AD/HD in girls. Anyone with experience? Need reassurance please....

[Aero]

Hyperactivity not present. I have a thread here. Really feeling crappy about it and totally in-exprienced in SN. These threads move so quickly and I feel like I'm constantly bumping, but I just want to know I'm not alone in this and I know I'm not, I just feel I am.

of course you can mousie. my dd also has dypraxic traits too.

Course you can Mousie - I'm glad of the company of anyone who has similar experinces, and grateful that people have answred my posts.

I've got to go out now and collect ds2. He has a play-date, so I won't be back until later this afternoon, but definitely hang around here to share your exprience/worries. A burden shared etc, etc ......

i have an appointment - and have waited 8 months to get it - with NHS psychiatrist next week. He specialises in ADHD and ASD so hopefully will find something... she has sensory issues and i have been dealing with them privately through weekly occupational therapy - which has helped her reading enormously, though not her inability to sit down and concentrate. though at school she is socially naive and has no friends really, at home her behaviour is hugely challenging. I guess she is frustrated at school, bottles it all up and comes home and gives full vent.
She is currently at local school and hope to keep her there, though classes are big. woudl probably move her to a smaller school (class sizes) if money were not an issue. if only...
Each day hugely exhausting (my ds is a bit younger and much more able but very physically challenging, like a mad red setter really! So I feel very overwhelmed and that being an SAHM was one of my worst ever decisions... but no easy way out..

so that's me, in a nutshell...

We've had a three month wait. We get some fine tantrums at home which are usually the result of bottling frustrations up at school and a release of her feelings of inadequacy!

Have just spent half the night reading a book called 'Understanding Girls with AD/HD and it is amazing! Everying in it screams dd's name and to a large extent, has bearing on my own experiences! No wonder I see so much of myself in her. OMG - my eyes are being opened. Now I'm really panicking that she might not get a diagnosis or that they'll tell me there's nothing wrong with her - my worst fear.

who is book by? i know what you mean abotu fear or no diagnosis - she can really pull it together on first/ second meeting!

This is the book I'm reading. I got it from the marketplace cheaper. It had excellent reviews and I'm a desprate mum! Well worth reading if you suspect AD/HD.

TotalChaos pointed me in the direction of a websire called www.adders.org which I've joined. Lots of information and support there, so thanks TC.

Ok so got diagnosis today - pretty sure she has ADHD and she was crackingly bad in the meeting (which is kidn of what you want - no ambiguity here). but have been prescribed ritalin, basically. I will go ahead as I am desperate but the word is frightening somehow.

either of you got experience here? Blossomhill?

Oh mousie.....it does sound scary doesn't it. Hugs. At least with the dx, I think forward is the only way to go though, which is a good thing.

My friend has just tonight (we were at a literacy meeting at school) got dyslexia test results for her ds. He is definitely dyslexic. The relief for her was almost palpable, and now they have acknowledged the problem, he will get the support he needs to learn to read.

I still fear they'll tell me there's nothing wrong with dd!! I won't go in armed with a dx, but I'm just going to have a written set of examples of all the things she does/says which are of concern to me.

The SENCO assures me they won't think I'm nuts though, and has agreed to come to the appointment with us to just listen for us and take in anything we might miss. She's writing a report re dd tomorrow which I'll be interested to read, to compare notes with school, as it were.

The adders site is worth a look for support and information. Takes a day or two to join, but everyone seems very nice over there and there's a wealth of experience to share in.

thanks. I too was worried dd wouldn't perform under analysis, but boy did she give him her full self in spades. will look at adders now. thank you.

Had the most awful morning today. Dd got out of bed in a foul mood not wanting to go to school. we got there and she refused to get out of the car. Eventually we got as far as the gate and she basically did the full kicking and screaming works, totally refusing to go in (meanwhile ds2 was running amok around the playground, refusing to come when called). W got hr in eventually undr severe duress and I had to leave her there, sobbing her heart out. I rang later and she'd settled down, but it took a long time. Turns out no-one will play with her, or let her join in and she's feeling dreadfully lonely, with one or two girls making it worse with (allegedly) screaming at her to go away. My heart breaks for her. she came home and was inconsolable, so Monday morning, I'll be having a word with HT to see how we can make things better as she's already saying she's not going in on Monday.

