janyben
07-24-09, 09:43 AM
I have some questions about therapists and doctors and what order they need to be seen in ... here is my background first:
I'd say my son has a severe case of ADHD- combo type. He was diagnosed about three years ago and we are on the third medication = 70 mg of Vyvanse. The medication is not working as well as it should in that it controls the hyperactivity, but not the impulsiveness or the attention issues.
His pediatrician has been giving us the medicine, but with the last discusion about how it's not working to optimum results, he said that he is out of his expertise and that I need to work with a Child Psychologist for the medication if I want to try anything other than the newly perscribed 70mg of Vyvanse.
The pediatrician suggested Tyler see a behaivoral therapist to help with some of his issues. I contacted the recomended therapist and saw him a total of 3 times. Once with Tyler and I, and twice just Tyler. He told me Tyler was great and since he was on medication, he would only have to see Tyler a couple times. (and he never really did anything to help Tyler with his behaivor, I think he just talked about things with him but the therapist never touched base with me regarding what was talked about or things I could at home to help Tyler with his behaivor)
Then I got pregnant and was put on bedrest so I couldnt make the trip to the therapist. We always had trouble with scheduling too because I work full time, far away from home, in the opposite direction of the therapist office. .. so I had the baby and called back to make an appointment and the therapist never called me back. I took that as a sign that he wasnt the right therapist for us.
Tyler continued to have extreem difficulty at school. He can't get along with most children because he is very bossy and yells. He is like a mean police man. If he sees anything that is not right or he feels is against the rules, he flips out!! He acts like this to adults too.. no respect!
So, I get another therapist recomendation from the pediatrician. The first visit is the whole family - me, my husband, Tyler and baby Jason. He gives us evaluations and one for me to send to the teacher. It takes about 3 weeks for our next appointment which was to go over the evaluations and make a "plan for action" for Tyler. It comes out that since the ADHD meds aren't working as good as they should, he probably has other issues and it turns out he has Social Anxiety Disorder and possibly Sensory Integration Processing disorder. His father has Social Anxiety Disorder and ADHD also - ADHD is undiagnosed. He's on anxiety meds and is feeling much better now. I assumed Tyler would add anxiety meds too, but no one seems to want to do that at this point.
In Sept, his school is going to test him for Sensory Processing. He has an IEP at school already.
So, this therapist wants to see me and my husband for a 3rd time and at this appointment gives us a sort of action plan for Tyler .. set him up on a daily schedule for the summer. Put him in as many group activities as I can so he ca "practice" his social skills. Keep him busy, in other words. And, if things arnt going as we'd like he suggests we get him in for Neurological testing. He also suggested a med change. That is when I called the pediciatrician and he said he's beyond his comfort zone and I need to see a child psychologist.
So, a good 2 months have gone by and this therapist has yet to actually see Tyler!! Then, I call him after some very tough weeks with his behaivor that have caused me a complete breakdown. This guy tells me that he doesnt treat children this young and starts giving me a list of all different doctors and therapists to call! Why didnt he tell us this from the beging? Why did we waste all this time and $$ on him??!!
So, now I have a few people for each of the following catagories"
Neurological testing, phsyciatrist, child psycologist.
Which do I go to first?? Do I have to get the neurological testing done first, so we know exactly what he has, before we can get his meds straightend out, and then once that is done we start therapy?
My husband wants to skip all of it and order Total Transformation and just work with Tyler ourselves at home. But, I dont think I'm up for it.. I mean as it is, he causes me to tears at least once a week. He's soo bad. I think I'd like at least SOME sort of professional help! I'm thinking the neurological testing and medication but instead of therapy, seeing if the Total Transformation works... if not, then start therapy. (He also gets behaivoral therapy while at school so that would continue)
I'm just in so much over my head that I dont know what to do. I just know that I'm about days away from calling my doctor and asking for anti-depressants because this is taking such a toll on me I havent been happy for months.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!
I'd say my son has a severe case of ADHD- combo type. He was diagnosed about three years ago and we are on the third medication = 70 mg of Vyvanse. The medication is not working as well as it should in that it controls the hyperactivity, but not the impulsiveness or the attention issues.
His pediatrician has been giving us the medicine, but with the last discusion about how it's not working to optimum results, he said that he is out of his expertise and that I need to work with a Child Psychologist for the medication if I want to try anything other than the newly perscribed 70mg of Vyvanse.
The pediatrician suggested Tyler see a behaivoral therapist to help with some of his issues. I contacted the recomended therapist and saw him a total of 3 times. Once with Tyler and I, and twice just Tyler. He told me Tyler was great and since he was on medication, he would only have to see Tyler a couple times. (and he never really did anything to help Tyler with his behaivor, I think he just talked about things with him but the therapist never touched base with me regarding what was talked about or things I could at home to help Tyler with his behaivor)
Then I got pregnant and was put on bedrest so I couldnt make the trip to the therapist. We always had trouble with scheduling too because I work full time, far away from home, in the opposite direction of the therapist office. .. so I had the baby and called back to make an appointment and the therapist never called me back. I took that as a sign that he wasnt the right therapist for us.
Tyler continued to have extreem difficulty at school. He can't get along with most children because he is very bossy and yells. He is like a mean police man. If he sees anything that is not right or he feels is against the rules, he flips out!! He acts like this to adults too.. no respect!
So, I get another therapist recomendation from the pediatrician. The first visit is the whole family - me, my husband, Tyler and baby Jason. He gives us evaluations and one for me to send to the teacher. It takes about 3 weeks for our next appointment which was to go over the evaluations and make a "plan for action" for Tyler. It comes out that since the ADHD meds aren't working as good as they should, he probably has other issues and it turns out he has Social Anxiety Disorder and possibly Sensory Integration Processing disorder. His father has Social Anxiety Disorder and ADHD also - ADHD is undiagnosed. He's on anxiety meds and is feeling much better now. I assumed Tyler would add anxiety meds too, but no one seems to want to do that at this point.
In Sept, his school is going to test him for Sensory Processing. He has an IEP at school already.
So, this therapist wants to see me and my husband for a 3rd time and at this appointment gives us a sort of action plan for Tyler .. set him up on a daily schedule for the summer. Put him in as many group activities as I can so he ca "practice" his social skills. Keep him busy, in other words. And, if things arnt going as we'd like he suggests we get him in for Neurological testing. He also suggested a med change. That is when I called the pediciatrician and he said he's beyond his comfort zone and I need to see a child psychologist.
So, a good 2 months have gone by and this therapist has yet to actually see Tyler!! Then, I call him after some very tough weeks with his behaivor that have caused me a complete breakdown. This guy tells me that he doesnt treat children this young and starts giving me a list of all different doctors and therapists to call! Why didnt he tell us this from the beging? Why did we waste all this time and $$ on him??!!
So, now I have a few people for each of the following catagories"
Neurological testing, phsyciatrist, child psycologist.
Which do I go to first?? Do I have to get the neurological testing done first, so we know exactly what he has, before we can get his meds straightend out, and then once that is done we start therapy?
My husband wants to skip all of it and order Total Transformation and just work with Tyler ourselves at home. But, I dont think I'm up for it.. I mean as it is, he causes me to tears at least once a week. He's soo bad. I think I'd like at least SOME sort of professional help! I'm thinking the neurological testing and medication but instead of therapy, seeing if the Total Transformation works... if not, then start therapy. (He also gets behaivoral therapy while at school so that would continue)
I'm just in so much over my head that I dont know what to do. I just know that I'm about days away from calling my doctor and asking for anti-depressants because this is taking such a toll on me I havent been happy for months.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!