As you may know, my DS is starting 4th at a new school. He was diagosed ADHD combined type and has many of the social symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome. Plus he's academically gifted. A real challenge for whomever gets to teach him! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

I just heard from his teacher (school starts NEXT week) and she is already pushing for an IEP for him!! Happy happy! (I know many parents struggle with their schools to get these... Individualized Education Plan.)

Now I have to get copies of all of his psychological findings and tests, teacher's notes, etc. together tonight because she wants them tomorrow... she is all over this. Yay!

I don't put my email address out here much, but I have a new one for those who know me.

_________________________________
* Help me beta test Gmail. *
email: xpButtercup -at- Gmail.com

I just heard from his teacher (school starts NEXT week) and she is already pushing for an IEP for him!!

That's great news! My son, who is now 19, needed one and it was issued when he was a sophomore in HS. He was ADD...without the hyperactivity. He was unable to focus on what he needed to do when so many things were in front of him. It helped him tremendously to be able to test in a less "busy" atmosphere. Too many distractions kept him from focusing. It is just like the commercial on TV...when it's like the channel constantly changing on the TV.

I'm glad that you are getting attention for him.

committed

He has been doing GREAT these first few weeks of school. He is adjusting well to the new school, no notes from teacher, no trouble staying in his seat and focused, breezes through homework (except for the ONE day he forgot his Strattera ... what a nightmare) and has had no negative side effects. He wants to be sure he doesn't miss another pill; he is quite convinced that the Strattera is responsible for him being able to sit and listen!! He has been so much calmer. That one day he missed his pill, he really fell apart (bawled his eyes out) over forgetting some of his cursive and it took over an hour for him to copy three paragraphs!

As bad as his attitude was toward changing schools this summer, it is amazing to see him now. He loves it; he enjoys having three teachers instead of one, and has not had one 'bully' incident since summer day care camp ended.

Sounds like your son is doing GREAT! I'm happy for you. Just be sure you stay after the school and make sure that IEP happens (and that the school lives up to their promises) if necessary.

I have a daughter who is 15 who has severe ADHD. She wasn't formally diagnosed until 4th grade (though the signs were all there since shortly after birth). She didn't get an IEP until 5th grade and by then we were FAR behind on all skills. Also, her IEP was just for math, and by the time her re-evaluation came up in 8th grade, she'd progressed enough for the school to say she didn't need it anymore. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER SUBJECTS SHE WAS FAILING!?

At any rate, in 8th grade, the IEP was discontinued. That was also about the same time she figured out how to skip classes. She continued that trend in H/S, and ended up getting expelled from her school. She is currently attending an alternative H/S and doing better (though sometimes I wonder what they actually learn there...no homework).

One thing that does differ between my daughter and your son--meds don't seem to do much for her. None of the stimulants (ritalin, adderall, concerta) have done much. The psychiatrist wanted to try Strattera last year, but my daughter refuses to take pills. She hides them, then spits them out. So far we've not been able to convince her to try it. Your success with your son on it makes me think it's worth pursuing again with her, but not sure how to do that.

Anyway, long story about me...but written as advice to you. Don't do what I did, and let things get out of hand because I didn't know how to pursue things. I'm just learning now (it took some work getting the alternative school to give her a chance at 14, because they thought she was too young to succeed there.)

Hang in there!

LL

Buttercup - weren't you the one going around and around trying to get xh to agree to change in schools away from the charter school? Do I gather that you got the change made?

Yes, I had to go to court because my XH would not agree to moving the kids out of a failing school. I won that case in about 8 minutes. Our lawyers both summed up our sides, the judge asked who had primary physical custody, and said I have final say. Another $500 wasted. > <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" />

The good news is the kids are in a great school and loving it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

HELP!!!!!

DS lost 3 pounds in the first month on Strattera, and if he loses even 1 more, the doctor won't refill his scrip again!!

The difference in him has been night and day ... he has not been struggling with paying attention or staying in his seat ... you just have no idea unless you've got an ADHD kid how frustrating it is when the child really, truly wants help and you finally find something that works ... and then may lose it ...

He is a VERY picky eater, extremely so ... he has always been quite slim ... there are few things he will eat a full plate of and we can't have those things every day ... and of course Westley feels (as I do also) that he should eat what is put in front of him and not have a special meal made for him ... but at the same time I can't have him skipping any meals ...

Da da da da! CJ to the rescue!

As a mom of an ADHD son, who also lost weight on his medication that was PERFECT for him, may I make a suggestion? These ADHD medications often give the poor young'en sort of a sore stomach and not much of a feeling of hunger. Thus, they kinda don't "want" to eat or feel like they need it. And like your Westley, I do not believe that I should have to make an entirely separate meal just for my son to eat something.

Here's what I do that seems to work. First, I realize/recognize that probably the best eating option for my son is what I call "grazing." He eats a little bit at a time, all the time. I do not make a special meal for him--I just give him a smaller-portioned meal with the rest of the family--BUT I also have certain special foods that are just for him that he can have ANY TIME. His favorites are gogurt, string cheese, oranges, bananas, meal replacement shakes (chocolate milk for him--calories for me), peanut butter, nuts, jerky. He has a special place for "HIS" foods, no one else is supposed to eat them without asking him, and he can eat any of them any time. Thus, what he tends to do is eat a gogurt and a banana right after school...then in an hour, drink a shake...then in another hour, eat an orange...then in an hour, eat a small meal with the family...then in an hour eat some almonds. You get the drift and he gets to eat enough to maintain his weight.

Now, I know your son is picky, but think of the foods that are fairly healthy that he DOES like, and let him graze.


CJ

His appetite must be really compromised by the Strattera, I have been offering him all sorts of things he likes, and while he hasn't scoffed at dinner and snacks, he is not eating his 'normal' amount.

I am worried about the next appointment. I just can't say enough about how much better he's been doing in school.

Dear Buttercup,

Just thought I would say Hello. Have you ever looked at the chadd. org bulletin board($45.00)? There is some information about Straterra there. There are some drugs that are used in combination with Straterra. curezone. com has an ADHD section, also (free).

I don't use E-mail, I just post here. I read your post about the nice qualities of Older Women. I was enchanted by your deleted post starting a thread in Divorce.

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Nurturing Parenting by Stephen J. Bavolk, Ph. D. Nurturing Parenting Courses and Materials
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Tough Love Parents Manual by Phyllis and David Yourk


Instructors for awareparenting .com Phone: 805-968-1868, California, or E Mail info@awareparenting.com

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Boundaries With Kids, Raising Great Kids
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Internet Search for "Step Parenting"

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Blessings.

<small>[ October 02, 2004, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: Whaler ]</small>

Read anything by Hallowell or LaVoie..

Check out my son's former school's web-site for links. The school is so wonderful people relocate to this part of the country to send their children there. www.curreningram.org

I thik it is interesting that your son lost so much weight on Strattera. My son has started gaining on it. I'm on it now. I would love to lose some weight!

Dear Cinderella,

I tried your link, but it did not go through. Wouild be interested to see the links.

Blessings

oh, duh! I misspelled it.

www.curreyingram.org

and try

www.drhallowell.com or some variation of doctor. That is Ned Hallowell's site. I am sure Rick LaVoie has one.

I am so annoyed that I missed Dr. Phelan at CIA this week.