Pediatricians dealing with ADHD?

[dm4462]

Did one of those 7 different doctors happen to be a psychiastrist or where they all primary care/pediatricians?

yes three of the seven are psychiastrist 1 is up at children's in dc and the other two 1 is at the center for children and the other is in owens. i am not one to put my child on something if he doesnt need to be. but in this case when more then a hand full of doctors and psychiastrist tell thats what he need after changing of diets doesnt work then thats what i am going to do.

 

[SouthernMdRocks]

Does your child snore? Does he have sleep apnea? Maybe both?

Do you know the long term side effects of the medication that you have your son on?

Did you ever think that maybe you should have him evaluated for a learning disability instead of opting for the "easy way out" and put him on what is equivilant to Cocaine in adults?

Come on, that's far fetched and really not fair. What makes you think that was the "easy way out". That's a hard decision for some parents and unfortunately, not so hard for others. If you truly had ADD/ADHD it can be the best option when all else fails.

 

[vegmom]

yes three of the seven are psychiastrist 1 is up at children's in dc and the other two 1 is at the center for children and the other is in owens. i am not one to put my child on something if he doesnt need to be. but in this case when more then a hand full of doctors and psychiastrist tell thats what he need after changing of diets doesnt work then thats what i am going to do.

Sounds like you took great care before you decided to give meds to your kid. Too many parents out there don't even try alternatives first. Nothing wrong with meds when they are actually warranted. We've just all seen too many overmedicated kids.

 

[krb]

You have no clue.

I am the originator of this post. As I sit here in my computer room seething I will try to calmly respond.

I have read this forum for several years. I do not often post as I have been horrified too many times by responses from folks who have no intent but to stir the pot and push their uneducated views. I figured posting in the parenting section would possibly alleviate that problem as I thought the people who are here are parents, trying their best to raise their kids-as am I.

To those who bash me in my decision let me justify this to you-although you really do not deserve it. I will attempt to educate YOU while I accept your obvious ignorance.

My son was DIAGNOSED by a prominent child psychologist in Greenbelt. In fact, she counsels the children that were in the Pentagon on 911. I think her results are to be taken as seriously as her credentials. This test was not entered into lightly. I observed him, took notes and spoke frequently with his preschool teachers about what I was seeing for two full years before I paid-out of pocket-for the rather extensive testing involved.

After I received the diagnosis (YES-he has the diagnosis) I waited another half a year (first grade ) praying he would respond to behavioral interventions and teacher attempts to focus him before we tried medications. My son does not have problems getting in trouble. He has many friends. But in first grade his education was suffering. He was simply not able to pay attention enough to keep up with classmates. He was constantly making little noises he was unaware of and he was a distraction to other children.

The nature of ADHD has made my son's more demanding type of personality and activity level affect my entire family. You do not know what type of home he comes from so do not be so quick to judge it. He has three younger siblings and they too have suffered.

After many weeks of thinking, researching, watching his learning suffer when I know he is bright, and crying over this decision, we tried the first medication. The first day I cried-hard. I went to school every day for lunch the whole first week to check on him. I did not enter this lightly. Four more times we tried different medications until finally a year ago we found one that works really well for him-and at the lowest possible dose! His teacher sent me handwriting samples of before and after. She told me she could not believe he responded so well. He went from below grade level in reading to amost above grade level in several months. I do not attibute this successs solely to the meds. I worked with him-a lot. His teacher was wonderful. HE was wonderful! It was a team effort and the meds were a part of that team.

My son was not a controlled, drugged zombie on the medication. He was still the same curious, spirited little boy. Only now he was able to get what he heard. He was internalizing. It was working.

So now as I am about to renew a prescription I would like to cease the visits to the useless psychiatrist and maybe seek out a pediatrician. Really, asking him how school is and how he gets along with friends and then sending us home with another 30 day supply is such a waste. I would rather just use my ped for this service. Of course I want him monitored, but I feel his pediatrician could do this.

This gut wrenching decision was among the hardest of my life to make. I question myself frequently and I am in constant contact with his teacher. But you know what? I made the right decision for my son. He is not medicated on weekend or holidays. But when he is in school he is focused and ready to learn.

And just for fun-a little background on me. I have a degree in elementary education and a master's degree in education as well. Do you think I am qualified to make this decision for my child?

