Aa
Does this sound like what other BP parents are going through???
I started this journey with my son at about 8 months that's when everything started to fall apart for him. (He was such a handful). At about 18 months I couldn't get him to sleep for nothing. I remember I took him to the hospital after he had been up for 36 hours. I beg them to give him something to sleep. That's when he had his first sleep test done. The test didn't help much.
When he was about 2 years old that's when he got diagnosed with ADD, his doctor put him on clonidine and Ritalin. He did well on Clonidine but the Ritalin didn't help it made him worse. So after several months we discontinued Ritalin. He was referred to a neurologist soon after he had his first seizure. He was diagnosed with Absence seizures and went on depokote sprinkles. His behaviors improved greatly.
His doctor also referred us to a behavior specialist, that's how I even fount out about SIP/ SPD. He went to get evaluated and that was when he got diagnosed with SIP/ SPD. By this time he was doing fairly well although he was so far delayed in all aspects of his life. The behavior specialist talked me into enrolling him into a "special school" for children under the age of five where he got speech, O.T, and they worked on behaviors and work very intensive with getting him to be social.
He stayed in the program until he started kindergarten. I started him in a private school but after a week the school decided this school wouldn't work for him. So I placed him in a public school. His kindergarten year was really bad! His behaviors were really bad and he hated to be there. I felt as if I was taking him to hell. The school had no clue of what to do and to be honest I didn't either. I got a phone call everyday, and if I didn't get a phone call I had a note in his folder. By the end of his kindergarten he ended up in a psychotic hospital where he was diagnosed with BP.
He got to the point where I didn't know what else to do for him. I tried everything that I knew to do for him but nothing helped. He had so much anger for some reasons that are really unknown. He got mad at his sister one day and choked her to the point that she turned blue. (He wouldn't let go of her) I told him no but, he didn't listen, when I got him off of her I asked him why he did that to her and he said he was going to kill her. He stayed in the hospital for about 3 weeks.
When he came home things were good for several weeks but then he started going down hill again. He finished kindergarten in a normal classroom with a one on one aide.
First grade was hard. He didn't want to go but he had a teacher that had taught in a behavior mod. Classroom. Which helped in ways. He had to be hospitalized twice that school year. Do to his fits and he would threaten to kill his teacher and his "friends" at school. Also the last time was during end of year testing, which doctor believed it made him to stressed.
He had to repeat 1st grade this year. He went through 4 different classes before he landed into his new classroom. Which is the behavior modification classroom. He got suspended 2 weeks ago for blacking his principal's eye while they restrained him. The school has had to restrain him, they have had me come pick him up and the list goes on. Seems nothing has clicked with him just yet. That's where we are this school year.
I took him to see his psy. Doctor today he want s to up his seroquel and depokote, and start him back on lithium. I don't know what to do; I know I have to do something I'm just not sure that this is the right thing to do. We tried these medications for nearly 2 years and didn't see much of a change.
As far as the way Micah acts around other child I never know how he will be, he can sometimes be very sweet but other times he will not play with them, kinda be mean to them. He is somewhat bossy, his way or the highway, I have to win or else, can become very aggressive physically and verbally.
I think he has friends, but (@ Times) he doesn't have much interest in others. He has a best friend that is autistic (he cares for her so much this is the only child Micah has ever came home and really talked about). Transition is really hard for him, and leaving mommy to go to school is really hard as well. He seems to like his teacher at times but at other times he says he hates him, that he wants his old class back. His behaviors are very UN consistent, I never know what his moods are going to be like nor do I know what he will do next. Meltdowns can happen anywhere, anytime, with whomever watching. He gets to a point where he can't be calmed down you just have to be there and make sure he is safe. He is a runner he will run from me in a second if he is some place that is not familiar or if there is a lot of noises and a crowed. Not always the running just seems to come and go. Now at school he is a flight risk, he will run into traffic if he can get away so they have to keep a constant watch on him while out side. And when I drop him off.
Summer he is more controllable he is with me because the last few day cares kicked him out. So I keep him at home and we stay on a school schedule we work on schoolwork for three hours a day, and play, go to the library, ect.
Sleep has always been a problem, not sure why but he can't get himself to sleep, he still want to sleep in my bed (With me), has never slept through the night all by himself with or without medication. Oh ya he gets stuck on certain foods and that is all that he will eat, the psy.doctor seems to think that is do to the OCD.
Does this sound like anyone's kid?
Please let me know your thoughts, ideas, things that might work, anything will be helpful!
