ok so..
Find a Conversation
| Tue, 05-06-2008 - 9:36am |
please please dont anyone bash me for this.. 5 days ago we went ahead and started Rylee on the zoloft. After sitting down with family everyone urged us to at least try. They all have Rylee's best interest in mind, and it pains them to see her struggle so much, so i think they are hoping this drug works. Either way im still on the fence about it, but we are giving it a try for 6 weeks, i siad if after that things dont change, or things get odd we will stop! with that said I had lots of thoughts swirling in my head last night about how even without the anxiety , Rylee is still very different from her peers and i cant graps why no dr. is ready to truely give her an asd diagnoses, i emailed the ped. , . Ill except constructive critisim, but please dont write me if your going to bash me for starting the meds!
Here is what the dr. had to say to me, i just want to make sure shes not trying to avoid my concerns and really is on the same pg, just working it out in her own way..

Pages
No bashing from me! Em's on Prozac to help her with the anxiety before they would try something else again. (We did a few med trials on ADHD drugs, even though she's not ADHD in the hope that it would help some of her OCD, sensory, etc behaviors.) They said sometimes the stimulants will make them appear worse, but if they introduce a zoloft or prozac first, it takes the edge off.
Unfortunately our trial of Metadate didn't go well and she was crawling out of her skin. (Same with Straterra.)
Don't get me wrong. We're not out to just medicate our child. But if something out there will help her control her mind and body better, then we're all for giving it a fair shot. And like he said, a few week trial in the grand scheme of things isn't a horrible thing.
We ended up ramping to 20 mg of the Prozac before we saw a real change. And her OCD behaviors have really gotten under control. I have no idea where we go from here though since the Metadate didn't work out. (This just reinforces more in my mind that she doesn't have ADHD - which they still list as a rule-out of sorts.) We go back to both the psychiatrist and psychologist next week.
Good luck on your trial. Let us know how it goes.
thanks so much i appreciate you sharing your story with me as well!!!!
You're welcome!
I find that I can read all the info out there, and it just doesn't mean as much to me as having BTDT advice from other moms who know what I'm going through.
Amy,
It must have been difficult for you to write that post, and I commend you for your honesty and courage.
I can only speak directly for myself, but I know many of the people here have similar mindsets to mine: I will never judge or bash you for doing what you think is best for your child, and for making a difficult agonized decision in your quest to find answers and help for Rylee.
At the end of the day, not matter what advice or opinions we may have, we are not walking in your shoes. You are the mom, you bear the responsibility for Rylee's health and wellbeing, and the buck stops with you. You may take opinions from all sides, but you eventally have to weigh your options and follow your instinct to do what *you* think is best for *your* child, No-one should blame or judge you for that.
I wish you the best of luck with it and please let us know how she gets on, OK? Your and her experience may help someone who comes along in a few weeks or months from now, -which is basically what this board is all about.
(((((((((hugs)))))))))))
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Deciding to use medication is a tough decision, even for an adult. It's doubly difficult when it's your child. We decided to use medication for Graham because he was so miserable and making everyone else miserable too. I know how much my medication helped me so I decided that I couldn't deny him a chance at feeling better too. Luckily, some of them have helped him. We're still trying to get his anxiety under control, but the rages and complete inattention are much better.
I'm hoping that you hit the right med the first time and that Rylee starts feeling better soon. It's hard to see your child suffer. Let us know how things go - sometimes it takes time for it to kick in fully.
Hugs
Andrea, mom to
Graham
Miles
Anson
Graham
Miles
Anson
Hi Amy sweetie,
No bashing here hon, everyone needs to do whats best for their child and also be able to come to a safe place to talk about it.
Amy,
(((Amy))) We would never bash you here. You are the best person to advocate for your daughter. You are with her 24/7 and obviously you have her best interest in mind. It also sounds like her doctor is very well informed and also trusts your judgment as well. That is such an important trait in a doctor. I hope that you see some positive results from the medication. Keep us posted!
Amy~Natalie & Lily's mom
Amy,
I have had Liam on medication since as early as age 4. I totally understand the agony about that decision. I suspect your doctor (from her response) understands that too. No one will bash you in any way. As pp's have said, you are the Momma and you know your child best!!
You know, when I start a new med with Liam I try to keep a reaction journal; ie: I log mood, appetite, if there are certain times in the day when I see improvement or a deescalation in behaviour etc. Just a notebook left out and a time note with a few phrases/comments. It'll help you get a sense if there are cyclical affects.
It has helped me see that Liam's adhd med tapers off by 4pm, and his anti-psychotic is done by 7pm. Yes 7-9pm is unbearable....hmm melatonin needs to make a comeback, methinks.
I really really do hope the zoloft helps for Rylee, but also know as your doc said it's a step process.
btw: At age 3 I KNEW Liam was ASD but it took until age 6 to get it officially. For you to have a doctor who is at least willing to listen to you is awesome.
Dee
Pages