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.

Why is everything such a fight with these services though? Can't they realise that if we are asking for help we have already been through the usual parenting strategies? I certainly don't go to appointments for fun!

if we are asking for help we have already been through the usual parenting strategies

Some people don't, sometimes it is bad routine.

And lets not beat around the bush, they also try to do the least amount of work because fobbing people off costs less than helping them.

That's true, Jason!

Oh ilove how bloody frustrating.

I have been phoning CDC trying to get ds seen ASAP to discuss melatonin. We last saw paed in July and she wanted to wait 6 months but we can't go on like we are.

So very very exhausting isn't it!

What reason did she want you to wait six months? I'm sure they think if they fob us off we will go away.

She wanted us to try the suggestions in the "sleep pack", which she hasn't actually got round to sending us - but which I'm quite sure will be full of the kind of "helpful" suggestions as your sleep clinic plan. Bath and a warm glass of milk? Yeah that's going to help.

I was given melatonin yesterday for my DS and we haven't even got as far as a sleep clinic referral. He also has the calm down routine before bed, gets in it, lays still for about 10 minutes and then sings, rolls, moves, slaps himself until he eventually drops off anything from 1-2.5 hours after going to bed! Sadly tho he didn't stay asleep until morning then.
He has 2mg prolonged release melatonin. Last night didn't read info properly gave it to him at bedtime, still took 45 minutes to settle but slept for 9 hours tonight he had it at 7, bed at 8, settled in half hour but was much much calmer, and I'll let you know how long he stays asleep for!

School and after school club also both commented on how much calmer he was today!

Chlorphenamine (Piriton) make my DS very hyper!

All local areas seem to offer different advice.
It was the GP that gave us the antihistamine (Promethazine -(Phenergan), but CAMHS that referred us to their own sleep clinic.
Tonight was a good one, asleep by 9 after going to bed at 8.20.

Id really rather not use melatonin unless he was diagnosed with something that meant he wasn't producing it himself, iyswim. I don't want to just get it cos it has worked for other people.

I have been invited out one night this week, its been about 6 months since I've been able to go out, cos I need to sit at his door till he is asleep.

i am sort of looking forward to it and sort of dreading it. Poor DH will have to deal with him by himself.