Ups and Downs

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Registered: 10-03-2004
Ups and Downs
5
Wed, 04-12-2006 - 8:39pm

Very hard to choose emoticon. Malcolm continues to really struggle and also make great gains at new school, at the same time. Anxiety spikes and then he gets back into control, sometimes brilliantly. The teachers and therapists are working quadruple time here, and Malcolm is pretty tired. And yet bravely heads off to school every morning, determined to do well! And some days he does well, and some days not...

They have him working with the younger kids in the school as a teacher's helper a few times a day, reading to them and helping with math, which is brilliant. He is so tired from focusing to hold everything together during group class work, gym, movement, etc. in his class at this point, that his socializing is getting short shrift --- because when lunch, recess, etc. comes, he just NEEDS alone time, reading, etc. The other kids like him and really want to be friends. Everyone is very understanding, but he is going off too much, unpredictably. He needs to be able to be more relaxed. As his therapist put it, this is a delicate, powerful, seismic time in Malcolm's life. We need to help him every way we can...

Good time for Spring break, I must say. We will take the next week and a half off, play another game of Little League baseball (going GREAT so far!), go to country a few days, go to FL beach with one of his friend's family for a week, and come back to school with a new attitude, and having started a new drug therapy regime.

We have decided to try the mild dose of SSRI Zoloft, which we did discuss earlier with our specialist. The Clonozapem does help during sports games, and he just needs something longer lasting to take the edge off at school. The specialist feels that Malcolm is a good candidate to do well on the Zoloft, and yes, littleroses, we can use the Clonozapem to take the temporary edge off during transition time if necessary. Also, school is really going to lighten up, help him with the transition time as well, if he needs extra buffering while the levels get even in his blood.

I am nervous as all get out, but I do feel this is the right time to try (although I DID want to start him on it for last summer's day camp experiment, bu DH was against it, 'nuff said...)

Quick note on first Little League baseball game: he got on base 2 times, got hit in for a run, caught a grounder and tossed it to second base for a play, asked another outfielder to tie his cleats for him when they came untied (LOL) and made his entire team laugh during snack by wiggling his fingers at the powdered doughnuts and intoning "Come to Papa..." His upsets were mild, got nervous when other team kept hitting in runs, kids on the team talked him down "We're only down by 2, Malcolm, we'll catch up." He got a little too loud, but 2 other kids broke down crying when they got out, so not so weird, really. Cross your fingers that he'll do OK if they have a harder game, like, if they actually LOSE...

Sara
ilovemalcolm

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 04-12-2006 - 9:08pm

Glad to hear about little league and that it is still going pretty well!

I really hope school settles in soon and he starts to do better. When are you going on Spring Break? We have been off the last week and a half and it has been a nice break. I hope that is what Malcolm needs.

Good luck with the zoloft. It that doesn't work (can make some kids hyper) I know Luvox works really well with the ASD type population. That actually did help Mike for a while and is great for my nephew and a friends son. Risperadol is another that I have heard great things about and Trileptal.

If I had to do meds again I would likely go with trileptal and/risperadol for Mike. Cait did well with luvox and trileptal. She took trileptal for her seizures but man she was so pleasant on that med! She is pleasant again now but if needed I did like that one.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Wed, 04-12-2006 - 9:23pm

Hi Renee,

We are on Spring Break as of tonight and then all the way through next week, hooray! I actually have a full day of work tomorrow, Malcolm will be at a friend's in AM and with DH all afternoon and evening, then I'm off work for over a week myself, Hip HIP HOORAY!!! Man, I need the break worse than he does, OK, maybe we are even. And DH has been doing all sorts of freelance work, plus his regular work, plus he's now interviewing for another job ... we are EXHAUSTED.

Yes, we will watch for the hyperactivity. Malcolm doesn't tend towards hyperactive, goes the other way usually, so it should be obvious if he does. Several of Malcolm's pals are doing well on risperdal as well.

Can't wait for the beach. I'll be the one on the chaise lounge with the big shady straw hat and a daiquiri in each hand...

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2005
Wed, 04-12-2006 - 10:21pm
Sara,
I hope Malcolm enjoys his well deserved spring break!
Teresa
Avatar for nutmegspice
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 04-13-2006 - 12:09am

Hey......I like the magic dust emoticon!

We're looking forward to spring break here too. I'll be thinking about you guys, hope all goes well with the new regime.

So great that Malcolm is having such a good time at Little League! As soon as we get a little more settled in at the new place, I'll be calling around for Martial arts lessons for Sam. He's *very* interested (loves Chinese/Japanese culture....knows the difference between the two, was surprised to find out I could cook Chinese food, wants to try sushi too:)

Let us know how things go!

Chrystee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-12-2004
Thu, 04-13-2006 - 5:05pm

It's amazing how brave these kids are. I'm glad he's doing well and that other kids want to play with him. That's a really good thing. Sounds like he is doing very well with the little league and that there's really good team work there.

Enjoy your spring break, and have one of those drinks for me, LOL!

Kelly