Rozanna
When he was about 2 years old that's when he got diagnosed with ADD, his doctor put him on clonidine and Ritalin. He did well on Clonidine but the Ritalin didn't help it made him worse. So after several months we discontinued Ritalin. He was referred to a neurologist soon after he had his first seizure. He was diagnosed with Absence seizures and went on depokote sprinkles. His behaviors improved greatly.
His doctor also referred us to a behavior specialist, that's how I even fount out about SIP/ SPD. He went to get evaluated and that was when he got diagnosed with SIP/ SPD. By this time he was doing fairly well although he was so far delayed in all aspects of his life. The behavior specialist talked me into enrolling him into a "special school" for children under the age of five where he got speech, O.T, and they worked on behaviors and work very intensive with getting him to be social.
He stayed in the program until he started kindergarten. I started him in a private school but after a week the school decided this school wouldn't work for him. So I placed him in a public school. His kindergarten year was really bad! His behaviors were really bad and he hated to be there. I felt as if I was taking him to hell. The school had no clue of what to do and to be honest I didn't either. I got a phone call everyday, and if I didn't get a phone call I had a note in his folder. By the end of his kindergarten he ended up in a psychotic hospital where he was diagnosed with BP.
He got to the point where I didn't know what else to do for him. I tried everything that I knew to do for him but nothing helped. He had so much anger for some reasons that are really unknown. He got mad at his sister one day and choked her to the point that she turned blue. (He wouldn't let go of her) I told him no but, he didn't listen, when I got him off of her I asked him why he did that to her and he said he was going to kill her. He stayed in the hospital for about 3 weeks.
When he came home things were good for several weeks but then he started going down hill again. He finished kindergarten in a normal classroom with a one on one aide.
First grade was hard. He didn't want to go but he had a teacher that had taught in a behavior mod. Classroom. Which helped in ways. He had to be hospitalized twice that school year. Do to his fits and he would threaten to kill his teacher and his "friends" at school. Also the last time was during end of year testing, which doctor believed it made him to stressed.
He had to repeat 1st grade this year. He went through 4 different classes before he landed into his new classroom. Which is the behavior modification classroom. He got suspended 2 weeks ago for blacking his principal's eye while they restrained him. The school has had to restrain him, they have had me come pick him up and the list goes on. Seems nothing has clicked with him just yet. That's where we are this school year.
I took him to see his psy. Doctor today he want s to up his seroquel and depokote, and start him back on lithium. I don't know what to do; I know I have to do something I'm just not sure that this is the right thing to do. We tried these medications for nearly 2 years and didn't see much of a change.
As far as the way Micah acts around other child I never know how he will be, he can sometimes be very sweet but other times he will not play with them, kinda be mean to them. He is somewhat bossy, his way or the highway, I have to win or else, can become very aggressive physically and verbally.
I think he has friends, but (@ Times) he doesn't have much interest in others. He has a best friend that is autistic (he cares for her so much this is the only child Micah has ever came home and really talked about). Transition is really hard for him, and leaving mommy to go to school is really hard as well. He seems to like his teacher at times but at other times he says he hates him, that he wants his old class back. His behaviors are very UN consistent, I never know what his moods are going to be like nor do I know what he will do next. Meltdowns can happen anywhere, anytime, with whomever watching. He gets to a point where he can't be calmed down you just have to be there and make sure he is safe. He is a runner he will run from me in a second if he is some place that is not familiar or if there is a lot of noises and a crowed. Not always the running just seems to come and go. Now at school he is a flight risk, he will run into traffic if he can get away so they have to keep a constant watch on him while out side. And when I drop him off.
Summer he is more controllable he is with me because the last few day cares kicked him out. So I keep him at home and we stay on a school schedule we work on schoolwork for three hours a day, and play, go to the library, ect.
Sleep has always been a problem, not sure why but he can't get himself to sleep, he still want to sleep in my bed (With me), has never slept through the night all by himself with or without medication. Oh ya he gets stuck on certain foods and that is all that he will eat, the psy.doctor seems to think that is do to the OCD.
Does this sound like anyone's kid?
Please let me know your thoughts, ideas, things that might work, anything will be helpful!
