DD has been diagnosed with ADHD

Darlyd

I have posted many times about DD1 (she is 13 now), Seen psychiatrist for first time last week (apart from when he went into the school to assess her without our knowledge but this was during drama lesson, her fave!) and he said she fits the characteristics of a typical child with ADHD, but Why don't I believe him? He wants to see us again 6th October for a proper question air assessment, and speak to us separably too.

I can't get my head around it, she does not act like children I have seen with ADHD, she does get manic, drunk feelings, and when she blows, she blows, her mouth is disgusting, she wrecks the house in her tantrums, even go to the point we had to call the police to help us calm her, without us getting arrested for restraining her and locking her in the garage to calm her down. Getting beyond now, What will they do? Give her ritalin? I don't want her on any drugs if they have been prescribed for something she does not have. I just can't trust the medical profession, I have my reasons.

She had a major outburst Friday when I caught her stirring, She really did believe this girl was with her Thursday night using her phone causing trouble, But this girl wasn't here, because DD was home, and she went mental, I had to ring the doctor, she noted it down and told me sounds like another condition, she will inform the psyciatrist first thing this morning, and I also asked her to call SS on my behalf, as they told me to call the police when I rung in desperation Friday.

I don't understand, she lies and really does believe them, and no to her means yes, she really frightened DD2, and DH and I feel like prisoners as we have to lock all doors and windows, and hide the keys, and all knifes are now locked in dh shed as she had one on her Friday, dh had to go get her, she was ready to stab the girl who she says was with her Thursday eve causing the trouble.. I have rung the school this morning to warn them she might burst on that girl, I am really weary as this girls mother has sent DD1 some horrid messages, they have made my blood boil. DD no longer has her phone, and she is grounded indef, she can't be trusted anymore, it's for her own safety. arghhh

Thanks for reading

pigpen

Surely a diagnosis of one condition is a benefit.. it is so much easie to be able to say.. sorry she has X condition..

Re meds.. you can only try and if it doesnt work then you can look at alternative methods.

Children with ASDs often have more than 1 which not only makes dianosis difficult it makes treating and adapting things difficult.

Give them a chance.. you don even know what it ben ofered yet.. but whatever is offered.. grab it with both hands.. it might not get offered again!

peachyprice

I have to agree with pigpen, a diagnosis of ADHD is at least a starting point. It's better they accept that there is something not right, rather than telling you there is nothing wrong with her. A diagnosis can be changed if further investigations reveal something different.

What do you think she should be diagnosed with if you don't believe she has ADHD?

Darlyd

Something just does not seem right, Even my GP agrees with me and told me Friday when I rung, she said, "it sounds like another condition, let me call the psychiatrist Monday morning and we will go from there". But which one I do not know, There are so many different ones out there, and for some reason Doctors are handing meds out like sweets.... Really concerns me.

Bumpmakesfour

Hi,first of all hugs,because I can clearly remember the day I got told my DS had ADHD/aspergers and it felt like the end of the world xx
Just one thing to ask.You say she doesn't behave like kids with ADHD but then describe her meltdowns,temper and manic behaviour.How do YOU think ADHD kids behave?

ETA are they thinking scitzophrenia?
And re the drugs...don't dismiss them immediately.Deciding to medicate my son was a very very hard decision but now on his med free days I wonder how we coped for so long without them! x

rachbc

darlyd wrote: »

Doctors are handing meds out like sweets.... Really concerns me.

has she actually been offered medication - from what you post she has had an initial consultation and are going to attend again for more indepth assessment and then you will discuss treatment options. I think its a bit much to say they are handing out meds like sweeties if she hasn't been offered any?

Darlyd

Bumpmakesfour wrote: »

Hi,first of all hugs,because I can clearly remember the day I got told my DS had ADHD/aspergers and it felt like the end of the world xx
Just one thing to ask.You say she doesn't behave like kids with ADHD but then describe her meltdowns,temper and manic behaviour.How do YOU think ADHD kids behave?

ETA are they thinking scitzophrenia?
And re the drugs...don't dismiss them immediately.Deciding to medicate my son was a very very hard decision but now on his med free days I wonder how we coped for so long without them! x

Thank you. I don't know, the kids I have seen are a nightmare in the streets, and they are all boys, she has never been like that, she only changes when she is told no, and we tell her she has done wrong. And when we catch her out, And when someone starts her off in school/youth club/guides, it's not just home.

She lies and really does believe them.

I myself have BP2, I get similar symptoms to her, but never the complete temper outbursts where I wrecked things, and I never ever spoke to my parents the ways she does. But they are dismissing BP as she is to young. hmmph..

Did your DS have same symptoms as my DD ? (as above). How did you cope? What difference has medication made?

Darlyd

rachbc wrote: »

has she actually been offered medication - from what you post she has had an initial consultation and are going to attend again for more indepth assessment and then you will discuss treatment options. I think its a bit much to say they are handing out meds like sweeties if she hasn't been offered any?

Not to mine as yet no, but he told me she has ADHD and will do proper assessment (supposed to of been last week when we went), and also mentioned medication.

From what I have read in the news/online Doctors certainly are handing them out like sweets.

peachyprice

darlyd wrote: »

From what I have read in the news/online Doctors certainly are handing them out like sweets.

You can't always believe everything you read online. A bit like all the scare stories you read last week about the vaccination she was due to have.

Bumpmakesfour

darlyd wrote: »

Not to mine as yet no, but he told me she has ADHD and will do proper assessment (supposed to of been last week when we went), and also mentioned medication.

From what I have read in the news/online Doctors certainly are handing them out like sweets.

For us the diagnosis process was far more lengthy.Had school observations,teacher reports,paediatrician visit,support home visit,sleep clinic appt.Plus we had lots of forms/questionnaires to fill out and so did school,took family history,birth etc.When all that was done and compiled we had another paed appointment..then the dx was made.Have you had an of the above yet?
It wasn't a case of having them just handed to us either.We did two parenting ASD kids courses,tried reward charts,behaviour strategies etc before we finally decided to try meds. x

Darlyd

Bumpmakesfour wrote: »

For us the diagnosis process was far more lengthy.Had school observations,teacher reports,paediatrician visit,support home visit,sleep clinic appt.Plus we had lots of forms/questionnaires to fill out and so did school,took family history,birth etc.When all that was done and compiled we had another paed appointment..then the dx was made.Have you had an of the above yet?
It wasn't a case of having them just handed to us either.We did two parenting ASD kids courses,tried reward charts,behaviour strategies etc before we finally decided to try meds. x

She has had school observation with psychiatrist (he did it when she was in fave lesson, and as soon as it was the next lesson which was Maths, she caused a lot of trouble, I ended up having to come collect her early).

Many teacher reports, Her head of year from last year supported us tremendously.

She seen patrician when she was 8/9 due to puberty at age 6, he knew there was something going on, after many tests, he referred her to a psychiatrist, she seen her once for 20 mins, and told me there was nothing wrong with her (this was done before we moved to England).

He has taken family history, he has my records noted down from what my GP has sent, as well as DD, and HV reports.

I have also filled in many question air's as well as the school getting fed up of answering the same questions to be honest.

Have tried the reward chart, praising when good, ignoring when bad, Can't ignore her it makes her worse, she ends up screaming out the window she is being abused, Or will just pick on DD2, who ends up shaking with fear. (hence needing respite, but ss won't help).