OMGoodness, I've become a blogger slacker lately as I've had more than too much on my plate to try and get through. There is an elephant in the room that I've been trying to hide (and I'm not ready to share it with you all, but it'll surely rear it's raging head in the next few weeks) so that has taken up a great deal of my time! I wish I could have talked about it sooner, but since it involves the kids and there are friends and family who read this and I'm not ready to tell them all....
Anywho, I'm gleaning this post off of a comment I just posted to a friend's blog - MamaBear @ My Son Has Two Brains - who's going through something similar to what we are with the meds:
This summer, I am weaning one med at a time to try to establish a baseline of behavior and or symptoms of whatever is truly going on with my oldest two children. They have both been on medicine for so long, it is hard to tell just what symptoms are truly characteristic of what is happening physiologically and neurologically with them, or what symptoms are side effects of the meds they are on now. In this process, I'm terrified of keeping the hospital in mind if need be, but I am willing.
One thing that is helping is to keep the siblings away from each other as much as possible, and to NOT be at home, but out at parks, campgrounds, and nature preserves. They are hiking, swimming, playing, picnicking, and exploring most of every day. That way, the melt downs and rages are away from peers and neighbors. I've also found that there has been less likelihood of incident too because they are completely FREE to just "BE". They are climbing, jumping, pulling, pushing, digging, throwing, swinging, hiding, screaming, rolling, running, exploring, shrieking, laughing, creating, singing, getting dirty or wet, "destroying", breaking (wood), throwing rocks, etc... and it is all in the realm of norm for where we are and what we are doing. My hope is that, if I can keep getting them to these safe places for most of the time during this transition I pray it can ease the stress for everyone. Every day we are going somewhere new around NYS; Most of the things we can do for FREE too! :)
There has only been one full week with no school, and the ADHD med is completely stopped. That in itself has made a tremendous difference! I did not realize how much it was contributing to the agitation and aggression. :( That just makes me feel soooo guilty! I hesitate to wean the anti-psychotic and mood stabilizing medicines when they are going to camp for the following two weeks, but it is a VERY slow process. Sooo, I pray they will be able to reduce their dosages as planned and still be able to participate in camp, but if not, I can always wait a week or two right? :)
My friend's pdoc, for her son, refers to anti-psychotics as being the "big guns", but I guess because my kids started on risperdal several years ago (and it was unbelievably amazing) I have not thought of them that way. I have felt that measure of trepidation in regards to Lithium though. THAT is scary for me... :( Unfortunately, the current meds are no longer as effective and yes, the side effects of long term use do worry me. On the other hand, the side effect of NOT helping them by using meds, is nearly unthinkable as the self harm, anger, and aggression that was there to begin with was unimaginable for such a little one. I am intrigued by the results I have heard tell about for those who are taking abilify though. I think that might be what my Dad was on a few years ago too, when I was amazed and overjoyed to see him back to his old happy, engaged, and creative self! Sadly, he refuses to take medication now... (*sniffle* that is another story ...)
I agree, how does a mother sort it all out?! I like the analogy one of the other readers of MamaBear's blog, Heather gave, "untying the Gordian Knot--you just have to start following a thread."
Click on the Comments (#) in small letters under my name and you'll be led directly there.
Don't worry, I'll still be here waiting in the wing when you come back ;). THANKS!
(This is what blogger has to offer, so until I find a better way... Happy debating!)
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