Rozanna
Update on Micah
This has been one hellish weekend. Oh my where do I start? I guess I will start out with Thursday of last week. He went to school Thursday and came home very upset and in a lot of trouble. The bus driver told me that he bit her and slapped another child’s glasses of his face. She said she had to stop the bus to get him back in his seat and then he again came unbuckled and charged at her. I didn’t really know what to say but I’m sorry he had been doing so well. I had a talk with him and took him to school the next day to see what his punishment would be. Friday was one of those mornings when I wished I could just stay in bed, but I knew I had to take him to school and have him own up to his mistakes. He didn’t want to go and made us a few minutes late but when we arrived his teacher and the principal was standing there waiting on us. Lord I wanted to shout and ask them to stop picking on him at least he didn’t seriously hurt someone or tear up anything, but I knew he did wrong and I had to let him get punished, and I had to back up the school. So his punishment was he can’t ride the bus for a week nor did he get his free time and he had to write I WILL NOT BITE MY BUS DRIVER or something like that.
Saturday was so hellish. I took him to this thing our town has ever year the children get to see Santa and make cookies, and go to a store and they pick out there Christmas gifts for there family and have a train ride. Things like that and the whole time I wanted to sit and scream and wonder what the hell is wrong with him. I feel so hopeless even while I’m on here telling people it will get easier I’m not sure if it truly will? Saturday he was in mean mode and nothing I mean nothing mad him happy again I was just about in tears.. I don’t know what to do for him we have tried medications and we have tried this whole classroom thing I’m not sure what is next all I know is I got to get a grip on him before its to late.. Oh ya today the school called to inform me that he had ran down the hall and ran out of his classroom hitting and kicking and he hasn’t started any of his work till 1 pm to day. I hope he’s not going in his manic phase because that is what it seems like I’ll keep all of you posted ,,,
Rozanna
This has been one hellish weekend. Oh my where do I start? I guess I will start out with Thursday of last week. He went to school Thursday and came home very upset and in a lot of trouble. The bus driver told me that he bit her and slapped another child’s glasses of his face. She said she had to stop the bus to get him back in his seat and then he again came unbuckled and charged at her. I didn’t really know what to say but I’m sorry he had been doing so well. I had a talk with him and took him to school the next day to see what his punishment would be. Friday was one of those mornings when I wished I could just stay in bed, but I knew I had to take him to school and have him own up to his mistakes. He didn’t want to go and made us a few minutes late but when we arrived his teacher and the principal was standing there waiting on us. Lord I wanted to shout and ask them to stop picking on him at least he didn’t seriously hurt someone or tear up anything, but I knew he did wrong and I had to let him get punished, and I had to back up the school. So his punishment was he can’t ride the bus for a week nor did he get his free time and he had to write I WILL NOT BITE MY BUS DRIVER or something like that.
Saturday was so hellish. I took him to this thing our town has ever year the children get to see Santa and make cookies, and go to a store and they pick out there Christmas gifts for there family and have a train ride. Things like that and the whole time I wanted to sit and scream and wonder what the hell is wrong with him. I feel so hopeless even while I’m on here telling people it will get easier I’m not sure if it truly will? Saturday he was in mean mode and nothing I mean nothing mad him happy again I was just about in tears.. I don’t know what to do for him we have tried medications and we have tried this whole classroom thing I’m not sure what is next all I know is I got to get a grip on him before its to late.. Oh ya today the school called to inform me that he had ran down the hall and ran out of his classroom hitting and kicking and he hasn’t started any of his work till 1 pm to day. I hope he’s not going in his manic phase because that is what it seems like I’ll keep all of you posted ,,,
Rozanna
My son is in his late 20's. Was just now diagnosed at BP earlier this year. We started seeing terrible behaviors around puberty age. He is destructive at times, and hurts himself. He has not hurt anyone else, yet. He has been on about all the meds there are out there at one time or another. Your child has a lot of similarities that I have seen in my child. The smallest thing can set him off into a frenzy. He is presently being evaluated at a hospital. We were told by his previous psychiatrist, that Spring and Fall are the worst times for BP, and around the holiday season. He didn't know why, but most patients have 'episodes' around this time of year. I know my son was very sensitive to noises when he was younger. He had lab work run at 12 yrs old, and was diagnosed with 18q- amnomoly. Some of the behaviors of this amnomoly are very similiar to BP. Right now he is on quite a bit of meds, and he is so groggy, he can't even work, or function. We are hoping the therapist at the hospital can help us, as we are at the end of our rope, and do not know what else to do. At the age of 5 he was placed on Ritalin and remained on it for 10 yrs. At that time, it started working completely opposite on him, which we understood that was typical. So he was taken off of it