So now that you know I am not some nutjob who jumped into this decision merely for my convenience I would appreciate it if you would please simply answer my question or leave this post alone.

To those of you who jumped my case or questioned my jugdement and do NOT have children-I hope you never have to deal with this. To those of you who do have children who are not ADHD-lucky you. To those of you who have ADHD kids and choose not to medicate-it is your choice. I hope it works for you.

And to the few who took the time to answer my plea --thank you very much!

BTW- I fully intend to forward this thread to a few friends and even my childs teacher. I am sure they will get quite a kick out of the ignorance of some people. Mostly though, those that know me and how I am with my kids will recall the agony I experienced over this decision. They do not judge.

 

[krb]

OK-now that I have read, and re-read the post, I have more responses.

1. I was SO not quick to jump to a decision. Previous post should spell that out.
2. I am not bashing Dr. Miller. In fact-he sees all four of my kids and he still will. He simply does not prescribe meds. His advice was to seek out a doctor who would. He did not disagree with the diagnosis.
3. Yes-caffeine has the opposite effect on an ADHD kid. However-there are consequences there too.
4. He had his tonsils out years ago-adenoids too. Yes-he did have apnea. None of this changed the ADHD signs though, sadly.

Again-thanks to those who answered the original question.

 

[Mdcopswife]

You may want to try Center for Children,...they are very helpful there. Make sure that he or she is treated for the right type of ADHD...there are two known forms of it....one is the bouncy type and then the other is Inattentive type.

I wouldnt send my dog to Center for Children. The therapists are awsome the director and staff that kiss her a$$ are horrible. Before you pick a therapist, if you choose to go that route, please shop around.

 

[Dymphna]

krb, in all fairness, your first post did imply that you wanted your child on meds against his pediatrician's recommendation.

Several people on here shared their personal experience with successful alternative treatments. Given that many studies have shown that ADHD is over diagnosed and over-medicated, those opinions have foundation.

Medication has lots of side-effects and as you have now indicated, it was NOT your first choice, so you should appreciate that these folks agree with your initial decision to try alternatives before medicating.

 

[vegmom]

To be fair: you did not provide much background in your OP. You should be fully aware that there are quite a few parents who are quick to medicate their child and "doctor shop" until they find one who does what they want.

Ritalin and related meds are Schedule II Controlled substances. No refills, no phoned or faxed rxs, kept in a safe in the pharmacy, inventory cards filled out for each rx, etc. What you have going to the pscyh is what is refered to as "med management" (I see one for Bipolar II) and it's best left to the specialist. Primary care docs do not, and should not, be fiddling with psych meds. Your pediatrician knows this. He/She is not refusing to write the rxs just to be a pain. I think the feds and state have cracked down on the practice the past few years too. There are probably requirments in place as to how often your psych needs to see him.

 

[Christy]

After I received the diagnosis (YES-he has the diagnosis) I waited another half a year (first grade ) praying he would respond to behavioral interventions and teacher attempts to focus him before we tried medications. My son does not have problems getting in trouble. He has many friends. But in first grade his education was suffering. He was simply not able to pay attention enough to keep up with classmates. He was constantly making little noises he was unaware of and he was a distraction to other children.

The nature of ADHD has made my son's more demanding type of personality and activity level affect my entire family. You do not know what type of home he comes from so do not be so quick to judge it. He has three younger siblings and they too have suffered.

klb, your son sounds a lot like mine. He fidgeted and couldn't focus, it didn't help that he's dyslexic to boot. I chose not to go the medication route because I'm just not comfortable with any of the possible side effects. I wound up putting him in a Montessori school where his constant movement wasn't an issue. His teacher even encouraged him to do his chair acrobatics for the talent show, he'd contort himself in all kinds of crazy positions. What they did observe is that even though he was always constantly moving, he indeed was paying attention and was absorbing everything. It was when he was forced to sit still that he couldn't concentrate and he'd become extremely frustrated. They felt that he was using all of his brain power to keep from bouncing off the walls.

Good luck to you in whatever route you take with your son, just wanted to put out there some different options. BTW, I would NOT recommend Dr. Dhillon.

