My son has started waking in the middle of the night crying?

[Littlebrooksy]

My 8 year old son is ADHD and I know myself being ADD this can cause sleeping problems but these have me worried because there is no reason for it, he has always been hard to settle at night he used to spend hours laid in his darkened room making noises to himself and then a couple of years ago he got given this miracle suit meant for autistic children this blue suit chained him down did everything ritalin was meant to do for me without the side effect of the lifelesness I experienced, he was finding life alot better unfortunately he is no longer eligible for the suit and when he outgrew his old ones at the beginning of the year things started going wrong.

his temper has flared, his concentration is a disaster, he can't sit still for 1 second and I dont mean bum shuffling or fit taping which was my problems I mean legs in the air climbing, jumping, running, rolling around, and then the sleep problems started about a month ago he wakes the same time every night, I have asked him if it is bad dreams etc (he has just moved back into his own room shortly before during the winter they share a room because it is so cold) at one point he said out was so we got him a night light but still didn't work so got him a bedside lamp and it is vetoing worse he doesn't have bad dreams but gets scared when he wakes (not wakes because he is scared).

Is their everything I can do to help him while we try to raise the funds to get him a new suit because we are all exhausted with keeping up with him.

Thanks

[Sandman2]

   Ya, I realized it was you who tried the Ritalin, but it was late when I was writing.  I was just trying to point out that your response was typical of someone who was over dosed.  Happens a lot when doctors don't care and parents don't know enough to challenge.  Times have changed and so have the meds - but that's not important now.
   SIDS will definitely cause his sleeping problems.  From the web site I mentioned above
( http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/index.html ).  "Ever wonder why you can’t seem to calm them down or get them to sleep?"
   It was your mention of the special suit that rang a bell for me.  Specialmom talks a lot about how certain activities that involve pressure made a huge difference to her son who has SID.  Unfortunately, I can't find that exact post as it was a while ago.  What I have done is copy some of her posts that I think you may find helpful.  I DO think that you should post over on the child behavior forum as I suggested!  She may be extremely helpful to you.  I know that there were certain activities she used to help her son get to sleep at night.
   Anyway, below are a few other things she does to help her son.  
                 "
When I say nervous system input-----------  I am referring to the "heavy work" they talk about in sensory.  I keep bringing that up because kids with add/adhd and odd really benefit from this same kind of thing.  Calming the nervous system is going to help kids with any of these issues and heck, really---------- any kid.  

In the summer, we spend massive amounts of time outside------------  we swim every day, bike and scooter ride, play at parks, go hiking, jump on trampolines, run races and sprints, etc.  As much as you can fit into your day is great because it will calm your child overall.  

We work on things such as behavioral aspects we are trying to either eliminate or encourage.  My kids have extra jobs in the summer---------  not to make them work but to give them things to accomplish and make them feel good about themselves.  And we always work on our social skills--"
                  "My son has sensory integration disorder which can look a LOT like adhd as it also involves the nervous system.  You can google this if you would like and see if any of it matches.  It is also called Sensory Processing Disorder and if you google that a web site by the same name will come it------- it is a good resource.  What you do for sensory is physical activity.  As this is soothing to the nervous system as a whole, it is beneficial to consider for a child you think has add or is just rambunctious.  I'll briefly list some of the more helpful activities to calm the nervous system-----  climbing---- go to the park and climb the play structures.  Hanging-----  hanging off monkey bars and zip lines.  Running-----  preferably on harder surfaces and really great to do up a hill.  Swinging------  tried and true calming activity.  Biking----- the lateral motion and heavy muscle work of pedaling are calming.  Rolling------  if he likes to roll in school, have him do it down hills, across the floor, etc.----- at home so he'll get that impulse out in appropriate settings.  He might like spinning as well-------- tire swings, sit and spins, or just turn on music and let him spin in a corner- if he does it away from school, he'll be less apt to do it in school.  Swimming------- the perfect exercise.  Kicking a soccer ball and running with it.  Jumping----  on anything. Even a mattress on the floor.  You need to do some of this with him every single day.

Other calming activities------ blowing bubbles, drinking a thick liquid through a straw such as milkshake, applesauce, or smoothie, having a race blowing a cotton ball across the table with a straw cut in half.  Chewing a thick piece of gum is calming and organizing to the brain-------  my son had one before we left for school every day in preschool (chewed for a few minutes and spit it out into trash after).  Try this before school. "

      Hope these help!!!
    
  

[Littlebrooksy]

it wasn't thomas who went on ritalin I refuse point blank to have him on any drugs for the ADHD.

It was me on the Ritalin and I found the theorapy that I had when I was being diagnosed was more useful than the drugs they made me lifeless and depressed, that and the side effects others I was diagnosed with had (we were the first in the UK at the time) so I will not go down that route.

But a big thank you I will look into SID I would say I would ask his doctor but the hospital are refusing him appointments at the moment all because he missed appointment during my pregnancy when I was in hospital with complications once and couldn't find anywhere I could afford to park the 2nd time. Joys of Wiltshire I suppose lol.

Ideally I would Just like to have his suit back but haven't the £350 quid needed for it. Would SID explain his sleeping problems? and thank you for your information I will go back through it and have a proper look at your links and things. thanks again

[Sandman2]

   You know the way he is reacting is very similar to how kids with SID or Sensory Integration Disorder react.  Children with this have very similar symptoms to ADHD and typically get misdiagnosed.  Check out this web site -  http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/index.html     to see if any of the symptoms for SID sound familiar.
    Also post over on the child behavior forum.  One of the leading members is a psychologist whose son has SIDs and consequently she has become an expert in therapy for SIDS.  Her suggestions really work.  You can look for posts by "specialmom", but I would post under a title of "can this be SID" and then post what you have said and a few other things that your son does.  I have seen numerous posts by her of activities that you can do for your son that will accomplish what this suit will do.  If for any reason she doesn't respond, let me know (she could be on vacation) and I will message her for her input (we do that a lot).
    By the way, one of my standard recommendations (because it is so valuable) is for parents to buy the book, "The ADD/ ADHD Answer book," by Susan Ashley.
    I should also add that if ritalin caused him to be lifeless, the dose was too strong.  Any normal person put on ritalin will get hyper!  Any child starting on meds will take a bit of trial and error.  I don't think the doctor adequately communicated with you - was it a pediatrician?    The fact that it made him lifeless would indicate that he probably has ADHD, but SID could be a coexisting disorder.  
    I think my main point here is not to try meds again, but to try more information.  Start with specialmom on the child behavior forum.  Read the book I suggested.  I have a ton of other resources that I can give you when you are ready.   Best wishes.