suddenly, and went berserk on us. They say it is like a junkie coming off of drugs. So he put him on Clonidine to calm him. He slept so much, up only to eat, he gained 30 lbs in a few short weeks. After that it has been changing meds constantly, due to he is on it for several weeks or few months, and it's like he becomes ammune to it. Now he is on Depakote, Risperdal, and Seroquel for the bi polar tendencies. He is a good guy, and can be sweet and everyone thinks a lot of him in the community, but he can go off in a split second. So right now we are dealing with him either being oversedated, or he has these episodes. He even had one the other day that put him in the hospital, even with all the meds in him. We are at a loss, and pray that the staff will be able to find some answers. He was diagnosed at the age of 3 being, moderately mentally handicapped. He's a strapping young man, strong, and tall, a handsome guy, but all that doesn't help him get by in this world with all the behavioral problems. It is so sad when parents like us go for years and years to try and find help, and it always seems it's trial and error on the doctors behalf. I know they try, but sometimes they don't know either. My son went through school from age 3-17, but the last year of his special ed high school we pulled him out. Like your son, it was either notes or phone calls to come get him, or not send him back for a few days. You feel so alone, it seems hopeless, and you sometimes feel that no one cares. I do feel your pain, Rozanna. I just pray that you will find someone somewhere that can help your son. We are not alone, there are many others out there going through what we and our children go through. I wouldn't wish what this on my worst enemy. It consumes your life, and it is so unfair for our children to go through this, or anyone else that suffers from BP for that matter. I love my son with all my heart, and we do what we can to get him help. I've cried many tears over my son, just hoping for some help. I know it may not help a lot, but know that there are others that go through the same things you have. I'm a firm believer in God. If I wasn't I would have lost my mind over all this, but I have to stay strong, to try to find help for my song. God bless you.
Hi, my name is Crystal & I was wondering if you had to get refered to the neurologist for your son?? What types if test did they do on your son? I've been getting the run around with the dr. about having my son seen. He is 11yrs old & was diagnosed with bipolar in april of this year. I'm not familiar with Fragile X, can you let me know what this is please. I hope you get some good news on the 13th. I really like the way you are feeling about your son (he will always be your lil' boy no matter what!) I feel the same way about my son too. they get so much negitivity from people who dont understand them & are some time treated badly for this. When people dont understand that the kids feed off of this kind of behavior & when the kids know they are being treated different they act out. Sometimes kids are just kids!! And to are Sress Free (I wish!!) lol
I wish you & your family the very best...Take Care. Crystal
I wish you & your family the very best...Take Care. Crystal
Update on Micah
Some of you might know this already but Micah was forced to be in the behavior-modified classroom until Micah could get a hold on his behaviors at school. It broke my heart to see him get pulled out of his normal classroom and into a classroom that only has kids that have behavior problems, but I realize now that this was the best thing for Micah.
His classroom is small only 4 other students, has the time out room located in the classroom, they have there own bathroom in the classroom, so he doesn’t have to be out in the hall ways much. We have fount out that he is very smart; his teacher told me he would be doing multiplications by the end of this 6 weeks. Which is a big deal to me I was told not to expect the same “educational” out of his as his normal peers. And I have to say he is above “educational” his peer’s. I’m Very proud of him.
I didn’t know what to really expect out of this classroom, but I didn’t expect him to be happy and like school. Now I will say I still have trouble with him not wanting to go he still runs often if given the chance, but I think the last 6 weeks of his school life has been his best school experience ever… and I mean that with everything I got, if I had to pay extra for this classroom I would. He still isn’t interacting with other students as we would like him to, but I know that it takes time for all that to fall in place.
Home life has gotten easier for the most part he seems to not fall apart as bad as he once did. He is learning what makes him upset and what he likes and enjoys. He is all about Christmas lights and what he is getting for Christmas which I find is super cool because its kind of like his first Christmas where I’m looking at him in a different light. I will explain latter what I mean. If some of you don’t get that…
He just got out of the hospital after the supper long days we have fount that his EEG has came back yet again abnormal. The brain isn’t working the way we would expect it to with a child his age. Comes to find out the part of the brain, which is coming, back abnormal is the part that controls his emotions and feelings. Also they did a lot of blood work on the little guy to check his chromosomes and other things that the neurologists wanted an absolutely that nothing could be wrong on that end. Fragile X and asperser syndrome has come up but who knows. I guess we will figure that out when the test come back. Oh ya also his behavior specialist did his revaluation on him and I go the 13th for test results.