 

[krb]

vegmom-fine, I see what you are saying. Can you tell me where there is a reputable child psychiatrist? We have been seeing D. Shah. I have waited three days just to MAKE the appointment. He has to call you and schedule them himself. Have you ever heard of a doctor who does his own scheduling when he has an entire staff? We also saw Dr. Saleh in Pr. Fred.


All these docs have ever done is ask two questions of my son and myself and then prescribe another months worth. It is ME who tells them when there are unwante dsude effects. ME who found the patch and ME who discovered what the best time to remove it was. I just don't know how I need to see a psychiatrist for this. They have never offered any suggestions. They give you a nice piece of paper and say "see you next month" (or in my case about 7 weeks as we don't use the meds on weekends).

I figure I would rather see a doctor who can treat the whole child. One who actually knows him.


I really do like Dr. Miller. He simply does not deal with ADHD meds.

And as for providing you with more info. in my original post. I was asking a simple question. I did not feel that I needed to enter into a diatribe about every detail of my child's condition to get a doctor's name.

 

[terbear1225]

Sounds like you took great care before you decided to give meds to your kid. Too many parents out there don't even try alternatives first. Nothing wrong with meds when they are actually warranted. We've just all seen too many overmedicated kids.

I have seen kids in the classroom that NEEDED something, i can't say whether or not diet changes or tonsilectomies were tried first, it was clear that these kids needed some sort of help.

I am not a proponent of ritalin, I can think of only 2 or 3 kids that I felt that way about in 7 years in the classroom.

 

[StrawberryGal]

Well since the can of worms was already opened I'll throw my opinion in. I think parents trying to medicate a child for ADHD is lazy. There is a reason your Dr. won't give it to you. Seeking out one who will sounds to me like a desperate attempt for a quick solution rather than doing your research and find an alternative solution.

Drifting from your question.......I know someone who has her 4 year old son on Ritalin b.c "he won't sleep 12 hours a night without it". No joke, those are her exact words. The boy clearly has a learning disabilty. He barely talks, I'm not making that up, he really doesn't talk and when he does it's toddler baby talk. She hounded her Dr repeatedly until he finally gave in and prescribed ritalin. Once she put him on it yeah he slept 12 hours a night, but he also walked around like he was in a trance and had night tremors and loss of appetite (the child is 4 and only weighs about 30 pounds), so she took him off it. He was off the meds for 4 weeks when she started complaining that he was "out of control" and again not sleeping the 12 hours. He's a boy! Boys are supposed to want to run around and play, he certainly isn't out of control, and heaven forbid he not go to bed at 7pm and sleep until it's convenient for you to get up!! I'd really like to turn her Dr in!!

You're very right about that. Boys are very active and it is normal for them to have bundle of energy.

 

[vegmom]

The "how are you feeling?" questions are all I get when I go in for regular med management appointments too (not the same as "therapy" type appts).

Does your insurance company have a website with an online provider directory? I'd start there. I know Children's now has an outpatient center in Waldorf on 925, but I guess that would be a haul for you on a regular basis. I've seen parents who get post-dated rx's for each months supply of meds they need between appts, but that was about 9 years ago when I worked as a Pharmacy Tech.

 

[krb]

terbear-I agree. I have talked many parents out of medicating their kids. It is right for some and not so for others. It is not an easy thing to differentiate either. It took the questionnaire from 2 parents and three teachers, plus the doctor for us to come to this conclusion. Funny thing is-we had had VERY similar repsonses on the questionnaire. The discrepancy between his ability level and his perfomance was staggering. He clealy needed something.

 

[jusdontno]

I always find it amazing how judgmental people can be. Yes, some parents use medication as a quick fix for their own inability to manage their children. However this is not always the case, just as a swift hand across the buttocks doesn't always solve the problem.

I have found that Dr. Valentine not only takes into account the parents concerns about behavior, but also the behavior at school and other activities. He is not a doctor that is quick to medicate and addresses parents concerns in a timely (within a week) manner.

If you can't make it to Prince Frederick, talk to Dr. Gross. She is a family practitioner that is fairly new to the area. I would still talk to Dr. valentine first, but Dr. Gross has some experience in the feild as well.

Medication is not always the answer, however it can be a means to find the answer that is best for the child.