Aero

I sympathise - all days not great but some days so much worse than others - for parents and kids...

hope weekend a bit better. We start drugs in the morning....(concerta). I have a few other threads out there trawling for experiences..

Thanks Mousie. I've been reading through various links on an earlier thread (NAB's I think), and tbh, I'm so convinced that AD/HD is dd's problem, that if they don't dx her, I'll be devastated! I will try to go to the appt with a more open mind though.

Her behaviour is becoming more difficult to manage on a daily basis, and difficulty in handling children isn't something I've come up against before (have worked with other people's children all my life), made 10x wors because she's my own child and the differences betwen her and her peers are widening by the day.

Hi Aero, just found your thread. My dd is having an initial CAMHS appointment this thursday. We too suspect she has ADD.
My dd is only just 7 years old, & such a loving affectionate child, but totally away with the fairies, unable to interact with her peers very well, doing badly at school (behaviour & workwise) despite being a very intelligent child. I just want a dx now so she can get the support she needs at school. No recognition from them whatsoever at the moment. NO dx no problem seems to be the attitude. Although she is part of a Time to talk group for kids with difficulties.
Is your dd seeing CAMHS?
Will let you know how our appointment goes.

Hi Sparkleprincess. Thanks for posting. We had our initiall assessment appt last week at very short notice! They called that morning to see if we could come in at 12!! We were there about 1.5 hours and the paed suspects AS or ASD as she displayed some classic symptoms while she was there, ie no eye contact and was monotonal when speaking. of cours the situation was unusual with a total stranger and no prior warning, so her behaviour was not really surprising imo and also, not really typical, so more investigation is needed over the next six months. she will be getting extra support in school in the meantime and various people will be observing her and contributing to her eventual dx! I am glad that the school are supportive and our SENCO is very good as is her teacher. We'll just need to be patient and wait and see.

Hi Aero, Just found your thread on ADDERS (great site) about your appointment. I posted my own on there got our CAMHS on thursday Its under another name (fs) Probably see you over there too.

Oh, I'll be around there too. I've only just joined. I do find this site easier to use (and people 'know' me here too) which is why I'm posting more here about it, but Adders is great because it's so specific to these conditions and has loads of useful info etc. Everyone is very friendly too. I'll look out for you there and say hello.

mousie...just wondering how the concerta is going...my son is 14 and has taken it for 7 years....i can help if you have any questions....also whats her sleep like?
we are also prescribed melatonin...non sedative- as the concerta is likely to affect her sleep too...please ask us...theres alot of us on here with melatonin.

whereas i have boys on the AS... i am gradually myself getting diagnosed with different parts of what i see the full spectrum!!!! so...whereas i cannot help with the parenting as well as those on here with girls...i do remember all to clearly my child/teen years...and can see now what i needed to help that my parents were not aware i needed!!!

Was going to post a reply SP, but the site won't let me atm. Poor you. I was really nervous too and had all the same worries you do. Dd spent some time playing in the waiting area while I spoke to the paed about my concerns. The SENCO very kindly came with me as dh couldn't make it and I really needed someone to be there to pick up on things I might have missed. She was also able to contribute information about how dd is in school which was very helpful. Any chance your SENCO might accompany you?

Just got back from our appointment. Thankfully the lady we saw said it was quite obvious (after a very short period of time) that dd has proper ADHD & not just the attention deficit as I thought. Dd was running around the room pretending to be an aeroplane like a nutter & basically was being herself thankfully.

Ive been giving her Eye Q for the last few months & it has made a difference, I was worried they would think it was all in my head & I was some kind of loony or something. Im so relieved that somebody has confirmed this for me at last.

She is going to refer dd on & she will be observed at school & eventually she will probably need medication in order to live a normal life.

At least the first hurdles over with now.

Our SENCO is also our Headteacher Aero. Unfortunately schools current attitude is no dx no problem, so dd has been left to it with no support whatsoever. Hopefully they will give her more support once they hear from CAMHS.