So where do I go from here. The 13th of December will be a crazy day we find out about his test results from his neurologist and get results back from his evaluation. So I’m not trying to think of what might be fount or what might be wrong I’m going to hope for the best and be prepared to hear the worst. (If that’s even possible) if these tests don’t come back showing something and giving us answers to my many why does he do this? I’m not going to have anymore test done on Micah. I’m going to watch him and stop worrying about what is wrong with him I’m going to let him be who he is and if there is someone that doesn’t like him then they need to keep there distance with him. Because I’m so over people not liking him or finding him weird. I don’t care I have learned to love him for what he is and I don’t care what they find he still will always and forever be loved by me. For now I will hope for the best and I still believe that he can change and he can get better over time. But for now I’m going to prepare for Christmas and prepare him for a lot of things he doesn’t necessarily like. (Crowds, people that he doesn’t know well being at the house, and all the other crazy things that come with having a big family), I will hope for a stress free Christmas (LOL)
I hope everyone has a great Christmas and enjoys their little monsters more than ever….
Rozanna
Some of you might know this already but Micah was forced to be in the behavior-modified classroom until Micah could get a hold on his behaviors at school. It broke my heart to see him get pulled out of his normal classroom and into a classroom that only has kids that have behavior problems, but I realize now that this was the best thing for Micah.
His classroom is small only 4 other students, has the time out room located in the classroom, they have there own bathroom in the classroom, so he doesn’t have to be out in the hall ways much. We have fount out that he is very smart; his teacher told me he would be doing multiplications by the end of this 6 weeks. Which is a big deal to me I was told not to expect the same “educational” out of his as his normal peers. And I have to say he is above “educational” his peer’s. I’m Very proud of him.
I didn’t know what to really expect out of this classroom, but I didn’t expect him to be happy and like school. Now I will say I still have trouble with him not wanting to go he still runs often if given the chance, but I think the last 6 weeks of his school life has been his best school experience ever… and I mean that with everything I got, if I had to pay extra for this classroom I would. He still isn’t interacting with other students as we would like him to, but I know that it takes time for all that to fall in place.
Home life has gotten easier for the most part he seems to not fall apart as bad as he once did. He is learning what makes him upset and what he likes and enjoys. He is all about Christmas lights and what he is getting for Christmas which I find is super cool because its kind of like his first Christmas where I’m looking at him in a different light. I will explain latter what I mean. If some of you don’t get that…
He just got out of the hospital after the supper long days we have fount that his EEG has came back yet again abnormal. The brain isn’t working the way we would expect it to with a child his age. Comes to find out the part of the brain, which is coming, back abnormal is the part that controls his emotions and feelings. Also they did a lot of blood work on the little guy to check his chromosomes and other things that the neurologists wanted an absolutely that nothing could be wrong on that end. Fragile X and asperser syndrome has come up but who knows. I guess we will figure that out when the test come back. Oh ya also his behavior specialist did his revaluation on him and I go the 13th for test results.
So where do I go from here. The 13th of December will be a crazy day we find out about his test results from his neurologist and get results back from his evaluation. So I’m not trying to think of what might be fount or what might be wrong I’m going to hope for the best and be prepared to hear the worst. (If that’s even possible) if these tests don’t come back showing something and giving us answers to my many why does he do this? I’m not going to have anymore test done on Micah. I’m going to watch him and stop worrying about what is wrong with him I’m going to let him be who he is and if there is someone that doesn’t like him then they need to keep there distance with him. Because I’m so over people not liking him or finding him weird. I don’t care I have learned to love him for what he is and I don’t care what they find he still will always and forever be loved by me. For now I will hope for the best and I still believe that he can change and he can get better over time. But for now I’m going to prepare for Christmas and prepare him for a lot of things he doesn’t necessarily like. (Crowds, people that he doesn’t know well being at the house, and all the other crazy things that come with having a big family), I will hope for a stress free Christmas (LOL)
I hope everyone has a great Christmas and enjoys their little monsters more than ever….
Rozanna
Many of the things you are going through sounds far too familiar. I have 2 sons with bipolar. One is almost 18 and is doing very well now on his meds. The other is 12 and there are days that I'm glad God is with me or I would have killed him. It is so hard as a parent. It is hard to see your child go through this, and it is hard to keep your own self control when they are going through it. The book "The Bipolar Child" talks about kids with bipolar being too close to one parent or the other and having separation problems. It sounds like you are going through that with your son. My sons both still have trouble sleeping at times. This again is one of the symptoms of bipolar. We are all in this together, but sometimes it sure does feel like you are all alone and lost. Good Luck. Some how we will all get through this.
yes i have read many of book on BP but he has so many symptoms of several differrent disorders
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