 

[Christy]

To my karma sender

I wish people would stop treating ADD/ADHD as some sort of disease that needs fixing. When you drug these kids you are inhibiting who they are and what they have to contribute. Has anyone ever considered that these kids have a lot going on in their heads that is beneficial? Sure they can be exhausting. But if you bother to really pay attention to them, rather than being distracted by their constant energy, you might learn that they tend to be incredibly intelligent. They have a million things going on in their heads all at once, they're constantly thinking. Why inhibit that?

gee-maybe all thos ethings in a kids head make it IMPOSSIBLE to get ahead? Hmmm....

I don't know why you just didn't ask that question in here, but here's my take. First I ask you to define "get ahead". Get ahead in what? Being a good little child who sits still and thinks how you want them to think?

We're force fed this absurd notion that these kids are somehow flawed and need medicated to be brought back to "normal". I don't buy in to that philosophy. These kids are built the way they are for a reason, they have a completely different way of thinking and processing that I feel is beneficial. I think you hinder that by drugging them in to conformance. These kids are not the ones with the problem, it's the system around them and their attempts to brain wash them and parents in to thinking that they have a problem rather than a gift.

I really don't care what anyone else does with their child, I was simply throwing out a different view and a different approach. The benefits for my kid has far outweighed the extra added patience required when it comes to a kid with "ADHD".

 

[Christy]

I wonder...

What our world would look like today if they medicated Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, or Abraham Lincoln? How about maybe "fixing" Leonardo DaVinci or Earnest Hemingway?

Every single one of these individuals had ADHD characteristics. Thomas Edison was told by his teachers that he was too stupid to learn, as was Albert Einstein. I'd hate to think of where we'd be if they had all been "normalized".

Attached are a couple good reads for anyone looking for different options or just a better understanding.

Amazon.com: The Edison Gene: ADHD and the Gift of the Hunter Child: Thom Hartmann,Lucy Jo Palladino: Books

Amazon.com: The Edison Trait: Saving the Spirit of Your Free-Thinking Child in a Conforming World: Lucy Jo Palladino: Books

 

[StrawberryGal]

What our world would look like today if they medicated Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, or Abraham Lincoln? How about maybe "fixing" Leonardo DaVinci or Earnest Hemingway?

Every single one of these individuals had ADHD characteristics. Thomas Edison was told by his teachers that he was too stupid to learn, as was Albert Einstein. I'd hate to think of where we'd be if they had all been "normalized".

Attached are a couple good reads for anyone looking for different options or just a better understanding.

Amazon.com: The Edison Gene: ADHD and the Gift of the Hunter Child: Thom Hartmann,Lucy Jo Palladino: Books

Amazon.com: The Edison Trait: Saving the Spirit of Your Free-Thinking Child in a Conforming World: Lucy Jo Palladino: Books

Excellent Point, Christy!

If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have electricity, appreciation for art, technologies we have now, etc.

I don't think everyone need to be medicated for thier ADHD/ADD. There are alot of other options to "control" the ADHD/ADD without drugs.

Like one of the posters said, she had her child run the block fives time as soon her child got off the bus for the child to be calm down at home by having thier "energy" burn up by running. Each child have different needs and parents just have to find what's work for the child.

 

[Christy]

Excellent Point, Christy!

If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have electricity, appreciation for art, technologies we have now, etc.

Exactly. I will admit that kids like these can grate on your very last nerve. And I will never say that mine is an angel that is simply misunderstood. He is a pain in the that makes me want to slap him silly sometimes but so did the parents of many of these other brilliant individuals. I read somewhere that Thomas Edison burned down their barn around the age of 6. I've managed to keep my house intact but I'd be lying if I said we haven't had our fair share of curiosity induced pandemonium.

 

[StrawberryGal]

Exactly. I will admit that kids like these can grate on your very last nerve. And I will never say that mine is an angel that is simply misunderstood. He is a pain in the that makes me want to slap him silly sometimes but so did the parents of many of these other brilliant individuals. I read somewhere that Thomas Edison burned down their barn around the age of 6. I've managed to keep my house intact but I'd be lying if I said we haven't had our fair share of curiosity induced pandemonium.

Totally understand. I babysat for kids who have ADD/ADHD. It can make you feel that you want to slap them silly. However, I know about ADD/ADHD and I tried my best to keep them active by doing things with them such as art and craft, going outside to play, playing games, and many more that help them to feel they are doing something instead of just sitting there doing nothing.