awake for 36 hours after a dose. I'm not saying this is what has happened, but it's not that uncommon for it to stimulate the nervous system causing hyperactivity.

He finally fell asleep at 10.15. I think the medicine helped, but it was really only meant for a short course a few weeks ago. We have finished it now, so cant rely on it anymore

What if you move his bedtime to 9?

No they didn't check iron levels or anything, didn't even take him with, it was just a talk with us.

His bedtime is 815, moved from 715. I'm reluctant to make it later, he is only 6 years old. Also, dd goes to bed at 9, and she would sulk if he had the same bedtime as her. I wont make hers later, I think 9 is late enough.

Okay, what if you wake him up an hour earlier for a week?

Surely Melatonin would have been prescribed before Antihistamines?

No melatonin has nor been prescribed. Doctor gave us antihistamine for a ten day course to try to break the habit of bad bedtimes. It sort of worked, in as much as he usually stays in bed till he falls asleep, but he doesn't sleep much earlier. Last night was just too exciting for him, and back to old habits of raging, throwing hurting etc.

I thought Melatonin would have been one of the first things they prescribed, how strange that they went with Sleeping drugs.

Melatonin produces the chemical which makes you feel tired, some chidlren (mostly those with ASD) are lacking the ability to produce this well.

I think I could be cos he hasn't been diagnosed with anything? I don't know, perhaps melatonin is a long term thing and this was just a short course?

They did ask us if he complained of hurting legs, but he never has. I really think he is a creature of habit, if he gets into a bad pattern it is v v difficult to break it.

Does he really need drugs though? My (just) 7 year old is often awake till 10 or 11 and she's been like this for a while. The worse night was nearly midnight.

I don't think of it as a problem, but just the way she is. As long as she's in her room and not bothering me I don't mind. I certainly haven't considered drugging her (yet!).

But he does bother us. He throws stuff down the stairs, goes and hurts his sister in her room, breaks toys, rips up books, spits, all sorts of stuff. He is tired, just wont sleep.

poshlymanor, like everything, It depends on how it's affecting him, if it's a problem for him then it's a good idea.

I, like your daughter, was never a good sleeper but i was able to function perfectly well without sleep, i just need less.
But the OP child might not, and sleeping might be needed.

Ok that's a problem. Does he do those things in the day too, or just a bedtime? Is it because he can't sleep and gets bored trying? Could he be allowed to play in bed or something? Sorry for all the qus but I don't know the back story.

I know my DD is tired too, she suffers from anxiety and has a hard time winding down. I let have the bedside light on for as she wants and let her play with her toys in bed, read, colour in her book, listen to CDs or whatever it takes for her to wind down. She still tries it on sometimes though, she just doesn't sound as energetic as your DS, and her behaviour tends towards hysterically crying rather than being destructive.

I'm not saying you shouldn't try medication OP, I'm just joining in the discussion because my DD has a similar problem.

Posh, this is his default behaviour to any type of adversity, so going to bed when he doesn't want to is one thing that sets him off. He is being assessed by camhs and salt and ot to try to shed some light on his behaviours.
I think your dd has a good routine going there,if ds would play, read etc I would be happy.

Thanks polter, it was getting so much better, he was falling alseep in 20 mins, but the last week or so its gradually got worse, until last night was right back to where we were before.
Perhaps now his birthday is out the way he will settle again, but I doubt it will be due to the help of the useless sleep clinic!

He doesn't want to go to bed so acts up? So he is demand avoidant ? My DD also a little like this, a simple request to put her shoes on for instance can be met with screaming and shouting. I guess that's easier to deal though, I'm good at ignoring it. I hope you get the help you need from CAMHS. I'm currently trying to get my DD assessed, we've been waiting since June for an initial appointment with community paediatrics