Melatonin on it's way

[meea]

After along fight and a heartfelt plea from ds2's consultant the clinical director has changed his mind and allowed her to prescribe it for him.Prescription is filled pharmacy have posted it to me today .
I needed to share this with people who would understand and not judge me for medicating him.
Will post more on his appointment later as we've got to go out to look at the local high school for ds1.

Hi Meea - congratulations on what I know was a real struggle.

Do you really think that people judge you for "medicating" your ds? My ds has melatonin and I could honestly say that no one has ever said anything negative about it (at least not to my face anyway!)

To the people who do judge you, send your ds round for the night or get them in to babysit...they'd soon have a different view about it! Anyway, well done. x

I wouldn't count melatonin as medicating anyway. But I know what you mean, I really expected the judgmental attitude when we started giving DS Risperidone and NOT ONE person has been like that, I misjudged them all myself. In fact, at least one has gone and got the same for her DS and found it immensely helpful to hear our experiences and one other is considering it.

Hi MEEA....excellent!

Tom is not only taking melatonin....but also takes CONCERTA (same as RITALIN). I still get 'gasps' of horror from other parents that i am wrong to medicate him with such a powerful/addictive drug etc

Well.....funnily enough.....none of their children have ADHD or Aspergers......they are able to socialise freely (as their kids don't need the levels of supervision that my sons do)....and better than that they usually spend their weekends propping up the bar....whereas me....well i have to prop open my eyelids most mornings....let alone go out and get wasted!!!!

What i'm tring to say is that people will judge....but they do not have your life.

Anyway....Davros is right....strictly speaking Melatonin is not medicating ....It is NOT a DRUG - it is a 'synthetic HORMONE'.

Every animal naturally produces natural melatonin which triggers their bodyclock to make them sleepy....but children with neuralogical problems either don't produce enough or it is released in small ammounts all day....hence they have real difficulty falling asleep.

soooooooooooo 'ALL' you are doing is giving an artificial version of what is so easily produced for most people.

I am relieved that i didn't end up with a drug that helped him sleep.....like a tranquilser etc.....however- if melatonin hadn't worked (OR IF IT EVER CEASES TO BE EFFECTIVE) then the choice to use 'drugs' would be the same as in the 'debate' over whether we tried the CONCERTA...and that is one of without the medication what is the quality of life etc.....and with it does he benefit.

so - don't feel guilty- and expect to feel at a loose end to start with when your little lamb sleeps so easily...it took me a few weeks to totally get used to it- to not be constantly alert to every noise/movement he made in his bedroom above the kitchen where for years i had stood till 1am knowing he was still awake.

I still used a baby monitor up to melatonin- and to now be able to take him to bed and know that within 20mins he will be asleep in a 'natural' way is just bliss.

It has arrived we are starting with 3mg .I am going to try putting it in his yogourt we have capsules will that work.
I can honestly say that the people who know me and ds2 best would never judge our choices for him ,but staff at nursery give one another looks when his sleep problems are discussed. You mean you give him stuff to make him sleep my kids did'nt sleep very well used to wake up every 2 hours not the same as very 30 minutes most nights for the last 2 years is it though.
I am not going to get upset today we have had a really good day and hopefully a good nights sleep to look forward to.

putting it in the yougurt will be fine....as a yogurt is fairly small....we give it in cereal sometimes- but keep the milk to a minimum....the smaller the drink/food you add it to- the faster it gets to work.....will be thinking of you! let us know tomorrow!

p.s the only thing i avoid adding it to is anything hot- as on the bottle it advises 'keep in cool place'and our pharmacist said that room temp is fine- but anmything more than a 'warm' drink may reduce it's effectiveness!

I think it helped a bit did'nt wake up quite as often but he has a horrible cough and his back is hurting him again.I am going to give him 6mg tonight so we shall see.